Sea of Seduction: A Single Dad Sports Romance Read online

  The warmth of his body ignited a passion and I crossed my legs affecting a concerned look. “That seems rather vague.”

  “The angels don’t give a yes or no answer.” He touched my arm lightly. All my nerve endings responded with a thrill that sent a buzz up my arms and straight to my heart. “Let’s talk about this. What does it mean to you?”

  I stared at his chest. Dominick wore a surf T-shirt that was so tight on his muscled chest that I had a difficult time concentrating on his words. I swallowed over the pulse in my throat. “I’m supposed to act on something?”

  “Is there perhaps someone you’ve met? Someone you’d like to get to know better?”

  I leaned back and slowly re-crossed my legs. A small grunt escaped his lips as his gaze traveled to the space between my legs. He stroked his neck as a slight pinkness crept across his cheeks, then he met my gaze again.

  “No. You see, I work a lot and I’ve been way too busy for dating. If the right person came along, though …” I tugged at my tight dress, uncrossed my legs and leaned forward so my breasts touched the table, making sure my cleavage was on display. “Let’s see that card again.”

  Dominick’s gaze strayed to my breasts and he licked his lips. He picked up the card and held it toward me. His shaking hand came so close to my breasts that he almost touched them. His voice was low and seductive. “The card says that the timing is perfect for you to find love. I only tell you what the cards say.” He relaxed back into his chair and ran a hand through his luxurious mane.

  My mouth hung slightly open, and I rubbed my lower lip.

  Dominick sat forward. “I’m sensing your hesitancy. Let’s take another look at the cards. He selected a few more from the deck and laid them face down in the pattern of a cross, then flipped one over. He pointed to the card. “Ah, the angel of passion.” He tapped the card. “Let me ask you Coco, have you been getting in the way of your own passion?”

  I stammered out my reply. “No. I mean, why would you say that?”

  “It’s not me who’s saying it. The angels never lie. This card says that you have the potential for deep passion, but the vibrations I’m receiving tell me you’re not ready.”

  I was going to have to amp up my flirtation if I wanted to win this bet.

  Dominick was right. I was out of practice. The problem was, being around Dominick made my thoughts fuzzy.

  I shifted my body and spread my legs enough that our knees touched. I licked my lips and leaned forward to touch one of the cards, sliding my arm close enough that it made contact with his. His skin felt like a raging fire and my insides turned to Jell-o. I inhaled his aroma, a masculine scent of seawater and musk. I gazed at Dominick and the look in his green eyes was so erotic, I wanted to rip my dress off, yank my breasts free, straddle him and make long, slow love right there in his living room.

  I cleared my throat. “This card is the angel of passion?” I looked at him, eyes wide. “And you say I’m supposed to act on something? Like maybe I’ve met somebody I can fall in love with?” He nodded. I slipped my foot out of my sandal, leaned back in my chair and massaged my foot. “It’s just that I’m not sure who that might be.” My eyebrows knit together. “Maybe if I meditate on this, I’ll figure it out.” I tucked both legs into a lotus posture. My dress hiked up so high that I was sure my panties had to be visible. I lifted my hair and twirled it into a makeshift bun. “It’s hot in here, Dominick. Do you feel hot?”

  His eyes grew wide as he stared between my legs. His breathing became labored and he blinked rapidly. He pursed his lips, leaned over the table and turned another card over. “This is the angel of burdens past. It’s time for you to let go of your past. Keep the lessons you’ve learned and embrace your future.”

  I uncrossed my legs and leaned forward again over the table. Dominick had that one right.

  We worked on the cards a bit longer. The reading revealed generic messages; advising me to set goals and place trust in the universe. I don’t know if Dominick had a ruse going. Maybe he had a way of picking the cards he thought his clients wanted. I had no idea how these readings worked. And I didn’t care.

  With every movement Dominick made, I became more entranced with his masculinity and power. Dominick exuded charisma. He was a man who walked into a room and took over. Finally, the reading was over.

  “Would you like to set another appointment?”

  “The sooner, the better.”

  He consulted his appointment book and frowned. “I can’t get you in until next Friday.”

  I covered my mouth with my hand. “Oh! No sooner?”

  He let out a throaty laugh and spread his arms. “This town’s got me booked solid.”

  We set our next appointment for the following Friday.

  When I stood next to Dominick at the doorway, he said, “By the way, I love your dress and that starfish necklace. He touched the necklace. “Real silver?”

  When he touched me, and it was barely a brush of his warm hand, my heart fluttered and my insides turned to liquid. “Oh! Yes. It’s a Tiffany. They make the best.” I wanted to kiss him and tear my clothes off and get this whole bet over with so Dominick and I could become an item. But we’d only just met and what was I doing thinking ridiculous thoughts like becoming his girlfriend? Besides, his daughter was in the other room.

  “The best for a beautiful woman.” His smile was warm. I basked in the perfection of his exotically handsome face with its olive tone, seductive eyes and the passion that exuded from his suggestive smile. He held the door open with a flourish and a bow. “I’ll see you soon, meu amor.” The sound of his sexy Latin accent and the way he called me his love … well, I could barely mutter a goodbye. I pressed my lips together in a suppressed grin and brushed past Dominick. When I walked into the afternoon sun, everything looked alive and vibrant.

  Chapter Nine

  Coco

  I’d made it about halfway home when I heard a skateboard behind me. It skidded to a stop and there was Lola, flipping the skateboard expertly up and grabbing it with one hand. Her smile was huge. “Hi! Do you live around here?”

  “Hi there.” I pointed in the general direction of my home. “Yep, just up the hill.”

  She tucked a strand of hair behind one ear. “Can I walk with you?”

  “Sure honey. I’d love the company.”

  She held her skateboard under one arm and swung the other as we walked. “I love living here. It’s so much prettier than where we used to live with my grandma.”

  “Did you grow up in Brazil?”

  “Sao Paulo.” She gazed up at me with big brown eyes. “Have you been? They have great surf.”

  I shook my head. “Nope. I’m sure it’s nice, though.”

  She shrugged. “It’s okay. Do you surf?”

  “No, I don’t. I like to do yoga, spin class, and Pilates, though.”

  “You need to come surfing with us.”

  I threw my head back and laughed. “That looks like it has a steep learning curve. Dangerous too.”

  “You’d do great. It’s not dangerous. Usually.”

  My mind was already envisioning some of the catastrophes that occurred in the ocean. Why, just a few months back a shark had attacked a swimmer on La Fortuna’s shores. He lived, but he probably wished he were dead. I squeezed my eyes tightly thinking of blood, pain and how traumatic that must’ve been when the paramedics rushed him into the ambulance. Not to mention his bitterly long recovery. “Don’t people drown and … Oh, I’m being a downer.”

  “It’s okay. It’s good to be careful.” She looked up at me. “Where do you work?”

  “I own a boutique, kind of a beauty clinic downtown.”

  She smiled. “I’ll bet you make the people who come in look pretty just like you. What’s it called?”

  “Beauty For Life.”

  Her eyes grew wide. “That’s the place with that huge marble thing out front that twirls around with water, right?”

  “That’s the place.”


  She skipped twice. “That’s so hot! How do you make people look good?”

  “Well, we use organic herbs and extracts from roots. You know, medicinal formulas. I’m learning how to make my own blends.”

  She stopped walking and touched my arm. “Coco. Can I tell you something?” I stared at her sweet, innocent face, her skin so fresh, radiant and youthful. “My dad likes you.”

  “What? How do you know that?”

  Her blond hair blew in the breeze and she gave me a half smile. “Because he told me.”

  I wanted to ask her every detail of what he’d said, but Lola was just a sweet kid. She couldn’t possibly understand the complexities of adult relationships. “What did he say?”

  She screwed her face up. “It was more the way he acted the first time he met you. My dad never has a girlfriend. He used to have lots. You know, when we lived in Brazil and he surfed with the tour.”

  I wanted to ask her who those girls were, what they looked like, what Dominick’s type was, what Lola thought of her dad having “lots” of girlfriends. But I let her talk instead. “Well, that’s nice.”

  “Not really. Most of them never hung around long. And my avó, I mean my grandma, she didn’t like most of them. Neither did I.” She stared at me and then reached out and stroked my hair. “Que lindeza. You’re so pretty. And nice too. I think my dad needs to ask you to be his girlfriend.”

  My cheeks grew hot. “Why would you say that?”

  “Because he’s lonely. It’s not right. All he does is work and surf.” She pointed a finger at herself. “He expects me to be his entertainment.”

  I barked out an unladylike laugh. “What’s wrong with that?”

  “I have my own life.”

  I chuckled to myself. This young lady was wise beyond her years. “Come on, honey; let’s walk.” We resumed our pace up the hill. “I was pretty independent when I was a kid, too. That’s a great thing.”

  We were silent for a few moments, and then Lola said, “My dad’s teaching me to fight.”

  “What? Why? Is that safe?” My heart recoiled at the thought of Lola getting beat up, maybe coming home with a black eye or worse. She told me all about the bullies who’d been teasing her. “Like you said, I need to be independent.”

  “Why won’t your dad go to the school and complain?” If Lola had been my kid, I would’ve stormed into the principal’s office and demanded that the school take action.

  “They won’t do anything.” She looked at her feet. “One of the kids waits for me outside the school sometimes.”

  “Well, you be careful. Okay?”

  “I will.”

  My heart filled with compassion for this young lady who seemed determined to be an adult. We had reached my condo, and I said, “This is me.”

  She set her skateboard in the grass and threw her arms around me. She smelled delightful, like fresh herbs and cherry lip gloss. “Will I see you again?”

  I hugged her awkwardly and gently extricated myself. “Of course sweetheart. I see your dad next Friday.”

  She smiled broadly, picked up her skateboard and headed back toward her home. “Bye, Coco!” I watched until she was out of sight. My body felt light and airy; her adolescent naiveté was adorable. She didn’t understand the issues that adults wrestled with.

  Issues like heartbreak.

  Chapter Ten

  Coco

  I strolled into my home just as the sun was about to set and smiled. I had bought the condo for two reasons: the hardwood floors and the bank of windows overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

  Victor Jose’s ears perked up when he heard the door slam shut and he raced to me, hurling his tiny body up toward my open arms. I expertly caught him and he slathered my face with sweet kisses. “Hey baby.” He panted happily. “Look at you, so strong.” I petted his fur and he whimpered with happiness. After his cast had been removed, I learned that he liked to jump and dance on hind legs begging for treats. I didn’t know a Chihuahua could jump that high.

  I felt a massive sneeze coming on, inhaled deeply and let loose with a loud achoo! that caused an amused look to cross Victor’s expressive face.

  After giving Victor a quick walk, feeding him and taking my allergy pill, I wandered to the balcony, threw the door open and breathed in fresh ocean air. Leaning over the railing, I thought of Dominick and Lola.

  Dominick with his sexy, athletic frame, sex appeal oozing from every pore, and his adorable daughter. I loved spending time in Dominick and Lola’s warm home with the evidence of family. I smiled remembering Lola’s hand decorated backpack and her cute pink shoes.

  What must it have been like being a single dad? Where was Lola’s mother? Glancing at the sky, I noticed a storm brewing on the horizon, another tempest was headed our way. The year was shaping up to have a crazy El Niño season. The days were either a perfect seventy-degrees and sunny or they were punctuated by severe thundershowers that blackened the sky and sent everyone running for shelter.

  I made for my bedroom and tore off my clothes in favor of something comfortable in anticipation of my dinner date. I sighed. Rhys was my best friend, but I certainly wouldn’t have minded sharing dinner with Dominick, followed by a rough tumble between the sheets while the gale force banged the windows and the torrential rains beat a steady drum on the roof.

  A knock rattled the door, and Victor Jose went into a yapping frenzy.

  I pulled the door open. Rhys hoisted a bottle of high-priced mineral water. He grinned. “Only the best.”

  We ate dinner—a healthy meal of high-antioxidant steamed vegetables and a generous serving of wild-caught salmon—on the balcony as rain hammered down, spraying off the railings. Victor Jose hopped on my lap and curled into a ball.

  “So, how’d your second reading go? Did the sexy Brazilian clear the table of his cards and crystals or whatever and lay you out spread-eagle?”

  “His name is Dominick. And no, he has a daughter.”

  Rhys studied me. “Oh, excuse me. I know his name is Dominick. And I know he has a daughter. Cute little thing. Did you meet her?”

  “Yep.” I told him the story of our walk home, omitting the part about Lola’s proclamation that her father liked me. I didn’t want Rhys to know how close I felt to winning this bet.

  Rhys took the last bite of food and threw his napkin on the plate. “What are we waiting for? Why haven’t we stalked him online?” He raced into the house and returned with my laptop, placed it in between us and fired it up, humming the time-clock music from Jeopardy! As the icons loaded, he clapped his hands together. “Finally. Okay, here we go.” He typed “Dominick Cortes” into the search bar.

  Several articles appeared, some of them from a Brazilian gossip magazine. He clicked on one, and there was Dominick with a sexy brunette on his arm. “Damn. Why didn’t we pay attention in Spanish class? It’s all in Spanish.”

  “It’s not Spanish, you idiot; it’s Portuguese.”

  “Well cry me a river.” His voice became high pitched. “I never took Portuguese.” He poked me in the ribs. “Damn, check out that fine body. He looks great in a suit. I bet he looks even better out of a suit. Not that you’re going to find out.”

  “Let me see that.” I leaned in for a better look. Dominick did indeed look exceptionally handsome dressed up for a snazzy event. A raven-haired beauty gazed up at him in pure lust. Jealousy spread through me.

  Rhys clicked on the next article. “The guy sure does get around.” More photos of Dominick appeared. Dominick in his wetsuit, Dominick signing some hot young thing’s bikini clad butt at a surf competition, Dominick standing in front of an ice sculpture depiction of a surfboard with a stunning redhead on his arm. One of the articles’ headline read De Playboy. Rhys placed a hand over his mouth and giggled. “We don’t need to understand Portuguese to know what that means.”

  “I wonder why he doesn’t have a girlfriend?” I said.

  “Beats me. You have to admit, it is strange. Which is exactl
y why I’m going to win that bet.”

  Rhys clicked on another article from Surfer magazine. Their tagline said: Surfer Magazine. We have issues. How very clever.

  Gone were the lighthearted photos of Dominick and the hot ladies. In their place was a picture of a serious-looking Dominick with the headline, “Brazilian Beau Bows Out.” As we read the article, my hand flew to my mouth. “Oh, my god. He got kicked off the tour. Poor baby.”

  “Poor baby? It says here he could’ve killed the guy.”

  I suddenly felt protective of Dominick and Lola. “I’m sure it’s not as bad as they say.”

  Rhys tapped the screen. “He’s lucky they didn’t press charges as far as we know.” His lips curled into a smile. “You have to admit, though, it is kind of sexy.”

  “I’m sure there’s an explanation.”

  “Yeah, right. He’s got a hot Latin temper. You hope he’ll do wicked things to your body after you have a big, heated Brazilian fight.”

  I shoved my friend. “That is exactly what I’m hoping for. After my trip to Canyon Ranch.”

  We grinned at each other. “Let’s check out the rest of the stories.” We read on. An article appeared detailing a contest Dominick had participated in at Pipeline, Hawaii’s premier tube riding mecca.

  When I saw the photo, I gripped the sofa cushion so hard that my fingers hurt.

  I remembered what my therapist had told me. “Acknowledge your emotional triggers. Breathe deeply.” Her words played in my ears, but I still felt myself falling into a well.

  My body tensed as I sat up straight and Victor Jose’s eyebrows knit together. He placed a paw on my chest. I jabbed a finger at the screen. “Oh, no.” The snapshot depicted one of the surfers being carried away from the beach on a stretcher. Blood splattered his handsome face.