Under Her Skin

CHAPTER THREE

LEXI REVIEWED THE contracts from John, releasing her from the loan. She was free…at least of financial debt. There were other bills coming through and time was ticking. She was going to have to move into Cruz’s house soon.

She opened her top desk drawer and looked at the plain white envelope tucked inside. There was a key and an address, nothing more. She had no idea what his house looked like and she’d been too chicken to drive by. She would see it soon enough…and putting off the inevitable seemed like a good idea.

It wasn’t the living with him that had her waking up in the middle of the night—not that she’d ever lived with a man. It was sleeping with him. Or rather, not sleeping.

She was both terrified and excited. Terrified because of what had happened before and excited because no one had made her feel the way Cruz did. Just thinking about his hands on her body, his tongue driving her to madness, was enough to melt every cell in her body.

On the other hand, it had been ten years. Maybe she was simply imagining how good it had been. Maybe it had been ordinary. As that night had been her first time, she hadn’t been able to compare it to anything. Maybe being with Cruz wasn’t all that.

A girl could only hope.

The door to her office burst open and Skye stalked inside, followed by Dana. Her sister waved a newspaper.

“Did you know about this?” Skye demanded, her green eyes snapping with annoyance. “Oh, wait. You do know about this because it’s about you. But did you tell your own sister?” She slapped the newspaper on Lexi’s desk. “Or did I have to read about it just like everyone else?”

Lexi had no idea what she was talking about. She glanced down, then gasped when she saw a picture of herself next to a picture of Cruz, along with a very large headline, announcing their engagement.

Annoyance flooded her. How could he do this without telling her? But she already knew the answer. He wanted to make sure she didn’t change her mind. He didn’t trust her. After pulling a stunt like this, he would have reason to watch his back. But first she had to deal with Skye. What on earth could she say to explain any of this?

“I’m sorry,” Lexi said as she stood and walked around her desk. “I meant to tell you.”

“Sure. And that makes it all better. I know things have been a little tense lately but I expected more from you. What happened? Did doing your laundry get in the way?”

Lexi led her sister to the sofas at the far end of the room. Dana trailed along, looking more curious than upset.

They sat down. Lexi mentally scrambled to figure out how to explain what had happened. She’d known she was going to have to deal with this, she just hadn’t expected it to be today. When she got a hold of Cruz, she was going to verbally beat the crap out of him.

“Do you want something to eat?” she asked. “I could order tea and sandwiches.”

Dana made a gagging sound. “Not for me. I hate that whole-grain bread you use. It’s sticks and twigs.”

“It’s healthy,” Lexi told her.

“I don’t care about food,” Skye snapped. “You can’t feed this out of me and if you could, herbal tea and vegetarian sandwiches wouldn’t cut it.” Her mouth twisted. “You got engaged and you didn’t tell me.”

The anger was easy to deal with, but the hurt made Lexi feel small. “I’m sorry,” she said, touching Skye’s hand. “I’m really sorry. Everything happened so fast. I was going to tell you. I had no idea that Cruz would put an announcement in the paper. I never wanted you to find out this way.”

“But you only met him last week. At my party. I introduced you.”

Lexi ducked her head. “Um, not exactly. Cruz and I have known each other for a long time. Ten years.”

As much as she wanted to explain why she’d gotten engaged, she couldn’t. Jed had fundamentally changed their relationship when he’d put them in competition with each other for the inheritance. Lexi wanted the company and Skye wanted Glory’s Gate. Until that was decided, they weren’t on the same team anymore.

Jed could have easily broken up his estate, leaving them each what they wanted, but that wasn’t his way. He enjoyed setting his daughters against each other. It was a new form of sport for him.

Lexi avoided looking at Dana, whose curious expression meant more questions later. While she couldn’t tell the whole truth, she could explain part of it. Maybe that would be enough.

“I first met Cruz when I was in college. I went with a group of friends to a party where we’d heard some guy would be racing for pinks.”

“Pink slips,” Dana said when Skye looked confused. “You race for ownership. If you lose the race, you lose your car.”

Skye’s eyes widened. “Who would do that?”

“Guys are idiots,” Dana said with a shrug. “It’s a macho thing. So that’s how Cruz got his start, huh?”

Lexi nodded. She didn’t know much about his past, but she’d had the occasional quirk of curiosity and had searched for his name on the Internet a few times. He’d started with nothing and had grown his business into an empire.

“All the guys lost their cars to him,” Lexi said. “They were furious. The girls were more interested in Cruz than anything else.”

Lexi still remembered how he’d looked that day. Tall, dark and dangerous-looking. He’d had an easy smile that promised things she wasn’t sure were legal. His laugh had made her break out in goose bumps. The sun had seemed to follow him, basking him in a golden glow as if it, too, wanted to be close enough to touch.

She’d been unable to stop looking at him and he’d seemed interested in her. But she’d been unexpectedly shy and unable to flirt with him like the other girls.

“Cruz started talking to me. I didn’t know what to say or how to act, so I said I wanted to race him.”

“You didn’t!” Skye sounded horrified.

“Impressive,” Dana murmured. “What happened?”

“I was completely inexperienced.” Lexi shook her head at the double entendre. “I’d never even gotten a speeding ticket. I lost by a lot and he took my car.”

“That’s not very nice,” Skye muttered.

“It’s how he made his living,” Dana pointed out. “Lexi’s pretty, but not that pretty.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“You know what I mean.”

Lexi did. Her car had been a new Mercedes, worth about sixty grand. What guy would give that up to win the girl?

“That night I saw him at a party. We started talking. I was humiliated about losing the car, so I asked for a rematch. He kissed me instead. That’s where it started.”

“You slept with him?” Skye stood and put her hands on her hips. “You slept with him after he took your car?”

“You keep surprising me,” Dana said. “Good for you.”

It had been better than good—until the next morning. Not that she was going to tell them that. “In the morning I got scared and ran,” she lied. “I knew it was a mistake.”

“And he came after you,” Skye said with a sigh.

Lexi didn’t know how her sister had gone through an arranged marriage, been widowed, raised a child on her own and still managed to be such a romantic.

“Something like that,” Lexi murmured, knowing the truth was very different.

The next morning, she’d awakened feeling all tingly and connected to Cruz. He’d looked panicked. She’d seen it in his eyes, in the way he’d scrambled out of bed as if terrified of being trapped by her.

She’d been hurt and furious in equal measure. Until then, she’d always been the prize.

It had taken every ounce of self-control and pride to stand there naked, offer a cool smile and words that she would never forget.

“Don’t worry, Cruz. Girls like me don’t date guys like you. We only screw them for fun.”

He’d been surprised and possibly hurt. It had been impossible to know. His expression had cleared and she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. She’d dressed quickly and left, feeling hurt and humiliated.

Over the next few months she’d done her best to convince herself that Cruz didn’t matter. That she was lucky to have escaped—he wasn’t anyone she would want to be with. But she’d been unable to forget him.

“There’s always been something between us,” she said, knowing it was true, but not in the way her sister would take it. “Last week, at your party, we spent the whole night talking. We realized we’ve been in love with each other all this time.” When had she become such a good liar? she thought with a sigh.

“We got engaged. It was an impulse, but not one I regret. What I do regret is hurting you, Skye. I’d never do that willingly. I liked having the engagement as a delicious secret to think about all by myself, but I should have thought it through. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

“Would you have told me before?” Skye asked. “Does this have to do with Jed?”

Dana looked between them. “No switching topics,” she said calmly. “Fight about Cruz and nothing else.”

Until recently, Lexi and Skye hadn’t needed a referee, Lexi thought sadly. Damn Jed and his games.

“It’s not a power play,” she said quietly. “I swear.”

Skye stared at her, as if trying to decide if she was telling the truth. Finally she sighed. “I guess I understand. You fell in love. It’s pretty amazing, if you think about it.”

Lexi glanced to her left and saw Dana rolling her eyes.

Skye hugged her. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks. I’m happy, too.”

“Wow. Engaged. I wondered when you’d let your guard down enough to fall for anyone. I thought you were too scared to love, especially after Andrew, but all this time you’d already given your heart to someone else. It’s amazing.”

Actually it was a crock, Lexi thought, wondering if her sister really thought of her as keeping up her guard. Lexi didn’t think that was true. She mostly didn’t connect with men because…because…Well, there were plenty of good reasons she couldn’t think of right now.

Skye squeezed her hand. “We need to celebrate. I want to throw you a big engagement party.”

Lexi pulled free. “Wait a minute. We don’t need a party. At least not right away. Let me get used to the idea of being engaged.”

“Don’t be silly. I’ll do all the work. After all, that’s what I do, right? Throw parties. Throw parties and raise my daughter. It’s not like I have a real job.”

Lexi frowned. “What’s wrong? Why are you saying it like that.”

Skye grabbed her purse. “I’m not. Sorry. But this is good. All good. Congratulations. I can’t wait to meet him again and tell him he’d better plan to make you very happy. You deserve that, Lexi.”

The sincerity in her sister’s words made her feel crappy. “Skye—”

Her sister started for the door. “I need to get home before Erin gets off the bus. This is wonderful. I’m genuinely happy for you, Lexi. We’ll talk soon.”

And then Skye was gone.

Dana stretched her arms along the back of the sofa. “The weird thing is, she means it. She is happy for you. If not for the crap your dad’s putting all of you through, it would be great. Too bad everything you said is a lie.”

Lexi sank back on the couch and closed her eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Sure you do. Come on. Skye’s a dreamer. She’s sweet and giving and would almost never believe anything bad about you. I’m a whole lot more cynical and I’ve known you since we were both ten years old. You waited for a guy? All this time? I don’t think so. It’s not in your nature to pine. You go out and get what you want.”

This was the second assessment of her character in less than ten minutes and she was equally surprised by what Dana thought. Lexi tried to be strong and in control but always felt she fell way short.

“I believe you did sleep with him,” Dana continued. “And that you’re engaged, but the rest of it? No way.”

Lexi opened her eyes and looked at her friend. “You don’t want to know.”

“Is it illegal?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

“A simple no would have been too difficult?” Dana grumbled.

Lexi smiled. “It’s not illegal.”

“Then what?”

“Then I’m not going to tell you. You’re my friend and I love you, but no. Not this time. Cruz and I are engaged. That’s enough.”

“It’s not even close to enough.” Dana leaned toward her. “Are you in trouble? Any kind of trouble?”

Lexi appreciated the support. “No. Not even a little.” Thanks to Cruz. “Danger maybe, but not trouble.”

Dana’s eyes narrowed. “What does that mean?”

“Have you ever seen Cruz Rodriguez?”

“No.”

“He’s the walking, breathing definition of temptation.”

“Which shouldn’t be a problem if you’re engaged.”

Good point. “Let’s just say I don’t want him to know that he has that much control. Can I borrow your truck? I’ll need it to move my stuff into Cruz’s place.”

“You’re going to be living with him?”

Lexi believed the exact words had been something like, “In my house and in my bed.” Which made her want to fan herself. “Uh-huh,” she said.

“That doesn’t sound like you. Besides, won’t your shiny new fiancé be helping?”

She had no idea. “He’s, uh, going to be out of town. I want to surprise him.”

“You’re not a good liar. What will you be moving?”

“Just clothes and personal stuff.”

“No furniture?”

“Not right away.” Actually she had no idea what to take, but clothes seemed like a good place to start. “He can help with any big pieces I decide to keep,” she said, knowing it wasn’t an issue. She would hold on to her condo so she would have a place to go when the six months were over.

Dana looked as if she wanted to argue but instead she said, “I’ll help you move and I’ll be the one driving my truck.”

“Because you don’t trust me with your baby?”

“Damned straight.”

“But it’s just a truck.”

Dana winced. “That’s why you can use it but you can’t borrow it.”

WHEN DANA LEFT, Lexi hurried to her purse, where she dug out Cruz’s business card. He’d scrawled his cell number on the back. She punched it in and waited impatiently until he answered.

“Rodriguez.”

“What were you thinking? That’s some stunt you pulled. It’s bad enough that you did it, but you didn’t even warn me. I hadn’t told my sisters yet. You hurt Skye. I can forgive a lot of things, but not that.” Izzy wouldn’t care one way or the other, but Skye was sensitive.

“What if I hadn’t told my father?” she continued, her voice rising slightly. “Trust me, you don’t want to deal with Jed Titan when he’s at the business end of a gun.”

“You about finished?” Cruz asked.

“I’m just getting started.”

“Good. I’ll be there in ten minutes. You can yell at me in person.”

He disconnected the call before she could tell him that didn’t work for her.

She slammed down the phone, then marched to her private bathroom where she ran cold water on her wrists and double-checked her makeup. She hated that she cared about how she looked to him and called herself names as she put on more lip gloss.

Why her? Why had he picked her? She didn’t have Skye’s gorgeous curves and feminine features or Izzy’s zest for life and adventure. She was a classic, cool blond. Or as Andrew had so eloquently put it, an ice queen. Cruz was all fire and passion. So why her?

Did it matter? She’d gotten what she’d wanted—a bail-out. She still had a shot at winning Titan World and her father’s affections. In six months, she would be free of Cruz. Until then, she would endure. She was good at that.

Her assistant buzzed that he’d arrived. Lexi ignored the sudden clenching of her stomach, the weakness that invaded her knees, and made her way to the front of her spa.

As always, just walking through her place of business made her happy. The high ceilings and dark wood moldings gave the space an elegant air. She greeted staff members as she passed them in the hall. Jeannie, on her way to give a facial, seemed ready to collapse under the weight of a couple dozen towels.

“You all right?” Lexi asked, grabbing an armful.

Jeannie straightened. “Thanks. Mrs. Miller is coming in and she has this thing about wanting extra towels in the room. She doesn’t use them—she just wants them where she can see them.”

Mrs. Miller was a regular. Weekly manicures, bi-weekly pedicures and facials, massages. Fake tan in the summer.

“Better extra towels than a yappy dog that pees everywhere,” Lexi told her with a grin.

“Oh, but then at least the towels would get used.” Jeannie laughed then ducked into one of the treatment rooms.

Lexi continued toward the main entrance, passing through the relaxation room. Three sofas and several overstuffed chairs filled the area. Women in thick robes sat with mugs of herbal tea as they either waited for their treatments or enjoyed a little quiet time after they were done. Soothing music played in the background while a junior staff member offered magazines and cut fruit.

Lexi paused to glance back at the long corridor. Nearly all the treatment room doors were closed, with discreet “occupied” signs hanging next to them. It was midweek and they were nearly at capacity. If nothing else, at least her business life was going well.

Cruz stood by the check-in desk. He should have looked out of place. Instead he lounged by a glass case filled with cosmetics and appeared completely comfortable, in a sexy, masculine way. Every female eyed him with a curiosity that did more than undress him. It served him up for breakfast and demanded they do it again.

Lexi found herself feeling oddly possessive, which was crazy. She should only want to yell at him for what he’d done with the announcement.

He looked up and saw her, then smiled with such pleasure that her entire nervous system tingled.

“Lexi,” he said as he approached, taking both her hands in his and lightly kissing her. He pressed his lips to her ear and whispered, “If you keep looking at me like you want to see me as roadkill, no one is going to believe we’re engaged.”

“Well then, they really won’t believe it after I take you to the woodshed and beat some sense into you,” she said back, keeping her voice low.

He straightened and grinned. “I look forward to you trying.” He released one hand and tugged on the other. “Come on. I want to show you something.”

She allowed him to lead her outside.

The sun was bright and high in the big, blue sky. She had to shade her eyes to see the parking lot. At first she didn’t notice anything different. There were the usual assortment of guest cars, most of which were expensive imports that…

Her gaze settled on a silver-blue Mercedes. She recognized the car and the color because both had been special-ordered for her birthday, and her father had been very unhappy when she’d explained the vehicle had been lost. In truth, Jed had been more angry that she hadn’t won the race than that she’d virtually given away an expensive car. He’d reminded her that if she was going to be stupid, she needed to learn to be tough.

Her anger at Cruz faded as she approached the car. It couldn’t be the same one. Not after ten years. Could it? Had he really kept her car all this time?

“Seriously?” she asked, glancing at him.

He shrugged. “Sure. I gave it to my housekeeper to drive. I got her something new, so you can have this back.”

Okay. So much for feeling special.

She opened the driver’s side door and slid onto the seat. Everything was exactly as she remembered. She rubbed her hands along the steering wheel then turned to look—

A small Tiffany’s box sat on the passenger seat. It was square and the right size for a ring. An engagement ring.

Because they were engaged now.

Lexi stared at the box. When she’d been a preteen, she’d spent hours daydreaming about falling in love and getting married. She’d imagined this moment over and over. Sometimes the faceless man of her dreams had proposed over dinner at the top of a tall building in a dark restaurant with candles everywhere. Sometimes it was on the beach, at sunset, or in Paris. But never had it been by a casually placed box left on the passenger seat of an old car.

“Open it,” he said.

She did and stared at the cushion-cut stone. Three carats, she would guess, with another carat or so of smaller stones on the shank. Flawless. Perfect. And without any meaning at all.

She took the ring out of the box, then stepped from the car.

“Put it on,” he told her.

She would. In a second. When the disappointment wasn’t quite so sharp and pressing.

It was a deal, she reminded herself. Just a business transaction. This wasn’t about her girlish dreams or falling in love or any of those things. The romance would come later…with someone else.

She slid the ring on. It fit perfectly.

“Thank you,” she said, forcing herself to meet his gaze. Not that she could tell what he was thinking. “It’s beautiful.”

“It suits you.” He studied her hand. “You can keep it. After.”

After the six months were over. “Traditionally the woman is supposed to return the ring unless the groom-to-be breaks the engagement or cheats. At least I think that’s how it goes.”

He grinned. “Already forgetting those fancy lessons on manners?”

“Some. As a kid I spent a few weeks every summer with my mother. The visits were more like classes than anything else. Plenty of instruction.” Lots of coldness. Her mother hadn’t been especially cruel or unkind, she just didn’t believe in displaying affection or coddling, as she called it. Hugs were unnecessary in her world.

“Skye spent a couple of years in a Swiss finishing school,” she continued. “She would know for sure. You could ask her.”

“No, thanks.” He took her hand in his and rubbed his thumb over the ring. “You can keep the car, too. Sell it.”

“Give it to my housekeeper?” she asked.

“Sure.”

“I don’t have one.” She pulled her hand free, mostly because the feel of his skin on hers was too distracting and she needed to be able to think. “Why did you put the notice in the paper?” she asked.

He shoved his hands into his front pockets. “I wanted to get things moving along. You’d cashed the check. Why wait?”

“You thought I might back out on our deal. I wouldn’t do that.”

“I didn’t think that.”

He had to. Why else would he be in such a hurry to tell the world they were engaged?

“What do you know about a guy named Garth Duncan?” he asked.

She frowned, trying to place the name. “Not much. I’ve never met him. He’s wealthy. Has a lot of businesses. Doesn’t do the party circuit very much. He lives somewhere around here. Why?”

“He’s the one who made the original loan. The callable one.”

“What? Why would he do that? Why would he invest in my spa in the first place and then try to bankrupt me? I’ve never met the man.” The way things had been handled felt so personal. “This doesn’t make any sense.”

“I agree. I’ll do what I can to find out more. Garth Duncan is a private man. It’s going to take some digging and time. But I’ll find out what you want to know.”

“Thank you,” she said, confused by the information. Why would a stranger want to hurt her?

“All part of the deal,” he reminded her. “And I’m sorry about the announcement. I should have thought it through.”

There was something about the way he said that. She shook off her questions about Garth. “Because it’s making trouble for you, too?” She could only hope.

“My mother. She read it and now she wants to meet you.”

His mother? As in…his mother? “Um, no.”

“You don’t have a choice. We’re engaged. She lives in Houston. We’ll drive down and have lunch.”

“No we won’t. I’m not lying to your mother.”

“I’m lying to your father.”

“That’s different. Your mother is probably nice.”

“She’s a lot of things. You can discover each and every one of them when you meet her at lunch.”

Suddenly the diamond ring on her left hand felt very heavy. Lexi sighed. “I’ll have to check my schedule.”

“You do that. And you have less than four days left to move in.” His dark eyes gave nothing away. “Until Saturday night.”

“You’re very anxious to claim what’s yours.”

One corner of his mouth turned up. “I know.”

She wanted to tell him she needed more time. That while she could easily move into his house, she wasn’t ready to be in his bed. They were practically strangers. They couldn’t sleep together. Except they’d been strangers that first night and it hadn’t mattered at all.

“I’ll be there,” she murmured. “A friend is helping me move.”

“What kind of friend?”

She rolled her eyes. “Her name is Dana and she’s a deputy, so don’t piss her off or she’ll arrest you.” She put her hands on her hips. “I said I wasn’t seeing anyone and I’m not. I wouldn’t lie about that.” Besides, why would he care? Or was it a guy-pride thing?

“I believe you.”

“Obviously not, if you’re asking all those questions.”

He touched her cheek. “You have a temper. I like that.”

“Then you’ll be a very happy man. I’m a pretty crabby person.”

That made him laugh. “I doubt that, querida.”

He leaned in and kissed her. Just once, for a heartbeat. Then he straightened and pressed a set of keys into her hand. “For your car.”

She watched him walk away.

Not sure what to make of any of it, she got back in the car and started the engine. It sounded good—as if someone had taken care of it. Probably Cruz’s housekeeper, she thought grimly. Although the woman had apparently been incredibly clean. There wasn’t a mark on it and no sign of—

Her gaze fell on the odometer. The car had only been a few months old when she’d lost it to Cruz. She’d driven to California and back with her girlfriends, then to college and home a few times. She didn’t remember the exact mileage, but it had to have been under ten thousand miles.

The odometer read 8962.

There was no way someone had been using this car, she thought, beyond confused. But it had been kept in good working condition. Had Cruz really kept her car all this time? It was the only answer that made sense, except it didn’t make sense at all. Why would he do that? He could have sold it and made thirty or forty thousand, easy. Maybe more. If he hadn’t wanted the car, why had he raced her in the first place? And why was he returning the car to her now?