by Alexia Adams
Eduardo’s youth had been worse than hers. His father, when drunk, had been abusive. His grandmother had never had a good word to say about anyone or anything. The community center had been his refuge—a place where he could be himself and dream of a better future. A future that should have included her.
“That’s the past,” Eduardo said. “Look at the facts. The property has been underused for years and is practically falling down. It’s time to redevelop. Housing and commercial space are what Boca needs most now.”
“But what if the center was modernized and offered programs that teenagers were interested in taking?”
“There’s no money for that. It’s not going to happen.”
“I have the money—”
“Money, yes. Commitment? No way.” She let that jab pass. It was true. She didn’t have the time to champion a project like this. “This is not an issue for which you can just write a check. It would mean continual reassessment and adjustment. Plus, the building is in bad shape. It would be cheaper to tear it down and start again rather than repair. We spent a year doing feasibility studies. Our proposal is the best use of the space for the community.”
“Can’t you use some of the commercial space in your new building for a youth center?”
He ran a hand through his hair. That she felt the tug on her heart wasn’t expected. “It’s not viable with the current plans. The businesses will suffer if a lot of teenagers are hanging around.”
“But—”
“Face it. You have no argument here, Anna. Now, if that’s all you have to say, I’d like you to leave.”
“Eduardo…” His name came out a husky whisper as her throat clogged with all the things she wanted to say but couldn’t.
He didn’t even hesitate. “I’ll wait for you in the car.”
From the set of his shoulders, she knew he took great pride in being the one to walk away this time.
Chapter Three
Eduardo’s hand lingered on the stopper to the whisky bottle. He was very aware of the slippery slope that could start with even one drink. He imbibed socially, but whenever he felt he needed a drink, he walked away.
He needed one now. But no way in hell would he allow Anna to be the catalyst that led him down the same destructive path his father had taken following his mother’s abandonment. He poured himself a large glass of water instead and drank it all. Every muscle in his body ached, having spent hours in the gym earlier, pounding out his frustrations. It hadn’t worked. He was still wound tighter than a tourniquet.
How could one tiny woman he’d known a decade ago wreak such havoc on his peace of mind? It had been a youthful infatuation. He should be over her.
Instead, he was pacing his sitting room floor at two in the morning, deliberately keeping his eyes from the window, knowing he could see her hotel from his apartment. Would the lights be on in her suite? Was she too restless to sleep as well? Or had today been nothing more to her than a minor adventure where she’d run into a shadow from the past?
The disappointment in her eyes as he’d dropped her at the back door of her hotel seemed to indicate otherwise.
Did she regret the way she’d ended things between them? He’d been tempted to ask but had been afraid of the answer. It was easier to hold onto the anger and the pain. That’s what had galvanized him to become successful. Without that, he was just another guy who worked too much.
Well, he was awake, so he might as well use the time wisely. He powered up his laptop. But before he could put his finger on the ID scanner, his cell phone rang. Unknown caller. He was tempted to let it go to voicemail, but it could be his business partner, Tiago, calling from France.
“Eduardo, ayúdame!”
What the hell had happened to Anna now? Alarms blared in the background, making it difficult to hear her.
The hair on the back of his neck stood on end, and he was pulling on his shoes before he’d even ascertained the reason for her call.
“Slow down, Anna. Tell me again. Why do you need my help?”
“The hotel room below mine is on fire. I have to evacuate. I don’t have security in place—”
He should have asked her what all this had to do with him. Why, of all the people she knew in BA, had she called him? But he didn’t. “I’ll meet you where I dropped you off this afternoon.”
It seemed the past wasn’t finished messing with him yet. Perhaps he could seize this opportunity for closure and ask her the questions that tormented his soul. Maybe then he could find a woman who made him smile like Vivi did Tiago.
No.
He wasn’t ready to risk another mauling to his heart just yet. He’d settle for a semi-casual relationship that lasted more than two months.
Emergency vehicles surrounded the hotel. Hundreds of people loitered across the street behind caution tape. Many were wearing the hotel-supplied bathrobes. He parked two blocks away and made his way around to the staff entrance at the back of the hotel. Uniformed employees leaned nonchalantly against the dumpsters, several taking the opportunity to have a smoke or level up on some game on their phones.
Standing alone with a guitar slung over the back, a hoodie-clad figure had arms crossed over their chest—to keep warm or warn people away, he wasn’t sure. His body knew exactly who was attempting a disguise.
Anna was safe. So why did his stupid pulse accelerate? He didn’t even want to see her.
Yet here he was.
She raised her face as he approached. The years melted away. Muscle memory was to blame when he wrapped his arms around her as he’d done too often to forget anytime this century. Her whole body trembled. “It’s okay. I’ve got you,” he said against the top of her head, where his lips had no business being. He released her before he did something stupid. Like kiss her.
Dios, he wanted to kiss her. More than he’d wanted that drink.
He ushered her towards his vehicle, not saying another word. In addition to her hair, which he was glad she’d hidden, her speaking voice was distinctive. Hundreds of people had been drawn to the fire. If they knew a celebrity was in their midst, he could only imagine the stampede. He did not need to add a mobbing to his day.
They made it safely to his BMW, but taking her back to his place was the last resort. It’d been bad enough when she’d been there earlier. He did not need his sanctuary destroyed by insidious memories of her.
Did she still have family here who could take her in?
He unlocked the car and opened the passenger door for her. “I was sorry to hear about your abuela,” he said. Of all the people he would never see again after Anna’s departure, her grandmother was the one he missed the most. She’d been a grand lady in every sense of the word.
“Thank you. How did you know?” she asked after he’d taken up his position behind the steering wheel.
“You aren’t scheduled for a concert, and I seriously doubt the community center was inducement enough for you to visit. I asked my assistant to check for any notices regarding your family. She found the obituary in Wednesday’s paper. It made no mention of you.”
“Because it was a tribute to Abuela. She was always my biggest fan, but I didn’t want to make her passing about me.”
He nodded. If others made the connection, the funeral would turn into a circus. “You have my sympathy. She was an amazing lady. She was…” He didn’t want to open up to Anna. But he also knew the pain of having no one to share grief with. Despite the past, he couldn’t let her go through that alone. “Your abuela was the first person to show me what real love looked like.”
“Excuse me?”
“The way she cared for you. It was real love. I didn’t have that at home. My father loved me, but he loved a drink more. My grandmother loved being right above everything. But your abuela… Like I said, she was amazing. When I would come over for dinner, sometimes I’d just listen to the two of you talk about nothing. I promised myself that one day I’d have that too.”
“Someone to talk about nothin
g with?”
“Someone who cared about even the little things in my life, like a funny sign I saw or an odd occurrence. Your dinners, they were the conversational equivalent of a hug—warm and loving. I envied your relationship with her. To me, with my miserable home life, she was the embodiment of family.”
“She liked you too.”
Well, she’d been the only one of Anna’s family who had. The rest thought he was a no-good loser who would just bring her heartache. How wrong they’d been about that.
A chill slithered down his spine. “Is your mother here as well?”
“No.” Her curt tone indicated the end of the discussion.
He hadn’t started the car, not sure yet where he would take her. “Where’s your security team? Your entourage? I thought you pop stars traveled with a supporting army.”
“They’re all back in LA. I’m here alone. I haven’t had a new song out in more than three years. I haven’t toured in almost two. My record label is telling me I’m in danger of being forgotten. Just for two weeks I wanted to be … me. The me I was before I became her.”
She spoke like Angel was another person. And not one she particularly cared for at the moment. Fame clearly came at a price—it cost more than just their love.
Of more immediate concern, however, was what to do with her. “Anna, fifty years could pass after you released your last song and the people of Argentina would still remember you. You’re the girl who made good on your dreams. You’re an inspiration.”
“I don’t feel like one right now.”
He wiped a hand across his eyes. “It’s late. It’s been an eventful day. You’re probably exhausted. A good sleep, and tomorrow you’ll be ready to take on the world again.”
“Undoubtedly.” There was hesitation in her tone.
But she’d bounce back. She always had after a disappointment. As a teenager, her cheery nature had brought sunshine into the lives of everyone she came across. Tomorrow she’d return to being a diva and he’d be relegated once more to the past.
His finger hovered over the engine start button.
“Do you have any family or friends left here who could put you up for the night?”
“Not really.” A bitter laugh escaped her. “Eighteen-year-old me was very good at burning bridges. I could ask one of my grandmother’s friends…”
They wouldn’t be able to keep her safe. But sitting in these bucket seats all night wasn’t an option either. He pulled in a deep breath then started the car. It looked like he wouldn’t be eradicating her from his soul just yet. He could always move if the memories got too intense.
Within minutes, they were ensconced in his apartment. This time he didn’t hesitate at the whisky bottle. He poured them both a generous drink.
What now?
He should usher her to a guest room, say good night, and leave for work in the morning before she got up.
Instead he handed her the glass, careful to avoid touching her.
Where was his pride? Where was his logic?
“You’ve had quite the day,” he said.
She sipped the whisky, a frown marring her brow. “You don’t think the two incidences are related, do you?”
He studied her face. Could they be connected? He’d check with a police officer friend tomorrow. But for tonight he needed her reassured … and out of his sight. “I don’t see how. The community center thing was just some stupid kid trying to scare a bunch of adults and maybe get close to you. And we don’t know what caused the fire. It could have been a careless person smoking in bed and falling asleep.”
She nodded. “I guess.”
He slung back the whisky, enjoying the sensation as it slid down his throat. It was nice for a different part of his body to burn. His chest had taken enough hits today.
“There’s a guest suite, first door on the right. It should have everything you need for the night.” He would not think about her sleeping meters from his bed. Especially naked. Nope, that would be stupid.
She moved towards the hallway then stopped. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“You’re safe here,” he said. His arms ached to hold her. Just one more time. But he was stronger than that desire. At least for now.
“It’s not that. I…” She pulled in a deep breath. “Edio…” His old nickname, one she’d only used when they kissed, sliced his heart to ribbons. “I made the biggest mistake of my life when I left you. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t regret it. I just … wanted you to know.”
Those were the words he’d needed to hear since forever. Too bad they didn’t bring the relief he expected. His fingers tightened on the glass in his hand. If it wasn’t lead crystal, it probably would have shattered. “Well, the sacrifice paid off for you. You’re famous. Millions of people adore you. You’re Angel.”
“I only wanted to be your angel. Do you remember? You used to call me that: mi ángel.”
Yes, he remembered. Dios, he wished he didn’t.
“Use any room. I’m going to stay at a friend’s place.”
He left while he still could.
***
Anna straightened her legs on the sofa, dislodging a pile of crumpled manuscript paper covered with scratched-out lyrics and music notes. If she didn’t write some songs soon, she would be forgotten. Perhaps not in Argentina, but in the rest of the world.
She’d considered putting out an album of covers or maybe doing a collaboration with up-and-coming artists. But she’d floated those ideas to her record label’s management to only a lukewarm response. They wanted Angel originals. The stuff that put the ching in cha-ching.
They’d made allowances for her disappearance from the public eye for the six months following her husband’s death. But now the monthly calls were weekly calls, asking when she’d be returning to work. She had one more album on her contract, and it was already late. They wouldn’t wait much longer. There were a thousand potential Angels, all vying for their shot at the stars.
She was on the verge of irrelevancy.
Everything she’d given up would be for naught.
Unless she tried to get it back? And by it, she meant him. Eduardo.
But what had really changed in ten years? She couldn’t go back to being the adoring teenager who’d had to wrestle her career from the hands of the man who claimed to love her and know what was best for her. He’d had their future all mapped out but hadn’t been willing to alter those plans when his dreams had come crashing to the floor. He hadn’t been willing to set aside his pride to follow her.
Maybe it had been for the best. She wasn’t even leaving a trail of breadcrumbs to follow right now.
Her beloved abuela, who’d been her greatest support, had just died. Her manager-slash-best-friend-slash-husband was gone as well. Her mother no longer spoke to her. Angel’s career was sinking out of sight. She was a lukewarm train wreck that would be lucky to get a guest appearance on a singing competition if she didn’t get her act together soon.
She snatched her manuscript pad off the sofa and willed her muse out of retirement. But all that came to mind was the anger in Eduardo’s eyes when he’d first spotted her yesterday. And his determination not to let her back into his life, even temporarily, as he’d walked out the door last night. She’d left too much devastation in her wake to restore even their friendship.
It wasn’t his friendship she needed.
For the second time in less than twenty-four hours, Anna’s heart raced as the lock on Eduardo’s apartment door whirled open. Her hands shook, her knees shook… She was doing a good imitation of a willow tree in a hurricane.
For goodness’ sake, she performed live in front of tens of thousands of people and didn’t get this anxious. But there was so much more than her career riding on this next conversation.
In the long, lonely hours of the night, it had come to her: Eduardo was the only one she could trust with her dilemma. Everyone else she’d known pre-Angel had sold their stories about her to the
media. Only Eduardo had kept silent. She could trust him. But whether he’d agree to her request was an entirely different matter. Her one hope that she wasn’t about to go down in flames was that his body still reacted to hers.
And heaven knew, she wasn’t immune to him. He was still the personification of temptation. In the past, he’d always been the one to stop before things went too far. Could she overcome that monumental self-control now?
One thing she had learned in the past decade was that people were more likely to do what you wanted if they saw the benefit to themselves. Was there any way she could spin her request so it sounded like a win for him?
She unfurled herself from where she sat on the sofa. Sleep had never been on the agenda. And she knew instinctively that Eduardo would try to slip in and out again without seeing her. So she’d stationed herself in the living room and waited. This was the only chance she was going to get. She had to seize it.
Damn the man. Did he have to look so utterly impeccable and gorgeous? It was barely six in the morning. He clearly hadn’t spent the night in discomfort on a friend’s too-short and lumpy sofa.
Had he stayed with some woman? Bile rose in her throat, and she reached for the glass of water she’d left on the coffee table.
He halted the second he saw her.
She cleared her throat before she could speak. “I’ll go as soon as—”
“Your grandmother’s funeral is tomorrow, isn’t it?”
He had done his homework. The obituary hadn’t given the time or location of the memorial service, as she’d wanted to keep it private. There were only a dozen people she knew her abuela would want there, and she’d contacted them personally. “Yes. At St. Felicitas at two o’clock. Do you want to attend?”
He dropped his phone and keys on the sideboard before stepping farther into the room. But he maintained his distance from her.