The Wedding She Always Wanted
Page 7
Opening her mouth in denial, she gave a soft, guilty laugh instead. “I know. I always have been. Just as well. It keeps me honest.”
“Now, if there was only a way to make sure everyone else did the same.”
After Todd’s betrayal, and even her parents’ and Connor’s lies of omission, Emily had certainly had her share of people deceiving her, but she didn’t think Javy was talking about her life. This was about him, about his past. “I guess there are no guarantees, but not every woman lies, Javy.”
He fell silent again, this time in surprise, but he rebounded quickly. “Would a man who loves women as much as I do ever say such a thing?”
He might not have said it, but Emily didn’t doubt for a second that a woman had lied. A long time ago, most likely, judging by his well-established trend of girl hopping.
Who was it? she wondered but didn’t ask the question, knowing he wouldn’t answer. And feeling absurdly hurt by it.
He knew what had happened with Todd. How her fiancé had cheated and gotten another woman pregnant. How Todd had asked her to marry him only to try and save face with his wealthy family.
And he knew how her parents had paid Connor to stop seeing her. Her pathetic love life was as open as a tabloid magazine, and yet she knew nothing about Javy’s beyond the shallow relationships he juggled to keep anyone from looking deeper.
Focusing on the right-hand heading, Emily reminded herself that she didn’t need to know Javier Delgado’s life story to be happy, and she’d just as soon he forget all about hers. Just like, had he known she’d witnessed it, he would want her to forget about the longing for approval she’d seen in his eyes when he talked to his mother.
This is about having fun, not getting serious, she mentally instructed herself. Javy was a sexy, charming flirt with no interest in settling down. The reasons why didn’t matter. All that she cared about was that he was sexy and charming and flirting with her.
“Of course you never said something like that,” she finally responded. “But I think it has more to do with fear of your mother than it does with your love of women. My guess is Maria wields one heck of a spatula.”
“Ha! I can totally take on her spatula. It’s the cast-iron skillets and butcher knives that have me shaking in my shoes,” he said wryly. “As soon as the restaurant’s back in business, you’ve got to taste her enchiladas. They are to die for.”
“I can’t wait,” Emily agreed, absurdly happy with the invitation.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to. It’s gonna be a few weeks until the place is in working order again.”
And maybe that was what made Emily happiest of all. That she would still be seeing Javy weeks from now…
“I’ll be there,” she promised. “The very first night you reopen.”
“Hey, that’s not a bad idea.”
“What isn’t?”
“Having a grand reopening. We’ll turn it into a party so everyone will know the construction is over.”
Excitement filled his voice. How much more excited would he be if the grand reopening included showcasing a new bar and patio area? But she would leave that argument for another time. For now she said, “That sounds perfect.”
Javy talked for another minute about some of the specials they could offer, as well as advertising the event and booking entertainment. Turned out he had yet another cousin in a local cover band.
“But don’t think that all of this has made me forget.”
“Forget what?” she asked.
“That something’s got you down.”
“It’s nothing, really, and talking to you has already made me feel one hundred percent better.”
“I’m flattered, but not distracted. Tell me what’s wrong. Is it because of what I told you?”
Not bothering to lie, she admitted, “That is part of it. I’m still trying to sort out how I feel about what my parents did.”
“What did they say?”
“What?”
“When you talked to them about it…You did talk to them, didn’t you, Emily?”
“Well, no. I thought about it but—”
“What would be the point?” he said, filling in the blanks.
“Exactly,” she said, feeling defensive without completely knowing why.
“Emily.” She expected to hear a hint of chiding in his tone, a grown-up talking to a stubborn child, but she heard only sincerity and the same concern she’d hugged to her heart seconds ago. “You need to talk to them. Okay, so everything worked out for the best, but they couldn’t have known that back then. They hurt you with their lack of trust, and you should tell them that.”
“I’m not sure how you think that conversation would go, but I don’t think it would end the way you think,” she said with a huffing laugh.
“How do you think it would end?”
“With them telling me they know what’s best and me thanking them for looking out for me.”
He made a soft sound, half laughing, half swearing. “You’re not kidding, are you?”
“I’m afraid not. It’s pretty much what happened this afternoon.” After giving him a quick rundown of the gift-return debate, she said, “You probably think I’m a spoiled brat. I didn’t want to be the one to return the gifts, but I didn’t want my mother to do it, either.”
“Of course you didn’t want to do it. Returning wedding gifts is a job that pretty much sucks on all sides,” he said, startling a laugh out of her at the unexpected phrasing. “But it was your responsibility, and your mother didn’t have a right to take that from you.”
A personal note entered Javy’s voice, and Emily would have bet he was thinking of the restaurant and his mother’s refusal to let him make changes. Even though they’d met only days ago, they had more in common than she would have believed given the differences in their backgrounds.
And not once had he hinted that maybe, just maybe, Emily had purposely hesitated in sending back the gifts, hoping her parents would take care of the difficult matter for her.
“Thank you, Javy.”
Emily didn’t know if he heard the huskiness in her voice, but his response was purposefully light as he said, “Nothing I like better than a beautiful woman in my debt.”
“Well, you’ll have my undying gratitude if you called to tell me your cousin can show me some available houses tomorrow.”
“I did, and she can.”
Emily barely muffled a squeal of delight. “That is perfect. I can hardly wait. Thank you!”
“Hey, don’t thank me yet!”
“Why? Why not?” Her hand tightened on the phone. Did he foresee some kind of problem with his cousin showing her the houses?
A hint of seduction crept into his tone. “Because I like it so much better when you thank me in person.”
Heat pooled in her belly at the promise in his words.
Chapter Five
Late the next afternoon Javy stood in the middle of the restaurant, waiting for Anna and Emily. It had been his cousin’s idea to meet there. Anna hadn’t seen the damage to the restaurant yet and wanted to come by, supposedly to lend moral support. Javy was pretty sure what she wanted was to give him advice on redecorating.
He’d spent the day ripping up baseboards and pulling away the crumbling drywall. A plumber had repaired the busted pipe, but it would be another two days before someone could fix the concrete slab. Once that was done, demoing the cracked tiles would be the next major project. And since it would be impossible to match what had been installed years ago, he’d already decided to tear up the dining area, as well as the baths and hallway.
He’d talked to his cousin Alex, who had promised to have a crew on hand, ready and willing to work double-time. The sooner the job was completed, the sooner Maria would see that Javy had made the right decision.
And what about the rest of the remodeling? What would it take to get Maria to see that he was right about that, too?
Another piece of my Miguel…gone. Soon there will be not
hing left.
She would never trust him to make those changes. Javy kicked a cracked piece of tile, chipping away at the broken remnant clinging to the floor. She would never trust him with his father’s legacy.
He couldn’t blame her for her lack of faith. After his father’s death, he’d had a load of responsibility dropped on him, and he’d buckled beneath the weight. Once the business had been up and running again, and his mother capable of taking on her old duties, Javy had gladly handed back the reins. In a way, he had been running from responsibility ever since and had been perfectly content to do so.
But watching Emily face her fears and step out on her own made Javy take a close look at his own life, and he was surprised to realize he wasn’t entirely happy with what he saw. A few weeks ago, he would have sworn he liked his life exactly as it was—he had his freedom, he could come and go as he pleased and he was responsible only for himself.
You’re selfish, Javier. Selfish and irresponsible…You’ve never stuck with anything in your whole life.
Javy supposed he shouldn’t be surprised this latest disaster would bring up old memories of the fight he’d had with his father. Except the memories didn’t feel old, and the words rang through his thoughts as clearly as the piped-in music that played in the dining room day after day….
The slam of a car door outside broke through Javy’s thoughts, and he turned, his heartbeat picking up in anticipation of seeing Emily again. But when the door swung open, his cousin Anna stepped inside.
“Javy.” Looking flustered, his typically composed cousin rushed toward him, her purse dangling unevenly against her shoulder, her sunglasses perched on her head and a fistful of papers in one hand. “I’m so sorry. I’m not going to be able to show your friend around this evening.”
“Anna—”
“I know, I know. But a potential buyer just called for that monster house in Scottsdale, and it would be a miracle if I got this sale. Your friend will understand, right? I mean, it’s not like she was going to make an offer tonight? I’ve printed off some listings, so the two of you can still take a look. A few of them are having open houses, so you’ll be able to see inside. If she likes any of them, call me, and I promise I will meet with her.”
She thrust the listings into his hands and spun in a whirlwind of dark hair. He had to jump back to avoid taking a shot below the belt from her purse. Turning back at the last second, she dug into the purse, which could pass for a lethal weapon, and pulled out a handful of colored paper stock. “Here. Take a look at these paint samples for the restaurant, and let me know what you think.”
She tossed her last words over her shoulder as she raced from the restaurant, leaving Javy to call after her, “I hate them! And I’m not real thrilled with you right now, either!”
The carved wooden door had swung shut before his last word, and Javy doubted Anna had heard any of his parting shot. Tossing the blindingly bright color samples aside, he glanced at the listings she’d left and then slapped the papers against his thigh with a disgruntled sigh. “Anna…”
Although he supposed he couldn’t blame his cousin entirely for this one. Unfortunately, he would be the one to have to break it to Emily that they wouldn’t be house hunting that evening. And he really hated disappointing her.
At least if he called her, he could tell her not to waste the trip…But thinking of the sadness her perfect smile failed to hide, he knew she’d been let down enough recently. By her fiancé, by her parents, even by Connor, although admitting that made Javy feel guilty. After all, his family had benefited from Connor’s actions.
He didn’t want her counting him among the people who’d let her down. He’d made her a promise, possibly the first one he’d made to a woman in ten years, and this promise he intended to keep.
Emily pulled up to the restaurant, feeling unaccountably nervous. She’d already met Javy’s mother, and Maria Delgado had made no secret about being summarily unimpressed. There was a chance his cousin Anna would react the same.
But, if Emily were completely honest, she couldn’t blame all her ping-ponging nerves on the upcoming meeting with Anna or even on the thought of looking for her own place.
In a few minutes, she’d be seeing Javy again. Would he take one look and see how his last words had affected her? That she’d tossed and turned most of the night, imagining how she could thank him in person?
She’d never considered herself particularly inventive, but it was as if Javy’s suggestion had cast a spell on her. Their kiss had spun through her thoughts, at first like a tape playing on a loop, but before long, her imagination had taken over where her memory had left off, and she’d pictured his kisses trailing down her throat, drawn to skin left bare by the neckline of her dress, following as it arrowed downward…
Shivers raced along her spine, and her steps slowed as she neared the front door. She felt all too vulnerable to Javier Delgado’s effect on her, one no other man had ever had. With his experience with women, he would certainly know that, but was he affected by the chemistry between them? Or was this all pleasure as usual for him and nothing special at all?
It didn’t matter, Emily insisted as she ignored the insignificant twinge in her heart. This was about taking charge for the first time in her life. That was all that mattered. And Javy had arranged for her to meet his cousin, the first step in moving out of her parents’ house, which was something Emily definitely wanted.
She shook off her hesitation and opened the door. Her determined strides faltered slightly as she caught sight of Javy on the other side of the empty restaurant, frowning at some papers in his hand. Just the sight of him took her breath away, and Emily used the stolen moment to look at him without those dark eyes looking back and knowing just what she was thinking.
He’d combed his dark hair back from his tanned forehead, taming some of the natural wave, but she could already tell the effort would be temporary at best. Late afternoon light from a nearby window played across his sculpted cheekbones, strong jaw and sensual mouth. Her skin still tingled in every place he’d kissed, a seductive brand that marked her as his…
Emily swallowed and rubbed her palm against a leg of her slacks, as if she could wipe away the memory. She didn’t dare allow Javy’s kiss, his touch or anything about him have that kind of permanence. Everything about their relationship was temporary—a henna tattoo, not a mark that would scar her for life.
But even with that reminder, proof that Javy was more than fun and games surrounded him. Even in the main dining area, Emily saw the work he’d already accomplished—baseboards torn away from the walls, sections of drywall stripped away to bare studs and wires.
She could only imagine that the bathrooms and hall showed even greater progress. She was amazed by all he’d done, and although she knew he must have had help earlier, at the moment no one else was around.
Including his cousin Anna.
Was there a change in plans? Emily wondered. Had he been so busy that he forgot to call and tell her?
He has a lot on his mind, she argued, with the disappointment dragging down her excitement. It’s completely understandable.
But understandable or not, it didn’t make it any easier to accept that she’d spent almost every moment since they last spoke thinking of him, while she’d completely slipped his mind.
Javy looked up suddenly, stealing her chance to sneak away unnoticed. “Hey,” he said, an easy smile replacing his frown. “I have some bad news.” He lifted the papers in his hand. “Anna dropped these listings off but had to go meet a client. She’s not gonna be able to show you around tonight.”
Relief washed over her. “Oh. I thought maybe…” Her voice trailed away as Javy stepped closer.
“Maybe what, Emily?”
“I thought maybe I was early,” she said, unwilling to reveal her earlier insecurity.
“Nope, you’re right on time. And I’m sorry about Anna.”
“You said she left the listings, though, right?”
“Well, how could you? I don’t know even know what I’m looking for.”
“Yeah, I know, but—” he lifted the listings “—you’re not looking for these.”
Emily’s eyebrows rose at the certainty in his voice. “You sound awfully sure of that. Are the houses condemned or something?”
“Of course not. It’s just…” Javy sighed. “Last night, I told her that a friend was looking for a house.”
“Okay,” Emily said slowly, even as she wondered if he kissed all his friends the way he’d kissed her.
“She assumed I was talking about a female friend.”
“Probably not a big stretch on her part.”
“Not exactly,” he admitted with an unrepentant smile. “But the thing is, I didn’t tell her you were…” His voice trailed away, and he didn’t finish his thought.
“What, Javy? What am I?” She could see the debate going on behind his dark eyes.
Finally, on a deep exhale, he said, “Rich. I didn’t tell her you were rich.”
Emily recoiled at the word. “And that makes a difference?” she asked, only to wonder if she was being foolishly naive once again. It had certainly mattered to Todd. Even with his own family’s considerable wealth, he’d needed the Wilson fortune and status to try to get back in his family’s good graces.
“No,” Javy insisted. “It doesn’t make a difference. Not to me.”
He stepped closer, invading her space, her senses, her skin…It took everything inside her not to step back and reclaim her own space. But she wasn’t sure her shaking knees would support any sudden movement, so she stayed right where she was—caught in the spell of Javy’s dark eyes and undeniable masculinity.
“I’m not your fiancé.”
Lost in his spell, Emily took a moment to register his words and longer still to try to form a response. “I know that,” she insisted, even though Todd’s memory had made an unwelcome appearance as soon as Javy mentioned her family’s money.