All in all, Victoria couldn’t see the appeal. Why put herself in the position of either having a bad sexual experience, or having a good one that ended in heartbreak? Sex wasn’t worth it. At least, that’s what she’d thought…until she met Cortez.
“I’m glad I did that for you, Victoria.”
She met his gaze. “I’m glad you were my first, Cortez.” There was no need to tell him that he was also her last, as well. “I find it hard to believe you’re still single. Haven’t you ever been in a serious relationship? Not even in college?”
“There was one,” he admitted. “Dahlia and I met at Harvard. Like me, she had plans to become an attorney, so we continued on to law school together. Also like me, she had big plans for her life that didn’t include getting involved with anyone in the near future.”
“But the two of you did become serious?”
“Yes, but not the way you’re thinking. We were friends who decided to become friends with benefits.”
Victoria lifted a brow. “Friends with benefits?”
He nodded. “The arrangement worked for us, during college and most of law school.”
She nodded. “What happened?”
“She met someone…a guy in medical school in Atlanta. They became engaged and were married right after she graduated from law school.”
“And how did you feel about that?” Victoria asked. She’d heard of the friends with benefits arrangement, but had never known anyone who’d tried it.
“I was happy for her. I love her as a friend and nothing more. She felt the same about me.”
Victoria pondered that for a moment. “Do you ever hear from her?”
“I get a Christmas card from her and Rosco every year. They have three kids now and are a beautiful family.” He took her hand. “I know it might be hard to believe, but former lovers can become just friends.”
She nodded. “I know.”
He lifted a brow. “You do?”
“Yes. You know my cousin Rae’jean?”
He nodded. “She’s the heart surgeon, right?”
“Yes. Well, fifteen years ago, Rae’jean was engaged to marry Grady. For some reason, they called off the wedding, and in less than a year, they’d both married other people. But I know Rae’jean and Grady stay in touch. She’s even the godmother to Grady’s daughter.”
“Now, that’s deep. Much too deep for me.”
Victoria chuckled. “Me, too.” Deciding to change the subject, she asked, “How do you like working for Quinn?”
He stared at her for a long moment before replying. “Quinn likes to say that none of the attorneys in his firm work for him…we work with him. We like that. It makes you feel like a partner, although you aren’t.”
“Is that your plan? To make partner in his law firm one day?” she asked him.
“That’s the goal. His firm has a stellar reputation. But I’ve only been with him for two years. I understand the need to prove myself.”
She was surprised that he thought that. From what she’d heard and read in numerous news articles, Cortez was already making a name for himself in the legal community.
“There’s no doubt in my mind you’ll succeed.”
He smiled. “Thank you for the vote of confidence, Ms. Bennett.”
“You’re welcome, Mr. Masters.”
He glanced at his watch — a Rolex. She could tell he was a man who liked nice things. When she’d freshened up in the master bedroom, she’d seen his backpack laying across the chair. It was a Louis Vuitton X Supreme. She knew what those cost.
He glanced back at her. “Did you want to take a walk before leaving for the market.”
She chuckled. “Why? Do you think I ate so much that I need to walk it off?”
He grinned. “No. I was thinking that possibly I did.”
“You didn’t eat that much,” she said.
“It was more than I normally do, trust me.”
She wondered if that was how he stayed in shape, by keeping close tabs on what he ate. She was known to skip meals and then make up for it by splurging later. She figured the only reason she was a decent size was due to her metabolism and active lifestyle.
He got up and she stood, as well. “I’ll be back,” he said, leaving her to go inside to pay for their meal. He’d ignored her offer to pay for it on the drive over. She would need to bring that subject up with him again later.
“Ready?”
“Yes.”
And then he took her hand and led her away from the café.
Deep in thought, Cortez walked along the road outside the café, Victoria’s hand in his. He tried not to think of how different things might have been if she hadn’t run out on him that day. They might have kept the relationship going. Maybe they’d even be married by now, with a bunch of kids. He liked the thought of that.
“You’re quiet.”
He could say the same about her. Although he hadn’t made any attempt at conversation, she hadn’t either. “I was just thinking.”
“About what?”
He was hoping she would ask. “About how different things might have been if I’d been up front with you and told you my name was Cortez Masters, instead of just Cort.”
She stopped walking. Turning to face him, she pulled her hand from his and looked into his eyes. Her expression was unreadable, and Cortez immediately missed touching her.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“What?”
“Dwelling on what might have been.”
A part of him wondered if she was right. But then, another part of him felt she was wrong. Dwelling on what might have been was what was driving him now. The mistakes of yesterday were the best teacher. Before she left Paris this time, she would know that he was in love with her.
Cobra had warned him about announcing his feelings so soon, but when it came to emotions, he couldn’t help it. He was a man of few words but a lot of action. He believed in making the most of the time he had. She obviously assumed they were here for the next two nights to burn up the sheets. And while that might be true, he intended to do something else, as well. He was going to push buttons she didn’t know she had, take her sensual hunger to levels she didn’t know existed, and make her crave his kisses so much, she’d beg for them. He knew what he had to accomplish in the time he had here. Letting her leave him in two days, without looking back, was not an option.
“I can’t help but dwell on what might have been, Victoria.”
“I’m surprised you even think about it.”
She would be more than a little surprised to discover just how much he thought about her, period. “I’ve thought about our time together a lot. Haven’t you?”
Victoria didn’t answer right away. Instead, he watched as she frowned, obviously turning over something in her mind. Although she hadn’t answered his question yet, he couldn’t help but ask another. “What are you thinking?”
She shrugged. “It’s not important, but…”
“But what?” At that moment, he saw something that looked like regret creep into her eyes.