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As she tilted her head to the side, studying me with those mesmerizing eyes, I realized I was staring like a fucking idiot. I cleared my throat, trying to regain some semblance of composure, but she spoke before I could say a word.

“See something you like?” she purred, her voice sultry, with just a hint of a challenge.

Her voice was like honey, rich and smooth, with a whisper of teasing sending a tremor of desire rippling through me. I recovered quickly, flashing her my most disarming grin. “Maybe I do,” I said, my tone equally playful. “But I haven’t decided if you might be trouble.”

She laughed then, a rich, throaty sound. “Oh, honey,” she said, leaning in close enough that I could catch the scent of her perfume—something dark and exotic, with a bit of spice. “I’m definitely trouble. The question is, are you man enough to handle it?”

“Never met trouble I couldn’t tame,” I shot back, locking eyes with her, bold as brass.

She didn’t so much as blink, holding my stare like it was a game of chicken she had no intention of losing. Anticipation buzzed through my veins—this woman was no delicate flower waiting to be plucked.

“Dante Reyes,” I said, extending my hand. “And you are?”

She regarded me for a moment, those smoldering eyes seeming to strip me bare, before slipping her hand into mine. Her grip was firm and confident, her skin like silk against my calloused palm.

“Eva Morales,” she purred, her lips curving into a smile promising delicious secrets.

Eva. Even her name rolled off the tongue like a decadent indulgence. My curiosity was piqued in a way it hadn’t been in years.

“Well, Eva Morales,” I said, holding her gaze. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

She tilted her head ever so slightly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Is it, now? And what makes you so sure of that?”

A chuckle escaped me, and I leaned in closer, invading her personal space in a way that would’ve had most women swooning. But Eva didn’t flinch, didn’t back down an inch. If anything, the challenge in her eyes only intensified.

“Call it a hunch,” I said. “Something tells me you’re…different, Eva.”

Her full lips curved into a slow, seductive smile that went straight to my groin. “You have no idea, Dante Reyes.”

The tension had me yearning to close the distance between us. But before I could act impulsively, a familiar voice cut through the haze of desire.

“Dante! There you are!” Sofia appeared at my side, looking furious. “I was beginning to think you’d ditched us.”

I forced my gaze away from Eva’s captivating presence, offering my sister a sheepish grin. “Sorry, sis. Got caught up talking to this lovely lady.”

Sofia’s eyes widened as she took in Eva’s striking look, and I could see the questions forming behind her gaze. But before she could voice them, Allen sidled up beside her, his arm snaking around her waist in a possessive gesture that made me want to punch him in the throat.

“Everything alright, babe?” he drawled, shooting me a look of equal parts disdain and challenge.

A bit of rage welled up within me, my protective instincts flaring at the sight of his pawing hands on my sister. But before I could spit out a clever line, Eva fixed those dark, smoldering eyes on me, and damn, it was like she lit a fire in my pants. “It was a pleasure, Dante. Who knows, our paths might cross again.”

I composed myself and handed her one of our Club Diablo cards. “Let’s make sure of that. Stop by my club tomorrow. I guarantee you’ll have a good time.” I smirked, cocky as hell.

She winked, took the card, and glided through the crowd. As I watched her sexy strut, the skirt hugging her curves, I knew I wanted to get her alone.

“Whew, bro, who’s the bombshell?” Sofia asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

I shook my head, still dazed from the encounter. “Eva Morales,” I said, the name rolling off my tongue.

Sofia’s brow furrowed. “She seemed... interesting.”

“That’s one word for it,” I muttered, my mind still spinning. Eva Morales was not your average chick.

SEVEN

NATALIA

I barely recognized myself. The practical agent with the tidy ponytail and forgettable blazer was gone. In her place stood Eva Morales—a vision of sultry elegance with cascading dark hair, smoky blue eyes, and a dress that accentuated every single curve.