The Tycoon's Son (16 page)
“You don’t trust me?” Theo asked, the affronted look on his face tempered by the teasing glint in his eyes.
“No,” Trish said. “I don’t trust myself.”
With those words, she turned on her heel and headed for the door.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
L
AST NIGHT
when Trish had left the penthouse she’d worried Theo might hold her flaky behavior against her. Until he’d showed up this morning with a bouquet of flowers in hand.
AST NIGHT
when Trish had left the penthouse she’d worried Theo might hold her flaky behavior against her. Until he’d showed up this morning with a bouquet of flowers in hand.
Of course she’d had her own surprise. When they’d gotten to the dock, a car had been waiting.
“A few quick calls,” Trish teased with a dismissive wave.
“What a woman,” Theo said. “Smart and beautiful.”
Trish just smiled. “Keep talking and you’ll get anything you want.”
“I already have what I want.” Unexpectedly Theo leaned over and slanted a kiss across her mouth. “A sunny day. A beautiful woman. And a Peugeot.”
Warmth flowed through Trish and she realized everything between them was back to normal. She resisted the urge to touch her tingling lips as Theo wheeled the car from the lot.
“It shouldn’t take long to get to Lucca,” Trish said. “What is it, only about fifty kilometers from Livorno?”
“About that.”
“Since it’s so close, it would make a nice day excursion.” Trish pulled a notebook from her bag and made a few notes. “The driver could stop in Pisa either on the way there or back so the tourists could see the Leaning Tower.”
“Always working.” Theo grinned. “Don’t you ever relax?”
“I relax,” Trish said, trying not to sound indignant. “It’s just that this is a business trip and I want to take advantage of every opportunity.”
“I bet even when you’re at home, you’re always working.”
“Wrong. Once I’m home, I try to forget about work and concentrate on Cassidy.”
Theo shot a glance sideways. “Tell me about her.”
Trish hesitated. Though she didn’t want to bore him with tales of her daughter’s brilliance, she swore there was a spark of genuine interest in his eyes. “She’s eight. In September she’ll start third grade.”
“Just a year older than Bruno’s Isabella,” Theo said. “In the picture I saw, she had dark hair, not red.”
She wondered what he was really asking. Does she look like you? Or her father?
“Her hair might be dark, but it has a definite red cast,” Trish said. “Actually most people say Cassidy is a mini-me, except for Steven’s blue eyes.”
Since the divorce, Trish had been determined to have an amicable relationship with Steven and usually didn’t have trouble talking about him. But today it felt weird.
“You mentioned that you share custody,” Theo said. “Is he very involved in her life?”
“He is.” Whatever his other failings, her ex was a good father. “Steven has her about fifty percent of the time. In fact he would have taken Cassidy this week if he hadn’t been out of town for a business convention.”
“Do you like him being around so much?” Theo’s tone seemed a little too casual to Trish’s discerning ears.
She wasn’t sure if he was trying to determine if she hated her ex or was still hung up on him. Either way, honesty was the best response.
“It can be hard at times,” Trish admitted. “But Cassidy adores him and I try to keep her best interests in mind.”
The look in Theo’s eyes reminded Trish of a brewing thunderstorm. But when he spoke, his tone was nonchalant. “How can you see him and act as if nothing had happened? He
cheated
on you.”
cheated
on you.”
For a second Trish toyed with the idea of changing the subject. But Theo’s quiet restraint as he waited for her response told Trish the answer was important to him.
“He never really loved me.” Only recently had Trish been able to voice that truth without feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness and regret.
Theo reached over and took her hand, his thumb gently caressing the soft flesh. When he met her gaze, it was his eyes that held anger, not hers.
“You were his wife,” Theo said. “He cheated on you. He is the one who should feel bad, not you.”
“Steven’s first wife died of cancer a couple years before we met.” Trish still remembered the day she’d realized Steven didn’t love her, had never loved her. “I should have seen that he was still grieving. But I was young and stupid. Looking back I wonder if I was more in love with the idea of being in love than I was with…”
The man had asked a simple question. He didn’t need a dissertation on the ups and downs of her failed marriage.
“I hate it that he hurt you,” Theo said.
The caring underlying his words sent warmth flowing through Trish’s veins.
“Even after I realized that Steven had never got over Karen, I thought we could make it work.” Trish had wanted so much for them to be close. “Steven was a good man. Even if he didn’t love me, I knew he cared about me. And by then we had Cassidy. I was determined to win his love and save my marriage.”
She’d been so idealistic back then…so unrealistic. Trish glanced at Theo to make sure he was listening, then continued. “The crazy thing was the more I tried to build that closeness, the more he backed off. Then, I discovered he’d turned to another woman. A woman who didn’t place unreasonable demands on his emotions, according to him.”
The infidelity had been the nail in the coffin. His harsh words when she’d confronted him had destroyed any last remnants of romantic feelings.
Theo squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry. That had to have hurt.”
Trish studied the man beside her. There was depth, understanding and intelligence in his dark-as-midnight eyes.
“It did.” But looking back, she realized that mixed with the shock and disbelief had been a healthy dose of relief. Steven had chosen his course of action. She no longer had to try to make their marriage work. “After the divorce was final, he came and asked for my forgiveness. It was hard but I realized that I had to let go of my anger.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Anger and bitterness would only poison my life as well as Cassidy’s,” Trish said simply.
It was the first time she’d told anyone the full story of what had happened and it felt good.
“You’re a special woman, Trish Melrose.” There was admiration in his voice.
“I’m a survivor,” Trish said, then her eyes widened. “Hey, isn’t that the turnoff for Pisa?”
“Want to stop and have breakfast?” Theo asked. “We have time.”
“Sure.” Trish searched her memory. “There should be a place that we’ve used as a tour stop not far from the Piazza dei Miracoli. I’d love to check it out.”
“Piazza dei Miracoli, it is,” Theo said, turning the car toward Pisa.
Once they reached the piazza, Theo parked the car. He rested his hand on the small of her back as they walked to the restaurant entrance.
“You know my mother never did let go of her anger toward Elias Stamos,” Theo murmured as he opened the door. “She wanted me to hate him as much as she did.”
“And do you?” Trish asked. “Hate him, I mean?”
“I did,” Theo said matter-of-factly. “I blamed him for my mother leaving me. I thought if he’d only given her some money we could have been together. She wouldn’t have had to take that job in Athens.”
Trish had many questions, but by then the proprietor had hurried over to show them to a table. The female server appeared almost immediately. Although Trish didn’t speak Italian, by the look in the woman’s eyes and her demeanor, she knew the waitress hadn’t hurried over for her.
But Theo gave no indication he’d noticed the woman’s interest, and the moment she’d finished taking their order, he immediately switched his attention back to Trish.
“Did you know that the Tower of Pisa’s construction began back in 1173 and continued for about two hundred years?” Trish had visited the tower before Cassidy was born but hadn’t been back since. The basics were about all she remembered.
“That’s true,” Theo said with an approving smile. “Construction was completed in 1350 but the builders knew as early as 1178 that the tower was leaning. It wasn’t until 1275 that architect Tommso di Andrea da Pontedera realized that the leaning tower couldn’t be straightened.”
“How do you know all that?” Trish asked, amazed.
“I’ve always been interested in architecture,” Theo said with a slight smile. “I also read a lot when I was a child.”
Trish had a sudden image of him at home alone while his grandparents worked at the restaurant. “I can’t understand it,” she said with unexpected fervor. “The man has billions. Even if he didn’t like your mother, how could he not have supported his own son?”
“Like I said, I used to hate him.” Theo smiled his thanks as the waitress set two cups of cappuccino in front of them.
“What changed?” Trish took a sip of the espresso infused with steamed milk.
“For one thing, I discovered from Katherine and Helena that my father did pay support when I was growing up.”
Trish set her cup down. “How could that be? You just said he didn’t.”
“Obviously my mother kept it all for herself,” Theo said, his voice heavy with disappointment.
“How could she?” Trish said. “There has to be some other explanation.”
“Tasia never wanted to be a mother,” he said. “I was a mistake, something that should never have happened. Apparently she just made the best of a bad situation.”
Though his tone was nonchalant, a hint of sadness flickered in his eyes and Trish’s heart twisted. She reached across the table and impulsively covered his hand with hers. “Well, I for one am glad you’re here.”
He made no move to pull his hand away, and in the warmth of the moment Trish realized she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so close to a man.
“One thing I can’t understand. Even if she didn’t want me,” Theo said almost to himself, “how could she have put such a burden on her own parents.”
Because she’s obviously selfish and only out for herself
, Trish wanted to say. But she took the high road instead.
, Trish wanted to say. But she took the high road instead.
“It’s hard to know what drives people. The important thing is you’re now able to view the situation from the perspective of a man, not a child.”
He lifted a dark brow. “Meaning?”
“Just because she hates your father doesn’t mean you have to hate him, too.” Trish challenged him to look away. “Have you ever thought about talking to him? Listening to his side? Maybe if you got to know him, you could understand, maybe even forgive. Perhaps it’s time to give Elias Stamos a second chance.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
A
SECOND CHANCE
.
SECOND CHANCE
.
The words ran through Theo’s head. While he may have been toying with the idea of contacting his father since his conversation with Katherine and Helena, Trish’s suggestion sent red flags popping up.
Theo pulled his hand away and started to respond just as the waitress arrived with their food.
“Is it my welfare that interests you?” Theo asked bluntly when the woman was out of earshot. “Or are you hoping that if Stamos and I work out our differences, I might sign your contract?”
Trish looked down for several heartbeats. When she raised her eyes to look at him, Theo was surprised to see tears in them.
“Your mother deliberately turned you against your father. I can’t imagine what it would be like if Steven poisoned Cassidy against me.” Her voice caught. “That would break my heart.”
“You have to remember,” he said, pushing at the frittata with his fork. “Elias Stamos is no victim here. He could have contacted me.”
“Would you have listened?” Trish asked.
Theo started to answer then stopped himself. Trish had been honest with him and deserved the same in return. He thought for a moment then shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
“I don’t have all the answers. And I don’t know everything that has gone on in your family.” Trish’s eyes were dark with compassion. “But just consider being the bigger man here. That’s all I’m saying.”
Consider it? Little did she know that the thought had been niggling at him since his sisters had first contacted him weeks ago. But every time the idea had surfaced, Theo had determinedly shoved it aside. Maybe he did need to confront Elias Stamos. But the time wasn’t right. Not yet anyway.
“How about we head to Lucca?” Theo pushed his untouched plate of food aside, no longer hungry. “I’m in the mood for some fresh air.”
T
HEO HAD BEEN TENSE
and quiet when they’d returned to the car. Though he’d gone along with her request to visit the Leaning Tower before leaving Pisa, their earlier camaraderie seemed to have vanished. Trish began to wonder if the rest of the day was doomed. But once they started on the road to Northern Tuscany, the tension eased from his face.
HEO HAD BEEN TENSE
and quiet when they’d returned to the car. Though he’d gone along with her request to visit the Leaning Tower before leaving Pisa, their earlier camaraderie seemed to have vanished. Trish began to wonder if the rest of the day was doomed. But once they started on the road to Northern Tuscany, the tension eased from his face.
By the time they reached Lucca, rented their bikes and started pedaling, things felt almost back to normal.
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