Rival's Desire

Viv returned to the bedroom, suspicion clearly etched in her dark almond-shaped eyes. “You’d actually let me do that?”

Caesar propped himself up on his elbows. “I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t mean it, Plum.”

Viv watched him for a few minutes before her gaze faltered. “No, thanks.”

“You scared?”

The taunt stopped her in her tracks. “Scared of what?”

One sinewy shoulder rose just slightly. “Of what might happen.” He taunted her so covertly it might have been imagined.

Vivian’s full laughter burst forth. “Only in your wildest dreams, sweet stuff.”

Caesar decided not to respond. Silently and arrogantly, he assured himself that if he decided to have her, she wouldn’t think of refusing.

Viv could see the doubt on his handsome face and decided to prove him wrong. “Give me a few minutes to get my stuff together,” she finally told him as she waited for him to leave the room.

Her housekeeper had already arrived by the time Viv got dressed and packed her outfit for dinner. As she headed downstairs, she could hear the woman’s laughter. Vivian shook her head. Obviously, Caesar was turning on the charm.

Indeed he was. Shelly was seated close to Caesar on the sofa. Whatever he had said was causing the girl to laugh uncontrollably. Vivian ran her fingers through her silky curls and watched them for a moment. She cleared her throat to bring an end to the amusing conversation. Unfortunately, she wasn’t noticed. A few more minutes passed before Viv bustled into the living room and cleared her throat, much louder that time.

Shelly’s brown eyes widened when she saw Viv. “Oh! Hello, Ms. Desmond.”

“Hey, Shelly,” Viv replied, shooting Caesar a sour look. “Did they tell you what happened?”

Shelly nodded quickly. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll have it taken care of in a minute.”

Viv raised her hands. “I think it might take more than a minute, Shelly. You may even need some help. I made a pretty big mess in there.”

“Humph, I’ll say,” Caesar noted as he lounged on the sofa and toyed with his hair.

“Anyway,” Viv sighed, “you don’t have to rush. I don’t need the bathroom right now.”

Shelly nodded toward Viv. She sent Caesar an adoring smile before leaving the room.

“I hope you’re not too upset,” Caesar told Viv, noticing the stern look on her face.

“Upset about what?” She pushed her hands into the back pockets of her snug-fitting jeans.

Caesar propped his feet on the oak-trimmed edge of the glass coffee table and crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, I was havin’ a few laughs with Shelly.”

“So?”

“I know you tend to get upset when you see me with other women.”

Viv’s mouth fell open and she stared at him like he had two heads. “What the hell are you talking about? I never get upset over you and other women.”

Caesar propped one index finger along his temple. His gorgeous brown eyes twinkled mischievously. “Maybe a better word would be jealous.”

“Jealous!” Vivian cried. “You know, Caesar, you’ve always been arrogant. But, after all these years, even you should know how much I hate your guts.”

Caesar pushed himself off the sofa and retrieved Viv’s duffel and garment bag. “I understand why you keep saying that. You’re trying to convince yourself.”

“Convince myself of what?” Viv asked. She frowned as she looked up into his handsome face.

Instead of replying, Caesar grinned and patted her bottom.

By the time Caesar parked in front of the condo he owned in Manhattan, Viv was a bundle of nerves. She had always counted on him enjoying their sniping and arguing. The constant quipping was the only thing that kept her from thinking about how attracted she was to him. If he tried to change tactics now, she wouldn’t be able to handle it.

“I just won’t let that happen,” she softly promised herself.

“You say somethin’, Plum?”

Viv saw the expectant look on Caesar’s face and realized she’d spoken out loud. Quickly, she shook her head.

Caesar stepped out of the black Expedition and handed his keys to the valet. Viv took a few minutes to get a handle on her emotions and accepted Caesar’s help when he opened the passenger door.

“You can take off the glasses, you know.”

“What?”

Caesar grinned as they strolled the gorgeous, airy interior of the building. “People are real cool about seeing famous faces in here.”

Viv pulled the stylish, cat-eyed glasses from her face and perched them on top of her head. “I don’t mind the fans a bit, it’s the press I can do without.”

Surprise registered on Caesar’s sinfully handsome face. “You mean, you don’t relish the chance to get in front of the camera as much as you can?” he asked as they approached the elevators.

“The press always catches you at the worst time,” she replied wearily, refusing to let him rile her.

Caesar grinned as the elevator doors closed behind them. “You got a point there.”

“Did you know our lunch at Alindo’s was on the news?”

Caesar only shrugged as he pushed his large hands into his navy trouser pockets. “Doesn’t surprise me. But now I understand why you hate the press being around. You’re always on your worst behavior and they always catch it on tape.”

Vivian clenched her fists so tightly she could have drawn blood from her palms. “You just can’t let it rest, can you?”

Caesar pretended to be confused. “Let what rest?”

Viv closed the tiny distance between them in the elevator and poked her finger against his shoulder. “You just can’t let it go. You have to cut me down as often as you can.”

“I’m not cutting you down. You just can’t handle the truth.”

“Oh, please, spare me, Caesar! Let’s not talk about not being able to handle the truth!”

Caesar’s long sleek brows drew close as he frowned. “I’m not the one who’s been griping all day.”

“That’s because you get off on making me look bad!”