There had to be somewhere to place her hand so he’d stop grabbing it. In exactly twenty seconds Stephanie was going to completely give up on Latin manners and fall back on the American rule of keep your hand in your lap. She might be considered rude, but it certainly would be more polite than slugging her dinner companion in the eye.
“You do realize I’m going to need that hand to eat.” For the third time since they sat down at the table, she gently tugged her hand away from his grasp. Not that he didn’t have a gentle touch. Under any other circumstance it would have left her wondering what else those skilled fingers would be good at.
“Yes, I’m afraid I’m finding you very hard to resist.” He flashed a wry smile that set his blue eyes twinkling like the North Star.
“Try.” Her hands finally in front of her, she considered thanking him for the invitation and walking, no running, to where José had said he’d be parked. She also accepted that this character wouldn’t be the first or last guy to put the moves on her, and if she was honest with herself, in the grand scheme of things, a little hand holding was no big deal. She had to keep the bigger picture in mind. If she had any hopes of figuring out what the heck was going on with the newspaper or this feud, she’d have to get at least a little friendly over dinner.
“If I promise to keep my hands to myself, will you tell me why my lucky star brought you to my corner of the world?”
“Your lucky star?”
“Lucky star, guardian angel. Whatever it was, it’s to my good fortune.” Andres set the menu down, and his broad grin slid away. “What brings you so far from New York?”
“I came to see my father.”
“Eduardo?”
“You know?”
“My father figured it out. So why, after all these years, come back now?”
Not an easy question. She wasn’t in the mood to lay her life story on the table, so to speak, with a near perfect stranger. “I thought it was time.”
He considered her words a long moment before another huge smile bloomed. “I agree. It was time we met.”
Patricia’s toes were beginning to feel numb. One more drink and she could find the strength to go to him. Her plan had worked well, too well. Eduardo had been so affected by his daughter’s casual disregard for him and his money she could almost see his heart bleeding. What she hadn’t anticipated was his wanting her company to console him. When he’d announced he was going to take two aspirins and lie down, she’d struggled to keep herself from springing up and doing a victory jig. When he casually threw over his shoulder for her not to take too long joining him in bed, she struggled to keep herself from gagging. Joining him in bed was his romantic way of telling her he was interested in more than just sleeping. It had always made her feel like nothing more than a concubine, but it would be worth it if his broken heart needing physical comfort meant soon he’d be sending his daughter home in disgrace. Eduardo’s wealth and loyalties would remain firmly intact, and more importantly, would be showered only on her son.
Emptying her glass in a long, fast swallow, she stood up and tugged at the edges of her blouse. There was still more to do. Taking Stephanie shopping and keeping her away from Eduardo to make her look frivolous and only interested in his money was a good start, but not enough. Now she would plant another seed. In bed she would have his ear. A few casual words dropped at just the right moment, yes, this could be worth it. Lifting her chin and making herself smile, she turned the bedroom doorknob. This one should be easy. Her smile was more sincere now. After all, his daughter was at this very moment fraternizing with the enemy.
“I couldn't have been more than ten. We were at Disney World, and I finally asked why the hotel maids were cursing at each other. After my father stopped roaring with laughter, he explained they were talking about sheets, and then explained in painful detail the importance of proper diction and listening with a finely tuned ear. I've since learned there are quite a few words in English if mispronounced can be...troublesome.” Chuckling, Andres Campo dabbed his mouth with the napkin and set it back on his lap.
“I once saw something similar in a Jimmy Stewart movie. The Swedish maid quit because he’d cursed at her. When Maureen O’Hara asked him what he’d said, Jimmy Stewart explained all he’d asked the woman was if she wanted some sun on the beach. The look on his face as recognition dawned that the woman thought she’d heard son of a bitch was priceless.”
“You like old movies?”
“Yeah. I think entertainment has become too graphic. Somewhere the art of old-fashioned romance and illusion slipped away.”
“I think sometimes I agree with you, but I’m not willing to discount the virtues of modern film making.”
“What’s your favorite movie?” She took a sip of wine, amazed she was actually enjoying herself. Once he put away the octopus routine, Andres Campo was charming and pleasant and an interesting conversationalist.
“That would be hard to say. If I were to think of it in terms of the movie I’d be most likely able to tolerate the longest if I were stuck on a dessert island and forced to watch one movie over and over, it would probably be Oceans Eleven with George Clooney and of course, Julia Roberts.
“I love that movie!”
“Ah, but it’s not old.” Andres held up a finger as though he’d triumphantly proved his point in a congressional debate.
“Oh, but the original is! You don’t get any more classic than Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack.”
“Minor details.” He swept the matter away with a wave of his hand and laughed like a little boy. “You’re a delight Stephanie Cortez. I hope you know that.”
There was no staged seduction in his tone. Looking carefully, she could see the sincerity in his eyes. “Thank you. That’s probably the nicest thing anyone has said to me in a long time.”
“Now that I find hard to believe, but if it’s true, it’s a shame.”
“Thank you again.” Taking a sip of wine, Stephanie thought this would be a good time to ease into talking about the paper and the family feud but wasn’t sure how to do it. Something wasn’t right. Andres was a nice guy, she decided. What could it be about his family that put her family against his?
She was still contemplating what to say when Andres sprang up from the table.
“Dad. This is a surprise. I thought you were playing cards tonight.”
“We are. We’re meeting in the bar, and I thought I’d stop in a second to say hello.” His eyes warmed unexpectedly when they turned to Stephanie.
“Dad, this is Stephanie Cortez. Steph, this is my father, Guido Campo.”
“How do you do?” She extended her hand.
“The pleasure is all mine.” His hold lingered a little longer than it should have, but didn’t leave her feeling uncomfortable. There was a sense of sadness in his touch.
Daniel sat seething across the room. Not only had she been friendly, she seemed to be having a damn good time. He knew it shouldn’t bother him, but the idea of that man having made her laugh more in a couple of hours than he’d seen her do in two days was beyond infuriating. It wasn’t fair. Campo was nothing more than pond scum. He didn’t deserve to be in the same room as her, never mind the same table or, God forbid, bed.
As if all of this wasn’t enough, Papa Guido shows up. Now there’s something new and different. Daniel didn’t need a microphone to hear the sweet words. He could see the tenderness in the way Guido looked at Stephanie. There had never been anything but contempt in his eyes all these years for Eduardo Cortez and what was his, including Daniel. If that old coot thought he could get at Eduardo by going after his daughter, he'd better think again. Was that it? Was that the new plan? Doubletime her? Both men make a play for the woman, and then whoever won the prize would control Stephanie’s stock shares. Could it be they somehow knew how many shares she owned?
“Did your lovely mother join you on this trip?” Guido’s voice was unexpectedly soft, more of a caress than a question.
“No, I’m sorry. She...passed away. Did you know her?”
“A long time ago." His gaze shifted momentarily. "I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.” Stephanie didn’t know what to make of the pain in the man’s eyes.
“I’ve lingered here long enough. I’m sure you don’t need an old man loitering at your table. Enjoy yourselves.” Giving a single nod in Stephanie’s direction, Guido walked slowly out of the room. Stephanie thought he somehow looked much older than he had when he came in.
“Your father seems like a very nice man?”
“That surprises you?”
“A little, maybe.” She stared at the empty doorway Guido had passed through. “I didn’t realize he knew my mother.”
“They were all friends at one time.”
“All?”
“Dad and your father were college roommates at Georgia Tech in Atlanta.”
“I thought that was an engineering school?”
“Mostly. Dad’s degree is in international business though. He doesn’t talk about it. I managed to piece it together through the years, though I never figured out what broke up the friendship.”
“How much do you know?”
“Well, they grew up together. In those days social circles were much smaller. Everyone knew everyone. When it was time to go off to college, they applied to the same schools and wound up at Georgia Tech. I’m not completely clear on it, but I’m pretty sure that’s where they met your mother.”
“That would make sense. Her degree is from Mercer College. Though I never understood how she wound up in Georgia.”
“When I was still a kid, an old college buddy of Dad’s came to visit for a few days. Talked old times. He made it sound like our fathers and your mother were akin to the three musketeers. From what I could tell, your folks married right after graduation and didn’t announce it until they stepped off the plane.”
“Did your dad know?”
“He was best man.”
“You’re kidding?” Stephanie couldn’t have been more surprised if he’d told her the scientific world had changed its mind and declared the world was really flat.
“I know. It surprises me at times too. It was your mom who introduced my mother and father. She was matron of honor at their wedding.”
“Wow.”
“Yup. Hard to believe such good friends could have become such bitter enemies, isn’t it?” Andres took the last sip from his glass, then looked at the empty wine bottle. “What do you say we go for a walk? I’ll show you around the rest of the club.”
“Sounds like a good idea. I think I could use a little fresh air about now.”
“Then we’ll start outside.”
He pulled out her chair and extended his hand to her. Without thinking she accepted and his hand immediately folded around hers. Unlike earlier in the evening, pulling away hadn’t even occurred to her.
“How do you feel about my father buying your paper?” Stephanie asked, stepping out into the night air.
“I’m sorry, what?” Andres froze, still holding the open door.
“I overheard my father is buying out La Voz. I wondered what impact that’s having on your family dynamics. From what you’ve told, me it can’t be easy for your father.”
“Where did you hear that?” Frowning with curiosity, Andres moved beside Stephanie and shortened his stride to match hers.
“At the dinner table.”
“You must be mistaken. My father would never sell that paper. He spent too many years trying to buy your father’s paper from him. There’s no way he’d give up that battle. Sometimes I think it’s all he lives for.” Casually he once again slipped his hand around hers.
“You say that as if it’s a good thing.” It took Stephanie a few moments to notice he was again holding her hand and resisted the instinct to pull away.
“Everyone needs to have goals or dreams. I was just a little kid when my mother died. The newspaper became his wife. I’m his only other distraction, but my life is no longer centered around my father’s world. Becoming a one-paper town is all he lives for now.”
“Now where have I heard that before?” She sighed and looked up. It was a nice night for a stroll. The sky still shone bright with a blanket of twinkling stars. Too bad the stars couldn't explain this complex puzzle of clues. "I wonder what started it all."
“I don’t pay too much attention to it. That’s my father’s battle, not mine.” Andres stopped by the large swimming pool.
“Then you don’t hold it against me?”
“You’re too beautiful to hold anything against.” Andres tugged on her hand and swirled around to face her.
She could sense his intentions and instinctively shifted her direction, pulling her hand easily out of his and putting a little more distance between them. “This would be a great place to keep in shape.”
“Too crowded for my taste.” He stepped up behind her, gently gliding his hands up and down the side of her arms. “You’re chilled?”
“It’s got to be eighty degrees out,” she said incredulously. “I’d have to be deathly ill to feel a chill.”
“It’s not the weather causing it, is it?” His fingers slid up to her shoulder and began drawing lazy circles.
She shook her head and stepped out of his reach again.
“What’s troubling you, Stephanie Cortez?”
“None of this makes any sense.” Stephanie’s mind told her to keep her mouth shut. Daniel’s mistrust for the Campo family had to be based on something. Without knowing what was really going on with her father’s business plans, laying all her cards on the table could be disastrous for him, but her heart told her she could trust Andres, and her heart had never been wrong. “La Voz is in financial trouble. Your father is selling because he needs cash.”
In one swift move, Andres stepped in front of her and spun her around, his gaze locking on hers. Seeing the fury in his eyes, it felt as though time stood still waiting for him to speak.
“If there’s one thing we don’t need any more of in this family, it’s money. What game are you playing, Miss Stephanie?” His grip on her arms tightened.
“I’m not playing games.” She yanked her arms out of his grasp. “But if what you say is true, someone is, and I’m damn well going to find who.”