Chapter 6 SIX

It had been two weeks since the charity gala, and I still couldn't get that damn woman out of my head. I hadn't seen her in years, and it only took one night for all those memories to flood back.

I was at home, a two-story house just outside of Manila proper. A lodge-style wooden house in a more secluded part of town, the mountains in the distance, the land surrounded by stout pines with emerald-green needles.

It had been two weeks since the charity gala, and I still couldn't get that damn woman out of my head. I hadn't seen her in years, and it only took one night for all those memories to flood back.

I was at home, a two-story house just outside of Manila proper. A lodge-style wooden house in a more secluded part of town, the mountains in the distance, the land surrounded by stout pines with emerald-green needles. And she'd made it abundantly clear that a weekend with me was the last thing she desired.

So, after changing back into my tux and doing some mingling, I found Gia later in the evening, near the end of the night. She was sipping a drink in the lobby, taking a brief break from the duties of party planning and chatting with her assistant.

And the narrow-eyed expression on her face as I approached left no doubt that she wasn't in the mood to talk to me.

"Anyway!

"Kendra had stated. "We can discuss this later." I'm sure you and Joey – sorry, Dr. Garcia – have plenty to talk about before your big trip."

"Actually," Gia replied. "No, I wasn't-"

"Don't worry, we'll catch up later!"

Kendra hurried away, winking at me as she went. She walked down the hall to the main event room, leaving Gia and me alone.

"All right," she replied. "What exactly do you want?" "

"That's a great way to approach the guy you're going to spend the weekend in fabulous Bora with."

"Actually," Gia stated. "I wasn't-"

"We'll catch up later!"

" Kendra hurried away, winking at me as she went. She went down the hall to the main event room, leaving Gia and me alone.

"All right," she said. "What do you want?" "

"That's a great way to approach the guy you're going to spend a weekend in fabulous Las Bora with."

She sighed, shaking her head. "Don't you get it? We're not going on the trip. You asked me to do you a solid and outbid Crystal, so that's what I did. There is no next step in the strategy. You send the two hundred thousand pesos to Joven's charity, and the scam is over. "You avoided Crystal, and no one is the wiser."

"Right, and then you and I go to Bora for a weekend to celebrate."

"No-no-no," she said emphatically, shaking her head. "That is most emphatically not going to happen."

"Are you expecting me to travel to Bora by myself?" What if I get lost on the Strip by myself? "

"Then you'll have to act like a man and figure it out." Besides, I'm sure you'll be able to find plenty of Crystal types to keep you entertained for the evening."

Ouch. The woman knows how to get it in my head.

"Think about it: Alma put a lot of effort into planning this trip, and she'd be devastated if it all went to waste."

That appeared to have an effect, but it was short-lived. Her concern for her friend quickly gave way to rage at me.

"Good try, Joey. Alma understands how I feel about you. She was present when everything went down. Don't try to persuade me by bringing up my pregnant friend."

"Hey," I said as I raised my hands in defense. "Whatever it takes to get you in that hotel suite with me."

"Is that what you really want?"

" she inquired. "Do you really want to spend time in Bora with me after all this time, after all we've been through?" "

"Of course I do," I say. I know we have a history, and I know how things ended between us. But that doesn't mean we can't rekindle our friendship."

"Friends? "Something tells me you have more in mind than that." She raised her brows at me, sarcasm evident in her tone and expression.

"I'd be lying if I said I couldn't look at you in that dress and not have a lot more in mind."

That, more than anything else I'd said, elicited a response. She averted her gaze, biting her lower lip, her cheeks flushed. She cleared her throat and tucked her hair behind her ear. "It's not going to happen." Nobody is stopping you from going to Bora. After all, it's your money that's paying for the trip. But you're insane if you think I'm going with you."

She didn't have another word for me, so she stormed away, her heels quickly clicking on the tiles. Her assistant approached me as soon as she left.

"She's a tough cookie, isn't she?"

" she inquired as we watched her walk away.

"You don't know half of what's going on."

"More than that, she's as obstinate as they come."

"You're preaching to the choir over here, Kendra."

"So, if you want her to leave, you're going to need all the help you can get."

"And some more."

"Then let me provide it," she said as she took a pen from a hidden pocket on her dress and scribbled something on her clipboard. Then she ripped a piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to me.

"No one knows her phone number, so believe me when I say I just gave you some top-secret information."

I looked at it for a moment before folding it in half and slipping it into my jacket pocket. "I'm grateful. But why are you assisting me? "

"Because you give me a good vibe, Dr. Garcia." And, while I'm not sure what's going on between you and Gia, I can tell there's something going on."

Surprisingly, I raised my brows. "Really? And what exactly would that be? "

"Some major unfinished business between the two of you," she winked and stepped away, but threw a few words over her shoulder at me. You're going to require it."

Back in the present, I threw away the last of my whiskey before making another. After that, I went over to the dish on the side table near the entrance and removed the piece of paper.

The previous two weeks had been an exercise in self-control. I couldn't go a day without fighting the urge to enter her phone number into my phone and text her. But I had to wait; jumping the gun would be the worst thing I could do.

I sat down on the couch, holding the paper in my hand, and closed my eyes. My mind was filled with images of her. I was back at the gala, but our conversation went a little differently this time. Instead of her storming out, I'd talked her into slipping into the closest coat room, one that was nice and secluded from the rest of the party.

"This is such a bad idea," she murmured as I drew the straps of that green dress down over her slender shoulders, her breasts rising and falling with each exhilarating breath she took. "It's like the worst idea ever."

"No," I said, pulling the top of her dress down to reveal the black, lacey bra she was wearing underneath. "I believe this is the best idea either of us has had in a long time."

Her mouth opened and my tongue slipped between her lips as we kissed. I had no doubt she'd taste as delicious as she always had.

"I'm in charge of the once-in-a-lifetime event out there," she said, pulling her lips away from mine as I squeezed her breast under the cup of her bra. "And here I am, making out in the freaking coat closet with Manila's biggest jerk."

"Who's the biggest jerk in Manila?"

" I inquired. "I mean, I know it's big, but I'm not sure it's the biggest."

She gave me a smirk and called me a shit. As I teased her nipples through her bra, her expression quickly changed to one of wide-eyed delight.

"Come on," she invited. "I'm too busy for foreplay."

"There's always time for teasing," I said, reaching under her dress hem and squeezing the soft skin of her thigh before placing my hand over her panties. I pressed down, and she let out a sigh.

"Oh my God," she exclaimed. "Please, I can't take it any longer. "I need it." "What do you need?" "

Gia's response was to grab my cock through my slacks. "This, you moron."

I burst out laughing. "Then it's entirely yours."

"Finally, something you say that doesn't make me want to punch you in the face."

She unzipped my belt and zippered my pants, reaching down and wrapping her hand around my cock.

"Right now," she said. "Fuck you, Joey." "Fuck me the way you used to."

I opened my eyes as a thunderclap rang out. I was still sitting on the couch in my house. But I had the hardest hard on of all hard ons. I sighed, knowing better, knowing what would happen if I indulged in the fantasy of a hot hookup with the woman I couldn't stop thinking about.

It was time to make a decision. After another sip of whiskey, I entered the number into my phone and dialed. One ring, then another, and so on. For a brief moment, I worried that she wasn't answering her phone or that she was screening her calls.

"Perez Happenings." Our commitment to throwing you a once-in-a-lifetime party is as firm as a rock. This is Gia Perez, and how may I assist you? "

"That's a cute slogan," I said.

A long pause ensued. "Please don't tell me this is the person I'm thinking of."

"Wow, that's a great way to approach the guy who's about to take you to Bora."

She sighed exasperatedly, which made me smile. "I told you, Joey...wait, how the hell did you get this number?" " Instead of giving me a chance to respond, she yelled Kendra's name. A laugh could be heard in the background, and Gia didn't have to tell me who it belonged to.

There was then a sigh. "Are you really going to give up on this?"

"Hey, I called you two weeks ago. Does that sound like the behavior of a man who gives up easily? "

"I suppose not. But seriously, Joey, I was glad to get you out of that pickle with Crystal. You already know how much I despise that scumbag. But I won't be able to accompany you to Bora. I'm getting ready for a big event, and-"

"No, no, you don't!"

" In the background, Kendra yelled.

"Kendra!"

I burst out laughing. "It appears you have a saboteur in your midst."

"It appears that you are correct. God, she won't stop talking about how much I need to take this trip."

"Perhaps she's right? And what did Alma have to say about it? "

"What are your thoughts?" She's completely on my side. It's always been that way."

"Do you really believe it's the right decision not to accompany me?" "

Another sigh, this time from a woman who knew she had to make a decision she wasn't sure about. "Give me a moment to think about it."

"I don't mean to put you under any pressure, G, but there isn't much time for thinking." It's Thursday, and the plane departs on Saturday morning."

"And that means I'll have an entire day to think about it."

"I've come up with a better plan – give me your address." I'll plan on coming to pick you up, but if something comes up and you can't make it, just text me and we'll cancel. Otherwise, I'll arrive early on Saturday. "

"Wow," she exclaimed. "You know, I'm beginning to suspect that being a doctor isn't your true calling." You have the tenacity to be a great salesperson."

"Maybe. But you've seen how attractive I am in scrubs."

She let out a dry chuckle. "Please give me until tomorrow, okay?" I need to rearrange my schedule, among other things."

"All right, tomorrow at noon."

"Whenever I feel like it tomorrow, Joey."

She hung up, and I was left feeling unsatisfied, wishing I'd been able to persuade her to go. I didn't have much time to consider it. My phone buzzed in my hand, and the number was not one that I had saved in my contacts.

"Dr. Garcia, Joey."

"Hey, Joey? Or, um, Dr. Garcia? This is Kendra, Gia's assistant," she said quietly, as if concealing the fact that she was calling.

"Hello, Kendra. How are you?"

"I just called to let you know that I'm sending you her address so you can pick her up on Saturday, and I'll make sure she doesn't make any last-minute changes to her weekend plans."

"Are you serious?" I asked, laughing.

"Doctor Garcia-"

"Please, Joey."

"Joey, this woman works harder than I've ever seen anyone work in my life; she's insane!" "Joey, this woman needs a freaking vacation, and you're taking her on one. Got it?"

"Got it," I said, a grin on my face.

"How are you, Kendra?" " Gia said quietly in the background. "To whom are you speaking?" "

"All right," she said. "That's my signal to hang up." You're about to receive a text message, and I'll handle the rest. Just show up on Saturday morning, okay? "

"I'll be there," he says. And best wishes."

"Oh, don't worry about me," she said before the line went dead.

The text with Gia's address arrived moments later. I smiled as I jiggled the phone in my hand. I was prepared for a memorable weekend.