ELEMENTAL LOVE: A Second Chance Single Dad Romance Page 5

  When I caught her spying on Tom, I couldn’t resist disturbing her. And then, just when I thought she’d run away with her tail between her legs, she’d become quite the cheeky little character. If anything, I’d kissed her simply to shut her up.

  And yet, one kiss hadn’t been enough, at least not for me. She was silent by then, but I wanted more. Pressing her against the wall only made things even more heated, and I couldn’t help but feel her beautiful, curvaceous body under my fingertips. Hearing the moans she made as I touched her had spurred me on, and by the time I reached her breasts, I was sure that nothing would ever feel so delicious again.

  Thank God she breathed my name, snapping me back to reality or else I would probably have claimed her by now, my lips adorning her entire body as she quivered in my arms.

  I swore once more under my breath. Where had that self-control I was so famous for gone all of a sudden? She’s the estate manager’s daughter, for fuck’s sake.

  Now was not the time for childish games. I had bigger fish to fry.

  The account. It had to be my focus from now on. My fumble with Rachel in the garden had come on the back of being intrigued by her days earlier, and now that I’d proved she felt every bit as good as I’d expected, I’d composed myself, and it wasn’t about to go any further.

  ~~~~~~

  The following morning, I awoke wondering if I’d dreamed the previous night’s escapade. I soon pushed all thoughts of Rachel aside, though, and concentrated on putting together everything I needed for Washington.

  It was strange to know that I would no longer be going back to college and that this wasn’t a work placement program to give me some more experience before being let out into the real world. This was the real world, and I was ready to take it on with both hands.

  Whatever excellent work Dad had done during his time as CEO of Maitland Development, I vowed to do even better. I already knew my parents were proud of me, but I was concerned only with pushing myself to be the best I could be. And I had to start with the Tacoma development. It could transform the whole city, putting Maitland Development well and truly on the map of the other side of the country, and I was only too ready to do it.

  I’d made the right decision by walking away from Rachel that night. There were much bigger things on the horizon than getting involved with a woman, right now. I had all the elements of my career in front of me, and I simply had to put the pieces together and begin to craft my empire.

  Chapter 7

  ________

  RACHEL

  Ten Years Later

  The clouds were a pomegranate red, as though they blushed at the warm touch of the sun. Silhouettes of birds were scattered across the late afternoon sky as they took flight, heading back home for the night.

  On the terrace, as the evening sun dipped behind the cupola of the cathedral, I lifted the glass of Tempranillo and brought it to my nose. Swirling it around before I inhaled.

  “God, I think I’m going to miss this more than anything,” I said.

  Lois laughed. “I’m pretty sure that New York has easy access to the world’s best wines,” she said. “I’m sure you’ll find some in any liquor-store, but then, everyone knows the only place to get proper Tempranillo Noir, is Spain.”

  “Yeah, but it’s not quite the same when you’re not looking at this skyline while you’re drinking it,” I sighed. “It’s gone so fast. I can’t believe I’m finally going home.”

  “I can’t believe you’re leaving me,” Lois said, and she tried to brush it off jokily, but I could see tears welling up in her eyes.

  “Don’t you start!” I cried. “I was having trouble stopping myself from sobbing while packing my suitcase this morning!”

  My cousin picked up her fork and scooped up another mouthful of the delicious risotto she’d made earlier. “No, we can’t have this,” she said. “I’m happy you’re going to go home and see your dad. I just hope you don’t wait too long before you come back and visit.”

  “Of course not!” I replied. “And besides, there’s nothing stopping you from getting on a plane and coming over to see me, either.”

  “I know. You’re right. And I will. It’s going to be tough to come out for a little while, though. I have the summer school starting in three weeks.”

  “Kids or adults?”

  “Adults. But I’m not complaining. A guy came to register today and let me tell you, my ovaries literally stood up and gave a standing ovation at the sight of him. Seriously, for the first few minutes, I could barely utter a word. It was so embarrassing.”

  I laughed. “How are you going to cope with him sitting in front of you twice a week, staring up at you?”

  She pulled a face of mock panic, and then the phone rang from inside the apartment. “That’ll be my Mom,” she said. “Like clockwork, that one.”

  She left the dinner table and went inside to answer the phone. She was right. My aunt Regina, Lois’s mom, called every evening at the same time. It was part of a nightly ritual ever since Lois had left home.

  It’s funny, but at times it made me wonder whether my own mom would have been the same way if she’d been alive. She and Regina were sisters, and both came from a very close-knit and warm Italian family. The Italian woman was the stuff of legend. No matter how old her children got, she always wanted to know where they were, what they’d done with their day and, most importantly, what they’d had to eat.

  On that final concern, she didn’t have to worry at all. Lois had inherited her mother’s incredible hand in the kitchen, and right now, I was completely stuffed from eating a mushroom risotto and a delicious green salad. With the full-bodied wine to finish it all off, it was a meal I was certainly going to miss.

  As Lois continued to talk with her mom, no doubt going over the recipe for the risotto, my mind was left to wander. It was a little after nine and the light, cool evening breeze was a welcome relief after the warmth of the hot summer’s day. I was happy to simply sit and savor my last few hours in Madrid. With my suitcases already packed, I’d checked into my flight online, and now the butterflies in my stomach were starting to stir and flutter as they always did when I was about to make a trip.

  I’d always loved to travel, but there’s something about making a trip home. The excitement of seeing familiar faces at the arrival gate and the drive back along well-known streets and roads to the house. I’d only been home once in five years, and that had been for Alice’s wedding, although I hadn’t been back to the Maitland Estate. Instead, I’d stayed at the beach house, helping Alice into her dress, as is the maid-of-honor’s duty.

  Five years. They’d really flown by. In fact, the last ten years had flown by. It only seemed like a few months since I had been getting ready to go to college and now, here I was, not too far off from turning thirty and no more settled down than I had been when I was eighteen.

  I couldn’t complain, of course. My college days in California had been some of the best experiences I could have imagined, and the icing on the cake had been coming over to visit Lois in my final year and falling in love with Madrid.

  Without her, I wouldn’t have met Ricardo, who’d taken a chance on me and helped me in my first year of business, and without whom I wouldn’t have been able to build up my client base so quickly.

  And, of course, without my client base, I wouldn’t have met Mathias. I didn’t want to dwell on him right now, though, so I shook my head and took another sip of the fruity red liquid. Some things didn’t need to spoil the evening.

  Finally, Lois reappeared. “Sorry about that,” she said. “Mom wanted to know that you’d packed everything and she practically ran through a whole list, from hair clips to tampons.”

  “Some things never change,” I said, with a smile. “It amazes me that you’re not used to it by now.”

  “She asked if anyone’s moved into your apartment. I forgot to ask you about that, actually. Did you decide to get any tenants in, after all?”

  “No, not yet,�
�� I said. “I know it’s dumb, seeing as I’ve been so ready to go home for so long. But I wanted to keep my options open. Wanted to keep a bolt-hole so I could come back if things didn’t work out. I guess once I’m settled back in New York, then I can always call the realtor here and put it up for lease. I’ll leave you a spare set of keys.”

  “Good thinking,” said Lois. “I’d like to think you’ll still come back and stay when you get the time.”

  “Oh, I’ll be back, I’m sure. I feel like maybe I’ll always have one foot in the States and one in Europe.”

  “I imagine all your clients are devastated that you’re leaving,” my cousin said, and she lifted the half-empty bottle of wine and refilled both our glasses. I had to stop her otherwise she’d have poured in far too much for me. I had to get up early for my flight; the last thing I needed was a headache at five in the morning.

  “I’ve tied up most of the loose ends,” I said. “I’d known for ages that I was going to go home. I think the business is in good hands with Francesca, and I think I’d like a new challenge, anyway.”

  “Speaking of loose ends,” said Lois, looking at me meaningfully. “Have you called Mathias at all?”

  “You know, I was just thinking about him and then I made myself not think about him.”

  Lois grimaced. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

  “Oh, it’s fine,” I said, waving my hand. “It’s old news now, I guess. I gave him back the ring, and when I called him last month to tell him I’d booked my flight, he wished me the best of luck. That’s the last time we spoke. I thought I told you about it?”

  “You did,” Lois said, “only it’s not like he’s ever been the kind to take no for an answer before. I thought he might have tried to convince you to stay.”

  “I fell for his shit the first year of our relationship, but by the second, I knew better than to believe anything he said. He’s never going to change and I accept that. It’s funny, but it’s only now that I realize how unhappy I was over the last few months. It’s crazy how someone so pivotal in your life has the ability to make you feel either the most wonderful anyone ever has, or like the most depressed person on the planet.”

  “Well, this is the happiest I’ve seen you for a long time,” my cousin said, and she reached over and squeezed my hand. “And I’m really going to miss you, believe me, but I’m so happy that you’re going to see your dad and all your friends. Just don’t forget about me, okay?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” I said. “Mi prima favorita, right?” My favorite cousin.

  Chapter 8

  ________

  ALEX

  No matter how noisy a roomful of chattering guests might be, everyone always comes to attention at the slightest tap of a knife against a crystal glass. As I stood up and cleared my throat, the hush died down and I put my glass back on the table.

  “Well, I guess the time’s come for me to make my speech,” I said, and although it wasn’t particularly funny, there was a smattering of light, appreciative laughter that rippled around the room. I nodded to Tom, who was looking at me with a grin on his face.

  “Being the older brother has some real benefits,” I began. “I never had to wear any of Tom’s ugly shirts when we were kids, for example, and I was the first to be allowed to stay out late and the first to be able to drink wine at the dinner table while Tom had cherry juice and pretended he was having wine, too.”

  More laughter and at this, my little brother put his hand over his face in embarrassment and shook his head.

  “But, you know, being the oldest isn’t always easy,” I continued. “It means that you’re the first to get your driver’s license which means you spend plenty of time taking your little brother around in your car. It means that when your parents go away for the weekend, you have to be the responsible one. And it means that sometimes, your little brother will rat you out when you sneak a glass of scotch from your dad’s study.”

  I paused and looked at Tom, and now a big smile spread across my face. “But one thing’s for sure. And that’s that being the older brother means you get to watch your little brother grow up and become a man. And right now, I look at him and I’m proud. He’s worked hard, he’s achieved a hell of a lot, and he’s done it all without losing his sense of humor or his goddamned barefaced cheek.”

  The room was laughing now and a few of Tom’s friends whooped and jeered him. I picked up my glass. “But mostly, I’m thrilled to see that he’s met such a beautiful woman in Sienna, and I’m over the moon to have been the first to know about his engagement. He’s made a great choice, and I’d like for you all to join me in raising your glasses to toast the betrothed couple. To Tom, and Sienna. And may you have no decisions to make when it comes to planning the wedding, Tom.”

  He nodded vigorously at this and grinned as everyone toasted him and his bride-to-be. He was practically blushing as he slid his arm around Sienna’s slim waist and kissed her cheek, murmuring something in her ear. He looked the happiest I’d ever seen him. And I couldn’t blame him for being so, either. He’d made a good match in more ways than one. His twenty-two year-old fiancée was stunning, with long blonde hair that seemed to glow with a golden sheen. In her slim-fitting pink dress, she certainly turned heads.

  I sat down again and turned to speak with a family friend when I heard a clatter. I winced. I had a good idea of where the noise had come from. Turning around, I saw one of the servers get to her knees and started picking up smashed pieces of porcelain on which caviar hors d’oeuvres had been set out. My suspicion had been confirmed.

  Running away from her was a pair of sturdy legs in blue shorts, and I excused myself and went to follow them.

  Darting in between guests is easier when you’re four feet tall, but my eyes were firmly fixed now, and I wasn’t about to lose sight of the little troublemaker. I whipped around to the side, overtook him, and then stepped out in front of the door just as the little scallywag was about to make his escape.

  “Got you!” I roared, swooping down and picking up the little boy as he squealed in delighted terror, kicking his legs and giggling. I held onto him firmly and pretended to look at him with stern reproach. “Are you causing chaos again?”

  “I was running away from Sam and Toby, Daddy!” Noah said, and sure enough, as I looked around, two more red-faced little boys were standing there, panting from running. Their eyes were wide when they saw me, and I had to stop myself from grinning at the sight of the sheer terror on their faces.

  I put Noah down and kneeled down. “Go and apologize to the lady over there,” I said, pointing to the waitress, who was now sweeping up the last of the porcelain shards. “Look, she’s cleaning up the mess you made.”

  He stuck out his bottom lip and wrinkled his nose. “Can you come with me, Daddy?”

  “Alright. We’ll go together.”

  I held his hand and we walked over to the waitress. “I’m afraid my son got a little carried away,” I said to her. I looked down at Noah. “Well?”

  “I’m so sorry, Miss,” he whispered and darted behind my back, holding on to my jacket.

  She smiled at him, then up at me. “Please don’t worry,” she said. “It’s my fault for not seeing him in time. I’ll be out of your way in just a second, Sir.”

  I nodded my thanks and took Noah back to the table. There, I sat him on my knee and set a bowl of peanuts in front of him. He dove in, his stubby little fingers soon salty. He went to rub them down his shirt, but I grabbed his hand just in time and wiped his fingers on a napkin. “What am I going to do with you?” I asked.

  He shrugged and grinned at me, and I couldn’t help but smile back. “So, why were you running away from Sam and Toby?” I asked.

  “They’re investigators and I’ve just robbed a bank,” Noah said, matter-of-factly, now reaching for a glass of water after the peanuts made him thirsty. “It’s the second time I’ve been caught today, but I always escape.”

  I wrapped my arms aroun
d his waist and began to tickle him. “You might be able to escape the investigators,” I growled playfully, “but you can never escape the claws of Daddy!”

  He squealed and giggled again, and I put him back down onto the floor to send him off to join his friends.

  I watched him leave and picked up my glass of champagne. It was getting a little low, but just as the thought entered my mind, a waiter with a white napkin draped over his sleeve was right there to top me up.

  Tom wandered over. “Fancy a drink in the garden?” he asked.

  “Sure,” I said. “I’ll have a word with Lucinda and get her to look after Noah.”

  My son’s nanny wasn’t at the party, but I called her apartment. She said she’d be right down. As much as I loved having my son with me whenever I could, there were times he was a little too young to accompany me everywhere. It wasn’t yet time to introduce him to the wonder of a scotch in the moonlight.

  My little brother and I strolled around the lawns, each with a glass in hands. I took a sip of the beautiful fiery liquid. “I’m not sure that anything in the world beats that taste,” I said, swirling the glass around. I looked at Tom. “Everything seemed to go well.”

  “Yeah, I know,” he said, and he sighed.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “What makes you think there’s anything wrong?”

  “Because you’re about as subtle as a tornado,” I said. “Come on. Tell me.”

  “It’s not that there’s anything wrong, exactly,” he said. “It’s more that it seems so definite, now.”

  “Why, because you’ve put a ring on her finger?”

  “Yes. In a year, we’ll be married. And I know Sienna wants to start a family straight away. Before I know it, I’ll be an old man, married with kids.”

  I chuckled. “Is that so bad?”