hint of shimmer, the gorgeous dress had long sleeves, a faux-wrap closure, and a belt that tied around the waist.
It looks like the world’s fanciest bathrobe.
The shoebox held a pair of open-toed heels with a thin ankle strap.
As much as I loved it, it was too much. I didn’t need clothes or jewelry or presents.
The only thing I wanted was him.
Setting everything down, I hurried to tame my bedhead and do my makeup before getting dressed.
Thankfully, the dress didn’t look like a bathrobe once it was on. It was short, fun, and sexy—especially when I walked and the fabric separated to show more thigh.
I put the shoes on, grabbed the jewelry box, and went to find Maximo. As I headed down the hallway, he came out of his office.
He’d showered and changed into a black suit with a black dress shirt, and the effect of all that darkness was breathtaking and panty soaking.
He looked sinister and wicked.
Sinful.
Running his tattooed hand across his jaw as his thumb swept his bottom lip, his eyes blazed as they traveled my body. “Fucking perfection. Do you like your Valentine’s present?”
My brows lowered. “What?”
Like a tiger stalking a gazelle, he approached and took the box from me. He pulled the bracelet out and tucked the empty case under his arm before grabbing my wrist and securing it in place. “I planned to give it to you last night after dinner, but then you,” he glanced at me, “distracted me. Today works better anyway. I’m sure it’s not fun sharing your birthday with a holiday.”
I didn’t tell him my dad had rarely remembered my birthday, let alone Valentine’s Day. He’d certainly never celebrated either.
“Do you like it?” he asked again.
“It’s beautiful, but the clothes and this… It’s too much. You don’t have—”
“If I felt like I had to do anything, your sweet ass would be out the door. I do things because I want to. Because I want to take care of you. Spoil you. I don’t have to do that, I want to do it. What I don’t want is an argument every time I give you something. You need to learn to let me take care of you.”
Easier said than done.
I’d been taking care of myself for as long as I could remember. I’d never learned to let someone else do it because I’d never had someone try.
Not until Maximo.
Letting go of the awkwardness that came from the unfamiliar, I smiled. “I love it. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His gaze dropped to my neck, zeroing in on his bite mark. The low rumble of his voice sent a tremor down my spine when he muttered, “Didn’t see this until now.”
I worried he felt guilty for biting me so hard, but when he backed me against a wall, it became obvious that wasn’t his reaction to seeing his mark on me. His erection pressed into my belly as he dropped the empty jewelry box. I thought he was going to kiss me, but instead he grudgingly muttered, “We’ve got to go.”
“Okay.”
For a flash, he looked uneasy as he studied me. He opened his mouth before closing it again, his lips pressing into a thin line. Stepping away, he grabbed my hand and silently walked to his waiting SUV.
His grip stayed tight the whole time.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Hungry For It
Juliet
GETTING OUT OF the car, I scanned the windowless building Maximo had parked in front of. “I thought we were going to one of your properties.”
He hadn’t said as much, I’d just assumed.
“We are.” Taking my hand, he started walking toward the doors.
“This is one of your casinos?”
I’d picked Dad up from a variety of nontraditional casinos, including the airport, gas stations, and even an old church that’d been converted into a strip club and casino. This wasn’t even in the top ten strangest setups I’d seen, but I was still surprised.
He burst out laughing and his steps stopped so suddenly, I nearly lost my balance. He grabbed my waist to steady me. “This is not one of my casinos. I own the warehouse.”
“Well, how am I supposed to know?”
“Do I look like the kind of man who runs a casino out of a warehouse?”
No, you look like the kind of man who runs the whole damn world.
I lifted a shoulder. “No?”
“Is that a question or an answer?”
“An answer?” At his narrowed eyes, I held my hands in the air. “I don’t know what that kind of man would look like.”
Gripping my hand again, Maximo started walking. “Jesus, I’m taking