Seduced by the Bachelor
Autore
Pamela Yaye
Letto da
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Capitoli
26
Harlequin🏰 Historical
HarlequinChapter 1
Tatiyana Washington was having the week from hell, and hoped for her family’s sake things didn’t get worse. The main breadwinner in her household, Tatiyana feared what would happen if she suffered another financial setback in August.
Speed walking through Los Angeles International Airport, Tatiyana considered her recent string of bad luck. On Monday, she’d lost her favorite pair of earrings, and her lucrative executive secretary position at the largest software company in the state. On Tuesday her Jeep had died on Hollywood Freeway, and that morning she’d overslept for her 9:00 a.m. flight to Tampa. It was a mad dash to get to the airport, and if not for her cousin Everly weaving her battered Passat in and out of traffic like an emergency vehicle with its lights blazing, she’d still be stuck on the I-105.
Spotting gate 55A at the rear of the terminal, Tatiyana picked up her pace, expertly dodging children and weary-looking travelers clutching coffee cups. Everything was riding on this four-day trip to The Sunshine State, and she couldn’t afford to miss the flight. Consulting the monitors, she noticed Flight 74 to Tampa was delayed and sighed in relief. Finally, something’s going my way! Tatiyana approached the airline desk with confidence, convinced she was doing the right thing even though it was a lie.
“Good morning,” greeted the customer service agent, glancing away from her computer screen, her hazel eyes bright with interest. “How may I help you?”
Tatiyana read the brunette’s name tag and smiled brightly. Surfing the internet last night had uncovered important information about Markos Morretti, and she wasn’t going to blow this opportunity. “I need a huge favor.” Tatiyana spoke in a hushed voice, as if she was about to spill her guts, instantly seizing the agent’s attention. “My boyfriend’s on the nine o’clock flight to Tampa, and I want to surprise him. Can you work your magic and seat us together?”
“I’ll see what I can do, Miss. What’s your boyfriend’s name?”
For effect, Tatiyana glanced around the waiting area, cupped her hands around her mouth and whispered, “Markos Morretti.”
“Markos Morretti?” she repeated, his name falling from her mouth in a breathless gush. “The divorce attorney with the bedroom eyes?”
“The one and only. That’s my baby, and I can’t wait to see him! Is he here?”
The attendant bobbed her head. “Mr. Morretti walked inside the Boeing 738 five minutes ago, and when he strode through the terminal, women whistled and waved. I don’t blame them. He’s so dreamy I almost fainted when he smiled at me—”
“I know the feeling,” Tatiyana interjected, hoping to win favor with the attendant by indulging in girl talk. She’d do anything to achieve her goal, including fabricating a story about a red-hot relationship with the celebrated attorney, and spoke in a girlish voice to prove she was head over heels in love. “I melt every time Markos kisses me.”
“I bet. He’s gorgeous, and he smells good, too...”
To speed up the process, Tatiyana slid her photo ID across the desk and inquired about the delayed flight. LAX was swarming with disgruntled employees and travelers so loud she couldn’t hear herself think. The sooner Tatiyana got to her first-class seat and made friends with Markos Morretti the better. She’d never met the divorce attorney, but after seeing his picture with Mayor Glover in the Los Angeles Times weeks earlier, Tatiyana made it her mission to not only meet him, but befriend him. Markos was going to help her, whether he liked it or not, because no one messed with her family and got away with it. Tatiyana was going to make sure Mayor Glover did the right thing—even if it meant tipping off the media about his one-night stand with her twenty-two-year-old sister.
“Why didn’t you board the flight together?”
Tatiyana snapped to attention. Good question. “We had a spat yesterday, and we haven’t spoken since. That’s why I’m here. To apologize for hurting his feelings. I didn’t mean to.”
“Sounds serious,” she said, leaning forward, her hands pressed flat against the desk.
Dabbing at the corners of her eyes with her fingertips, she played the role of the distraught girlfriend to the hilt. “We ran into my ex at a movie premiere, and Markos accused me of flirting with him. I still can’t believe it. Why would I want him when I have a loving, romantic man who treats me like gold?”
“Why, indeed,” she agreed, her tone filled with awe. “From what I’ve read in the tabloids, Markos Morretti is everything a woman could want. Handsome, successful, romantic, and—”
“Amazing in bed—” Feigning embarrassment, Tatiyana broke off speaking. “Oops, I’ve said too much. I better board the flight before my loose lips get me into trouble.”
Hearing her cell chime, Tatiyana opened her leather tote bag, retrieved her iPhone and typed in her password. She had a new message from her mom, and seeing the image of her niece warmed her heart. Tatiyana had been gone only a couple hours, but she already missed Allie. The nine-month-old was the center of her world, a bright, bubbly baby with curly hair and chubby cheeks. Cuddling with her niece was the best part of her day. But when she saw Jantel curled up in bed, staring off into space, her good mood always fizzled.
“You’re all set. You’re in seat 1C, next to your boyfriend.”
Resisting the urge to dance around the desk, Tatiyana cheered inwardly, grateful her plan had gone off without a hitch. “Thank you, Mercedes. You’re the best!”
“It was my pleasure.”
“I’m going to email the airline, and tell them what a great employee you are.”
“I appreciate that Ms. Washington.”
“No problem,” Tatiyana said with a wink. “We ladies need to stick together, right?”
“If you grab your things, I can escort you to the plane.”
Panic flooded her body, rooting her six-inch heels to the floor. What if the attendant said something to Markos? What if she was exposed as a liar and hauled off the plane by airport security? Swallowing hard, she ignored the butterflies swarming her stomach and dismissed the attendant’s offer with a flick of her hand. “I’m a frequent flyer. I know the way.”
“I insist.” The attendant took off at a breakneck speed, leaving Tatiyana no choice but to follow her. Inside the tunnel, she fluffed her short, fizzy hair and adjusted her uniform. “Markos has two younger brothers,” she said, checking her appearance in a tiny, handheld mirror. “I saw a picture of Romeo and Enrique Morretti in Hello magazine a few months ago, and they’re total hotties. I’d love to meet them. Have you?”
“No, not yet. We haven’t been dating long, so I’d appreciate if you didn’t say anything to Markos about our relationship. He’s a very private man, and I don’t want you to upset him.”
“I won’t say a word. I know how to act around celebrities. I’m an aspiring actress...”
Everyone is in this town, Tatiyana thought, nixing an eye roll.
“No worries, Ms. Washington. I’ll be professional and polite.”
Thankful her cover was still intact, Tatiyana wore a grateful smile. Following the attendant, her heart drumming inside her chest, she hoped her hair and makeup were still perfect. Normally, Tatiyana wore sweats when she traveled, but this morning she’d gone all out. Fake eyelashes, lush curls that flowed down her back, gold accessories to complement her Chanel outfit and peep-toe sandals. Markos Morretti had a penchant for model-types, with long hair and slim figures, and since Tatiyana wanted to catch his eye, she had to look her best.
“Here we are,” the attendant said, gesturing to the aircraft. “If it’s not too much trouble, I’d love to meet Mr. Morretti...”
“Thanks for everything.” Anxious to meet her attorney “boyfriend” for the first time, Tatiyana waved and marched onto the gleaming Boeing 738 as if she owned it.
“Morning,” greeted the flight attendant, giving her the once-over, his interest evident in his toothy grin. “Right this way, Ms. Washington. Let me show you to your seat...”
Tatiyana expelled a nervous breath. She could do this. Had to do this. Her family was depending on her. Lying went against everything she believed in, but what choice did she have? Her sister was depressed, and she was scared of losing her forever.
Her gaze landed on Markos Morretti, and she stopped abruptly, couldn’t move. Tatiyana heard a gasp fall from her lips and slammed her mouth shut. He was a living, breathing men’s ad, and seeing him in the flesh was a shock to her system. Blood surged to her girly parts, warming her body with desire, and her heartbeat roared in her ears.
In her haste to meet him, Tatiyana tripped over her feet. To avoid falling headfirst into his lap, she braced her hands against the wall and straightened her wobbly knees. Tatiyana gathered herself, then adjusted her clothes. To her relief, the other first-class passengers were too busy on their electronic devices to notice her blunder, and Markos—the devastating piece of eye candy—had his eyes closed, earphones in and a pensive expression on his face. He wasn’t paying her any attention, but he would. Men always did when she turned on the charm, and Tatiyana was looking forward to seducing the Italian bachelor. He had smooth, olive skin, chiseled features and thick lips. Lips made for kissing and sucking and exploring between her legs—
“Here you go.” The flight attendant gestured to the window seat with a nod. “If you need anything, push your call button and I’ll be here in a flash.”
Stepping over Markos’s long, outstretched legs, Tatiyana swung her tote bag toward him, hoping to wake him, but he didn’t move. How was she supposed to seduce him when he didn’t even know she was alive? What if he slept the entire flight? Then what?
Sitting in her seat, she was impressed by how spacious and attractive the cabin was. Tatiyana had never flown first-class, and had had to use some of the money in her savings to afford the pricey ticket. Her gaze landed on Markos again—for the second time in minutes—and her mouth dried. Tatiyana smelled perfume on his clothes, a charming blend of fruits and spices, and wondered if everything she’d read online about his dating life was true.
The pilot came on the intercom, warmly greeting passengers to Flight 74, but Tatiyana was so distracted by Markos’s presence that she couldn’t concentrate on what the pilot was saying. Tatiyana couldn’t remember ever being this attracted to a guy, this taken with anyone, and fanned her face to cool down her overheated body.
Studying his profile, she heard Lena’s words in her ear and smiled to herself. Her mother was right; Markos did look like a movie star. Weeks ago, Lena and Jantel had gone to his swanky, downtown law firm, but the meeting had been a waste of time. Markos refused to help, insisted the mayor would never cheat on his fiancée and promptly kicked them out of his office. To add insult to injury, his receptionist had handed them a three-hundred-dollar invoice on their way out the door. Tatiyana didn’t learn about the meeting until she’d returned from a road trip with her friends days later. No matter. Tatiyana knew what to do, and this time she’d be calling the shots, not the slick-talking attorney with the bedroom eyes.
Tatiyana buckled her seat belt and crossed her legs. She hated flying, and hoped a flight attendant would be around soon with a complimentary glass of champagne. Her first-class ticket had cost more than her montly mortgage payment, and Tatiyana planned to get her money’s worth. She was going to have seconds and thirds of everything, especially dessert, and smirked when she remembered the conversation she’d had with her mom at dinner last night. “Eat your belly full,” Lena had advised, adjusting her crooked, auburn wig. “Hell, at that price, the airline should give you a doggie bag and a bottle of Sangria!”
Fond memories came to mind, filling her heart with love. Her mother was bossy, and always had to have the last word, but she was the glue that held their family together, and Tatiyana adored her, faults and all. Suffering from postpartum depression, Jantel couldn’t care for her daughter, Allie, so she’d moved her sister and niece into her house. A week later, her mom came to visit and never left. Lena ensured everything ran smoothly at home and doted on her only grandchild. Pounding the pavement for work, Tatiyana could attend interviews, knowing Jantel and Allie were in good hands. Her friend, Daphne Kostopoulos, owned a staffing agency, and gave her hours every week. Tatiyana missed her lucrative position at Pinnacle Microsystems, and was anxious to find another one, but first, she had make nice with Markos Morretti—the attorney who’d swindled her mom out of three hundred dollars—and persuade him to help her kid sister.
Within minutes, the plane was at cruising altitude, flying high above the clouds. Watching Markos on the sly, Tatiyana considered introducing herself, but sensed it wasn’t the right time. He opened his briefcase, took out a leather-bound notebook and flipped it open. Pen in hand, he wrote furiously, only stopping to tell the flight attendant what he wanted to drink. “I’ll have a coffee with a double shot of Bailey’s, two sugars and a dash of espresso.”
Sensing this was the opportunity she’d been waiting for, Tatiyana spoke up. “I’ll have the same, but with a double shot of espresso.”
Markos glanced to the right, staring intently at her. Tatiyana wanted to introduce herself, but she couldn’t get her mouth to work. Remembering what was at stake, she conquered her nerves and offered her hand in greeting. “Hi,” she said, wearing her brightest, most dazzling smile. “I’m Tatiyana Washington.”
He nodded but didn’t speak. Jerk, she thought, put off by his cold demeanor. Markos gave her a blank look, making her feel small and insignificant, and Tatiyana wished her happy-go-lucky self hadn’t introduced herself first. Sensing some reserve in his manner, she toned down her excitement and spoke in a softer, quieter voice. “And you are—” she prompted.
“Working,” he snapped.
Embarrassed, her cheeks flushed with heat, she forced an apologetic smile onto her lips. “Not a problem. Sorry for bothering you—”
“Thanks.” Returning to his document, he picked up his fancy diamond pen and resumed writing, scowling as if she was a pesky fly he couldn’t get rid of.
Shocked by his rudeness, Tatiyana realized she’d never disliked anyone more than the curt divorce attorney, and made up her mind to get even with him before Flight 74 landed in Tampa. Deciding to play it cool, Tatiyana slipped on her sunglasses and settled back into her seat, pretending Markos didn’t exist. It didn’t work. She couldn’t stop stealing glances at him, watching him on the sly as he typed, and when their arms inadvertently touched and desire exploded inside her, Tatiyana feared she didn’t stand a chance against Markos Morretti.
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