The Scandal (Billionaire's Beach Book 4) - Christie Ridgway Page 0,49

after graduating from culinary school and spending a few years in restaurant kitchens. “Too noisy, too loud, not enough personal touch.”

They were to dessert and coffee—or in her case, tea—now. Sipping from her cup, she noticed him studying her more intently than before.

“I get that about you,” he said. “What you enjoy is the personal touch—and I don’t mean that in a lascivious sense, by the way.”

Sara ignored the way her neck heated.

Joaquin tilted his head. “That’s the why behind your interest in landscape design as well, I’m thinking. Creating an outdoor space for someone is just as personal as creating an indoor space or creating a meal.”

“I…” She’d never thought it through, to be honest. “I guess…yes.”

For the rest of their time at the restaurant she felt a little frantic, trying to decide whether it was dangerous to be so transparent to Joaquin. Would it give him some advantage that might trip her up?

Then she called herself the fool she didn’t want to seem. He wasn’t an adversary. They weren’t in a battle of any kind.

She was his butler, he was her boss.

On the return to Nueva Vida, she stared out the car window and congratulated herself on her composure. How ridiculous had been her fears!

After parking in the garage, they walked toward the side entrance into the house. He held open the door for her, and the narrow opening necessitated she brush past him. She felt his body heat and breathed in the soap and aftershave scent so familiar to her now. It caused her head to spin a little and she stumbled.

Joaquin caught her arm. “Okay?”

“Yes.” She carefully pulled free of his grasp and continued on, pausing before the turn that would take her toward her quarters. Only a few lights were on downstairs. Essie presumably was in her bedroom reliving her phone call with her boy.

“It’s been a lovely evening,” Sara said. “Thank you so much.”

“I should thank you,” Joaquin replied, “for answering all my questions.”

“I hope I didn’t bore you.”

“Not at all.” He shook his head, a half-smile on his face as he gazed down on her. “You know,” he mused, “I think I know you better than just about any other woman.”

Except he didn’t know about the scandal.

The thought of it tumbled into her brain like a thorny weed ball—prickly and unwelcome. For a second she considered confessing—but she didn’t want to mar the end of the night out with that story, and whatever might be Joaquin’s reaction to it.

Would he see her in a different light?

Would he believe her side of things?

“One final question,” he said now. “What do you say to a walk on the beach?”

Her mind still preoccupied, she answered absently. “Sure.” Then, catching up to the conversation, she said, “What? Wait!”

But he already had her by the elbow and was leading her to the back doors. The next thing she knew, he was kneeling at her feet and unbuckling her shoes. His touch on the bare skin of her ankle caused a trail of fire ants to march up her legs. Her skin twitched, and she wanted to bat his hands away, but he was already rising and toeing off his suede loafers.

She stepped out of her shoes as he caught her hand.

“We shouldn’t miss this,” he said.

Her breath caught as she looked around her. The light of the moon turned the sand to silver, and its reflection floated on the water. There was no breeze to speak of, just the cool kiss of the air on her bare skin. But with Joaquin’s fingers entwined with hers, she didn’t feel a chill.

Only…something like possibility.

At the height of the scandal she’d felt wronged and dirty and horribly embarrassed. She’d run from London to the States to hide herself and her shame. Months of hats and baggy clothes and fearful glances at anyone who passed her in a car or at a store hadn’t calmed her or made her feel clean again.

But right now, in the quiet night with a handsome man at her side, she could breathe once more. She could dream.

Maybe a landscaping design business. And possibly what Carol Madigan had said? A girl like you will find a husband and your own home to look after some day soon.

She’d always been too wary to indulge in that fantasy. Following the scandal, wary and spooked. Yet now, in the magical moonlight, she could picture herself with a man, dark-haired and strong, who would cherish her company and ease her long-held