It had been a couple days and Vanessa lost herself in work. She and Derek had worked things out, and she was relieved he wasn’t upset with her. She understood his need to keep the investigation a secret, and she was appalled that David had been stealing from the company. Vanessa hadn’t worked with him for long, but she couldn’t believe that he’d do that.

After everything was settled with Derek, she’d immersed herself fully in work. Any time thoughts of Enrique threatened to intrude, she pushed them to the back of her mind and focused on her tasks.

She realized it wasn’t healthy, and that she wasn’t sorting out her feelings by ignoring everything that happened, but her heart still felt too tender.

She couldn’t deal with it, so she didn’t.

Now she was all dressed up and wondering how in the hell she’d let Ella talk her into going out when all she wanted to do was transcribe her notes from today’s meeting.

Vanessa glanced around the crowded club with a frown as she took a sip from of velvety wine.

“C’mon, Van, get that sourpuss expression off of your face, it’s scaring off all the men,” Ella said jokingly.

Vanessa turned to her friend, who was stunning in a little silver number, and replied, “I’m not interested in attracting anyone…”

“I’m not talking about for you, I’m talking about me. Hello, girl with the disappearing orgasm, remember?” Ella replied, causing Vanessa’s lips to turn up. “There has to be one stallion in this bunch.”

Vanessa rolled her eyes and repressed a giggle, and had to admit it felt good to be out, joking around with her friend, rather than lying in bed, clutching her pillow and staring at the wall, unable to sleep … which had been her routine for the last few nights.

After scanning the room, Vanessa pointed her glass toward the bar and suggested, “What about the tall Adonis over there?” He looked like Ella’s type.

Ella looked in the direction of the tall, blond-haired man and made a slight humming sound.

“He has potential. What about the redhead by the corner booth?”

Vanessa smirked and shook her head when her gaze landed on the muscled, ginger man surrounded by giggling girls in tight-fitting dresses.

“He looks like he has his hands full.”

“True,” Ella replied, then gave Vanessa a funny look before saying, “Twelve o’clock, dark hair, and dimples that have panties dropping on site.”

A chill ran up Vanessa’s spine, and she knew who she’d find at twelve o’clock.

There he was … very tall, very tanned, and very gorgeous … and good God, those dimples.

Enrique stood a good distance away, but she could feel the heat of his gaze on her, and she began walking toward him as if a magnetic pull gave her no choice. He looked just as handsome as ever, but instead of the confidence he usually exuded, she sensed an uncertainty in him.

“Hey,” she said when she stopped in front of him, devouring his features like a woman starved.

“Hi,” he responded, then took a deep breath and said, “I’m Enrique Diaz, what’s your name?”

Curious, she tilted her head, then decided to play along and replied, “Vanessa Vaughn.”

She held her hand out and he took it in his larger one, then brought it to his lips and softly kissed the inside of her wrist. A shot of heat ran through her at the sweet contact.

Enrique lifted his head and gave her a sexy grin, some of his confidence coming back when she left her hand gently cradled in his.

“What do you do, Vanessa?”

“I’m in PR. What do you do, Enrique?” she countered with one eyebrow raised.

“I run my own PI firm.”

Vanessa nodded slightly, understanding that he was trying to give them a fresh start. She did an internal search to see how she felt about it and if she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, and another shot.

She realized that she was … She was willing to do pretty much anything, for another chance at the love she felt when she was with him.

“It’s nice to meet you, Enrique.” Then she grinned and leaned forward a bit. “I have to admit, you are the sexiest man in this place.”

Enrique leaned forward as well, until his lips were almost at her ear, and said in a low, throaty voice, “And you are by far the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen in my life. It is as if God himself blessed me with a small bit of heaven on earth when he made you. You are my heaven, my piece of sky, Mi Cielo, and I will spend the rest of my life earning your trust.”

His lips brushed the sensitive spot right under her ear, causing her to shudder.

“Come home with me,” he begged.

Vanessa nodded slightly, then smiled and followed him out of the club, her heart full.