Fresh Temptation

your privacy like that. Would it help if I had someone escort you through the parking garage from now on?”
    She pulled her hand away from his. “No. It’s more than that. She had a man taking pictures of you with my son. Do you know how creepy that makes me feel?”
    “Cara, sweetheart, I’m so sorry—”
    “How do I know what else she’s capable of? She’s rich and probably crazy and I have a child to protect—”
    “Cara!” He leaned forward in his chair, his eyes fixed on hers. “I’ll handle Alexis. I’ll make sure she never bothers you again.”
    She folded her hands in her lap as she stared at the wall, dazed. “Did you cheat on her?”
    “What? Why in the world would you think that?”
    “That’s what she told me yesterday.”
    “Oh my God.” Instantly, Victor seethed with rage. He cracked one knuckle and took a deep breath before answering. “No. I absolutely did not cheat on her.”
    “Then, what happened? Why’d you break up?” Cara’s eyebrows furrowed. “You know, I don’t think I’ll ever understand why you were with someone like her in the first place. Did you not realize what an evil brat she was?”
    He grabbed the arm of Cara’s chair and spun her around, forcing her to face him. “I asked myself that same question for a long time after we broke up. How did I not see how immature and selfish she was? How did I not know she was screwing Esteban, her personal trainer, behind my back?”
    Cara winced. “Oh…”
    “Yeah.” He nodded. “She’s the one who cheated. And you’re the first person I’ve ever told about it, so I’m going to trust you not to repeat it.”
    “What do you mean? Why haven’t you told anyone? She could be lying to others about you.”
    “I have too much respect for her family to drag their name through the mud because of her indiscretion. Her father is a valuable mentor of mine. The honorable thing to do was simply break off the engagement and forget about her. Move on like I never knew her.” He sighed. “But she won’t let me forget.”
    “How long were you engaged?”
    “Longer than I care to admit.” Victor held up his hand to halt her response. “I know what you’re gonna say. How did I let her make such a fool out of me? The answer is, I was too busy building my career to get to know her like I should have. I won’t make that mistake again. She was obviously someone I didn’t know at all. But I learned my lesson. I know what’s really important now. I see so many things in you that she’ll never have.”
    “You do?”
    “Yes. You’re hardworking. Humble. Nurturing.” His palm grazed her cheek, his voice gentle. “And you’re beautiful. Please, let me get to know you, Cara. Don’t let her scare you away from me.”
    Entranced by his sweetness, Cara could only gaze into his eyes, unable to form a response.
    Victor rose from his chair, bending forward to pull her into a kiss.
    Nothing in Cara wanted to resist him. The last of her worries disappeared, drawn away by the heat of his lips and replaced by memories of yesterday, of how incredible it felt to let him take her. The memories rushed back, along with her desire to be taken again.
    He kissed her until he found himself dying to part her thighs. He forced himself to pull away. “I’m sorry, querida ,” he whispered. “I need to stop or I’ll spend the next hour pleasuring you and there’s a meeting I must attend.”
    “Oh, Cara.” He kissed her ear. “I’m never gonna get any work done with you around.”
    “Sorry.”
    “Don’t be sorry. I was working too much anyway.” He smiled and gave her a soft peck on the lips. “But I do have a meeting. I’ll see you soon. Lunch, okay?”
    “Yes. I can’t wait.”
    Cara left Victor’s office, blushing when Gary gave her a wink out in the hall.

Chapter Fourteen
     
    “Well, it’s taken long enough. You better have some amazing news for me.” Alexis paced the grand hallway in her parents’ house, holding her phone to her ear. Four days had passed since she approached Cara Green in the parking garage at Monarch Enterprises. Her new private investigator, Lindy, came highly recommended. But so far, Alexis was disappointed. There were more pictures of Victor playing with Cara’s sickeningly-cute kid, and little else. Alexis had to be more careful now. Victor’s attorney had filed a restraining order against Alexis on behalf of Cara. It included a section about the use of investigators. If there was proof