A muscle jerked in his jaw. “I recognize the flower. Their ads are on billboards all over Manhattan. You like their stuff?”
A fissure of relief worked its way through her guilt. At least she could honestly answer his question. “I do. I’m sort of a cosmetics junkie-I love trying new products. Out of all the stuff out there, and believe me there’s a lot, I like La Fleur the best.”
“Why?”
“The purity of their ingredients. Their color palettes. I’ve found that some cosmetics companies will carry one, maybe two products that I like-an eye pencil or a mascara. But with La Fleur, I like all their products.”
His gaze roamed over her face and he brushed the pad of his thumb over her cheek. “You have beautiful skin.”
“Thank you. It’s courtesy of La Fleur’s coconut milk cleanser. It’s amazing.”
“If it keeps your skin looking like this, I’d have to agree.” A frown bunched between his brows. “So you’re really sold on this La Fleur.”
“Absolutely,” she said, meaning it. “Why do you ask? Looking to borrow my skin cleanser?”
Instead of smiling, as she’d hoped, he shook his head. “No. I guess I’m just…I don’t know. Surprised maybe, although that’s probably not the right word. I’m not crazy about La Fleur myself.”
Trying her best to look innocent and feeling like a complete heel, she asked, “You’ve tried their line of men’s products?”
“No. I’m just a soap-and-water kind of guy. I’ve had a bit of work-related contact with La Fleur and I was…less than impressed.”
“They treated you badly?”
A sheepish look crossed his face. “Not exactly, although I did find them annoying. But I suppose not any more so than any other cosmetics company I’ve dealt with lately. But I just have a bad association with La Fleur.”
Uh-oh. Nelson wouldn’t be pleased to hear this. “Why’s that?”
He hesitated, then said, “Because I attended a party La Fleur hosted and walked in on my girlfriend and one of their male models.”
She blinked. Had he just said girlfriend? “What were they doing?”
He shot her a look that clearly said, “Do you really need to ask?” Then stated in a clipped voice, “She was giving him a blow job, and he was praising higher beings.”
Dismay and sympathy flooded her, but then the significance of his other words dawned on her. At a party La Fleur hosted. The only party he’d attended that La Fleur had hosted had been…
The one she’d arranged.
The one he’d abruptly left, leaving her to explain his absence to some very unpleased corporate honchos.
“When did this happen?” she asked, needing to make sure.
“Two months ago.”
Oh, boy. Well, at least now she knew why he’d jumped ship. And in a blink, all the anger and resentment she’d felt at his abrupt departure evaporated, leaving her feeling like a louse for all the bad things she’d thought about him. She’d considered that he might have had a good reason for leaving the party, and he certainly had. The fact that he’d left after making such a discovery, without causing a scene, amazed her. She doubted she would have been so composed in a similar situation, a realization that did nothing to make her feel like less of a louse.
Kayla reached up to clasp his hand that rested on her shoulder. “I’m so sorry. More than one boyfriend has cheated on me over the years, so I know how awful it feels, although I never discovered the betrayal in such a…graphic way.”
“It sucked.” He made a humorless sound. “No pun intended.”
“You’re not together anymore?”
His gaze turned cool and she immediately sensed his withdrawal. “No. I didn’t care to be with a liar, and she, clearly, had found someone else. And for the record,” he continued, his voice as cool as his gaze, “if I were involved with someone else, last night with you wouldn’t have happened. I have faults, but cheating isn’t one of them.”
She squeezed his hand, instantly contrite. “I’m sorry. Really. I didn’t mean to imply that you would.” To her relief, the chill left his eyes at her apology, giving her the courage to continue, “What I really wanted to know, but asked very badly, was whether you’re nursing a broken heart.”
His golden-brown gaze rested on hers. “No. My heart is free.”
His words zinged a thrill through her that her common sense immediately squashed. What difference did it make? It wasn’t as if she would ever have his heart. Even if she managed to capture a small piece of it, he’d reclaim it pretty damn quick once he found out how she’d duped him. What had his exact words been? Oh, yeah. I didn’t care to be with a liar. It would be very smart of her not to forget that.
But damn it, she normally wasn’t a liar. Oh, sure, she wasn’t above uttering little white lies to spare someone’s feelings, but she’d never considered herself a dishonest person.
Until now.
Until Nelson, damn him, had put her in this untenable position which grew more unpalatable with each passing moment.
She pushed those thoughts aside, only to find them instantly replaced by a dozen questions regarding his former girlfriend. What did she look like, how long were they together, was she good in bed-the usual sort of info and details women wanted to know. She pressed her lips together and managed to suppress them. Whoever the woman was, she was an idiot, and out of the picture. Another thrill, followed by instant alarm, zoomed through her.
His grin flashed, but his eyes remained serious, searching hers. “At least my heart was free until you strolled along. I think I should call the police and have you arrested for stealing it.”
Her pulse jumped, part with happiness and part with trepidation-because she felt the exact same way. But unlike him, she knew whatever they might share here in Peru had a built-in expiration date, courtesy of La Fleur and her role as corporate spy.
Forcing a light tone, she smiled and said, “I’m not too worried about being hauled off in handcuffs. In your attempt to report me to the Spanish cops, you’d instead end up ordering cold beer for the entire police force.”
“Hey, I know how to say ‘hot food’ also.”
“Great. You’d buy the entire police force an entire meal.” She waggled her brows. “And I’d go free.”
His gaze dropped to her lips and heat raced through her. “And I’d find you.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
“What would you do once you found me?”
He brushed his mouth over hers, a featherlight touch that teased and tantalized and drew a sigh of pleasure from her. “Before or after I got you naked?” he whispered against her lips.
Oh, my. The mere thought of him getting her naked tightened her womb. Before she could answer, however, the bus pulled to a stop. Dust swirled around them and the driver turned and smiled.
“Welcome to Quoriwayrachina,” he said, the complicated name of the town where the tour began rolling off his tongue with a native’s ease.
Brett looked at her and smiled. “Here we are, at the beginning of our Big Adventure.”
She gazed at the mountains and lush vegetation and the groups of people standing nearby, readying what looked like tents. The beginning. Right. She just hoped she’d make it to the end of this adventure with all her body parts-including her heart-intact.
But one look at those intimidating mountains and then at the sexy man next to her and Kayla experienced some very serious doubts on both counts.
10
KAYLA STOOD next to Brett with the other nine people who comprised their group. Everyone went around and briefly introduced themselves. In addition to their guide, Paolo Trucero, there were Alberto and Miguel, Paolo’s younger brothers, who were serving as the porters, and their sister, Ana, the cook for the excursion. All of the siblings possessed dark hair, deep-brown eyes, and friendly smiles.