Dressed in Yellow: BBW Contemporary Romance Read online

  Aiva walked on unsteady feet to the bathroom, washing her face and brushing her teeth. Reapplying fresh makeup and smoothing her hair. The skirt and blouse she was wearing would have to do. He was standing by the door, holding her purse when she emerged, an air of impatience about him. The intimacy, the familiarity of the gesture as he shoved the bag at Aiva touched something in her. She smiled at her, doubly amused when his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

  “What?” he asked.

  “Nothing. Let’s go.”

  ***

  “If you didn’t want people to think you beat me, you shouldn’t have taken me out,” Aiva said, calmly spearing her fish.

  Leon sat opposite her, expression dark, wine untouched. The surreptitious glances bothered him. She thought it was sweet, actually. She could think of several men who thought a bruise on a woman’s face was the perfect accessory to their own masculinity- Leon saw it as the opposite. As a weakness.

  “Are you certain-”

  “Yes.” Her reply was firm, gaze direct. “You want to marry me? Well, learn how to deal with my family.”

  He snarled. “The bastard. Don’t worry. There are other ways.”

  “As long as they don’t involve death or maiming.”

  Leon smiled thinly. “Not literally, my dear. Business is another matter.”

  She frowned, but let it go. Aiva knew she could only insist on his behavior up to a certain point. “You know- we’re supposed to have chaperones.”

  Leon choked on a sip of wine. “He was serious about that?”

  “What do you think?”

  He grimaced. “Are you enjoying the fish?”

  “It’s very good, thank you.”

  “I’m glad.” He gestured at the server. “This place is an investment of mine. I’d take it personally if the food was bad.”

  She snorted softly, continuing with her dinner.

  “Allow me to order dessert for you. One of my favorites.”

  Aiva listened with curiosity as he ordered, allowing the server to take her plate. She made it a point to never finish a whole plate- that way she could have a taste of everything without being greedy.

  He watched her indulgently as a plate was set in front of her, her eyes widening as she dug into the sponge cake soaked with orange liqueur and covered in chocolate ganache. A whipped cream more on the savory side rested with the fluff of an angelic cloud in between the layers of sponge. She nearly moaned.

  “Excuse me while I have a moment,” she said.

  Green eyes caressed her face. “One day you’ll make those sighs for me. Soon.”

  She froze, fork halfway to her mouth. “Leon- Mr. Sudano. I-”

  “Are you frightened?”

  Aiva’s dark eyes narrowed. “Of what? Sex? Don’t be ridiculous.”

  His face was impassive. “If it’s not fear I see in your eyes, then what is it?”

  “I don’t know you.” She put her fork down. “You- what you say you want from me. We’ve only just met.”

  “Sometimes you know, Aiva.” He reached across the small table, lifted a lock of hair from her shoulder. The boat neck top she wore exposed enough creamy brown flesh to appetize any man. “And at my age knowing right away is a survival instinct.”

  “I need time.”

  His fingers caressed her cheek as they withdrew. “No one is rushing you, sweet.” He smiled, a little wry. “You’ll have plenty of opportunities in the future to tell me you have a headache. Come, we’ll have a nightcap at my place, then I’ll take you home. I’m tired of these people staring at me, thinking I’m a monster to mar such lovely skin.”

  Somehow, she trusted him, despite his obvious desire. Despite his well known power. Aiva knew allowing him to take her to his home was a no-no. Where were their chaperones, anyway? But her curiosity, her growing desire and the way he made her feel- dainty, beautiful and cherished- softened her resolve to take things slow, remain at a distance. Evaluate with her head and not her heart, and body. It was so hard.

  Especially when he escorted her into the modern townhome in the heart of the city center, leading her to the kitchen when stools sat around an island. On top the island lay a small black box.

  “Open it,” he said, watching silently as she flipped open the lid.

  Aiva’s breath caught. The bracelet was exquisite, the platinum filigree work ethereal, a myriad of tiny gems winking at strategic places. He slid it onto her wrist.

  “Your first courting gift,” he said. “Wear it so everyone knows.”

  She licked her lips. “Thank you.” And made the mistake of looking up at hm. His body, frozen, eyes trained on her mouth.

  “I want something in return, Aiva,” he said.

  “W-what?”

  “A kiss. A simple kiss.”

  Nothing would be simple about kissing him. And in his home there was nothing to stop him from overwhelming her with desire except his own conscience and her dwindling self-control.

  But still she hesitated. Aiva knew her own value, knew the value of the mind and heart she would give to a man who would guard them properly. Didn’t want to fall into an affair because the man was charming and said all the right things and she began to fall in love with music- only to find later here was no substance.

  “Just a kiss?”

  He watched her steadily. “A kiss, a caress, whatever you want. This isn’t a romance novel, where I overwhelm you with my manly attentions.”

  Her brow shot up. “You don’t read romance novels.”

  He snorted. “And how do you think I learned about sex? Of course I read romance novels.”

  Aiva knew he was messing with her. She didn’t know whether to be appalled, amused, or irritated. “You learned about sex because handsome, powerful, rich men are all horndogs.”

  Leon leaned against the island, grinning. “Are you maligning my virtue? I don’t give it up just for anybody, Aiviana.” He leaned towards her, finger tracing her lips. “I’m waiting for someone special.”

  “You’re no virgin.”

  His dark brow rose. “No? Is that so impossible in this day and age? A man who saves himself for marriage?”

  His lips touched hers, breath just slightly scented with the red wine from dinner caressing her mouth.

  “It’s... unusual.”

  Her eyes drifted shut, body shifting to fit to his own. He straightened, hands splayed across her waist, gently pulling her against him. Her hands wrapped around his biceps, the crisp cloth of his dress shirt the only thing between her touch and bare flesh.

  As he kissed her, she felt the shimmering awakening of her body, the heat pooling low in her groin, the gentle throbbing of a clit that ached for his touch. Aiva arched into him, full breasts pressed against his chest, mouth opening wide to accept his tongue. His hand on her tightened, the muscle under her hands tensing as he sensed her sudden eagerness. He tore his mouth from hers.

  “If you don’t want this to go any further, I need to take you home. Now.”

  The heat in his eyes, clenching of his jaw, saved Aiva’s feelings from hurt. She knew he wasn’t rejecting her- he was trying to save her from him. Sweet. She smiled, stepping away. If he really had saved himself for marriage, then she would honor that by holding out a little while longer- at least long enough for them to both respect themselves in the morning. Her smile widened into a grin at the thought.

  Leon’s eyes narrowed when she began to chuckle. “What are you laughing at?”

  She shook her head. “Girl joke. Come on, Mr. Sudano. Take me home.”

  Chapter

  6

  “Are you ready to make me an offer I can’t refuse?” he asked her in the quiet of the car right before walking her to her door.

  She looked into her lap, saying nothing. He brushed her hair with the tips of his fingers, studying the classic lines of her profile. Proud nose, curved jaw, full mouth. Curls tumbling around her shoulders. His hand nearly tightened into a fist, imagining what she would look like on his bed,
golden brown skin, mysterious eyes, and nothing else.

  “I don’t understand why you want me,” she said.

  He studied her. “You’re a beautiful woman-“

  Her head rose, dark eyes narrowed, full lips twisting. “I’m not stupid, Leon. Whatever you want from me, beauty is only the surface.”

  Leon pulled away, considering her words with care. Considering the warmth of the home he’d spent a brief time in, enjoying pasta and the happy noise of her family.

  “I want what you have,” he said quietly. “Your family.”

  Her brow rose. “You want my family?”

  His lips thinned. “Not everyone has what you have. Warmth, life, people to come home to.”

  “You don’t want to marry my family, though.”

  “No. I want you.” He smiled, humorless. “Do you know how long I’ve been watching you? For years, Aiva. I know you even if you don’t know me. And I know I want you.”

  She hesitated, then unbuckled her seatbelt. Leon opened the door for her, walked her to her doors and waited until he heard the bolt of her lock before leaving, expression hardening as he slid into business mode. Aiva would be the only who ever saw his softer face. His wife deserved to have the gentlest side of him- but Daniel. He deserved another side.

  He made a call while driving and soon had Daniel’s location, making a u-turn to swing back around towards a quieter side of town. Quieter because residents knew not to venture there at night. The businesses on those blocks catered to a less wholesome clientele.

  Leon pulled up to a privately owned storage facility that asked no questions and didn’t make annoying phone calls to collect rent. If you didn’t pay on time, something else happened. Leon waved his men back into their car with a grimace. They insisted on following him everywhere he went, mostly because his head of security had also been his father’s head of security- and he was from the old school. Laughed whenever Leon reminded him they were legitimate now. One of the few men who could get away with laughing to Leon’s face; he’d earned the right.

  They remained outside because it was beneath Leon’s dignity to bring a guard to confront a moron who would hit his on cousin, a woman who hadn’t harmed fly in her entire life.

  Daniel rose when Leon entered his office. The man’s eyes glanced past Leon’s shoulders. Stupid, Leon thought emotionlessly. Did Daniel really not understand?

  Leon shut the door quietly behind them, engaging the lock.

  “Your men know to whom they owe their ultimate allegiance,” he said to Daniel. “I think, however, you’ve forgotten who rules business in this city. May I sit?”

  Danny jerked a shrug and Leon took a seat, leaning back and crossing his ankle over his knee.

  “What we have here,” Leon continued in a pleasant tone, “is a failure of communication. I will, this one time, blame myself. Out of a courtesy to your cousin who asked me to spare your life.”

  Leon had to give it to him. Danny held his eyes. “You have no right to interfere between me and my cousin. She is my family, my business partner. You have no claim on her.”

  “She will be my wife, as soon as she is comfortable with the idea. Did you think I was insincere?”

  “She deserves better than a man like you.”

  Leon laughed. “Says the petty thug to the less petty, reformed thug. Funny. Here’s the thing, Losito.” Leon leaned forward in the seat, uncrossing his legs. “She’s chosen to honor your contract, though I would be happy to nullify it for her. If you lay another hand on her, I will not indulge her womanly squeamishness a second time. Is my communication clear enough for you? Because all happy relationships are built on a foundation of clear communication.”

  Daniel nodded, mouth tight.

  “Good.” Leon rose, went to the door. “Oh, and don’t punish your men for their loyalty to me. If I hear you have...”

  He held Daniel’s eyes one long moment, and when Leon was certain his point was made, left.

  ***

  “Aiva? Come look.”

  Alerted by the tone of Mandira’s voice, Aiva left the arrangement she was styling for the bride she had coming by later in the afternoon and joined Mandira at the door. She took in the scene for a flat ten seconds before charging outside, barreling into the first man, shoving him with two hands away from the activist he was harassing.

  “What are you doing?” she yelled.

  He looked... uncomfortable. The build of a football player, belly running to fat, hair fading to gray. A suit jacket even though it was a warm, sunny day.

  “We have instructions to run these troublemakers off,” he said.

  The city had already reached a deal with the BeeKeepers so they stopped blocking traffic, but continued to haunt the curb with signs and their foghorn, preaching to any who would listen, handing out flyers and collecting signatures. The activity was almost background noise to Aiva at this point- just another part of the scenery. The attention the group was getting was so successful they’d begun to conduct their chapter meetings in the space next door Aiva had leased and set up for catering and party rentals.

  “You don’t touch a hair on anyone’s head!” she exclaimed, furious. “Whose instructions?” Like she didn’t know.

  “Daniel, miss.”

  Her eyes narrowed. The two other men were waiting on the outcome of the conversation between Aiva and their leader. The looks on their faces...

  “Does Leon know about this?”

  She wanted to laugh. She could see by the way his eyes shifted away from her. Aiva folded her arms.

  “I didn’t think so. This is Leon’s territory, and I bet shaking down-”

  “That’s not really the right term.”

  “-innocent activists would really piss him off. As a matter of fact, let me go call him.”

  The man sighed. “Look, I don’t want to get in the middle of this shit between Daniel and Leon, okay?”

  “Then don’t. Leave. I’ll take responsibility for it with Daniel. He can’t argue if you were told by Leon to go home.”

  “You should just take the loan from Leon,” Mandira said when Aiva came back inside.

  “No. That would make me no better than the women they set up businesses for to get out of their hair during the day. Nail salons, boutiques for the ‘little women’ to play business manager in and keep them occupied.”

  “And here you opened a flower shop,” Mandira replied with a straight face.

  Aiva stuck her tongue out. “Whatever. I’m doing this on my own. No help from Leon.”

  Mandira sighed. “I think you’re being stubborn, but okay. Tough it out.”

  ***

  She made herself a sheath dress with a diamond neckline, using the sari fabric he’d given her, sending Leon a matching bowtie with the scraps, ridiculously pleased when he showed up for a date in slim slacks, a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and her bowtie. Hair windblown and rakish- bright sneakers on his feet instead of his usual sleek black shoes.

  He smiled at her look. “A man is entitled to dress down every once in a while isn’t he?”

  If that was his idea of dressing down, she didn’t want to see his idea of around the house weekend wear. But if any man could pull off the quirky look, it was him. Certainly, his men didn’t mind, obeying his cool looks and hand signals with the same stoicism as always.

  They didn’t seem to mind that he commanded them. She thought about their loyalty, knowing she would have a hard time giving up such autonomy- even just on a job. Her parents loved her growing up, and her brothers, but the men of her family were overbearing, always insisting that a woman of the old country needed to marry young, produce babies, work hard and ask her husband for permission to pursue her dreams. Aiva didn’t want to ask permission- didn’t want to be just another good girl from a good family who did as she was told. Wanted to prove to her parents that they could count on her strength as much as they could her brothers- and not just as a domestic goddess.

  Leon showered
her with gifts, brought her mother a trio of pricey organic hothouse tomato plants for the small kitchen garden, slipping chocolate into the older woman’s apron with a kiss to her knuckles. If he was trying to charm Aiva, it was working. Especially since he’d managed to talk her parents out of the chaperones. Though Aiva wondered about that from the too blank expression on Andrew’s face. She’d have to make sure to watch over her shoulder to see if she was being tailed. Aiva envied Leon’s schedule that he seemed to be able to show up to escort her home and take her out so often. As much as she loved the eating out, plays, and movies, she wasn’t managing her workload well.

  “I’m sorry, I need to work tonight,” she told him when he came to the shop one evening, nearly two weeks into their courtship.

  He leaned on the counter, unperturbed. “Sure. I’ll help you.”

  She shook her head. “It’s paperwork type stuff- I’ll do it from home. You wouldn’t know what-”

  His frown silenced her. “Aiviana. I run a major international corporation. Do you really think any of the paperwork you have to do I couldn’t figure out?”

  She glared at him. “Okay. Well, let me rephrase it. It’s my work. My responsibility.”

  Leon sighed, straightening. “Alright. We’ll eat in tonight, I suppose it’s not a big deal. You can endure my cooking for one evening.”

  Aiva stared at him in astonishment. He tugged her ponytail, laying artfully over one shoulder.

  “What? I’ve been getting better. I can make pasta, at least. And salad.”

  Well, she had really intended on working alone… but the temptation of watching him cook…

  “Besides, Aiva, what better than a quiet, normal evening together to help us get to know what married life would be like?”

  “You make it sound so reasonable. Fine. Meet me at my house.”

  He kissed her. “I’ll stop at the store first, then be home soon after.”

  His words jolted her heart. As he left the shop she stared after him. For some reason, it really began to sink in that the man wanted to marry her. A simple sentence, but packed with all the casual intimacy she’d witnessed so often between her parents over the years. She took a deep breath, shut down her shop, and went home.