Second Chances

Renaldo’s roaming gaze came to rest on the dresser. He walked over to it and picked up a photo frame. It contained a picture of the two of them on their wedding day, standing on the beach with Jewel and Renaldo’s family and friends. She’d been so happy that day.

Her breath caught when he placed it face down on the dresser.

“I’m tired of playing nice.”

“You call this nice? You had me terminated from my job after you promised Jonas first dibs at Estação Central—or whatever the hell you promised him—and then you bring me here to force me to move before I’m ready. You’re so nice.”

“Jonas no longer needed your services. And, yes, with what I’m paying you, I find myself to be considerably more than nice, since if it weren’t for this project, you’d get nothing. And as for moving, you should be thankful I’ve made the arrangements so you don’t have to.”

“You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”

“I’d like to think so, but I’m not always so prepared. There have been times when I’ve been completely blindsided. You blindsided me. But never again. Where you’re concerned, I plan to make sure I’m always prepared.”

“This situation is impossible. How can we live together with this much animosity between us? We’re not even being civil to each other.”

“I am being civil.”

She stopped breathing as he came forward, stopping in front of her, forcing her to tip her head back to maintain eye contact. His closeness made her want to touch the hard contours of his face—the lean jaw, the strong chin.

It took so much energy to fight him. And every time she was near him, she became so damn weak.

“But that’s not what you want, is it?” he said. “You want to pretend that what you did never happened.”

“That’s not true. I understand what I did changes everything, but you won’t accept my explanation. You won’t let me make things right.”

“And would you offer me the same if the roles were reversed?”

“I think I would. I love you. I think I’d at least try—give you a chance to—I wouldn’t just toss you out like you were nothing. I—” She stopped and swallowed. She was too emotional and her words were coming out all jumbled. “What’s the point? You think I’m vile. You can’t stand me—can’t even stand to look at me.” She couldn’t forget the harsh words he’d thrown at her.

He was silent for a moment, watching her with an intensity that made her squirm internally.

“Maybe I’ve changed my mind,” he finally said, slowly. He lifted one of her curls and rubbed it between his fingers. “Maybe this animosity between us is based on something else.”

Sabrina swallowed past the constriction of her throat. She understood what he was saying as the air became charged with an undercurrent of sexual tension. He watched her with an open hunger that hadn’t been visible moments ago.

“We’ve always had a hard time keeping our hands off each other. Maybe we shouldn’t deprive ourselves and just do what comes naturally.”

Sabrina stepped back, using distance to keep from getting sucked into the enticing words. “So you want to use me to get off and then toss me aside when this is over? I don’t think so.”

“I can change your mind.”

“You can’t.”

“Oh, I think I can.” His confidence irked her. “The way you responded to me the other day. It may have started as a seduction to get more money, but you wanted me as much as I wanted you. And why shouldn’t I get what you gave to another man so willingly?”

“Unless you had marital relations written into the contract, you’re out of luck. Even if you did, I wouldn’t let you use me in that way.”

“I see the look in your eyes.” He smiled. “It’s your own fault, you know. You shouldn’t have tried to seduce me.”

“That’s not what I was doing.” She had been pleading with him for forgiveness, but he couldn’t see past her betrayal.

“No? That’s how it appeared, and it now has me thinking of how moving you back into the apartment could be mutually satisfying. After all, we both know what kind of woman you are. I wouldn’t want you to be tempted to stray again.”

Pain rifled through her. He wanted to treat her like the whore he thought she was. “I hate you for talking to me like this.”

His eyes narrowed, and he grabbed her chin. She caught his wrist to force him to let go, but he didn’t release her. The heat of his touch sent her hormones spiraling out of control. She didn’t move, didn’t want to move, and hated how right he was about her need for him.

After a prolonged stare, Renaldo rubbed his thumb across her lips. They parted and trembled as she fought to keep from sucking his finger into her mouth.

“Hate is passion, minha esposa,” he said. “And I welcome yours. Do you know why? Because you could never hate me as much as I hate myself for still wanting you.”