All That I Desire (4 page)

She eased on her brakes as the green light turned to yellow. The car on the other
side of her went through the light. She heard the screeching of brakes and glanced
into her rearview mirror. That’s all she needed. Rio would have a fit if the BMW was
in an accident.

She blew out a breath and glanced out the window. Eli Patterson, the house manager,
stood in front of a bar with another man. The stranger had his back to her, but he
was around six foot two in a gray suit that fit his broad shoulders perfectly.

She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but from the man’s wild gestures they were
arguing. Her suspicions were confirmed when lifted his hand and pointed his finger
at Eli. The house manager’s face blanched. The bigger man took Eli’s arm and hustled
him into the black Lincoln pulled up beside them.

Poor man, she thought. No one should be bullied. She wasn’t the only one having a
bad day. The light changed and she pulled off.

*   *   *

Skylar ate dinner alone as expected, but refused to give in to the melancholy that
had gripped her earlier. Perhaps it was seeing the house manager an hour ago with
his head down. The bully was probably kicked back someplace having a great time, just
like she was probably the farthest thing from Rio’s mind.

She stabbed her citrus salad and nibbled on a piece of lettuce and orange. Keeping
her head down wouldn’t get her in Rio’s arms. She wasn’t sure what would, but there’d
be no more feeling sorry for herself.

Her shoulders straightened. She wasn’t half bad looking, had a good sense of humor,
and was intelligent enough to have worked her way up to director of events in fourteen
months. Most men would be thrilled to have her. She dug into her salad with renewed
gusto. Before the night of the auction, Rio would be, too.

*   *   *

Tuesday morning, Skylar dressed in a calf-length black skirt with a five-inch slit
above her knees on one side and paired it with a white crepe blouse with long flowing
sleeves. On her feet were toeless four-inch heels. Each time she moved, the skirt
shifted against her skin and a glimpse of her leg, covered by sheer black stocking,
was visible.

She put her hair in a chic chignon. Around her neck was the double strand of pearls
her parents had given her when she graduated from high school. She put on her pearl
ear studs, grabbed her iPad, and left the room.

Her first confirmation that she had achieved her goal of looking sophisticated and
sexy was when one of the guards on the stairs stopped in his tracks as he saw her.
She smiled. “Good morning, Eric.”

“Ah, Skylar.” His eyes roamed appreciatively over her face. “You look very nice.”

“Thank you.” She folded her arms around the iPad. “A woman always likes to hear that.”

He opened his mouth, his smile growing, then his shoulders straightened and the smile
faded. “Please excuse me.”

“Of course.” Skylar stepped aside to let him pass, but in such a way that she could
look back up the stairs. She wasn’t surprised to catch a glimpse of Rio. She continued
to the small dining room for breakfast and took a seat. She wasn’t trying to make
Rio jealous or get his men into trouble; she just wanted him to notice her as a woman.

“Good morning, Ms. Dupree.” The cook, Mary, placed a glass of cranberry juice and
a glass of water by the place setting.

“Good morning, Mary,” Skylar greeted. “What are you going to serve me that will tantalize
my taste buds and make me have to work out?”

The pretty young woman beamed. “Eggs ranchero. My family loves it when I cook it for
them.”

“I’m sure I will as well.” Skylar placed the cloth napkin in her lap as the cook rushed
out of the room. She was reaching for her juice when the hairs on the back of her
neck stood up. Slowly her gaze lifted to Rio’s. It was all she could do not to lean
back, away from the force of his hard gaze.

“The first delivery is scheduled to arrive in twenty-eight minutes.”

Before she could comment, Rio left as quietly as he’d come. Skylar sagged in her chair,
then sat up and glanced at her watch. Eight fifty-seven. She wasn’t going to be late.
It was her responsibility to check each delivery to ensure it matched her master list
and see that it was placed in the designated spot.

“Here you are, Ms. Dupree.” Mary set the plate on the table.

“It looks fantastic. Thank you.” Skylar blessed her food, then picked up her fork
and began to eat. If Rio thought he could rattle her, he had better think again.

She forked in another bite. Rio was incredibly gorgeous with the body of a Greek god,
a noble bearing, the instincts of a seasoned warrior. Women were drawn to the mystique
that surrounded him. It was exhilarating to be near a man that exuded that much power.
When he turned those cold black eyes on you, you were snared and immediately knew
you might find endless pleasure in his arms—but there was also danger. Continue at
your own risk.

Rio might have thrown her at first, but she was made of sterner stuff. Her ancestors
were Moors, Creoles, and free people of color. Some were warriors as well. Others
had toiled in the hot sun, done backbreaking work, all with the goal of achieving
wealth and independence. They hadn’t had it easy, but each generation had accomplished
more than the next. No Dupree or Carrington—her mother’s maiden name—ran from hard
work or a challenge.

Game on!

Chapter 3

Skylar was sitting at the table beneath the open tent when the first delivery truck
rolled across the drawbridge. There were one hundred items up for bid. Neither she
nor the Navorones wanted delivery people traipsing in and out of their home. Nor did
they want to risk photos being taken inside. The exterior was already well documented.

The simple solution was to accept the delivery in the courtyard. Once a donation arrived,
the tracking number would be checked, then the package opened to validate the item
with the driver present. Merchandise didn’t always make its way to the final destination.

The driver jumped out of the truck with a package in his hands. “This is the first
of four. I don’t see why this delivery has to be different,” he muttered.

Silently Rio took the twelve-by-twelve box, scanned the label, placed it on a long
folding table a few feet from Skylar, and opened the box with a box cutter. Removing
the packing, he carefully pulled out a Baccarat crystal vase valued at twenty-five
thousand dollars.

Skylar found the vase and marked it off her list. “One down and ninety-nine to go.”

“Yes.” Rio placed the rose-colored vase aside.

Skylar stared down at the screen of her iPad. At least he was talking to her.

“Here are the other three.” The driver stopped with a cart. “Who is going to sign?”

“I will.” Skylar placed the iPad on the table.

“I’ll take care of it.” Rio stepped past her and signed, giving the scanner back to
the driver. He picked up the top box. “Please step over here while I open the other
packages.”

“Hurry up. I got a schedule to keep,” the man snapped.

Rio had turned away but swung back so fast the driver stumbled, swallowed.

Skylar bet the man wouldn’t pop off again like that. She picked up the next box. “Shall
I open it?”

Rio finally moved to place his box beside hers. One of his men placed the other one
on the table. No one spoke as he opened each.

“They all check.” Skylar spoke to the nervous man. “Being courteous never goes out
of style. Good-bye.”

The man went to his truck. Once there he sneered. Skylar smiled at him. “Have a wonderful
day.”

The men standing with her laughed. She didn’t even have to look at Rio to know he
hadn’t joined in with them. He was too serious. He needed to have some fun, and Skylar
was going to be the person to show him how.

*   *   *

Rio personally took the four deliveries into the designated room. All the furniture
had been stored so people could easily browse the collection. Skylar had even acquired
locked jewelry cases. There were also stands for the expected art pieces. After placing
the crystal pieces in their designated spots, he went back out. He’d gotten no more
than a foot out the door before he heard the unmistakable sound of Skylar’s laughter.

No emotion showed on his face, but inside was a different matter. He shouldn’t care
that she had such an easy way with his men. She was just another employee.

If only he could make himself believe that. He was actually ready to warn Henderson
off when Rio caught the known womanizer and Skylar on the staircase that morning.
Her tone had been light, almost flirtatious. Henderson wasn’t the type of man to let
an opportunity with a beautiful woman pass.

A man with less control might have cursed at that admission. Rio continued to the
tent. No woman was ever going to get the best of him. He’d mastered his body years
ago, just as the Man With No Name had taught him.

“Another delivery is due in thirty minutes.” Skylar looked at her watch again. “It’s
finally happening. I called Ruth while you were inside and told her about the first
delivery.”

He didn’t know what to say to her. He’d never been one for small talk—with a woman
or a man. She looked at him as if he were her whole world one moment or as if she
wanted to crawl into his lap, then other times as if she wanted to comfort him. He
didn’t need anything from her—except to stop looking at him with such innocent desire
and sinful expectations.

“Everything all right on the island?” she asked.

“Yes,” he answered, hoping that would end the conversation. She was sitting in a chair
with her long, shapely legs crossed. The slight breeze loosened strains of her thick,
lustrous black hair from the chignon and molded the white blouse to her high, firm
breasts.

“I know you wanted to be there.” She twisted toward him, revealing more of her elegant
legs. “But I’m glad you’re here.”

Rio mentally shook himself. Her striking hazel eyes wistfully stared up at him, not
hiding any of her desire. Didn’t she have any sense? He might ask himself the same
thing. “I’ll be back before the next delivery.”

Rio made a strategic withdrawal to the command center. Every good soldier knew there
was no shame in retreating to regroup. No matter what, Skylar Dupree would not breach
his defenses.

*   *   *

Rio was there to watch the items being unloaded as the day progressed. The deliverymen
and -women cast nervous glances at him. He unpacked each box or package, carefully
handling delicate crystal pieces as easily as he did sturdier items with his large
hands.

Skylar remembered those hands on her and, from the sudden narrowing of his eyes when
their gaze happen to meet, Rio did also. She might have rejoiced that she’d gotten
another reaction out of him if her knees hadn’t been shaking.

“I’ll take that into the display room while you have the driver sign.” Glad her voice
was steady, she picked up the box with the signed Waterford limited-edition vase and
went inside the castle.

Five minutes later, more in control of her emotions, she came out of the room with
the auction pieces and saw the house manager, Mr. Patterson. He didn’t look any happier
than he had the day she’d seen him in town.

“Mr. Patterson, life can change for the better at a moment’s notice.”

If anything, his frown deepened. He stared at her in puzzlement. “What are you talking
about, Ms. Dupree?”

Skylar wasn’t sure what her response should be. She didn’t want to embarrass him.
“It’s just my observation. I better get back outside.”

*   *   *

The next morning as she left breakfast, she met Eli standing just beyond the doors
of the small dining room. “Good morning, Mr. Patterson.”

“Good morning, Ms. Dupree. Would it be possible to have a word with you?”

“Of course,” she said and followed him to the library. He closed the door behind them.

The poor man looked worried. She hoped it didn’t have anything to do with what she’d
said to him yesterday.

He glanced away as if unable to find the words, before finally facing her. “What you
said about life changing at a moment’s notice has been bothering me all night. I had
the feeling that it wasn’t just random conversation. Am I right?”

She hesitated. She should have kept her mouth shut. Especially since Rio had gone
cold on her again.

“Please, I need my sleep,” he said, a slight smile on his lined face.

She knew exactly what he meant. She had tossed most of the night. “I saw you in town.”

His expression didn’t change.

“With the man outside of the bar Monday,” she rushed on when his eyes widened. “I
didn’t mean to spy or anything. I was at a stoplight and I happened to glance over.”

“I see,” he said slowly.

She truly felt bad. She placed a consoling hand on his arm. “He was mean to bully
you. If there is anything I can do to help, you only have to ask.”

His complexion paled. His shaky hand fluttered to his chest.

Afraid he was having a heart attack, she took his other arm. “Mr. Patterson, are you
all right? Do you want to sit down?”

“No. No. I…” His hand lowered, and he glanced away for a moment. “What you saw was
a private exchange. The man is an unwanted friend of a friend. I realize I have no
right, but please don’t tell anyone what you saw. It…” He swallowed. “It might cause
problems.”

She certainly knew about keeping secrets. She’d be mortified if it became public knowledge
that she was lusting after Rio. “I didn’t see anything.”

Her cell phone rang. “I have to take this. Hello. I’ll be right out.” She ended the
call. “This conversation never happened.”

“Thank you, Ms. Dupree.”

She touched his arm one last time, then rushed outside and to the tent. Rio was at
the receiving table cutting open a large rectangular box. “Good morning.”

“Good morning.” He never looked her way or paused in what he was doing. Moments later
he drew out a beautiful painting by Kara Simmons-Landers, a newly discovered artist.