Page 27 of Rio (Knight Empire #3)

“It’s really quite alright ...” The words peter out. It’s not the apologetic concierge.

It’s him.

“It’s really not quite alright. You’re staying here, princesa? This place should be shut down.” He looks around in disbelief.

“How did they let you up here?”

“Small establishment. “They don’t have much security or care about your privacy.” He folds his arms across that broad chest, forcing me to gawk at his biceps that stretch the sleeve of his T.

His stance is all dominance and quiet challenge, as if he can’t decide whether to throw me over his shoulder and haul me out of here.

“What do you want, Knight?” My tankini clings to me, patches of it still damp from the heat.

“You look like you just stepped out of the shower,” he remarks.

“I’ve been working.”

“You’re wet.”

His skill for innuendo is unmatched. I feel a throbbing between my legs. It happens so easily. He says something and my body reacts. Now I really will be wet, with arousal, and desire, for this cocky man who yet again, lives to distract me.

“May I come in?” His gaze runs over me, slow and deliberate.

I cross my arms, suddenly aware of how little I’m wearing.

In answer, I step out of the way, still curious as to why he’s here.

Why, suddenly, I’m seeing him everywhere, all the time, all at once.

He walks in, looming large in the small stuffy little room.

“If you’re hoping to replay the strip poker night, it’s not happening,” I tell him.

“If you’re hot and sweaty and not fresh out of a shower,” he says, “then strip poker is the last thing on my mind.”

“What are you doing here? I’ve seen enough of you today.”

“We didn’t finish our conversation, at the end of the community hall.”

“We did.”

“I didn’t like how we left it. I want to talk about it away from prying ears and eyes.”

“In my hotel room?”

He looks at me like he doesn’t understand. “You’re here, melting by the second, I might add. I needed to see you.”

“To say what?”

“You didn’t have to go so hard on me, princesa.”

Meu Deus. Can’t he let it go? “Your ego was really battered in there, huh? I’m sorry if your feelings were hurt, can’t have been easy standing up there trying to look like a stud, only to get shot down again.”

“You think I looked like a stud?” That infuriating grin is back. Caraca. This man thinks I’m paying him a compliment. I don’t even dignify that with a reply.

“I’m here, in Belize, for a reason,” I retort. “Not a vacation. It’s a fact-finding mission and people like you need to be held accountable.”

“The eco resort will be good for the region. It will bring jobs and—”

“Have you even been to the coastline?” I snap. “I’ve got evidence. I’ve seen the damage. Have you?”

“Have you looked through the environmental data I gave you?” I note that he doesn’t answer my question.

“Not yet.” I wipe the back of my neck. My hand comes away clammy.

“You’re melting, princesa. Maybe you should take a shower. I’ll wait.”

“Good try, but it’s not happening.”

“Do you like sweating? Why isn’t your AC on?” He looks around the room, his nose wrinkling in disgust.

I explain the whole backup-generator failure to him.

“I need to finish this work,” I say, rubbing my temples.

His gaze lingers on my hands, my arms, my shoulders, dipping down before he catches himself and looks me in the eye again. I recall last night in the water, how we almost kissed. How our bodies touched. How I wished we could have seen that through. Maybe that’s why he’s here.

He shoots me a look. “Your plan is to melt into a puddle while you wait for the electricity to come back?”

“The generator will come on soon,” I say defiantly, while at the same time silently praying.

“We don’t have problems like this where I’m staying. I’m in the Peninsula. Not too far away.”

So he keeps reminding me. “Are you done now?”

“I don’t like us being at odds with each other.”

“We’re not on the same side, Knight. Don’t you realize that?”

“I thought we were friends.”

“Is that what last night was for? Was that your plan to soften me?”

He shakes his head, half in surprise, half in annoyance. “You think I would go to those lengths?”

“Your father did.”

“I am not my father.” He grits his teeth together, nostrils flaring.

“Tell me the truth, for once. Are you covering up for Delport Realty? Or are they covering up for you? Does Knight Enterprises always hide behind subsidiary companies?” He stiffens, so I press harder. “I’ve seen this kind of behavior from your people before. You’re known for it.”

He cocks his head. “As far as I’m aware, we do things by the book.”

“And what about your father and what he did to Uncle Arminio, Dani’s father?”

He doesn’t respond. Because he knows I’m right.

“What makes you think he plays by the rules when it comes to anything else? If he can ride roughshod over Uncle Arminio, do you think he gives a damn about the people in Belize? Or in any other country? People who are poorer, more vulnerable? Do you think he cares about them?”

Rio looks at me—really looks. As if something I said finally lands and hits him hard. “I’m going to look into this,” he says softly.

“You’re already so late. It should have been one of your first tasks.”

“I’m always in meetings, with planners, reps, consultants, project managers.”

“Then make the time to do your own investigation.”

“You’re not the first person who’s said that.” He sighs. Swipes a hand across his neck again. “I can take you to my hotel, if it would help. I’ve got the Jeep, and we’ll be there in a few minutes. You’ll be able to get your work done. You’ll die here.”

“You’re worried about my health and safety all of a sudden?”

He opens his mouth, a strange expression in his eyes. I chuckle, more to fill the silence, than anything else. I’m starting to feel uneasy at what he might say. “I thought you might have orchestrated the generator failure,” I add. “Just like you did the surprise meeting at the restaurant in Miami.”

He gasps. Blinking furiously. “You think I’m that manipulative? You think me and my brothers control people and events for our benefit?”

“You said you like being in control.”

He looks away. “Of my life. I don’t want to control others.”

I feel like I’ve touched a sore point, so I stay silent, watching him.

“You still have no idea of who I am,” he murmurs.

A moment passes.

“I’m not here on a vacation—” I start to say.

“Neither am I.”

“I have to work. I have lots to do.”

“My suite is a lot nicer. It’s cool, and big, and I promise not to strip off and lie on the bed waiting for you.” His cocky charm is back, and that veil of sadness I just saw slips away.

Something about his words sets me on fire again.

I’m melting in this heat. I’m sweating, exhausted, feeling gross and agitated.

Having access to AC and working Wi-Fi is too good an opportunity to pass up, even if it’s the devil offering me those things.

Before I know it, I’m gathering my belongings and my laptop and following him outside to his Jeep.

We drive in silence broken only by the sound of the cicadas chirping. The sun dips below the trees, and night falls fast. I hate that I’ve already wasted so much time and I’m going to be up all night.

A déjà vu moment of S?o Paulo suddenly flashes through my mind and I see Rio in his boxers. His tented boxers. If I’d have joined him in bed, we would have ended up ...

I force myself to focus on something else. How ridiculous is it that soon I’ll be in his hotel room, prepping an injunction he doesn’t even know is coming?

When he opens the door to his suite, I step in then stop dead in my tracks, my mouth hanging open. “Meu Deus,” I whisper. “This place is enormous. It’s gorgeous. ”

“Glad you like it. Make yourself at home.”