“Be careful getting further on his radar, buddy,” Chase warned. “You know what happens when men like Worthington are backed into a corner.”
“That’s exactly what I intend on doing. Maybe I’ll need to make an appearance at this press conference.”
“Yes, indeed. You do love playing with fire. I like this side of you. Just be careful.”
I had no intention of playing it careful any longer. I owed that to Valentina. Hell, to Camille and maybe to myself.
With the call ended, I tossed the phone aside, moving toward the set of sliding doors that was already open. Another storm had popped up out of nowhere, which was typical for this time of year. With the lightning dancing across the ocean waters several miles away, the display appeared as a crisscross of fireworks.
Only the noise was brought by the waves crashing against the shore.
“Another storm is coming,” she said as I sat down in a chair near her. “I can feel rain in the air.”
“I know. Just another day in the Miami heat.”
She’d barely had any of her drink, merely holding the glass in her hand. “You know what’s funny? When I was a little girl, I adored the rain. We’d have summer storms and I’d run outside dancing in the puddles. I didn’t care if mud got all over me or my clothes. My free spirit drove my mother crazy. She tried so hard to keep me from doing that, but I loved the way the drops of rain tickled my skin. I used to spin and spin, throwing my arms out with my face pointed toward the sky. I’d laugh and stick my tongue out, telling my mother the raindrops were sweet and magical.”
“Magical, huh?”
At least her laugh was genuine, not hollow as mine might be if I’d gone through what she had. “I thought for certain when it rained that God was allowing his fairies to fall to Earth to protect good little girls.”
“You mean angels?”
She casually tossed me a look. “I mean fairies. I was very much into reading fantasy stories at the time. The way they were allowed to wear beautiful colors in iridescent shades. My motherwould be forced to come outside and physically get me. Then we both needed a warm shower. She’d wrap me up in a huge terry towel and if I was still chilly, she’d make me homemade cocoa. I remember asking her when I was eighteen or so why she never punished me for disobeying her. Do you want to know her answer?”
“Absolutely.”
“She said that it was the only time when I allowed myself to be a child. She’d told me I’d been born older. Sometimes I think she was right.”
“Are you close with her still?” I asked.
There were no shadows capable of hiding the sorrow that crossed her face. “My parents died in a car accident not that long ago. I was devastated. They were my rock when everything went wrong as a child.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“The night they died it was raining. That’s why my father missed a turn and ran into a tree.” When the first drops of rain hit the railing, she held her breath for a few seconds. “At least I’m lucky and have amazing memories with my parents. I don’t think that many children do any longer. I’m going to make certain Bella does.”
“Does she know about her father?” Maybe my question was ill-timed, but I also did need to know if he was in the picture. That could alter how I handled my plans with our boy the Undertaker.
“No, and if I have my way she will never learn his identity. Bruno was the biggest mistake of my life. My parents tried to warn me he was no good. Hell, all my friends did, but I was attracted tothe bad boy. For a couple years, I was blinded by him since he showered me with gifts and fancy dinners. I was so young and so freaking naïve I had no clue where he had so much money to purchase lavish gifts. Believe it or not, I didn’t fully embrace that he was a criminal until I’d sold all my belongings to move down here with him. God. They need to have a lesson in keeping you away from bad men.”
“Maybe so.”
“The last night I allowed him in my life was one of the worst. I found proof he’d been with at least two other women and I was so angry. Furious with him. I let him have it. He’d been drinking. We argued. The next thing I knew he was punching me in the face. Over and over again. On that night, it was also raining.”
“Motherfucker.” I fisted one hand. If I ever ran into the bastard, he would be taught the same lesson as the other four assholes.
“I picked myself up, changed the locks, filed a restraining order, and never told him I was pregnant. He disappeared anyway. For all I know, he could be in Kansas. I just don’t care.”
I took a sip of my drink. Now wouldn’t be the opportune time to mention Bruno was back in town. Keeping the information from her might come back to bite me, but I refused. Just something else to keep her frightened.
She brought the glass to her lips, darting her eyes in my direction. “I think that’s why I was drawn to you in the beginning. I’d finally found a way out of my bad boy phase and you were the epitome of everything that was decent in a man.”
Decent. I took a deep breath. Maybe she didn’t understand what I’d done or didn’t want to admit that I wasn’t the nice guy she thought I was. Right now wasn’t the time to burst her bubblewith either my thoughts or plans. “Just remember that some people have two sides.”
The fact she found what I’d said funny, laughing in such a way I wondered if she was close to hysteria surprised me. “You were the one who told me certain people are pure evil. I don’t think that affords them any concept of having a decent side.”
“Maybe not with everyone. But with some.”
