by Pamela Aares
“Okay, Mom. Jeez.”
“He’s a cutie,” Tammy said as they watched him race away. “He’ll be a heartbreaker.”
“I hope not.”
Tammy snorted. “Some things can’t be helped. Handsome men break hearts without even trying.”
Didn’t she know.
Natasha milled around the party and accepted congratulations for the early success of the native plant business from fellow staff members and people from the surrounding community. Sonoma County was making strides in organic farming, and the Casa’s new native plant business fit right in.
She didn’t see Adrian in the gathered crowd. She tried not to scan the faces and the grounds every few minutes, but she couldn’t help but look for him. Local musicians were setting up on a stage for the dancing that would follow dinner. They laughed and joked with the good humor that Natasha was beginning to associate with the region. It was a rare person who didn’t have a smile or a good word.
As the guests began to take their seats and other boys joined their parents, she began to worry about Tyler. She headed down to the field behind the greenhouse, but no one was there. A bench piled with bats and gloves and catcher’s gear was the only sign that a game had been played. Her heart raced. She ran toward the greenhouse; maybe he’d gone inside looking for her. But only the eerie light of the setting sun met her there.
Where could he have gone? She’d worried that Eddie would try something, lure Tyler away from her, maybe even kidnap him. Wasn’t possession nine-tenths of the law? Did that work for children caught in parental disputes? God, she hoped not.
She dashed out of the greenhouse. Movement down by the horse paddock caught her eye, and she headed that way.
She heard Adrian’s voice as she approached.
“Well, my father made some mistakes,” Adrian said in the overly serious voice that adults who didn’t have children often used. “Your mom probably has a very good reason not to be in touch with your dad.”
Her heart swelled at Adrian’s gentle words. He was such a good man. Such a kind man. Sure, he was the sexiest guy she’d ever laid eyes on, but it was way more than physical attraction that had carved love for him into her heart.
In the dim light she made out two figures. Adrian was sitting next to Tyler, their shoulders hunched in a posture that spoke of confidences being shared.
“But I’d like to have a dad,” Tyler said in a low, sad tone. “I’m the only kid in my class without at least a part-time dad.”
Tyler’s words slayed Natasha. He’d never admitted such a wish to her. Maybe he thought it would hurt her.
A twig snapped under her foot. Adrian and Tyler turned toward where she stood.
“Hey, Mom,” Tyler said with an almost guilty smile.
“Time for dinner, Tyler.” She couldn’t look Adrian in the eye. Not right then. If she did, he’d see into her heart. And she wasn’t ready for him to know what was written there plain as day.
“And then dancing,” Adrian said as he stood.
Tyler sprang up beside him. “Eww… dancing.” He screwed up his face.
“Just for us adults,” Adrian said with the laugh she’d grown to love. “But someday you’ll be on the lookout for an opportunity to dance with a pretty lady.”
He tousled Tyler’s hair. The gesture shot an achy yearning straight into Natasha’s heart. Boys needed men in their lives. And Adrian would be the best kind of man for a boy.
“Don’t rush him,” she said, still slammed by realizing what she wished weren’t true.
“Mom wore her blue dress.” Tyler beamed.
A slow, sexy smile curved into Adrian’s lips. “And a very fine dress it is.”
Natasha hoped that in the dim light Tyler didn’t notice the way Adrian’s eyes roved over her body. But she certainly did. His hungry gaze cut through her defenses like a diver plunging through the surface of the ocean.
After dinner Tammy took Tyler and a group of kids down to the barn for games. Natasha had barely touched the grilled salmon or the vegetables from the garden she’d once tended. Her mind was still on Tyler’s comment to Adrian about not having a dad. There were two men in her life who could’ve fit that bill, if only they’d been different men than they were.
She didn’t trust Eddie. Though his words had pointed to a future she once would’ve liked to believe was possible, something in his attitude, in his eyes and his tone, made her more than wary.
As she toyed with her food, she couldn’t help but notice Adrian talking with scores of beautiful, wealthy-looking guests—women who looked at him as the answer to their prayers. She couldn’t even bring herself to wish that he could be the father figure in her son’s life. That he could be the man in her life. Wishful thinking only led to disaster. Besides, why would he saddle himself with another man’s child when he could have the pick of any woman in the world and have a family of his own? He’d never said anything to her about wanting a family, and his sister had said Adrian wasn’t interested in children. Maybe he was one of those men who satisfied himself with projects and work and was happy to play the field?
Adrian’s cousin Parker came over and surprised her when he slid into the seat next to hers.
“Enjoying the party?”
“It’s lovely,” she said, still distracted by her thoughts.
“Lovely? This is a Fandango—it’s supposed to be rollicking, boisterous, a hoedown.”
She hadn’t meant to offend him. She knew from her first encounter with Parker at the masquerade and more recently from conversations around the staff lunch table that the man took parties very seriously. He was an enigma to her. A strapping six-foot-four tower of a man who played polo like a demon and yet apparently had a refined talent for conjuring beauty and the perfect ambiance for celebrations of all sorts.
“The band is right on target then,” she said with a nod to the men dressed in flashy costumes who looked like they were right out of California’s Gold Rush days.
“I ordered those costumes myself,” he said. He held out his arm. “Care for a dance? I see that my dear cousin is otherwise occupied.”
Did he know that she and Adrian were lovers? Her cheeks heated at the thought. She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm and went with him to the already crowded dance floor. He put a hand to her back and she placed hers on his upper arm. On his very tight biceps. Tavonesi men were built like world-class athletes. They were world-class athletes, she reminded herself. She looked up into Parker’s eyes as he guided her steps in an unfamiliar dance. He had features similar to Adrian’s, but in no way did the handsome cousin stir her heart.
She looked beyond Parker and saw Adrian storming toward them.
“Stealing my date, old man?”
“I’m only three months older than you,” Parker said with a laugh. He released Natasha. “You shouldn’t leave the most beautiful woman at the party sitting alone. Even you should know better than that.”
Natasha blushed like a schoolgirl at the compliment even though it was tendered as a playful jibe at Adrian.
Adrian’s face softened into a smile. “You did an amazing job on this party—as always. Thank you.”
Parker gave a mock bow. “I see your manners have resurfaced.” He tilted his head toward Natasha. “If you find yourself wanting a real man, I’ll be over by the band.”
Adrian punched him on the arm.
“That’s my mallet arm,” Parker said, rubbing at his shoulder.
“Be glad I didn’t aim at your head.”
Parker touched Natasha’s arm. “Did anyone warn you that this one has a temper? I, on the other hand, have a very reliable and steady disposition.”
The band struck up a country-style waltz.
“We have better things to do than stand here and admire your disposition, Parker.”
Parker laughed. “I should hope so.” He waved over his shoulder as he walked off the dance floor.
“You have to forgive him—and the rest of my famil
y. I might as well ask your forgiveness in advance. We’re very—what is the English word?—quirky.”
“Nothing wrong with quirky,” Natasha said, happy that she could be honest about something. Adrian’s tight-knit family stirred all sorts of longings in her. She envied him in so many ways.
Adrian put his hand on the small of her back. The earlier thoughts she’d fought with took a quick back seat as she danced in his arms under the starry night sky.
Though he held her close and they laughed and talked as they danced, she couldn’t kiss him as she wished she might, not in front of all the Casa employees and other guests. She knew from the look in his eyes that he wanted to kiss her too. When Adrian’s father dragged him off to talk to one of the local growers, a sad, sinking feeling settled around her heart as she watched him slip into the crowd. Just before she left the tented dance floor, Adrian’s sister Zoe twirled by in the arms of her fiancé, beaming a smile that had love written all over it. Yearning for a love like theirs was a luxury Natasha couldn’t afford. Not now. Not anytime soon.
She headed off to the barn to collect Tyler and head home. A few steps down the path she heard Adrian laughing with his father and the grower. She turned in the direction of the laughter and saw another lovely woman sidle up to Adrian, flick her hair and beam a bright smile.
Get a grip, Natasha. This was how it would be. He had a vast world to tend to. And she was only a small temporary part of such a world.
She needed to focus on her own life. On the future she wanted to build for Tyler and for herself. And if she didn’t go home and do the exercises the dyslexia counselor had given her, their future would crumble fast. Her heart was the last thing she needed to listen to right then.
But later that evening after she tucked Tyler into bed and began her reading exercises, her stubborn heart sang a song that was impossible to ignore.
Chapter Twenty-One
ADRIAN KNOCKED AT THE DOOR OF HIS FATHER’S study. It wasn’t often Santino called him in for a meeting.
“How is the fruit setting?” Santino asked.
His father knew how the fruit was setting; Adrian had seen him in the vineyard earlier that morning.
“Looks like we’ll have a great yield if the weather cooperates,” Adrian answered. “But you didn’t call me in here to discuss the fruit set.”
His father gestured toward a chair. “I have some financials to go over. Our accountant sent in preliminary reports for the month. There’s thirty thousand dollars missing.”
“Do you suspect Vico?”
Vico Gualdieri had hacked Cody’s credit cards a few months ago. He’d also attacked Zoe and stolen data from Santino. Cody had been in the right place at the right time to save Zoe from real harm, but Vico had escaped. The last they’d heard he was in Russia working for a cybercartel. And Santino’s cover as an international agent had been blown, at least within the family.
“No, this isn’t the work of a pro,” Santino said. “Although the fact that there’s no trace of where the funds went is… suspicious. Or perhaps it’s just a mistake.”
If it were a mistake, Santino wouldn’t have called Adrian into his office. He’d have had the accountant handle the problem and that would’ve been that.
“Have a look.” Santino handed him the report.
Adrian scanned the two-page document and swallowed down his disbelief. “It’s missing from the new native garden account.”
Santino nodded. “You have two new employees in that division, I believe?”
“Only Natasha Raley has access to the accounts,” Adrian said. “The man helping her works in the greenhouse and garden.”
“Natasha.” Santino said her name slowly. “Is that the woman I saw you dancing with last night?”
“Spying on me?”
“Gave it up for lent,” his father said with a laugh.
Adrian knew that once a spy, always a spy, but clearly Santino wanted Adrian to handle this situation. Perhaps because Natasha was involved. And because the accounts for that part of the family business were Adrian’s responsibility.
“I’ll talk to her.”
“She’s a lovely girl,” his father said. “With a rather mysterious background.”
“I’d prefer if you didn’t snoop into the background of women I date.” Adrian couldn’t remember the last time he’d raised his voice to his father. And he’d surprised himself by using the word date. Was that what he was doing—dating Natasha? If he had his way, it’d be much more than that.
“You may be dating her, but she is an employee. Most companies do background checks before they hire people. And for your information, it was Coco who told me about Natasha’s background. I wasn’t—what did you call it?—snooping. Awkward American term.”
“I’ll take care of this.”
“Of course.” His father stood and walked around from behind his desk. He clasped Adrian in a hug. “You’re doing a great job, son. Your mother would be proud of you. Of all of you children.”
Not one of the family had gotten over their mother’s death—was it already almost two years ago? It seemed like yesterday. Adrian could only imagine what it was like for his father to lose the woman he loved.
He reviewed the reports as he made his way to the greenhouse. Anyone could make a mistake. But a thirty-thousand-dollar mistake?
Natasha and Enrique were bent close over a tray of starts when Adrian entered the greenhouse. He watched for a moment and remembered the tête-à-tête he’d interrupted a few days earlier when he’d found them talking in the shade of an oak tree. Perhaps there was more between the two of them than he’d allowed to register. Maybe love really did blind a man. He shoved back his ridiculous thoughts and concentrated on the conversation ahead.
He tapped on one of the stainless steel tables to announce his arrival. Skulking about and spying on people wasn’t in his blood. At least he hoped it wasn’t.
Enrique snapped his head up. “Mr. Tavonesi,” he said as he straightened to an almost military-straight posture of attention.
Natasha wiped her hands on her jeans. “The fuchsia starts are taking well,” she said with the warm smile that normally melted through him. “We might even be able to fulfill the wholesale orders.”
“Can I speak with you a moment, Natasha?” He tilted his head toward the back of the greenhouse. “In your office?”
She turned to Enrique. “Would you finish up these last eight trays and then transplant the lupines?”
“Sure thing.”
Adrian was acutely aware of Enrique’s eyes on him. Hell, if he had half the feelings for Natasha that Adrian did, a rival wouldn’t be a welcome intrusion.
His first impulse when he closed the door of the office was to kiss her. Dancing with her at the Fandango had ramped up his desire, and nothing he did or thought cooled the want she fired in him. Her sensual appearances in his dreams hadn’t helped.
What also didn’t help was that they hadn’t been alone together for weeks.
He hauled in a long breath, focused, and handed her the report.
“I’m sorry to have to ask you this, but our accountant has found”—he sought a careful, nonconfrontational word—“an irregularity in the accounts.”
Her eyes went wide, and her fingers tightened on the papers.
“I mean, he could be wrong, but I’d like you to look into it.”
She didn’t move, just stared down at the papers she clutched. Then she laid them on her desk.
“I’ll be happy to,” she said.
Her voice quivered. Anyone’s voice would quiver if their boss questioned their numbers. He felt like a heel.
“It’s on the second page. There seems to be about thirty thousand dollars that’s gone missing.”
She put a hand to her desk. He’d never seen a woman faint, but she looked like she was going to do just that.
“Hey, no hurry. Finish up what you’re doing. We can talk this over tomorrow. Or the next day.” He sorted through his
mind, seeking something, anything, to ease the horrid tension in the room, the tension he saw in her body. “I was planning on coming to Tyler’s game tomorrow night. He invited me. I mean, if that’s okay with you.”
She put a hand to her throat. The wavering smile on her lips didn’t reach her eyes.
“I’m sure he’d love that. And I’ll look into this—this problem—right away.”
The phone rang. She glanced at it.
“I’ll let you get back to your work.” He tapped her arm. “You’re doing an amazing job. I couldn’t have dreamed of a more successful start for a new business.”
She picked up the phone receiver, and he slipped out of the office. His heart banged against his ribs. He didn’t, couldn’t, imagine that the missing money was anything but an honest mistake.
Natasha’s head pounded as she finished taking the order and hung up the phone. She looked down at the notes she’d taken. Her head swam. Had the Andersons wanted thirteen or thirty-one starts?
She walked to the door of her office and called Enrique to join her. Yet even as he made his way toward her, she thought better of involving him. It was possible that he’d made the mistake. But something in the way he’d watched Adrian had put her on edge.
“Would you take these potted fuchsias up to the gift shop?” she said in the most level, nonchalant tone she could.
“Sure, boss.” He glanced at the papers on her desk and narrowed his eyes. “Everything okay?”
Everything was definitely not okay. But she’d have to get Mary’s help to sort it out.
“Mr. Tavonesi complimented us on our work. He’s quite happy with the launch of the business.”
“That’s good news.” Enrique held her in a steady gaze. His pupils were dilated, and she sensed fear under his apparent calm. She knew too well the telltale signs of fear. But until she had facts, she wasn’t going to confront him.
Natasha reviewed the report with Mary on her lunch break the next day, and it was damned clear that Enrique had stolen the funds. No one but Enrique could have done it. He was the only other person who had the password to the account. Other than her and Adrian.