Page 66 of Rio

“My work,” I wail.“Please don’t make it any harder for me,” I beg.“I won’t get any work done,” I protest, weakly.If I stay here, the injunction would be the last thing on my mind, and it’s imperative I get it done.I’m only halfway through.The realization shakes me to reality.I have a long way to go.I’m going to barely get any sleep.I move away.

He lets me go.

I don’t want to leave, I would much rather stay here all night kissing Rio, seeing where this leads.

But … the injunction.

“Running away again, princesa?”The weight of his disappointment is as heavy as the outline of his magnificent cock.I bite a lip, trying not to think of him inside me.

“Sorry.”I start gathering my things together.

“I’ll drop you back,” he offers, just as I catch him adjusting himself in his pants.

“That’s not necessary.I can get a taxi.”

“I’ll take you.”

I laugh.“A taxi will take me back.”

“I’ll take you back.I need to know that you’re back safely.”

My safety.He’s always concerned about my safety, and that makes me feel cherished in a way I didn’t know I craved.

Chapter 19

RAQUEL

Rio drops me back at my hotel, but we barely exchange a look.He waits outside in the Jeep until I make it through the lobby doors.

My heart races.It feels light and fluttery, and me?I feel wicked, sinful and dirty.After that scorching hot time in his hotel room, I’m thankful to be in my own space.Away from a man I’m deeply attracted to, but a man whose values I abhor.A man who comes from an empire I abhor.

That man does things to me, he’s in my mind, under my skin, imprinted everywhere he’s touched me.It feels impossible that I’ll ever get him out of my system.

I was torn.My body had other ideas, but my mind was fixated on that damn injunction.

He kept talking about it being a coincidence, us meeting three times now.Like life is trying to tell us something.

I flip on the air conditioning.The place is already hot and sweltering, adding to the heat simmering under my skin.But it’s late, too late, and I don’t have much time.Alma wants the injunction served tomorrow.

I take a cold shower—because I need one.Then I get to work.

***

It’s two in the morning and I’m rechecking my notes, making sure I have enough photos, enough written statements, enough evidence.Then I panic, Pierce’s words echoing in my head.Make sure this is watertight.

That’s when I see the folder Rio gave me.I skim through it.It’s detailed with more figures and data.It’s solid information.This is good.Really good.I wish I’d looked at it earlier.I probably would have but the constant interaction with that man during my short time here has fried my brain.

After tonight, after we kissed, and touched, and fondled, and wished we could do more, my brain was even more frazzled than ever.I struggled to get this done, but now that I have his report in my hands, maybe I can use parts of it.He’s trying to help.Maybe he’s doing what he can—as a representative for Knight Enterprises, sent here by his father—to do the right thing.

I’m doing what I do best.Speaking up for the people who don’t have a voice.I pull what I need from his file, and at four a.m, I crash out on the bed, completely exhausted.

The next morning, I’m up at eight, and I tell Alma that I need a few more hours to work on this.A little after noon, I’m ready.I head to HQ, to meet Alma and we set off for the construction site.When we get there we’re told by one of the workers that Orlando isn’t around.He gives us the name of a small café off the roadside, where Orlando’s having lunch with some of his colleagues.We head there.

“That must be them,” Alma says, pulling up on the side of the road.I see Rio, and immediately freeze.I was hoping he wouldn’t be here.I don’t want to do this in front of him, even though he’ll find out soon enough.I feel like a coward, because after last night this also feels like betrayal.

I inhale a breath, remind myself of why I’m here, and get out of the car.I walk toward them with purpose, the injunction folder tucked under my arm.No heels today—just sneakers.Dirt roads make wearing heels impossible.

The men are seated at a shaded café table, laughing over cold beers and grilled fish.As I get nearer, my gaze falls on Rio’s broad, muscular back under a casual white T-shirt.His dark hair is slicked back.Thankfully he’s not facing me and won’t see me coming.I try to push aside the memory of his kiss.Of how he looked at me.Of how he wanted to talk last night.