He winced.
“I had to take care of my little sister.As soon I was able, I was helping my mother bake cakes and pies for local restaurants.Sometimes she’d stay up all night.I really don’t know how she did it.She remarried a wonderful man a number of years later, but I learned some important lessons early, and I’ve never forgotten them.I went to school on a scholarship.And I worked my ass off to buy my mom’s business and expand it.”Traces of irritation buzzed through her.“So it’s hard to say that anything was by choice.I’ve done what I needed to from necessity.”
“It appears you’ve done a fine job.”He never looked away.Instead, he tipped his beer bottle toward her in silent salute.
“I grew up in Corpus Christi,” she admitted.“I know of your reputation.”
“Yet you’re still talking to me.”
“Some of it was good,” she replied.
“That surprises me.”
“We come from very different backgrounds.”
“Do we indeed?”
There was something in his voice, an ache maybe.Pain, perhaps.
Because of his approval, the expression of his own angst, something went out of her.The fight?The need to explain, justify, defend the way she’d grown up?It hadn’t taken long for Cade Donovan to have an impact on her.
Her text message alert sounded, and she put her drink on the waist-high adobe wall while she took her phone from her jacket pocket.It was the country club manager, as she’d guessed.
“Duty calls?”Cade asked.
“Afraid so.”
“I hope to see you again later.”
She didn’t reply.The words sounded more like a promise than a statement, and a secret part of her hoped he was serious.She wanted more time with the darkly mysterious Donovan brother.
He went inside.After collecting her wits, she asked the manager to meet her on the patio.
She offered her suggestions, and the manager nodded and summoned a few members of the banquet crew.They brought out a hand truck to move around the big pots, creating a secluded area not far from the gate.
Once she was satisfied with the result, she informed Julien’s team of the plan then found Connor to update him.
The only part she disliked was the fact that once again she wouldn’t get to meet the elusive Julien Bonds and get his autograph on her cell phone case.What could be better than his signature right below the Bonds logo?
* * * *
Shortly before nine o’clock, she received news that Julien’s car had arrived.
After signaling the DJ and receiving Marvin’s nod in reply, she went outside to the gate to greet the party.
A beefy-looking man—security if the earpiece was anything to judge by—had a quick look around before nodding at her and speaking into a microphone on his lapel.
A moment later, Lara and Connor joined them in the makeshift meeting area.
The security guard positioned himself between the bar and the plants.She couldn’t have been more pleased with how the plan worked.
Sofia ordered another soda water.The sound of Lara’s laugh drew her attention, and Sofia couldn’t resist taking a peek.
Julien wore a loose-fitting jacket, a white shirt and a skinny little tie that was knotted loosely.His trademark athletic shoes were an obnoxious magenta color, and the yellow laces quite literally glowed.He’d taken his tacky footwear to a whole new level yet he still pulled off the casual style that he’d become known for.
A woman, tall and willowy, with blonde hair cascading halfway down her back, stood next to him.She wore an electric-blue dress that flared around her in a style Sofia associated with Marilyn Monroe.
Sofia hadn’t heard that he was dating anyone, but the way his arm was draped around the woman’s shoulders and the way she leaned into him hinted that this was something more than casual.
