Alejandro's Revenge (5 page)

‘You are looking good, Abigail,' he said abruptly, and she set her cup down in its saucer rather harder than she'd intended. This was not what she'd expected at all. ‘How are you? I understand you are still teaching. You are quite happy to pursue your career?'

‘I have to earn a living, if that's what you mean,' she responded tersely, wondering why he'd be interested enough to find out, and Alejandro inclined his head.

‘
Por supuesto.
Of course.' A half-smile touched his lips. ‘Edward would have told me if your circumstances had changed.'

Would he? Abby doubted that very much. Why would Edward tell him anything? What he meant was that Edward would have mentioned it to his in-laws and it might then have found its way to his ears.

‘Do you see much of Edward?' she asked, deciding this was as good a way as any of finding out what Alejandro thought of her brother, and the dark man gave her a level look.

‘Did he not tell you?' he countered surprisingly, and once again she gave him a wary look.

‘I—I believe you and—and Luis are working together these days,' she said obliquely, reminding herself to keep her tone impartial. ‘Do you—er—do you spend a lot of time here?'

Alejandro studied her expression for a moment, before re
sponding drily, ‘Is that a polite way of finding out if I am likely to be—what is it you say?—under your feet?'

‘No!' Abby's face was suddenly suffused with hot colour. ‘What you do is nothing to do with me, Mr Varga. I was just wondering why—why you are here so early, that's all.'

‘And I thought I had made that clear.' Alejandro arched a dark brow. ‘And—
Mr
Varga? Do you honestly think we can behave as if there was never anything between us?'

Oh, God!

Abby had been about to pick up her coffee cup again, but now she pressed her hands together in her lap. She'd never dreamt that he might confront her with what had happened two years ago. Had he no shame? Or did he just enjoy making her squirm?

‘I'd prefer not to talk about it,' she said at last, though she balked at addressing him as
Mr
Varga again. She didn't want to anger him. That would be foolish. ‘It was a mistake I'd just as soon forget.'

Alejandro's mouth compressed. ‘You think?' he said, regarding her flushed face for several long nerve-racking seconds. His eyes dropped to the ring on her finger. ‘Edward told me there was a new man in your life.'

A new man?

Abby didn't know what he meant by that, but she had no intention of entering into a discussion about her private life. It was hard enough to believe Edward would have told him anything. And that rekindled all the suspicions about Lauren her brother had raised.

‘Look,' she said, trying not to sound concerned, ‘what is this all about? And please don't tell me you're interested in what I've been doing. It's a little late to find your conscience now.'

‘My conscience?' He seemed amazed by her directness. ‘I am sure your brother has told you I do not have such a thing. But you, Abigail—you are different from Edward. And I still find you attractive. Please have no doubts about that.'

Abby was stunned into silence. Had he guessed why
Edward had tricked her into coming here? But, if so, did that mean there was some truth in what Edward had been saying? Were he and Lauren really involved in an affair?

‘I—my brother has had an accident,' she said unevenly. ‘That's the only reason why I'm here.'

‘If you say so,' he said, his eyes dark and guarded. ‘But your brother has another agenda, I think.'

Abby swallowed. ‘I don't know what you mean,' she said, not sure now she even wanted to know.

‘Edward has a hairline fracture to his leg,' he said, his tone dismissive. ‘Hardly life-threatening, I think you will agree.'

The fact that Abby herself had said much the same when she'd found out was not an issue. ‘He's had a terrible shock,' she insisted tensely. ‘He could have been killed—'

‘But he was not,' inserted Alejandro unfeelingly, much like her fiancé. ‘Forgive me, Abigail, but your brother leads far too charmed a life to have it taken away by a drunken driver. The accident was unfortunate, but not serious. The car was damaged,
sí
, but it was not a write-off.'

Abby pushed back her chair and got to her feet. Whatever Edward expected of her, she couldn't stand any more of this. Did Alejandro know why Edward had brought her here, or was he only guessing? And why, when he insisted he was still interested in her, did she feel so aggrieved when this was exactly what her brother had hoped?

‘If you'll excuse me…' she said, not really caring whether he did or not. But Alejandro wasn't finished with her.

When she would have circled the table and hurried up the steps to the terrace, he moved into her path. ‘You are not leaving already,' he said, and although it was said innocently enough Abby thought it sounded like a warning. ‘We have not finished our discussion, Abigail. Edward is not going to like it if you don't get a favourable result.'

‘How dare you?'

Abby was so incensed her hand moved automatically towards his face. But Alejandro's hand was quicker, trapping her wrist in mid-flight, holding it effortlessly away from harm.

‘I think not,' he said softly, his warm breath lifting the unruly strands of hair from her cheek. ‘If your brother wants my help, you will have to do better than this,
cara.
I regret the need to use these methods, Abigail, but I did not make the rules.'

L
OOKING
back, Abby didn't quite know how she'd managed to get away from Alejandro with her dignity still intact.

Her first impulse had been to drag her wrist out of his grasp and run, kicking and screaming her frustration, into the house.

Not, she acknowledged later, that she'd have got away from him without his co-operation. Whatever else, Alejandro was infinitely stronger than she was, and indulging in a childish tug-of-war, with her arm as the rope, would have been downright stupid.

Not to mention embarrassing.

And painful.

But, with her lungs constricting in her chest and her panic only lightly controlled, she'd found the guts to stand up to him. And when it had become apparent that she wasn't going to answer him Alejandro had opened his fingers and released her.

It wasn't over. She knew that. Even though he'd let her go without another word, she knew it as surely as if he'd voiced his desire for retribution. Something was going on here, something she knew nothing about, and she couldn't wait to speak to Edward and find out what the hell it was.

In that, however, she had not been successful. Whether her brother knew of her encounter with Alejandro that morning or not, she didn't know, but he had proved suspiciously elusive since then.

Abby, herself, would have preferred to spend the rest of the morning in her room. But, after sluicing her hot face in the basin in her bathroom, she'd known that would achieve nothing. Even if Alejandro joined the family for breakfast she had to show her face. Besides, how else was she going to
corner her brother when she had no idea where his suite of rooms was?

In any case, she could hardly confront her brother in front of his wife. According to Edward, it was because of Lauren that he'd brought her here. And, although she suspected there was more to it than that, she couldn't dismiss his fears out of hand. Alejandro had virtually admitted that something was going on. But she had no idea what it was.

She had breakfast alone.

When she eventually summoned up the courage to go downstairs again, it was to find that no one else was about. The maid directed her to a rattan table and chairs set in the shade of the colonnade and explained that Mr Esquival had already left for his office. Apparently Mrs Esquival didn't eat breakfast, and Abby, who had steeled herself to face a family breakfast similar to the dinner she'd faced the night before, didn't know whether to be glad or sorry.

There was no sign of Alejandro either, which was a relief. When she asked about her brother and his wife she was told that he and
Mees
Lauren usually had breakfast in their rooms. Abby thought that Edward at least might have made an exception in these circumstances. But he was obviously in no hurry to explain himself.

Instead, she had to make the best of it, accepting a serving of scrambled eggs and bacon when the maid offered them against her better judgment. Despite her fears—or perhaps because of them—she was starving, and she consoled herself with the thought that it was after midday back home.

But, with the meal over, the rest of the morning stretched emptily ahead of her. On edge, as she was, she had no interest in the pool. Even the idea of sunbathing on the pool deck reminded her too strongly of what had happened there just a couple of hours earlier. Until Edward decided to show his face she could only wait impatiently for him to appear.

Going up to her room again, she decided to unpack her suitcase, realising that, however much she might want to leave, it wasn't going to happen today. Leaving her clothes in the
case would only add to the creases they'd gained on the journey across the Atlantic. And in her present position she didn't want to add to her feelings of inadequacy by looking unkempt.

An hour later she was downstairs again, pacing up and down the terrace, wondering when Edward was going to grace her with his presence, when Dolores Esquival joined her. She paused in the doorway to the salon, looking at Abby a little uncertainly, as if she didn't quite know what she was going to do with her. Abby noticed she was quite clearly dressed to go out.

‘Good morning,' Abby greeted her politely, once again cursing her brother for putting her in this position. ‘It's a beautiful day.'

‘Yes, isn't it?' Dolores hardly glanced up at the cloudless blue sky overhead. Then, linking her hands together at her waist, she added pleasantly, ‘Is everything all right?'

As all right as anything could be in the circumstances, thought Abby drily, but she managed a matching response. ‘It's fine—everything's fine,' she assured the older woman. Then, because she felt she had to say something more, ‘I hope you don't think I was presumptuous in coming here, Mrs Esquival. I really was—worried about my brother.'

Dolores shook her head. ‘I am sure you were,' she said, with the first evidence of warmth she'd shown. ‘We were worried about him, too. But, happily, he seems to be making a good recovery. We are all hoping his leg heals very soon.'

‘Yes.' Abby was grateful for her understanding. ‘I—er—I was just waiting for him.'

‘Oh, but he is not here,' exclaimed her hostess in surprise. ‘I thought you knew. Lauren and Edward's apartment in Coconut Grove was broken into last night. They've gone to accompany the police on an inspection of the property.'

‘Oh, no!' Abby immediately felt ashamed of herself for blaming her brother for neglecting her. She frowned. ‘Was anything taken? Was anyone hurt?'

‘There was no one there, fortunately, and I imagine the police are hoping Lauren and Edward can tell them if anything
is missing,' declared Dolores practically. ‘Electrical goods are always attractive to thieves, as you probably know, and Edward had—may still have—a very sophisticated entertainment system in the bedroom.'

Abby shook her head. ‘Is there anything I can do?'

‘I don't think so.' Dolores pulled a wry face. ‘If there is any vandalism Luis will arrange to have it dealt with, you can be sure. But of course we will have to decide whether we consider it safe for Lauren to go back there. We will think about that when Edward is on his feet again.'

Abby noticed Dolores was more concerned about Lauren than her brother. But that was only natural. Lauren was an only child, and she was very precious to them.

‘I wonder when they'll be back,' she murmured, more to herself than to the other woman. But Lauren's mother had evidently heard her.

‘I have no idea,' she said, looking thoughtful. It was as if she'd just realised she couldn't abandon her guest. ‘Perhaps you'd better come with me, Abigail,' she decided abruptly. ‘I have an appointment at my dress designer's at twelve-thirty, but afterwards we could have lunch together. There is a Cuban restaurant close by that serves the most delicious stone crab claws.' She kissed the tips of her fingers in anticipation, her eyes drifting assessingly over Abby's shirt and shorts as she spoke. ‘You would have to change,
no,
but…' She shrugged. ‘Would you like to see a little of our city?'

Abby wanted to refuse. She desperately needed to talk to Edward, and it had never been part of her plan to make herself anyone else's responsibility. But Dolores evidently expected her to jump at the chance of some sightseeing and, short of pleading tiredness, she couldn't think of a single reason why not.

‘I—you don't have to worry about me,' she protested, making a final attempt to avoid the outing, but Dolores was adamant.

‘It will be my pleasure,' she insisted, even if she did cast
another doubtful look at Abby's appearance. ‘Shall we say—twenty minutes? Will that be enough?'

Not nearly, thought Abby a few moments later, riffling through the clothes she'd hung out earlier. Whatever she wore, she was going to look tall and ungainly beside the petite—if plump—Dolores. Why hadn't she pretended to have a headache? Surely no one could have argued with that?

But she hadn't, and she had only fifteen minutes left to make herself presentable. On her own, she would have stuck with the shorts. But it was obvious Dolores didn't think they were suitable for a trip to town.

Which left—what? A dress with spaghetti straps that Dolores would probably consider equally unsuitable? Or pants and a vest teamed with a cream suede jacket she'd brought along because it was her favourite?

The pants and jacket won out, and, deciding the plait she'd made of her hair would have to go, she brushed the tangles out, leaving it loose about her shoulders.

She gave one final glance at her reflection before leaving her bedroom. The purple vest was taut across her full breasts, and the beige cotton pants hugged her behind, but she couldn't help that. Thankfully the suede jacket hid a multitude of sins, she thought, even if she was going to feel incredibly hot when she was out in the open air.

The look Dolores gave her when she rejoined the older woman in the reception hall was hardly encouraging, but she ignored it and forced a smile.

‘Ready,' she said, realising that Dolores's sky-blue tussore suit had probably cost more than her whole wardrobe put together. ‘You look—wonderful.'

‘Why, thank you,
cara.'
Dolores evidently appreciated the compliment, though she didn't return it. ‘Shall we go?'

They drove to an exclusive little shopping mall in Dolores's car. Dolores herself took the wheel, and Abby was alarmed at the number of near misses they had on the comparatively short journey. Lauren's mother's fingers were never far from the horn, and although some of the almost-accidents were not her
fault, Dolores switched lanes indiscriminately, showing little respect for other drivers.

Abby was relieved when they reached their destination. She got out of the car in the busy lot adjoining the mall feeling as if she was lucky to be alive. Even the exhaust fumes that lingered in the sultry air were preferable to the heated atmosphere Dolores had generated and, deciding she was too hot to worry about appearances, Abby slipped off her jacket.

She noticed Dolores gave her bare arms a doubtful look as they crossed the lot to the glass doors that led into the mall. But Abby ignored it. She didn't want to offend her, but she simply wasn't used to the heat.

The doors into the mall were attended by a uniformed security guard, who welcomed them with an obsequious smile. If he wondered who the tall redheaded woman was, he contained his curiosity, greeting Dolores with,
‘Señora Esquival! Que tal?'
How are you? Almost falling over himself in his eagerness to open the doors.

‘Bien, gracias, Tomas,'
Dolores responded, sailing past him with barely an acknowledgement of his assistance. She seemed more intent on ridding herself of Abby's presence, saying in a careless tone, ‘I am sure you can entertain yourself while I go to the salon, can't you, Abigail?'

Abby expelled a breath. ‘Of course,' she said, as relieved as the other woman to have a little time to herself. ‘I can meet you back at the car, if you'd rather. You don't have to take me to lunch. I'd be quite happy to go back to the house.'

And see Edward, she added, though only to herself.

Dolores considered for a moment, but, although she might have been attracted by Abby's suggestion, courtesy won out. ‘Nonsense,' she said firmly. ‘I'm looking forward to it.' Which patently wasn't true. ‘The restaurant is at the end of the mall.' She pointed. ‘It's called La Terraza. Why don't we meet there in—say, thirty minutes, okay?'

‘All right.'

Abby could hardly refuse if Dolores was prepared to put herself out on her behalf. But after the little woman had
walked quickly away, swaying a little precariously on her high heels, she wondered how she was going to fill in the next half-hour here. The mall seemed full of designer shops, selling everything from
haute couture
to sports equipment. But everything had a label and the corresponding price tag was out of her reach.

Deciding she could always window-shop, Abby sauntered along the arcade, stopping every now and then to admire a piece of jewellery or a particularly attractive display of evening wear. If you need to ask the price, you can't afford it, she reminded herself drily. Her lips twitched. Evidently her fellow shoppers were far more wealthy than they appeared.

A bookshop offered a welcome escape from the material world. Books, at least, were affordable, and it was interesting to see what novels had made it to the top ten. There were lots of authors she didn't recognise, and she spent quite some time examining the shelves containing crime novels and thrillers. She was wondering if she could buy a couple of books to take home for Ross to read when she glanced at her watch and saw that she was already running out of time.

Dammit! Putting down the books she'd been considering, she hurried out of the store. She had still to find the restaurant, she thought crossly. What had Dolores told her? That it was at the end of the mall?

To her relief, she found the place without difficulty. Fate must have been smiling on her for once, she thought, pausing outside, not sure where Dolores would expect them to meet. She was only seven minutes late, and there was no sign of the other woman. With a bit of luck she might not have arrived yet.

The restaurant itself looked exclusive. But then, she'd expected that. She already knew that Dolores put a lot of stock in appearances. Perhaps she should put her jacket on again, if only to please her.

She was wishing she'd also taken the time to visit the restroom when she became aware that someone was watching her. A man who had been passing the smoked glass doors of the
restaurant had paused and was looking at her. And when she turned her head, prepared to give him a cool put-down, she discovered that for the second time that day Alejandro had caught her unawares.

Immediately her pulse went into overdrive, and the dampness she had been feeling at the back of her neck now spread to her hairline. Every pore in her body felt as if it was oozing moisture, and she rubbed a furtive finger over her top lip as he strolled towards her.