release her emotions. Fed up, she slipped on her jogging shoes and went for a run on the beach, mentally blocking out the two guards trailing behind. The cool air and salty scent were invigorating. Letting the sand and ocean soothe her, the more she ran the better she felt.
*****
Jogging up the steps to the patio, Ella saw Adam standing there with his arms open and a smile on his face. “Hey, sweaty girl,” he said, and she jumped over the last step and bounced up, into his arms.
Ella threw her arms around his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist. “You’re home.”
“Miss me?” Adam said, pressing her head against his jaw, holding her tight.
“Always,” she said. “How did your meeting with Quinn go?”
Ella let her legs slide down his body until her feet were back on the wooden deck. Adam plopped onto a lounge chair, spreading his legs and letting them fall over the sides. Holding Ella’s hand, he pulled her onto the cushion between his thighs and she leaned back against his chest.
“Good meeting. A couple of the marketing guys were there. It was mostly marketing stuff. But I have to say, Claudio’s loss is our gain. Those new programs have huge potential.”
“The gaming ones?”
“Yep. Joel, my head of marketing, is reporting huge demand for the types of software I just handed over to them. He’s excited about the profit potential. From phone apps to kiosks, he thinks customers will eat it up, and is confident about getting investors.”
“How exciting.”
“Yes, the closer we are to putting the programs out to the market, the more I see how big that sector of AB Software is going to be. Claudio can eat his heart out.”
“What about Claudio? Anything new from your investigators?” Ella sat up and turned to face Adam.
“Not specifically, but Quinn says the information from Adrian was helpful. And he was glad to have the photos of Cesar. Everything helps fill in the blanks.” Adam suppressed a smile.
“What? Why do you look so smug?”
“I think I’ve figured out a way to outmaneuver him.”
“Claudio?”
“Yes.”
“What, Adam? Tell me.”
“I’ll tell you soon. I have to think it through, make sure it’s a solid strategy.”
“You’re killing me,” Ella whined.
Adam laughed. “As soon as I’m confident, I’ll tell you about it. Now…guess where we are going tonight?”
“Where?” Ella asked, forgetting all about maneuvering and strategies.
“You, amore mia, are going to see Luciana Souza.”
“Live? Tonight? You got tickets?”
“I got good seats too, so you better get ready.”
Luciana Souza had a worldwide audience, and even when living in Newport, Ella listened to her versions of songs originally made popular by artists like Sting and Joni Mitchell. She knew she was one of Brazil’s greatest singers, born in São Paulo, and a former Grammy winner. Seeing her in a live performance would be amazing.
Ella jumped to her feet and started toward the house. “But,” she said, stopping, “it’s still early. The concert probably doesn’t start until later this evening.” Then she saw the gleam in Adam’s eyes.
He walked toward her, undressing her with his gaze. “I think you need a shower first…since you’re so sweaty,” he said, sensually wiping a finger over her forehead. “You’ll need help. It might take a while.”
Ella’s knees weakened and she closed her eyes as Adam leaned in and kissed her deeply, pressing her to him, her breasts crushed against his chest. He began taking her clothes off, right there on the deck, never releasing her from his hot, sexy kiss.
Chapter 7
The shower was bright and steamy, the pearl-white tile reflecting the afternoon sun. The white light radiated through the bathroom skylight, basking Adam and Ella in warmth. Music played loudly through the room, booming out of the built-in sound system. The vibrations of the bass pulsed through the air, adding to the sensations flooding Ella’s
*****
Jogging up the steps to the patio, Ella saw Adam standing there with his arms open and a smile on his face. “Hey, sweaty girl,” he said, and she jumped over the last step and bounced up, into his arms.
Ella threw her arms around his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist. “You’re home.”
“Miss me?” Adam said, pressing her head against his jaw, holding her tight.
“Always,” she said. “How did your meeting with Quinn go?”
Ella let her legs slide down his body until her feet were back on the wooden deck. Adam plopped onto a lounge chair, spreading his legs and letting them fall over the sides. Holding Ella’s hand, he pulled her onto the cushion between his thighs and she leaned back against his chest.
“Good meeting. A couple of the marketing guys were there. It was mostly marketing stuff. But I have to say, Claudio’s loss is our gain. Those new programs have huge potential.”
“The gaming ones?”
“Yep. Joel, my head of marketing, is reporting huge demand for the types of software I just handed over to them. He’s excited about the profit potential. From phone apps to kiosks, he thinks customers will eat it up, and is confident about getting investors.”
“How exciting.”
“Yes, the closer we are to putting the programs out to the market, the more I see how big that sector of AB Software is going to be. Claudio can eat his heart out.”
“What about Claudio? Anything new from your investigators?” Ella sat up and turned to face Adam.
“Not specifically, but Quinn says the information from Adrian was helpful. And he was glad to have the photos of Cesar. Everything helps fill in the blanks.” Adam suppressed a smile.
“What? Why do you look so smug?”
“I think I’ve figured out a way to outmaneuver him.”
“Claudio?”
“Yes.”
“What, Adam? Tell me.”
“I’ll tell you soon. I have to think it through, make sure it’s a solid strategy.”
“You’re killing me,” Ella whined.
Adam laughed. “As soon as I’m confident, I’ll tell you about it. Now…guess where we are going tonight?”
“Where?” Ella asked, forgetting all about maneuvering and strategies.
“You, amore mia, are going to see Luciana Souza.”
“Live? Tonight? You got tickets?”
“I got good seats too, so you better get ready.”
Luciana Souza had a worldwide audience, and even when living in Newport, Ella listened to her versions of songs originally made popular by artists like Sting and Joni Mitchell. She knew she was one of Brazil’s greatest singers, born in São Paulo, and a former Grammy winner. Seeing her in a live performance would be amazing.
Ella jumped to her feet and started toward the house. “But,” she said, stopping, “it’s still early. The concert probably doesn’t start until later this evening.” Then she saw the gleam in Adam’s eyes.
He walked toward her, undressing her with his gaze. “I think you need a shower first…since you’re so sweaty,” he said, sensually wiping a finger over her forehead. “You’ll need help. It might take a while.”
Ella’s knees weakened and she closed her eyes as Adam leaned in and kissed her deeply, pressing her to him, her breasts crushed against his chest. He began taking her clothes off, right there on the deck, never releasing her from his hot, sexy kiss.
Chapter 7
The shower was bright and steamy, the pearl-white tile reflecting the afternoon sun. The white light radiated through the bathroom skylight, basking Adam and Ella in warmth. Music played loudly through the room, booming out of the built-in sound system. The vibrations of the bass pulsed through the air, adding to the sensations flooding Ella’s
Similar Books
