by Terry Towers
“Of course not.”
“Good. If you did now is the time to declare it.” The driver turned back to speak to the guard at his window in rapid Spanish. Much too quick for me to understand.
This was slightly unnerving, but I nodded as I pulled my wallet from my back pocket and removed my California driver’s license while a guard opened my door and waved me out.
Getting out from the car, I passed him my driver’s license, placed my wallet on the roof of the car and then put my hands in the air as I was given a pat down. Not a quick pat down you’d expect at an airport, but a full, very intrusive search that left me gritting my teeth.
Standing before me, the guard looked directly into my eyes. If I were to go off his expression, I’d have thought he was going to kill me then and there. “Why are you here?”
“I’m here to pick up Valentina.”
“Cual es tu nombre?”
“Anthony Williams. Valentina is expecting me.” That much I did manage to understand at least.
“Anthony Williams,” the guard before me barked to someone in the guard house.
“Cleared,” a voice replied over the speaker mounted to the side of the guard house.
The guard before me nodded, turned back to me, and passed me my license. “Very well. You may proceed.”
“Gracias.” Taking the license, I placed it back into my wallet and then securely back into my back pocket. I hadn’t prepared myself for that. As I slid back into the black leather seat of the back of the car, I released the breath I’d been holding.
Holy fuck…
The massive gates before us slid to the left as the driver got back into the car and brought the engine back to life. “Security is important here,” the driver explained. “I should have warned you.”
Valentina should have warned me, I thought, keeping that opinion strictly to myself.
But being that this level of security was commonplace for her, perhaps she didn’t think to give me the heads-up. I was slightly annoyed, but as we reached the front door of the house and came to a complete stop the annoyance faded because on the front step, wearing a beautiful red dress that dipped low into her cleavage and flared out around her mid-thigh, was the woman I’d gone to bed fantasizing about for the past six months looking like a goddess.
Valentina Rossi.
Chapter 3
Valentina
Watching Anthony go through the check-in at security through the monitors made me anxious and annoyed. It was unnecessary. I wanted to tell the guards to just let them through, but Asher was adamant they not be spared from the normal inspection, insisting it was for our safety. It was a small thing that wasn’t worth fighting with him about.
Once they were cleared from security, I waited until they were pulling up to the front door before opening the door and stepping out. I was much more nervous than I had anticipated I’d be, my palms becoming disgustingly sweaty. Wiping my hands on my skirt, I pulled my lower lip between my teeth as I waited for Anthony to appear from within the car.
Please let him be as good looking and charming as he’s been online, I silently prayed. I had such a vision of who he was in my mind. I wasn’t sure if he’d be able to live up to how I’d portrayed him and this first meeting; I doubted any man could.
The driver got out and went to his door, opening it for him. A moment passed and then he stepped out of the car looking dashing in a dark suit, holding a bundle of my favorite flowers – lilies. My stomach did a little flutter just seeing him, a feeling I’d never had before with anyone.
Visually, he was everything I’d dreamed he could be and more – tall with an all-American look, short cut blond hair sprinkled with silver and the most stunning blue eyes I’d ever seen. His eyes pulled me in as our gazes locked and a wide smile spread across his lips, displaying deep dimples. He was forty-three, fifteen years my senior, but looked more like he was in his mid-thirties.
For a moment I stood staring at him, until the sound of Asher behind me snapped me back to reality. “That the boyfriend to be?” he muttered.
Turning my head, I shot a glare at him. “Back off, Asher.”
Chuckling, he gave Anthony a nod and disappeared back into the house.
Fucking Asher.
Giving my head a shake, I descended the grey marble stairs of the front step as he rounded the back of the bar. As much as I wanted to run to him, the heels I was wearing prevented it.
By the time I reached him the smile was so wide on my lips that it threatened to split my face in half as the joy within me become overwhelming. Tears filled my eyes as I wrapped my arms around his, pressing my body against his and burying my face against his neck. He felt so good against me it almost didn’t feel real that he was finally here.
“Hello to you too,” he joked, placing the flowers on the top of the SUV and then running a hand through my hair while planting a kiss on the top of my head.
Pulling back from him slightly, I looked into his eyes. With my four-inch heels on I was almost as tall as his six feet. “I can’t believe it’s you. That you’re here,” I gasped. “And so handsome.”
His eyes twinkled, the happiness he was feeling evident within them and mimicking the feelings rushing through me. “Wasn’t sure if I was going to make it. Your doormen are quite thorough.”
My mood dampened slightly. “I’m sorry about that. We’re having issues right now. Everyone goes through the same protocol to get into the compound.”
He nodded. “I know. I’m just teasing you. It’s fine.” Brushing a lock of hair from my face, the back of his hand grazed my cheek, making me inhale sharply. Closing my eyes, I pressed my cheek into his hand, savoring the feel his touch. How many nights had I gone to sleep wishing he was next to me? Or gone to sleep still on a Skype call with him, drifting off to the sound of his voice like a damned teenager in lust? Countless times. But that was over now because he was here.
Opening my eyes, I looked back up at him and into his eyes. The affection he was feeling for me was painfully evident. It had been a long time since I’d seen such intensity for me in a man’s gaze. His head lowered and just as his lips touched mine there was a very rude, loud sound of someone clearing his throat behind me.
Son of a bitch! Could he not give me a minute without playing the big-brother act? It pissed me off that he’d pretend to care when in actuality he just wanted to control this situation, like he controlled everything else.
“What do you want, Asher?” I snapped, my eyes flying open as I stepped away from Anthony, though I kept an arm around his waist, under his jacket and remained snuggled tight to him.
“Am I interrupting?”
My eyes narrowed at him, the giddiness I’d been feeling a moment ago quickly fading. “Of course, you know you are.” Taking a deep breath in, I slowly released it. Me losing control was what he wanted. Besides, the quicker I got the introductions over with the quicker we could get going. Motioning to Anthony, I said. “Asher, this is Anthony.” Then nodding back to Asher. “Anthony, this is my brother, Asher.”
Anthony didn’t remove the protective arm from my shoulders as he extended his hand to Asher. “It’s good to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Asher looked at the extended hand a second before accepting it and giving it a brief shake. “I wish I could say the same. This is the first I’ve heard of you. Coming all the way from America! My sister must have made quite the impression on you.” Sliding his hands into his pants pockets, Asher kept his eyed fixed on my date.
Seeming unperturbed by my brother’s attempt to flex, Anthony looked down at me and smiled. “You have no idea. It’s been a long time coming. This was the first chance I was able to break away from work to come visit.”
“I see. What do you do again?”
“I’m a surgeon. Cosmetic surgery.”
“Hmm. Then you must be around wealthy, good-looking women every day. Seems odd you have to come all the way to Colombia to get a date.”
&nbs
p; Stepping between Anthony and Asher, I glowered up at my brother. “Our relationship is none of your business. I don’t question you on the women you whore around with. How many long-lasting relationships have you been in?” Planting my fists on my hips, I continued, “Oh wait, you’ve never had one. Because you’re incapable of love. Aren’t I right, brother?”
“Relationships aren’t a priority right now. There’s more important things to worry about.”
“I bet. Then how about you mind your own business and deal with what’s important to you. Family sure as hell isn’t.”
“Asher and Valentina, you two had better not be arguing in front of our guest.” As if by cue, our mother appeared in the doorway. “We have a visitor. Arguing is not a way to care for a guest who has come such a long way.”
My mother was so graceful she practically floated down the stairs to us. “Asher, please have Camilla set the table for supper. Tell her to tell Carlos that we want something extra special for supper. We have a special guest tonight.”
Doing as requested, Asher made his way back into the house, leaving us with my mother.
Looking up at Anthony, I gave him a smile. Leaning into him I whispered. “Sorry, I should have warned you she may want you to stay.”
Anthony
The interaction with Asher had been intense, but it was to be expected. There was no way in hell I was going to let him intimidate me. I wasn’t part of his organization and I wasn’t here for him. I was here because of his sister. There was no reason for me to be threatened by him.
But damn, he was intense. As it was, his introduction was cold at best, I’d hate to be someone that he had it in for. Valentina was special, and if it meant I had to deal with her psychotic brother in order to be with her, then I’d do what I had to do. If I proposed – and she accepted – we wouldn’t even be residing in the same country, so Asher was simply part of what would have to be endured from time to time. I could see why she didn’t date though; he most likely scared all the poor assholes who wanted to be with her off before they even had a chance to get to know her.
“I’m so happy you made it safe, Anthony.” Valentina’s mother approached and gave me a kiss on both cheeks, followed by a motherly hug. Valentina’s mother was nearly as tall as her daughter would be if Valentina were also in her bare feet. She was wearing a peach colored pantsuit that was loose and flowy. While her hair was silver, her dark eyes still had a fire in them that you’d expect from a woman half her age. “I’m her mother, Luciana Rossi.”
“Thank you, I appreciate it.” Picking the flowers back up, I cursed myself for forgetting that I should also have brought a gift for her mother. I hadn’t expected to meet the whole family. It made me wonder if I’d get the pleasure of meeting her father as well over dinner. Opening the bouquet, I separated the flowers, giving half to the Valentina and then the other half to her mother.
Her mother smiled, bringing the flowers up to her nose and inhaling the fragrance. “My pleasure. Come inside so we can chat before we eat. You are staying, correct?”
Giving a quick look to Valentina, who nodded for final conformation, I responded, “I would love to join you. Will Costello be joining us as well?”
“No. He’s out of the country on business. Asher is here, which is an unexpected yet happy surprise. He hasn’t been home much lately and is leaving tomorrow to go back to Helka in a couple of days, from my understanding.” Turning from us, she made her way to the stairs. At the top of the stairs she motioned for us to follow her into the house.
“Any more surprises for me?” I whispered to Valentina, giving her a side hug. I wasn’t angry, I just wished she’d given me a heads-up on a few things so I could have prepared myself.
“None that I know of.” She gave me a coy smile. “I apologize. I’ll make it up to you later.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
She turned to my driver, who was standing outside the car awaiting instructions, then said something to him in Spanish that I couldn’t make out. Fuck, I really needed to work on my Spanish.
“Si, senorita.”
She led me up the stairs and into the house. “The driver will be waiting for you when we’re done. We’ll make sure he’s provided for while he waits.” Her mother had already made a hasty retreat, I suspected to make sure her orders were being adhered to in regards to supper.
“Thank you.”
Entering the house, she took my hand. “How about I show you around while we wait? Supper should be served in a little over an hour. Carlos is the best chef in Colombia. He’s even been on one of those cooking shows.”
“That would be great.” The house was so large I’d guess that it would take over an hour just to do a quick overview of it and the grounds.
Chapter 4
Valentina
As much as I loved my mother and it felt good when she pulled me aside and gave me her blessings after supper, it felt even better when we were throwing my suitcase into the back of the SUV and I was sliding into the seat next to Anthony. We didn’t have a lot of time together before he had to go back to America and we wanted to make the most of it.
“What did your mother think of me?” Anthony asked once the privacy panel was up and the vehicle was on its way out of the compound, followed by two more cars of armed guards that both my brother and mother insisted upon. As annoying as it was, I knew they were right. Anthony wasn’t a target, but I potentially was, either for kidnapping or assassination. There was always a chance Anthony could be caught in the crossfire, which was something I’d never be able to live with if it happened. Anthony had been briefed on the risks of being with me before coming here and had insisted I was worth the risk.
Giving him a coy smile, I shrugged. “Why do you think she said anything?”
Grinning back at her, I replied, “Even though you two were speaking Spanish, I made out a few words here and there. Anthony being one of them.”
“We didn’t cover that up well enough.” Placing a hand on his thigh just above the knee, I gave it a squeeze. “She liked you. But you’re the first man she’s met in a long time.”
He cocked a brow up at me, and a partial smile touched his lips. “How long?”
Alejandro, my former fiancé came to mind. The man whose life had ended way too quickly. I had to fight to keep the tears from my eyes.
His frown deepened. “What happened? What’s wrong?”
I’d toyed with the idea of telling him the entire story numerous times over the months we’d talked, and each time I’d backed out. How do you tell someone that you were falling for that the last man who had the balls to love you died because of it? Would he run from me? Would he treat me like I had the plague, like most other men with half a brain did when they discovered who I was? The only ones that stayed around did so because they wanted to get in my father’s good graces. I wasn’t brave enough to take the chance he’d go running – at least not yet. Not until I knew without a doubt how he felt about me, and that the I love you we’d already uttered from a distance weren’t just empty words on his side.
Taking a deep breath in, I slowly exhaled. “It’s nothing.” Batting the single tear that threatened to escape down my cheek away before he could see it and it ruined my make-up, I forced a smile to my lips. “This is exciting that you’re here, and I have a great night planned for us.”
He didn’t look convinced but draped an arm over my shoulders and pulled me tight. “What do you have planned?” The warmth of his body against mine felt so good. So right. I’d missed the company of a man. My smile turned genuine as I pushed the memories of Alejandro from my mind. Right now was about us. Potentially about our future.
“We’re heading into Cartagena. There’s lots of excitement to be had tonight.” Hooking a thumb to the cars trailing behind us, I gave him a lopsided grin. “Even with the goon patrol behind us.”
“That’s fine. I understand your situation. Hey–” He captured my chin in his hand and forced me to look d
irectly into his eyes. “I know about everything and I took the chance to come here because I care for you and I feel what we’ve developed is worth the fight and the risk.”
As much as I didn’t want to sound self-deprecating, I couldn’t help but ask, “Why me?”
“I saw your home. It’s something you’d expect to see a sheik living in. You have the best of everything here. But you’re willing to throw it all away for a normal life. That takes courage.”
I smiled at the thought. “You’re not exactly poor.”
“True, but I’m a massive step down from your life here. If, after the week we spend together, we decide to pursue this, you’ll be giving up living like a queen. The only help I have is a housekeeper who shows up three times a week for a few hours to dust.”
My smile turned to a laugh. “Life isn’t all about money and power.”
“Many would disagree with you there.”
“When I was little, I assumed everyone lived like I did. It wasn’t until I became older that I realized there were people suffering with nothing. I also realized that money and power didn’t equate to happiness or love. It was a lesson I had to learn hard over many years.”
“You’re only twenty-eight. I’d say you learned that relatively quickly. There’s people twice your age that are still learning that lesson.”
“Maybe.” Closing my eyes, I snuggled close to him, resting my head on his shoulder. “Is it fine if we don’t talk until we get there?” I’d spent most of the previous night barely getting a wink of sleep, too anxious for his arrival to switch off. The emotional roller coaster I’d been on had taken its toll on me and I just wanted to savor the feel of his warm body next to mine.
“Oh course.” He held me tight to him. His arms felt like heaven. Like home.
Anthony
Holding her tight, I ran my hands through her hair and listened to her soft snores. There was a part of me that warned I shouldn’t get myself involved with her and her family. But I couldn’t turn from her. My feelings for her were already too strong.