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“Yeah. The guy with the four cats?” Nicole rolled her eyes. She commended Dani for continuing to put herself out there on those dating apps, but she had to stop meeting up with every guy who threw her a wink.
“He sent her a two-page email saying she’s everything he’s looking for in a woman, except for her weight, and wondered if she was interested in transforming herself. He sent her some basic workout tips and offered to pay for a trainer.”
“Oh, my God,” Nicole sneered. “Who does this cat-hoarding awful man think he is? Dani is beautiful and voluptuous. What is wrong with people?”
“I don’t know, but I am so over men.”
“Ditto.” Nicole exhaled. “No one has ever offered to pay for my trainer.”
There had been a few significant men in Nicole’s life, but none had stuck it out for the long haul. Her last relationship ended when her ex suggested that no man wanted a woman who worked as much as she did. Yet he hadn’t been spouting that nonsense when she had treated him to a couples spa weekend in Indonesia for his birthday. Jerk.
Sure, she used to want the fairy tale—man, dog, kids—but the more she unsuccessfully dated and the older she got, the farther away that dream started to float. It was time for a new plan.
“Liz, please tell me she isn’t devastated.”
“No, just feeling hopeless. I called because I wanted us to take her out, get her mind off of it. What are you doing in Brazil?”
“Getting ready to sell a burnt-down winery to the highest American bidder. The owner is only in his thirties, but we’re talking serious old money.”
“Mmm. Is he single?”
“He’s French, so it probably doesn’t matter. Regardless, I don’t date clients. From his dossier he sounds like a trust-fund baby who is no doubt bristling at the fact that I’m a woman.”
“Wait till he sees you negotiate.”
“Damn right.” Nicole watched her floor number light up. “Okay, I gotta go.”
“Wait! What happened at the adoption agency?”
Nicole groaned. “They denied me.”
“I was afraid of that, Nicole.”
“I know, Liz. You’ve made your position clear. Could you slip out of shrink mode for one second and be the supportive friend that I’ve known for eight years?”
The elevator doors opened, and Nicole was relieved that it was empty. She held it for a brief second as Liz continued.
“Look, you know I think you deserve to have a child, but your lifestyle is not attractive to adoption agencies or parents choosing adoptive parents.”
“Well, that’s what they said.”
“What else did they say?”
“That a nanny was not a full-time parent.”
Liz chuckled. “Did you give them the au pair speech?”
“Don’t laugh. They were not impressed. But, honestly, what better way for a kid to learn a second language?”
“Nicole, if you’ve really decided to go this route, maybe you should think about insemination.”
“Oh, God, I cannot get pregnant.”
“Why? You’re only thirty-five. Women are having babies in their fifties these days.”
“I travel too much.”
“See—you don’t know what you want.”
“Yes, I do!” Afraid they’d get cut off if she stepped in, Nicole slapped her hand against the closing elevator door, pushing it open. “I want a kid and I’m done waiting around for Prince Charming, because he doesn’t exist!”
Liz sucked her teeth. “I might agree with you on that last statement, but I think you’re being hasty.”
“Well, I’m not. When this deal is done, I’ll get my promotion and I won’t be on the road as much. Plus, I’ll be able to afford a nanny and a rent-a-husband. We’ll discuss later. Kiss Dani for me, and tell her I’ll give her a call.”
Nicole hung up and stepped into the elevator, pulling up the email she’d gotten from the Live to Love adoption agency a few days ago.
Dear Miss Parks,
We are thrilled that you are interested in adopting a child, and thank you for taking the steps to ensure your eligibility. The Greens want you to know that they so enjoyed meeting you and feel that you are a strong candidate as an adoptive parent. Unfortunately, the couple had some concerns about your work schedule, and although you can afford excellent childcare, they have decided to wait for a two-parent home.
Please don’t get discouraged. Your child is out there.
As if being single wasn’t stigma enough, now young parents were rejecting her. She had a stable job and a killer résumé. What more could she do to make herself a desirable single parent? The agency had suggested that Nicole look into family homes located close to good schools—apparently parents liked that. The three-bedroom Brooklyn house she had been eyeing was still on the market, but she needed some more time to get the down payment together.
But that was before Brazil landed in her lap. She guessed that she could have that deal closed in a few weeks. Then that home and her mini-me, with their live-in French au pair, would be a reality.
Her fairy tale could come true.
The bell dinged, and Nicole strutted out of the elevator.
“Good evening Miss Parks, we are so glad you’ll be joining us for dinner.”
“Thank you, Anton,” she said, recognizing the tall, slim general manager who’d facilitated her hotel check-in hours earlier. Next to him, a hostess smiled. “So am I.”
“Monsieur Dechamps hasn’t arrived yet, but we’ll be happy to seat you, or would you join us at the bar for a complimentary glass of wine while you wait?”
“Say no more, Anton. The bar it is.”
“Please follow me.”
She heard the dull roar of a packed house and smelled sweet cigars before she even stepped inside the restaurant. The dining room was elegant, with dark wood accents, bistro tables and an oversized bar. Floor-to-ceiling windows allowed patrons to enjoy the busy streets and the boisterous Brazilian nightlife.
Anton helped Nicole onto an empty bar stool near others waiting for their tables, then signaled for the bartender. He half bowed. “I hope your suite is satisfactory?”
“It’s very comfortable. And the champagne basket is lovely. Thank you.”
“Our pleasure.” He gestured toward the barkeep. “Rafe will take care of you. I’ll be back to seat you when Monsieur Dechamps arrives.”
After perusing the wine list she chose a glass of Beaujolais. The dark ruby liquid poured like silk, and after giving it a good swish in her glass to let the oxygen in, she took a deep inhale, then put it to her lips. It tasted like heaven. Rose, wood, mint and truffle—bursts of flavor danced on her tongue and she mentally logged each one, a habit she’d learned at a summer work–study during college in Bordeaux.
Although she was eager to meet her client, she could feel the tension of her day leaving her body, and she took the opportunity to text her boss—she’d call him tomorrow—and sent several work emails from her phone. She was mid-email when a high-pitched giggling came from the other side of the room.
A young blonde woman in a low-cut minidress walked through a side entrance, but she stopped and turned with an annoyed stance, clearly waiting for someone. Nicole hoped it wasn’t more giggling girls.
Just as she was about to turn away, in strolled a tall, dark-haired, starkly handsome man. His square jaw was covered in a trim beard, but it was his eyes that held the most allure. Heavy lidded and thickly lashed, their blue color seemed to resemble translucent cobalt glass. She bet eyes like that glittered when he smiled, but right now he looked bored. And slightly sloshed.
Nicole didn’t usually go for the bearded, mountain-man type, but this one, even in a disheveled white button-down shirt, was fine.
And taken. The young woman grabbed his hand and practically pulled him toward the bar.
Turning back to her phone, Nicole noted that Elliot Dechamps was ten minutes late, but she didn’t stress. Not all cultures took punctuality as seriously as Americans, and sometimes it was nice to let go of those expectations.
She was in a country she’d never explored before, drinking a beautiful red wine. It didn’t get much better—
An elbow jostled Nicole’s forearm. The couple from across the room was right next to her, sipping champagne and speaking loudly in swift Portuguese. The tipsy woman was having trouble getting onto the stool in her spandex dress. After a few tries, with the help of her boyfriend’s outstretched arm, she finally made it.
In celebration, the young woman laughed and shot her elbows out again, knocking over her champagne...and Nicole’s wine.
Instantly Nicole’s Beaujolais became a pool of dark liquid and broken glass. Heads turned and the bartender sprang into action, gathering white cloths and swiping at the mess, which had begun to travel over the lip of the bar onto Nicole’s leg. She jumped from her barstool and stepped away, almost bumping into the blonde, who was no doubt hurrying toward the ladies’ room.
Nicole patted down her dress. Thank God she was wearing black, but some wine had gotten on her bare leg.
Suddenly a towel was being dabbed lightly at her thigh.
New York reflexes always on, she grabbed the wrist then tried to hide her shock as she eyed its owner. He was strong, she thought when she felt his arm stiffen and pull back. Dark brows slashed the blue of his eyes when he looked up.
He was even hotter up close.
Chapter 2 (#uc45316d4-c185-533d-a9f8-11b16cad4029)
“Desculpa,” Destin apologized quickly, noting the vice grip the woman had on his wrist. Her wary gaze told him she might not have appreciated his cleaning skills. “Eu não deveria ter...”
The woman let go of him and held up her palm. “Não entendo. I don’t speak Portuguese.”
English? Interesting. Just as he was about to explain himself, a birthday procession of sparklers and dessert trays came marching past the bar. Quickly he shot an arm out, pulling the woman closer to shield her from their path.
When the fanfare was across the room, he tried again. “As I was saying, my apologies. I was handing you a towel when I saw an errant drop of wine heading for your knee.”
Now in a half circle within his arms, he couldn’t believe he hadn’t noticed her before. She was strikingly beautiful, with high cheekbones and full lips accentuated by the rich brown of her skin, which was flawless.
Touches of fire still flashed in her eyes, and her body language told him that she was ready to fend him off if he crossed a line. With a slight bow, he offered her the white cloth and was pleased when he saw the suspicion leave her eyes.
He inspected her sophisticated dress. “I don’t believe there are any stains.”
“No, I don’t think so. Thank you for the towel.”
She backed away, her gaze raking over him this time, and he swore he felt the heat of it. He fought an urge to pull her back into his arms. “Allow me to buy you another drink.”
“It’s fine, really.”
She turned, and he watched as she glided back to her open stool. He couldn’t tear his attention away from the gentle sway of her hips, those long silky brown legs or her shining black heels.
He was about to insist, but saw that the barkeep had already replenished her glass. Destin took an involuntary step to follow her and then stopped, surprised at his reaction to this mysterious woman. He itched to engage her again. Was he drunk? Of course he was; he’d been drinking all night.
Speaking of which, his drink sat idle on the bar. Taking the seat one stool away from her, Destin propped both of his arms on the bar and took a burning sip of his drink, letting the amber liquid rip down his throat like fire. Relaxing a bit, he opened the top two buttons on his tailored white shirt, hoping his date took her time. She was a handful.
When Thereza’s brother had called Destin in a panic, begging him to escort his little sister to the art gala because he could no longer make it, Destin’s first answer had been no. He’d already thrown out his invitation. Every year the envelope arrived, addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Destin Dechamps, and every year he stared at the names then tossed it into the trash bin.
He still donated, however. Nina would have wanted that, but he hadn’t been able to bring himself to go to the fundraiser since her death. Until this favor. He blamed his father, too, for his lapse in judgment. Destin was supposed to be on a flight to Paris that night, but with their strained relationship, he hadn’t been looking forward to it. The gala had seemed like the perfect excuse to cancel.
Now he wished he’d stuck to his first answer. Being at the art gala that afternoon without his wife and seeing their old acquaintances had been jarring. Women who had known Nina for years aggressively invited him to their homes for “dinner.” And the men took one look at his date and said they envied his “bachelor lifestyle.” Little did they know he’d spent most of his time in his wine cellar, the only place that gave him peace.
And his friend should have told him that little Thereza wasn’t so little anymore. The young blonde had spent most of her time at the gala’s open bar, and the more she drank, the flirtier she got. She’d tried to climb on top of him in the car ride to the restaurant. He needed to get some food into her. But that wasn’t the only reason they were there.
His brother, Elliot, had conveniently forgotten to mention that he was meeting with the real estate lawyer tonight. Destin had found out by accident through their father, of all people—the man who was selling the property out from under them. The thought of Elliot and his father talking behind his back made him want to smash something.
Destin recalled the last conversation he’d had with his father, pleading with him to let him rebuild the winery. They could make the land profitable again. His father refused to listen, saying only that it was in the Dechamps’ best interest to sell and infuse the money into the French production. It had turned into a shouting match, with Destin walking out and vowing to do whatever he could to keep the acreage.
That meant keeping the buyers away from the property, and keeping the brokers from doing their jobs...by any means necessary. With the help of some friends, he’d been able to do just that. And this new American real estate lawyer was not going to be an exception. He almost felt bad for the poor bastard. Almost.
Lawyers, he hated them. The yearlong legal battle his father had initiated against Destin, his own son, for sole rights to the signature wine that he’d created still felt like a noose around his throat. Armand Dechamps didn’t have just one lawyer; he had a team. And they were vultures. Destin didn’t trust lawyers. Not one.
He drew deeply from his whiskey, hoping the meeting hadn’t been canceled. His brother was late, not that that was unusual, but he didn’t see any lone men who could pass for a smarmy lawyer.
His angry thoughts were interrupted when a silver cone of frites that he had ordered for Thereza arrived. Destin scanned the hallway and saw no sign of her. He hoped she was all right. He popped one into his mouth, then slid them across the bar, offering one to his new friend. “I know Americans love french fries.”
She glanced at the fries and then at him, bemused.
With a guilty smile, she took one. “How did you know I was American?”
“Your accent. I’ve done some business there, in California.”
“California is beautiful.”
“But you’re not from there.”
She met his gaze, and a tiny grin touched the corners of her mouth. “No.” He watched her lips as she sipped her wine.
Destin waited for her to say more after she put down her glass, but he waited in vain. My, she was reserved. Maybe she’s married, he immediately thought, but her pink-tipped fingers were bare of jewelry. Could she be traveling alone? He’d heard of American women coming to Brazil for plastic surgery, but couldn’t possibly see where she would need any.
“Maybe I should guess?” She only glanced at him. “You’re from New York, it’s your first time in Brazil, and you’re here on a spa vacation.”
She smirked and turned to him. “Yes. Yes. And no.”
“No vacation? You’re here on business? That’s too bad,” he said after she gave a brief nod. “Brazil is the perfect place for pleasure.”
Her brows rose. “Is that why you’re here? Pleasure?”
