Under Her Skin. Susan Mallery

What had been a significant event in her life had probably been nothing to him. She was merely cheap date number 157.

      It had been ten years and they’d both changed. The guy she remembered had worn jeans and a T-shirt, not a custom suit and imported shoes. Not that his face was different. He still had the kind of smoldering dark eyes that made a woman want to lose herself forever. Well, other women. Not her.

      She would act like he was a stranger, then she would excuse herself. He would never know how hot the humiliation from that night…and morning…still burned.

      “Good evening,” he said as he approached, smiling at Skye. “I’m Cruz Rodriguez. Thank you so much for inviting me, Ms. Titan.”

      Skye smiled. “You’re more than welcome. Call me Skye. I hope you brought your checkbook. I’ll be shamelessly begging for extravagant auction bids later. But first I have to thank you for your generous donation.” She looked at Lexi. “Cruz is offering a weekend in Daytona in a private house with two days of racing lessons with his top driver.”

      “Very impressive,” Lexi murmured, doing her best not to look at the man standing so close to her. She could practically taste him. Not that she remembered what he tasted like. It had been years. An eon, practically. He’d been an inconsequential blip in her life. Nothing more.

      “Oh, I’m sorry. I should do introductions. Lexi, this is Cruz Rodriguez. Cruz, my sister Lexi Titan.”

      His look was one of polite interest. Like she was the great aunt or something. As if they’d never met.

      Great. He didn’t remember. She had spent days of her life, possibly weeks, planning revenge and even death and he didn’t remember. Wasn’t that just perfect?

      He reached out to shake hands. Lexi desperately wanted to avoid physical contact, but there was no way to do that and still be polite. Damn her upbringing. She sucked in a breath, and allowed him to engulf her hand with his.

      For a moment in time, she didn’t react. He was the stranger she wanted him to be. Then she looked at his face, at the strong line of his jaw, the firm, sensuous shape of his mouth and remembered what it had been like to be kissed by him.

      Heat overwhelmed her. If she’d been twenty years older, she would have claimed a hot flash. Instead she had to ignore the tingling that nearly made her knees knock together and smile at him as if she didn’t feel a thing.

      “Mr. Rodriguez,” she said coolly. “Nice to meet you.” She pulled back.

      “Cruz, please.”

      Interesting. That’s exactly what she remembered screaming around two in the morning.

      “I’m Lexi,” she said, weighing his reaction. He didn’t even blink.

      A woman in a dark suit approached. Skye saw her. “Excuse me, that’s my catering manager. Let’s hope there isn’t a crisis.”

      Then she was gone and Lexi was alone with her past. She turned back to Cruz, only to discover he’d moved on. She was left standing by herself in the middle of the party.

      CRUZ WATCHED LEXI circulate through the crowd. She was careful to keep an eye on him, while trying to seem as if she was unaware of him. He was doing the same, but he was better at the game. He’d seen her confusion, followed by annoyance that he apparently hadn’t remembered her. He’d also felt the fiery chemistry he’d enjoyed ten years ago. Knowing it still existed made his job easier.

      She was exactly what he needed—a way into the closed society of the Texas elite. It was the next logical step in his success, and he would use Lexi to make sure it happened. All he needed was time to observe so he could calculate the best plan of action.

      Opportunity came sooner than he expected. Cruz watched as Lexi greeted a middle-aged man with thinning hair and a widening midsection. They spoke as if they knew each other. Cruz moved closer, staying behind a column so they couldn’t see him.

      “Your sister has already pointed out several things I should bid on,” the man was saying. “Skye is ruthless.”

      “And determined. Just remind yourself this is for a good cause, John. Give in, because if you don’t, she’ll make you feel so guilty, you’ll never sleep again. It’s why I come to these events. It’s easier than fighting her.”

      John laughed. “You’re probably right.” Then he turned serious, lowering his voice. “I hate to bring business to the party, but are you going to ask her for the money? Doesn’t Skye have plenty of her own from her mother and her late husband?”

      Lexi stiffened. Cruz saw her shoulders tighten and her hands clutch her glass. “I don’t want to talk about that here.”

      John glanced around, as if making sure they weren’t overheard. Cruz was careful to stay hidden in the shadows.

      “Lexi, you’ve been my customer from the first day you decided to open your day spa. I’m the one who talked you into the loan you’re having trouble with. I don’t want you to lose your business. But you have to do something to get the money and fast.”

      “I know that,” she whispered. “And I will. Going to Skye isn’t an option.”

      “Two million dollars—that kind of money won’t appear out of nowhere.”

      “Thanks for the update. If you’ll excuse me, I need to freshen my drink.”

      She slipped away. John watched her go, as did Cruz. But while the older man looked troubled, Cruz was only pleased.

      Life was all about timing. The right deal at the right time. The right conditions for the race. He believed in being prepared and then ready to attack when the moment was right.

      Like now.

      CHAPTER TWO

      LEXI STOOD ALONE on the balcony at Glory’s Gate. She’d wanted to escape the crush of the crowd and find a private place to feel sorry for herself. Something that had lasted all of three minutes. She heard footsteps behind her and held in a sigh. So much for a little peace and quiet.

      “You are looking especially beautiful tonight, querida.”

      The man’s voice was low and sexy with the slightest hint of an accent. She recognized it, and him. Cruz.

      She turned to face him, then wished she hadn’t. He stood closer than she’d expected, all tall and broad-shouldered, backlit by the light spilling through the large windows. The railing prevented her from retreating, and moving to the side seemed too much like admitting she was rattled.

      “Mr. Rodriguez,” she murmured, then sipped her drink. She would play it cool. He didn’t have to know she wasn’t very good at the game.

      He smiled, his teeth flashing in the shadows. “Now, Lexi. We both know we’re very much on a first-name basis.”

      Her eyes widened. “What? Are you saying you remember?” She blurted the words before she could stop herself, then wanted desperately to claw them back.

      He moved closer, which she hadn’t thought was possible, bent down and kissed the side of her neck. He barely touched her, but she had the impression of firm lips and warm breath. Heat and shivers raced through her, making her toes curl and certain parts of her want to beg.

      “How could I forget?” he asked, his voice low and sexy.

      Playing it cool be damned, she thought as she sidestepped him and put several feet between them.

      “You didn’t say anything before.”

      “I didn’t think you wanted to discuss our night together in front of your sister.”

      He hadn’t even hinted, she thought, annoyed and reaching for mad. Anger was safe. Anger could protect her from tall, handsome men who stood too close and made her feel desperate.

      “How thoughtful of you. Now we’re reacquainted.