Delaney Diamond

This is a short story and the prequel to the fourth book in the Hot Latin Men series. It’s the story about Sabrina Porter and Renaldo da Silva. He’s the cousin of Leonardo da Silva from The Arrangement. The fourth book will be available this summer and named Second Chances.

BLURB 

Two workaholics slow down long enough to find love when they least expect it.

Renaldo da Silva is on the verge of entering the U.S. market with the purchase of a hotel in downtown Chicago. After working hard for several days straight, he heads to a local bar and sees a woman who instantly makes him reconsider how to spend his evening.

When another one of her male counterparts unfairly becomes the lead on a project, Sabrina Porter leaves work intent on drowning her sorrows in wine and loud music at a local bar. Instead, she meets a sexy Brazilian who’s intent on showing her a different way to unwind.

Chapter One   Chapter Two  Chapter Three  Chapter Four  Chapter Five

CHAPTER SIX

The door of the suite clicked shut.

“Would you like a drink?” Renaldo asked behind her.

“No.” Sabrina’s heart was beating so fast she almost couldn’t speak.

He came closer in the dark, so close the heat from his body warmed her back. The drapes opened to the night outside, and she could see the lights from the other buildings. The large room was filled with shadowy furnishings—lamps, a desk, sofas, tables. A door to the left led into what she assumed was the bedroom.

He rested his hands on her shoulders. “Relax.”

“Maybe this was a bad idea.” The fierce beating of her heart indicated she might be in over her head.

He massaged the knot at the top of her spine. “You still do not trust me. You’re second-guessing yourself.” The whispered words in her ear made her skin come alive with tiny pinpricks of heat.

“And you’re not? I could be a thief or a murderer.” The circular motion of his thumbs continued to caress through her clothes, turning her limbs to liquid so that her purse slid from her shoulder to the carpet.

His arms folded around her and he pulled her tighter to his body. “I’ll take my chances.” His mouth drifted up the side of her neck, delivering little kisses that made her shiver and ache. The soft pressure of his mouth inflamed her skin, and she almost melted into a puddle at his feet.

“From the minute I saw you,” he said, his voice gruff, “I knew.”

“How did you know?” she asked in a husky whisper.

He turned her in his arms and gently tugged the tail of her blouse from the waistband of her skirt as he gazed into her eyes. “The same way you did.”

The rest of this story contains material of a mature and adult nature that may not be suitable for younger readers. You must be at least 18 to continue reading. Click Page 2 below. 

This is a short story and the prequel to the fourth book in the Hot Latin Men series. It’s the story about Sabrina Porter and Renaldo da Silva. He’s the cousin of Leonardo da Silva from The Arrangement. The fourth book will be available this summer and named Second Chances.

BLURB 

Two workaholics slow down long enough to find love when they least expect it.

Renaldo da Silva is on the verge of entering the U.S. market with the purchase of a hotel in downtown Chicago. After working hard for several days straight, he heads to a local bar and sees a woman who instantly makes him reconsider how to spend his evening.

When another one of her male counterparts unfairly becomes the lead on a project, Sabrina Porter leaves work intent on drowning her sorrows in wine and loud music at a local bar. Instead, she meets a sexy Brazilian who’s intent on showing her a different way to unwind.

Chapter One   Chapter Two  Chapter Three  Chapter Four

CHAPTER FIVE

He watched the play of emotions across her face. “Excuse me?” she said.

Although she feigned ignorance of his intentions, he didn’t believe it for one minute. If they offered degrees in reading women’s body language, he’d have a Ph.D. There was no misunderstanding the flirtatious smiles or sidelong glances as they’d conversed. If her body burned for his as much as his burned for her, they could both get the release they craved.

“Are we going to pretend we don’t want the same thing?”

She opened her mouth to speak, but refrained from doing so. She swallowed and turned her attention back to her dish. It had to be cold and unappetizing by now, but she placed another mushroom into her pretty mouth in an obvious effort to keep herself busy.

His mind conjured an image of her putting him in her mouth. The vivid thought caused his muscles to seize, and for a moment he couldn’t move. When he regained his motor skills, he knew there could only be one outcome. He desperately wanted this woman. Tonight.

“I’ve spent the last forty-five minutes thinking about what I would have to say to make you feel comfortable enough to leave here with me,” he said.

His eyes lowered to the fast-beating pulse at the vee of her blouse. His own breathing became unregulated, as if he’d exerted himself in some form of physical exercise.

“Nothing you say will convince me to leave with you,” she said in a husky undertone. She drained the last of her second glass of wine and reached for her purse.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m leaving.”

“Why?”

“Why?” She laughed, and it sounded uneasy. “Because something’s wrong with me. I should be offended, or disgusted, or something. But instead—” Her light brown eyes scanned his face, and then they darted away again. She got down off the stool.

He stood, too. “Instead what?” he prompted.

She shook her head vigorously and grabbed the blazer from the back of the chair. Automatically, he helped her into it. She clutched the open edges like a safety jacket.

“Instead what?” he whispered in her ear. She smelled good. Not the scent of perfume or lotion. It was just the scent of a woman. Her natural, sweet fragrance.

“Instead…” Color blossomed in her cheeks. “Instead…I’m considering it.”

The noise from the bar disappeared; the sound of silverware hitting plates disappeared. The chatter and laughter of patrons became nonexistent. All his senses became attuned to the woman standing before him.

“What do you need?” he asked, because he didn’t know what else to do. He was accustomed to negotiations, but right now, a compromise was the furthest thing from his mind. He wanted her to come with him, and he didn’t care what he had to do or give up to make it happen. He wanted her to feel comfortable enough to leave a crowded establishment and go back to his room and let him have his way with her. “My identification, a fingerprint, a blood sample? Whatever you want, I will give it.”

 ****

His persistence turned her on. She liked persistence in a man—a man who knew what he wanted and pursued until he captured it.

Perhaps it was the wine, or the loneliness she felt, or the disappointment about her job. Perhaps it was a combination of all those things. Whatever it was, it prompted Sabrina to say, “That won’t be necessary.” A weight seemed to have been lifted. The tension left over from the stressful day at work oozed from her shoulders. Now that she’d made the decision, she actually felt better. She swallowed down the last remnants of her unease. “Where are you staying?”

She saw the flash of hunger in his eyes, and a spark of desire emerged in her belly.

“The Drake.”

She nodded and reached inside her purse to cover the tab.

“Allow me.” He pulled out his wallet.

“That won’t be—”

“I insist.”

He called over the bartender and handed him some bills. He didn’t bother waiting for his change, giving more than enough to cover both checks and leave a generous tip. He moved quickly, as if he didn’t want to give her the opportunity to change her mind.

Not that she would. She figured she probably should, but what she knew to do and what she did were two separate things. What she knew to do was turn around, walk away, and embrace her empty life. Like always.

To hell with it.

She placed her hand in his.

She didn’t want to be alone tonight, so she followed him out into the night.

_____________________________

I have limited internet access today. Any comments left will be responded to next week. I hope you enjoyed this week’s chapter.

Come back next Friday for chapter six!

Like me on Facebook or subscribe to this blog so you don’t miss future chapters.

This is a short story and the prequel to the fourth book in the Hot Latin Men series. It’s the story about Sabrina Porter and Renaldo da Silva. He’s the cousin of Leonardo da Silva from The Arrangement. The fourth book will be available this summer and named Second Chances.

BLURB 

Two workaholics slow down long enough to find love when they least expect it.

Renaldo da Silva is on the verge of entering the U.S. market with the purchase of a hotel in downtown Chicago. After working hard for several days straight, he heads to a local bar and sees a woman who instantly makes him reconsider how to spend his evening.

When another one of her male counterparts unfairly becomes the lead on a project, Sabrina Porter leaves work intent on drowning her sorrows in wine and loud music at a local bar. Instead, she meets a sexy Brazilian who’s intent on showing her a different way to unwind.

Chapter One   Chapter Two  Chapter Three

CHAPTER FOUR

She knew she shouldn’t ask, but she chose to throw caution to the wind. “And what is it that you really want?”

He didn’t hesitate. “You.”

His answer left her breathless. Their gazes clashed. “I see you’re not shy about speaking your mind.”

“Would you expect anything less?” A sexy smile hovered around his mouth.

“No, I guess I wouldn’t.”

“That’s what I thought.”

Sabrina allowed her forefinger to slide around the circumference of the rim of her glass. “What happened to the brunette?”

“She wasn’t my type.”

“And I am?” Her fingertip halted its movement. “What exactly is your type, may I ask?”

“I like women who are confident and independent. You seem to be both.”

“Somehow I envisioned men from Brazil as being more…I don’t know…traditional in their views.”

“I have to admit, I can be old-fashioned in some ways. I never let a woman pay when we’re dating.”

Sabrina lifted a brow in surprise. “Never?”

“Never. It’s my responsibility. I open doors, and when we’re walking down the street, I insist the woman I’m with walks on the inside, away from the traffic.”

Sabrina laughed as she spooned two mushrooms onto her plate. “You are old school. You don’t see that much nowadays. But what you said doesn’t fit with your desire for an independent woman.” In her experience, men always said they wanted an independent woman, but when they found her, they couldn’t handle it.

“Actually, it does. You see, I grew up in a traditional household. My father was the head of the house, and my mother never worked. He took care of her, doted on her, and she wanted for nothing.  When he passed away, she couldn’t even balance a check book. We lost our business and struggled for several years.” Regret—or maybe sadness—entered his eyes for a moment. “I wish they were both alive to see how well my sisters and I are doing now.”

Sabrina nodded her head in understanding. “I know the feeling,” she murmured.

She stared down at the maroon liquid in her glass. She would do anything to have her mother back, to show her how much she had achieved, despite the rough start to life. The pain and guilt never seemed to go away. She never stopped wondering if she could have done something different and saved her mother.

****

They fell into an easy conversation. She forgot all about her previous plans and spent the next forty minutes listening to Renaldo talk mostly about his business and the stress to close the deal he was working on. He was successful, but not quite where he wanted it to be. One of his goals was to expand into the U.S. market. In between the business talk, they flirted and bantered back and forth, and he educated her on the culture of his country.

“I’m doing all the talking,” Renaldo said. “What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a financial analyst for a firm named Global Investments. My focus is mergers and acquisitions.”

“Really? Maybe I can steal you away from your firm. I could use a knowledgeable analyst on my team, and you’re based here in Chicago, where I hope to begin my expansion into the U.S.”

“If I didn’t think you were kidding, I’d take you up on the offer,” Sabrina said dryly.

Renaldo frowned. “You’re not happy?”

“Let’s just say things could be better. I’m out tonight to drown my sorrows in red wine and forget my problems at work.” She pushed a lukewarm mushroom around on her plate with the fork. “I sound bitter, don’t I?”

What was she thinking? Sitting here with an attractive man paying her attention, and all she could do was complain about her job. She should be thinking about engaging in more pleasurable activities with him, because right now the alternative—going home to an empty apartment and Netflix—did not appeal at all.

“If you’re unhappy, why don’t you leave?”

“Yeah, I’ll just walk out of there and find another job just like that.” Sabrina snapped her fingers. “I’ll suffer through it.”

“Like you’re doing now?” he asked pointedly. “Spending a Friday night alone at a bar?”

His questions hit home in a way she didn’t like. “I’m not really alone, though, am I?” She shrugged. “I wanted to unwind before going home. It’s been a long week and an even longer day. Actually, I had plans, but my friend cancelled at the last minute.”

“And this friend…was it a man?”

She eyed him from the corner of her eye, surprised he’d deduced that so easily. “Yes.”

“Foolish man,” Renaldo said in a low tone.

“He’s usually dependable. I’m sure he has a good reason why he couldn’t make it.”

“I’m sure,” Renaldo said, sounding unconvinced. “Fortunately, he’s not here, but I am.”

Sabrina ran her tongue along the inside of her upper lip. “What does that mean?” she asked.

“It means I’d like to take his place.”

_____________________________

Come back next Friday for chapter five!

Like me on Facebook or subscribe to this blog so you don’t miss future chapters.

This is a short story and the prequel to the fourth book in the Hot Latin Men series. It’s the story about Sabrina Porter and Renaldo da Silva. He’s the cousin of Leonardo da Silva from The Arrangement. The fourth book will be available this summer and named Second Chances.

BLURB 

Two workaholics slow down long enough to find love when they least expect it.

Renaldo da Silva is on the verge of entering the U.S. market with the purchase of a hotel in downtown Chicago. After working hard for several days straight, he heads to a local bar and sees a woman who instantly makes him reconsider how to spend his evening.

When another one of her male counterparts unfairly becomes the lead on a project, Sabrina Porter leaves work intent on drowning her sorrows in wine and loud music at a local bar. Instead, she meets a sexy Brazilian who’s intent on showing her a different way to unwind.

Chapter One

CHAPTER TWO

Renaldo da Silva stood and stretched in the living room of the suite he had at The Drake Hotel in downtown Chicago. He rolled his shoulders to alleviate the tension in his muscles. He might as well have been in a basement for all the attention he paid to the luxurious room with its stunning view of Lake Michigan in the distance.

Ever since he’d arrived in Illinois a few days ago, he’d been in and out of meetings and spent the rest of his time on his laptop conducting research and communicating with his staff. He’d hoped to be farther along in the deal by now, but he’d just have to be patient a little while longer.

He flexed his shoulders and grabbed the room key from the desk. He’d been in the room all day, and it was now dark outside. Time to get out and see a little bit of what Chicago had to offer. He needed a break.

Downstairs, he asked for a recommendation to a place where he could get a drink and unwind. Before long, he headed out on foot to a nearby restaurant recommended by the concierge. When he arrived at Giovanni’s he could hear music playing and the weekend crowd had already started gathering.

One of the best ways to relieve stress was in the arms of a woman. Unfortunately, he’d been so busy he hadn’t had time to make the acquaintance of anyone during his short stay. The energy of the patrons and the beat of rock music would have to suffice tonight.

Renaldo sat at the bar and ordered a scotch. As he nursed his drink, mentally listing everything he had to accomplish next week, a tall black woman walked in. She entered the restaurant with a straight spine and a confident walk. At first he gave her only a cursory glance. She appeared to have just left work, dressed in a plain gray business suit with a white silk blouse and very little jewelry. After she took a seat at the opposite end of the bar, his eyes strayed to her again.

With her kinky, chestnut-colored hair pulled back from her face and clipped neatly at the back of her head, he couldn’t tell its true length. She didn’t wear much makeup on her tawny-colored skin. Good thing, too, because she had an attractive face.

In one graceful movement, she removed her blazer and then twisted on the stool to hang it over the back of the chair, the motion causing the silk blouse to pull taut across her chest. He was a breast man, and she had two nice-looking ones. Not big, but enough to almost fill his hands. His jaw tightened at the thought as he swirled the scotch in the glass. He hoped she was alone. If so, his situation might be improving.

He enjoyed burying his face in the perfumed cleft of a woman’s cleavage. What would the cleft between her breasts smell like? The thought stirred his loins awake.

As he watched her, Renaldo wondered, too, about the color of her eyes. Were they brown or black? He soon received an answer. She idly scanned the room and her gaze landed on him. White heat pooled in his stomach, causing him to halt the swirling motion of his hand.

Light brown. Stunning.

 ****

Sabrina didn’t think she could have experienced a greater shock if the force of a lightning bolt had coursed through her body. For a moment she froze, bewitched by a pair of eyes as black as midnight.

Unnerved, she dragged her eyes away, but not before she registered the man’s other features: an aquiline nose, short-cut hair the same color of his eyes, and swarthy skin which suggested he might be Italian or Latin. His white shirt opened at the collar to reveal a strong throat and a sprinkling of crisp, black hair.

Even though she’d looked away, she knew he still watched. She could feel it.

“What can I get for you?” the bartender asked with a friendly smile.

Sabrina ordered a glass of red wine. When he walked away, she picked up the menu to check out the selection of appetizers, disregarding the biting intensity of the feelings that had just flowed through her. A few minutes later, she placed an order for stuffed mushrooms and had a glass of wine in her hand.

Glancing around the bar, careful not to look straight ahead again, she regretted telling Ernestine not to come. They always had fun when they hung out together. Well, she’d have the next best thing soon enough. She’d left Samuel a voice mail before she left work, so he should be here soon.

Unable to resist, she let her eyes drift back across the bar. A pretty brunette had joined the man, and he bent his head to her as they talked. Sabrina stared down into the maroon liquid in her glass. She was meeting Samuel, and she didn’t have dibs on the stranger, but a feeling of disappointment stole over her.

Between the problems at work and her overactive imagination about a complete stranger, she was on her way to winning the award for Doom and Gloom. During moments like these, the doubts started creeping in, and she needed a distraction from the empty void she feared her life had become.

“Nice band,” she said to the bartender as he set a newly replenished bowl of nuts nearby. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen them play here before.”

“They’re new. This is only their second night.” He walked away to take another patron’s order.

She drummed her fingers against the top of the bar and did what she shouldn’t—compared her life to Ernestine’s. At forty, Ernestine was fourteen years older than Sabrina, and she had a husband and a family waiting for her. When she walked through the door, their eyes would light up and they’d be happy to see her. Maybe her son and daughter would even rush into her arms the minute she crossed the threshold.

Sabrina’s fingers slowed to a stop, and she swallowed hard to shut out the painful memories of growing up on the South Side of Chicago. The emotional scars kept her focused on the prize of success, but there were times when she wanted…She lifted the glass to her lips and took a sip of the fruity wine, shutting her eyes and welcoming the darkness for several seconds.

She wanted to be welcomed home. She wanted someone to miss her, need her. But the truth was, she feared taking the leap. She didn’t want her plans derailed, and getting involved with a man who didn’t understand her focus and drive could do that.

As a child, she’d managed to survive when her mother would disappear for days at a time, leaving her and her younger cousin in the apartment alone to fend for themselves. She knew what it was like to live on nothing but stale bread and ketchup or whatever she could beg for from the neighbors. Inconceivable to most people, but that was the world she’d known, and she could never go back to it.

The memories made her bust her butt every single day to succeed in the male-dominated world of the career she’d chosen—Plan A. She didn’t even have a Plan B because failure wasn’t an option.

Again she cast what she hoped was a surreptitious glance over to the other side. He and the brunette were no longer there.

Sabrina’s phone vibrated, and she retrieved it from her purse. Samuel had texted her. Something had come up and he had to cancel. She sighed heavily. She couldn’t win for losing today. What a great way to coast into the weekend.

“Excuse me.” A low, accented, very male voice spoke beside her. Sabrina looked up, and up into the dark depths of a pair of eyes set in a face even more striking up close. A knot formed deep in her belly. He held a drink in one hand. “My name is Renaldo da Silva. Do you mind if I join you?”

_____________________________

Come back next Friday for chapter three!

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