“No. I just missed you,” she replied.
He rubbed a palm up and down her back. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
But neither of them moved. He must have sensed she needed a moment, so they stood there for several more minutes. Emotion filled her chest, and she knew she couldn’t do this much longer.
She couldn’t continue to hide her feelings and lie to her family. Carlos was her first love, her last love. Her only love. She wanted to scream those words from the top of the CN Tower, and knowing she’d given him a single moment of doubt made her sick.
He released her and opened the door to the vehicle. She climbed in and watched him walk around to the driver’s side. When they were both settled, he started the engine, but Carmen placed a restraining hand on his forearm.
He looked at her. She couldn’t read anything more than inquiry in his gaze.
“I’m going to tell my father.”
“Carmen, I know you love me. You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to.”
“No. Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because there’s so much at stake. He’s proud of you right now and all the work you’re doing. As far as he’s concerned, he has his daughter back. I don’t want to be the cause of friction between the two of you.”
“You won’t be.”
He lifted an eyebrow.
“Okay, you will be, but…I don’t want to hide our relationship anymore. We did this before, and it didn’t work out. I have the perfect plan to set everything in motion. You can escort me to the charity ball I told you about. Beforehand, I’ll tell my father you’re my escort. I want the world to know that we’re together.”
Carlos squeezed her hand and brought it to his lips. “They will, but we have to give it time.”
“Enough time has passed. Don’t you want me to tell him?”
“I do, but…” He looked deeply into her eyes. “I remember what happened before—the rift that our relationship caused in your relationship with your father.”
“I’m not a child. I wasn’t a child then, and I’m not a child now. I know my own mind, and even though I enjoy the work that I’m doing and the lifestyle I live, I’d walk away from all of it if it meant I couldn’t be with you.”
He frowned. “You would still do that?”
“Yes,” Carmen said emphatically.
“You would live with a starving artist in a one-room loft in Atlanta?”
“You’re not a starving artist, but even if you were, I’d still do it and love every minute in that loft with your cat Sofia.” She smiled. “I love you. That’s all that matters.”
Carlos gazed down at their joined hands and rubbed his thumb along the inside of her palm. “I really don’t deserve you,” he said quietly.
Carmen leaned closer. “Don’t ever say that again.”
She saw worry in his eyes and hated his doubts.
Carlos cupped her cheek. “Give me—us—a little more time to enjoy each other. We both know when you tell him about us, unless he’s drastically changed his opinion in recent years, the shit will hit the fan. I think we should surprise him the night of the ball.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Warning him ahead of time simply means having to deal with the fallout before the event. Knowing your father, he might ban me from coming.” She couldn’t argue with him about that. “A surprise is best, especially in a public place, where he’ll have to play nice. Not only that, I don’t want you talking to him on your own. We should go to him together.”
“Okay.”
Based on the conversation she overheard in the kitchen between her parents a while back, her father’s opinion of Carlos hadn’t changed, but she saw no need to mention that. She meant what she said. If her father caused problems for them or demanded she leave Carlos or be cut off, she would walk away. It would hurt not to get his approval and hurt to leave the position at Fit Body Gyms she’d grown to enjoy.
But her love for Carlos was more important than her father’s approval or her new-found career.
15
“How do I look?” Carlos straightened the bow tie on his tuxedo.
Carmen came to stand beside him in the mirror. “Handsome. Absolutely perfect.”
“And you look amazing.” He pressed a soft kiss to her fragrant neck.
He wanted to do much more because she looked so sexy in an ivory, off-the-shoulder dress, but she wouldn’t allow him to give her a proper kiss since she didn’t want to mess up her make-up. She’d flat-ironed her hair and wore bangs and long, straight extensions that fell to the middle of her back, with diamond drop earrings hanging from her ears.
She leaned against him and slid an arm around his waist. “Thank you.” Gazing up at him, she added, “You ready?”
Carlos nodded though about to walk on the emotional equivalent of a bed of nails engulfed in flames, but if that’s what it took to have a future with Carmen, he’d gladly walk on a thousand of them. “Yes.”
They left the condo together. Franklin, with his customary disapproving stare, opened the door and they climbed in the back. Carmen reached for Carlos’s hands as if in an effort to comfort him, but he believed she needed the comfort more than he did based on the nervous half-smile she sent in his direction before they pulled away from the curb.
At the venue, they climbed out of the vehicle, and Carmen’s hands tightened on his.
“You okay?” Carlos gazed down at her. She looked like someone about to throw up, and he was doubly glad he hadn’t let her talk to Alfred alone. She was so sensitive, and going against her father’s wishes was a big step, again. At least this time he was better prepared to deal with the fallout.
Carmen nodded. “Just nervous.”
“I’m here.” He squeezed her hand, which elicited a faint smile from her lips.
They entered the brightly lit venue, teeming with wealthy guests all ready to whip out their checkbooks and support pee wee soccer, little league baseball, and other sports for less fortunate kids. He didn’t like Alfred Reeves one bit, but the man was generous with his money when it came to sports—a passion he’d been forced to give up a long time ago when his professional baseball career ended.
A string quartet played a dulcet tune in the corner, and folks mingled with each other, talking and laughing as if they were old friends. They sauntered through the crowd with Carmen introducing him to some of the executive staff and business associates from other companies. Carlos smiled and shook hands but felt out of place. This wasn’t his world, but he needed to relax and accept that a future with Carmen meant attending more events like this, the same way a future with him meant attending art exhibits and festivals. If she could adjust, so could he.
He glanced at her as she engaged in conversation with an older woman and smiled to himself when he realized that he was truly thinking about a future with her. Next steps meant marriage, kids, pets, and living under the same roof, all of which he looked forward to with sudden vigor. But with him living in Atlanta and her living in Toronto, they had to figure out the logistics of their relationship.
They’d figure it out, because one thing he knew for sure—a future without Carmen was no future at all. The past three years had taught him that.
As the woman walked away, Carmen let out a short breath and scanned the room. “I haven’t seen my father yet but knowing him, he’s waiting to make an entrance.” She lifted two glasses of red wine from a passing waiter’s tray and handed one to him.
“That’s your second glass of the night,” Carlos remarked.
“I know. I’m nervous.” She took a sip.
He wished he could ease her mind with soothing words, but her worry came from the fallout years ago, when her father threatened to disown her if she didn’t break up with him.
“Nothing to be nervous about. We—”
Carmen stiffened, eyes settled on a point beyond his shoulder. He didn’t have to ask what she saw to
know her father had made an appearance.
Carlos twisted around and saw Alfred and Graciela Reeves walking toward them. Carmen’s uncanny resemblance to her mother still blew him away. The woman had basically given birth to her twin. They were both petite, had generous lips, black hair, and were covered in lovely dark brown skin.
Graciela styled her thick mane in an updo, and she wore a jade-green dress that glittered under the lights. Her eyes widened at the sight of him, but as she approached, a smile split her lips.
“Hello, Carlos. It’s been a long time. How are you?” Graciela asked.
“I’m doing well, Mrs. Reeves. And you?”
“Very good. I cannot complain.”
“Glad to hear it. Mr. Reeves,” Carlos said with a curt nod.
“Carlos, I’m surprised to see you here.” Alfred didn’t bother with a fake smile or appear friendly in the least.
“Daddy, be nice,” Carmen said in a low voice.
“I think a bit of warning would have been appropriate,” Alfred said.
“We thought this was better.”
“We or him?” Alfred said, anger simmering in his eyes.
“Alfred, please.” Graciela touched his arm.
Alfred gave a humorless laugh and shoved his hands in the pockets of his tuxedo pants. “You’re right, my love. I should behave myself. After all, this is a very nice event, and I wouldn’t want to cause any problems. We’re going to mingle a little more. You two have a good night.” Alfred walked away, and after giving them an apologetic smile, Graciela followed him.
“That went fast and better than expected,” Carlos said.
Carmen’s eyes followed her parents’ movement around the room “He’s not done.”
Carlos’s gut clenched at the ominous tone of her voice. Because he knew she was right.
When Carlos exited the bathroom and re-entered the ballroom, he went in search of Carmen. He strolled the perimeter, eyes scanning for a glimpse of her. The room had filled with more people, and she was so tiny, he didn’t see her right away. Finally, he caught sight of her ivory dress as she spoke to a young man near the center of the room.
He took two steps and stopped abruptly when Alfred stepped directly in his path, facing him down with a stony stare.
“Mighty bold of you to come here tonight, considering…”
“That was a long time ago.”
“I still want you out of my daughter’s life.”
Carlos’s nostrils flared and his spine stiffened as he quickly surveyed the room to see if anyone paid attention to them. “I can’t do that. Accept that fate has brought us back together because we belong together.”
“Fate?” Alfred snorted. “You sound ridiculous.”
He glared into the eyes of the man who at one time had made him feel inadequate, less than. “Your jabs won’t hurt me tonight. I’ve heard all your remarks, and they no longer make a difference.”
“I want you to stay away from her because you’re not the right man for her.” Alfred smiled and waved at someone nearby. When he returned his attention to Carlos, his face shifted back into hard, unyielding lines. “She can do better than some wannabe artist. Step aside so a man who’s worthy of her attention, someone who is an equal, can join her in the life she deserves.”
The words bruised his ego, but Carlos refused to back down. “We’ve had this talk before, remember?”
“And yet here you are.”
“Because I love her. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?” How could he be so thoroughly heartless when he showered love on his wife and children? His behavior was hard to comprehend.
“Love? Don’t make me laugh.” Alfred smirked and coolly sipped from his glass of white wine. He was so goddamn condescending.
“Why is that so hard for you to believe?”
“Because men like you take advantage of women like my daughter. I’ve seen it before. She’s trusting and an easy target, and since you have nothing to offer, I’m at a loss as to why she insists on having anything to do with you.”
The harsh words smashed a hole in his confidence and were meant to cause doubt, but Carlos fought the urge to succumb to the same insecurities that forced him away from Carmen in the past.
“Don’t you get tired of being an asshole?” he asked.
Alfred lifted an eyebrow in surprise. “Finally pushing back against me? What brought that on?”
“Maturity. Growth.”
‘“Honesty, too? Does she know the kind of man you are?”
“You can’t intimidate me like you did before.”
“I’d hardly call what I did intimidation.” Alfred smirked and drained the last of the wine from his glass.
“I’m not going anywhere. Just accept it and everyone will be happy. I’m in Carmen’s life for good.”
“You sure about that?” Alfred sent a warning look with direct eye contact.
Carlos straightened his spine, determined not to let this man rattle him. “Take your best shot, Alfred. I’m not going to disappear again. I know what it’s like to live without her, and I’m not going back to a life without her in it.”
Alfred handed the empty glass to a passing server. With an insolent glance at Carlos, he said, “When you left, you promised you wouldn’t move back here.”
“I didn’t. I live in Atlanta.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Alfred’s face. “Atlanta? That explains a lot.” His mouth pressed together in a grim line.
Shit.
“Did you tell her what you did?” Alfred asked.
Carlos’s heart stopped for a split second and let silence be his answer.
“So I take that as a no,” Alfred said, with a shake of his head.
“I understand that you don’t like me, but have you ever considered Carmen’s feelings in this vendetta against me?”
“I’m protecting her—something any decent father would do for his child. My daughter is emotional and impulsive. She can also be rebellious, doing things to get back at me. I simply need to talk some sense into her, but don’t worry, Carlos. I won’t say a word about your past indiscretion—yet. I’ll give you time to think about the consequences and make the right decision.”
Alfred walked away, and some time passed before Carlos’s muscles relaxed, and only because he saw Carmen approaching.
“Hey. I saw my father talking to you. Is everything okay?” Worried eyes searched his face.
“I’m fine. Everything’s fine.”
“Are you sure?”
He took her hand to calm her. “I’m not the same nervous kid from three years ago. Your father can’t get to me anymore.” Not entirely true, but he didn’t want her to worry.
She squeezed his hand and gazed up at him with adoration in her eyes.
To look at her, you wouldn’t know the burden she carried. The burden of being firstborn but a woman, to a father who wanted her to take over his empire while at the same time believed she couldn’t handle the cut-throat life of running a business because she was a woman. The same man wanted her to marry well, not only because he wanted the best for her, but because he didn’t think anyone was good enough for his daughter. He couldn’t fault him for that. There were many times Carlos didn’t think he was good enough for her, either.
“I’m starving. Let’s get something to eat,” he said.
In the middle of scanning the contents of one of the refreshment tables, Carlos diverted his attention to search the room for Alfred. He saw him and Carmen’s mother talking with another couple, and Alfred glanced in his direction. He didn’t smile. He didn’t nod. He gave no acknowledgement to Carlos except that eye-to-eye contact.
The direct look probably only lasted a few seconds but felt like an eternity before Alfred returned his attention to the conversation.
No doubt about it. Carlos had to tell her everything.
Before her father did.
16
Carmen paused outside the storefront of Azucena’s Alpaca Store. The wind
ow displayed an array of items—textiles with Inca designs, sweaters, and stuffed alpacas dressed in colorful sweaters or with blankets thrown across their backs. Azucena had achieved her dream, and warm satisfaction brought a smile to Carmen’s face. She couldn’t be happier for Carlos’s mother.
She entered the store, where two customers browsed at a table displaying discounted multi-colored ponchos. Almost immediately, she heard a gasp and turned to see Azucena rushing toward her with arms outstretched.
Carmen happily hugged Carlos’s mother, melting into the older woman’s warm embrace. Azucena rocked her side to side for a few seconds, moaning her pleasure at finally seeing Carmen again.
When she and Carlos split, she’d cut off contact with his family, too. Not only had it seemed like the right thing to do, the decision mitigated the pain she’d experience if she continued to spend time with them.
Azucena stepped back and shoved her glasses higher on her nose, her dark eyes assessing, her long hair in her customary single braid down her back. With a big, welcoming smile on her face, she asked in her accented voice, “How have you been? You look so beautiful, as usual.”
Carmen appreciated the kind words. “I’ve been well, and I see that you are thriving. Congratulations on opening your own store.”
Azucena waved away the compliment. “I could not have done it without Carlos. If it wasn’t for him—”
“You’re here.” Carlos came from the back carrying a large cardboard box in front of him. He rested it on the floor near a display of mittens and scarves. “This is what happens when I come by. She puts me to work.”
“Don’t listen to him. That’s not true. I only sometimes put him to work. I cannot make him work too hard after all he’s done for me.” Azucena smiled with deep affection at her son.
“Carmen doesn’t want to hear about that.” Carlos flung an arm around Carmen’s shoulders and pulled her closer. “We’re going to head out if you don’t need anything else…?”
“Nothing else right now, but Carmen, I want you to make me a promise.” Azucena took one of Carmen’s hands in hers. “You have to come over for dinner one night before Carlos goes back to Atlanta. And of course, you’re not limited to visiting when he is here. You are welcome any time.”
Never Again: a second chance romance (Quicksand Book 3) Page 9