The Developer and the Diva (Vintage Love Book 4)

by Alexia Adams

  “There’s nothing to gossip about. Tiago is married to Vivi, and they adopted his niece Miranda following the death of her parents.” There was a little more to the story than that, as she already knew from the cook, who did like to talk. “Accompanying them are Jacques and Maya. Jacques and Tiago have a half brother in common but no other blood tie. But they’re both keen vintners so have bonded over that. I’m sure you’ll get along with Vivi and Maya. Vivi loves children and is very sweet. Don’t get on her bad side, though. Tiago told me she took down a grown man with one kick.

  “Maya is… I guess the best way to describe her is ‘a force of nature.’ But she’s very friendly. There was some trouble in the early part of her and Jacques’s relationship. That’s all behind them now, and they’re expecting twins.”

  Anna tightened her grip on Eduardo’s hand and commanded her feet to stay still. Her heels had clicked like a ticking bomb against the marble tiles in the foyer when she’d paced the space earlier. She tried to call on her inner diva, but ever since her realization that she no longer wanted to be Angel exclusively, her alter ego had deserted her. At least she hadn’t taken her muse with her and, Anna had written three songs in the days since The Kiss. She was finally back in the groove. With her goal of getting her life back on track, she’d set herself a schedule of vocal exercises, stretching, light cardio, and dedicated songwriting.

  But she made sure to add in playtime with Timo and long, decadent dinners with Eduardo. They chatted about little things, people they’d known in the past, amusing things Timo had said or done, basically everything and nothing. Eduardo was right: those discussions were the conversational equivalent of a hug.

  He had also lived up to his promise to give her the boyfriend experience. He’d been attentive, held her hand, and gently kissed her good night each evening. He’d sat with her, talked with her, teased her, and made her laugh. He was everything he’d been as her teenage boyfriend, still constrained by his promise to her grandmother.

  But she wanted more now. She’d tasted the passion he could ignite in her. She wasn’t content with platonic. She wanted him. Every single scorching bit of him. Preferably naked.

  The doctor had come this morning and removed the bandages on Eduardo’s back. It was healing nicely, but still he cautioned him to take care and not engage in strenuous activity for at least a week more. Did making love count as strenuous? Because she wasn’t sure she had a week of restraint left in her. Even standing next to him in the foyer, she wanted to rip off his clothes and fully experience the passion he stirred in her. She shifted, clenching her thighs together as The Kiss replayed in her mind.

  “Did you speak with Valentina?” Eduardo asked.

  Dios. Mentioning her mother was the most effective contraceptive ever.

  Could her parent really be behind the incidents? It seemed impossible. But then she had a hard time believing Valentina could blow forty grand a month. The house and cars were paid for. What was she spending the money on? Did she have a gambling addiction?

  “I called several times, but she didn’t answer.”

  He released her hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, sheltering her in his embrace. She leaned into his strength for a moment. Soon she’d have to make some tough decisions—about continuing to pay her mother, next steps in her career, finding an anchor in her life…

  Next week. She was giving herself a few more days to enjoy being with Eduardo: no strings attached, no commitments. No heartache on the horizon.

  Unfortunately, she’d also be with five other people. Seven if she counted Raul and Timo. “This feels so weird, welcoming people into their own home.”

  Before he could reply, the room was full. There were enough photos of Tiago, Vivi, and Miranda around the house that she recognized them immediately. The very tall man and his heavily pregnant and radiant wife had to be Jacques and Maya. But the little boy who accompanied them was a bit of a mystery. Eduardo had made no mention of another child.

  “It’s Angel!” Miranda, the young girl, screamed. “Tio Eduardo, you never told me you knew Angel! You’re holding hands. Are you going to marry her? Can I be your flower girl? I’m going to be flower girl when Tio Daniel marries Max’s mother. So I’ll have experience.” She paused for a tiny breath. “Unless you get married first and then it will be the other way around, I guess.”

  Eduardo released Anna’s hand and kneeled. “You are running ahead of yourself, pequeña. This is my friend Anna, and we’re not getting married.”

  Miranda gazed up at Anna, her face scrunched. “She sure looks like Angel.”

  “When I sing, I use the name Angel. However, my real name is Anna. But I like to keep that a secret. Can you do that for me?”

  Miranda crossed her arms and pitched her head to one side. “I will if you sing ‘Broken Dreams’ for me.”

  Tiago approached and put a hand on Miranda’s shoulder. “Please excuse my niece. She’s a born negotiator. I’m Santiago Alvarez, Tiago to my friends. I hope you will consider me as one.” He held out a hand to a platinum-blonde woman wearing a black skirt and pink top. “And this is my wife, Genevieve, or Vivi for short.”

  Vivi held out her hand. “It is lovely to meet you, Anna. I hope Eduardo told you that you are welcome to stay here as long as necessary.”

  “Thank you. And if it’s okay with Miranda, I would like to try out a few of my new songs. Perhaps we could have a mini concert after dinner?”

  Miranda bounced up and down. “Max, did you hear that? Angel is going to give us a private concert.”

  The little boy moved closer, looking unimpressed. “Are any of your new songs about cars?”

  Wow, tough audience.

  With a laugh, the woman with amazing auburn hair and a belly bump large enough to house a football team ruffled his hair. “This is Max, and he’s obsessed with cars. He’s our nephew, or will be as soon as Jacques’s brother Daniel marries Max’s mother. They’re in China for the Formula 1 race, so we brought Max with us. I’m Maya, by the way. And a huge fan.”

  Her husband stepped forward, and Anna resisted the temptation to step back. His face was stern and his size intimidating. “Hello, Anna. Enchanté. You’ve undoubtedly worked out that I’m Jacques.” He turned to his wife and his expression softened instantly, prompting Anna to reevaluate her first impression. “Maya, you promised to rest as soon as we got here.”

  Maya laughed again and put a hand on her husband’s cheek. “I will. Just give me a minute.” She turned back to Anna. “This is my first pregnancy, and Jacques is a little bit overprotective. Next time I’m not going to tell him I’m expecting until the sixth month, so I only have to endure three months of his constant worrying.”

  “Keep defying me and there will be no next time,” Jacques grumbled.

  “Oh, darling, you know you can’t resist me,” Maya replied. “And I told you, I want six children. Look on the bright side—if we keep doing it in duplicate, that’s only two more pregnancies.”

  “I have to live through this one first.” Without giving her a chance to reply, he scooped his wife up in his arms as though she weighed nothing. “Are we in the same room we used last time, Tiago?”

  Vivi rushed forward. “Yes, of course. Do you remember where it is, or shall I lead the way?”

  “I remember. See you all at dinner,” Jacques called out, already making his way to the stairs. “Max, be good and listen to Vivi.”

  “Sorry for the Neanderthal display,” Maya said from halfway up the stairs. “We’ll chat later, Anna.” There was so much love in her voice it was evident she wasn’t upset with her husband.

  Tiago put a hand on his wife’s waist and drew her closer to his side. “A nap sounds like a good idea. It was a long flight. Do you think maybe you should rest, too, Vivi?”

  “What? You’re expecting already?” Eduardo asked.

  Vivi blushed. “No. Not yet.”

  “But I, too, am unable to resist my wife. Shall I carry you upstairs as w
ell to prove I can?”

  “I can walk. Besides, we have guests. We can’t disappear the second we walk through the door. And who’s going to look after Miranda and Max?” Vivi reminded her husband. “They slept most of the way. I doubt you’ll get them to go to bed.”

  “Don’t stay up on my account,” Anna said. “We can get to know each other properly later. And I’d love to look after the children.” Seeing the other couples interact and the happiness on their faces sent a flutter through her own chest. Would she ever have that? To keep her mind off all she didn’t have, she concentrated on what she did. The ability to make people happy with her talent. “Maybe Max could help me write a song about cars?”

  “Now you’ve done it,” Miranda said, throwing her hands in the air with such drama Anna had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop a laugh. “Once he starts talking about cars, he never shuts up.”

  Max’s bottom lip began to quiver. Anna kneeled so she could see his eyes. “Well, I know nothing about cars. So I’m glad Max is an expert.” She was rewarded with a smile from the little boy. “Perhaps, Miranda, you can help with rhyming words,” Anna added, not wanting to diminish her role in their lyrical enterprise.

  “I can. I’m very good at rhymes.”

  “Are you sure you don’t mind?” Vivi asked.

  Anna gazed at the children’s excited faces and felt brighter herself. “I’m sure. Enjoy your rest. We’ll see you at dinner.” She took both children’s hands. “Let’s go find my friend Timo to help us. He doesn’t speak English, though. Max, do you speak Spanish?”

  Max shook his head, but Miranda answered, “I can rhyme and translate.”

  “You’re very good at solving problems, Miranda,” Anna said. If only the little girl could tell Anna what to do about her increasing need for Eduardo. But there were some things you couldn’t ask an eight-year-old.

  Her eyes followed the direction of her thoughts.

  Wait. Was that love and longing in Eduardo’s expression?

  ***

  Eduardo couldn’t take his eyes from Anna as she left with Miranda and Max on their way to find Timo.

  “When you’re done staring like a lovesick puppy at the woman who is ‘just a friend you’re not marrying,’ perhaps we could discuss business?” Tiago said, a teasing note in his voice. After all the ribbing Eduardo had given his friend when Tiago had fallen in love with Vivi, it was fair enough. Except this wasn’t love. Not the reciprocal kind, anyway.

  “I never said she was just a friend.” He also didn’t want to discuss it. Because he wasn’t sure where he stood with Anna. Their relationship currently oscillated between that of platonic friends and wary exes. Since the hallway encounter, he’d kept a very tight lid on his passion and never allowed himself more than a kiss on the cheek when they said good night. Still, every time she was near, he teetered on the edge of sanity. The doctor’s quasi all-clear this morning had been a godsend. He could finally make good on his promise.

  But now they had a house full of people. And he really didn’t want the inquisition that would inevitably follow if they both disappeared for a day.

  Business. He needed to focus on business and not the woman who was driving him insane. Every day she became more and more like the Anna he used to know and less like the international singing sensation the world recognized as Angel. She dressed differently now, because her clothes were purchased by one of the staff, but more often than not, her hair was in a high ponytail rather than the restrained knot at the base of her neck that was Angel’s signature hairstyle. She no longer picked at her food but ate with gusto, even stealing some of his dessert when she thought he wasn’t paying attention.

  He was always paying attention.

  A child’s squeal of delight, followed by Anna’s light laughter, echoed through the house. Something inside him tightened.

  “You still with me?” Tiago asked.

  “Yeah. But I thought you were going to join your wife?”

  “In a bit. She really does need to rest. And she won’t if I’m there.”

  “Then let’s go up to your office. I hope you don’t mind—I made myself at home over the past few days.” They both started up the stairs. “We need to discuss next steps on the community center project. I’ve arranged a conference call on Tuesday morning with the head of the municipal planning department and the chair of the protest committee. I’m hoping that we may be able to come to some sort of compromise. Where do you suggest we give way? I’m still of the opinion that putting any kind of youth program in our new building will be detrimental to the commercial elements. Could we afford to fund a replacement center somewhere else?”

  “Not if we have to purchase land and build it. Maybe we could retrofit an existing building,” Tiago said.

  “What about a sponsorship?” Anna asked. They both turned and waited for her to catch up to them on the stairs. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop or interrupt. It’s just that part of Simon’s foundation’s mandate is to foster music programs in economically deprived areas. We could align our needs and find a suitable location in La Boca. If your company sponsored, say, online gaming tournaments or coding programs to make games and apps, something kids are interested in doing, then it would be a double draw—and a possible charitable write-off.”

  Tiago’s mouth dropped open. “Intriguing idea.”

  “Think about it. If it works for you, we can present a united front to the planners and protesters alike. Johanna, who is head of the opposition party, is the daughter of one of my grandmother’s friends. I’m sure she’d agree. Her son turned to drugs and gangs because he had nothing to do after school, so it’s an emotional topic for her.” A stray strand of hair caressed her cheek as she talked, and Eduardo had to fist his hand to stop from tucking it behind her ear. “Oh, and in case you think I’ve abandoned the children already, they’re having a snack in the kitchen under the cook’s indulgent eye. Timo was helping her bake cookies. I’ve just come to get my guitar. Evidently, I’m going to write a song about something called a boo-cat-ee.”

  Tiago laughed. “Bugatti. It’s Max’s current favorite car. Be glad he’s moved on from the Koenigsegg. It’s much harder to rhyme.”

  Anna’s answering laugh washed over Eduardo, flooding his soul with peace. He’d never noticed how much tension he carried around with him until it disappeared whenever Anna laughed.

  “I like her,” Tiago said, after the study door was shut behind them. “As a pop star, I assumed that she’d be stuck-up and narcissistic. But she seemed to genuinely want to spend time with the children. And her idea to appease the protest committee is pure gold. If we go halves on rent and refit with her foundation, then it would be doable. What do you think?”

  “It’s a brilliant solution.” But would it keep him in contact with Anna once she left? He didn’t know if that was so good an idea.

  The discussion turned to a revised schedule for construction on the basis that they were able to secure planning permission within the next eight weeks. Other projects then were considered, and it wasn’t until his stomach growled loudly that Eduardo glanced at his watch. It was nearly three o’clock.

  “I didn’t realize how late it was,” Tiago said. “I’m just going to check on Vivi, then relieve Anna of childcare duties. I’m sure they’ve driven her crazy already. Max is a wonderful boy, but he has the energy of a thousand suns.”

  Eduardo got to his feet, stretching his back muscles carefully. “Are you really considering fatherhood? I remember a time when you wanted to go through life alone.”

  A rueful grin lifted Tiago’s lips. “Vivi is adamant she wants a baby or three. And I must admit, the thought of her having my child is … monumental. As if of all that I might accomplish in life, this would be my greatest achievement, terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. I’ll admit, this marriage business is satisfying. You should try it. You’re clearly smitten with Anna. I’ve never seen you like this over a woman.”

  Eduardo
ignored that comment, since it was too near his thoughts to manage a flippant reply. Instead he said, “I’ll take childcare duty now. You can have some alone time with Vivi—get started on that greatest achievement.”

  “I won’t say no to that,” Tiago replied. With a clap on Eduardo’s back, which stung, he went to join his wife.

  Eduardo found Anna and the children in the garden. Anna sat on a blanket, her guitar on her lap, a pad of music sheets beside her. Miranda and the two younger boys danced while Anna sang a silly song about a car that said “boo” and scared all the other vehicles away. As she got to the chorus, the children joined her in singing. Even little Timo, who probably didn’t understand what he was saying in English, sang as loudly as he could.

  A vice clamped around Eduardo’s heart and squeezed. Dios, he so wanted this—this domesticity. With her. But he had no idea how to accomplish that. Could he give up his life? What about the promises he’d made to Tiago to take over the day-to-day running of Alva-Suarez? He couldn’t pay back years of loyal support, not to mention unwavering friendship, by abandoning him. Plus, he still had Raul’s custody case to wrap up.

  No, his life was firmly rooted in Argentina. He couldn’t just up and leave. Anna had become his whisky—a temptation he had to imbibe in moderation or risk losing everything he’d worked so hard to achieve.

  But neither could he ask her to give up her career. She’d put her everything into it for the past ten years. He could see the pleasure she still got from music, even in singing a silly song with the kids. He had no right to take that away from her.

  And what of the danger that still followed them? The investigators hadn’t been able to uncover anything further. There’d been no mysterious payments or withdrawals made by any of their suspects that would indicate a hired perpetrator. It was a cat-and-mouse game now. Should he and Anna go back to BA and wait for their nemesis to pounce again? Given the escalation in actions, the next one might be deadly. He would not risk her life. But neither could they remain in hiding here forever. Although a little voice in his head asked, “Why not?” As far as lifestyles went, this one was pretty idyllic.