“Lilly is pretty popular at the hospital. All the nurses fell in love with her during the chemo treatments,” Mrs. Taylor said, her lips quivering.
Henry’s blue eyes locked on the woman, listening intently as she explained her daughter’s battle with cancer.
“Last year, I was too sick to be in The Nutcracker. I had to drop out. But this year I am stronger.” Lilly raised her little fist in triumph.
“I bet you’ll be the star of the show,” Henry said.
“Will you come, mister?” Lilly asked eagerly.
Oh. Hell. No. Victoria ripped a bookmark from the display and rushed toward the group. “I hope you like unicorns,” she said, barging into the conversation and waving the bookmark in front of Lilly.
“When is it?” Henry asked.
“I know pink is your favorite color,” Victoria interrupted.
“I’d love to come to your performance, Miss Lilly. When is it?” Henry repeated the question, undeterred by Victoria’s obnoxious behavior.
“Tonight. Vicki is coming, too. But Jenn had an emergency and can’t go.”
Henry’s smoldering gaze landed on Victoria. “Ms. Jordan isn’t going to use her ticket?”
“You can have it,” Lilly offered innocently.
“Lilly! You must understand that the nice man may already have plans tonight,” Mrs. Taylor said.
Victoria’s eyes widened. This couldn’t be happening. Jennifer would be furious. She had to stop this before it was too late. “Lilly, you remember Diana Sousa, right?”
“Yes. She’s nice.”
“I was just about to call her and ask if she’d like to meet me in front of the Newport Performing Arts Center tonight. Unfortunately, her assistant quit a week before Thanksgiving and she’d been so busy filling orders for holiday floral arrangements that she hadn’t been able to purchase a ticket before the ballet sold out.”
“I’ll pay double for it,” Henry said, removing his wallet from his back pocket. “I’ll have my secretary clear my schedule. What time does it start?”
“It’s at 7:00,” Lilly replied.
“Oh, no—” Victoria stammered. “Jennifer doesn’t want money for it.”
“Well, that is very kind of her.” The billfold remained closed between his palms. “I’ll wait for you in the lobby then,” Henry said, shoving his wallet back into his pocket. “How does 6:30 sound?”
Oh. My. God. Jennifer was going to flip out when she heard. “Um, okay. I guess.”
“We had better get going now,” Mrs. Taylor said after paying Victoria for the book, and took Lilly by the hand. “Mr. Santana, thank you for being so nice to my little girl.”
“I’ll escort you out. I only stopped by to return this.” Henry reached into his coat’s inside pocket, removing a glimmering gold bangle. “I believe this is yours,” he said, handing it to Victoria.
“You found it. I thought I’d lost it,” Victoria exclaimed, accepting the bracelet she’d worn the night before.
“It must have fallen off when we walked in the parking lot. I found it in my jacket pocket.”
Victoria shoved it onto her wrist. “Thank you. It’s very special. It was a gift from Nana.”
“I’ll see you tonight, Miss Hathaway,” Henry said and then strode to the exit along with Lilly and Mrs. Taylor.
Chapter 13
Victoria
“Can you believe that douchebag connived his way into a free ticket?” Jennifer leaned against the old oak bureau that had once belonged to Victoria’s mother when she’d resided in this bedroom. “If I’d thought for a moment that asshole was going to worm his way into attending The Nutcracker with you, I’d never have agreed to meet Andre’s cousins tonight. I thought disappointing Lilly was bad. But knowing that he’s going makes me want to puke.”
“Don’t beat yourself up over it. You’re always so good to Lilly. Besides, last month you went to her chorus recital and I didn’t,” Victoria assured her while hoping to avoid further discussion of Henrique Santana.
Her arms crossed above her chest, Jennifer sighed. “True. But still, I hate to disappoint her. Anyway, I’m more upset about Henrique Santana smooth-talking his way into a date with you.”
“It’s not a date,” Victoria quickly protested.
Jennifer rolled her eyes and sneered. “Maybe not for you. Not so sure about him. I don’t trust the bastard.”
“And you think I do?” Victoria questioned. As she struck a series of alluring poses in front of the mirror, Victoria stuck her tongue out. “This hair is hopeless.”
“You always rock a French twist. Go with that,” Jennifer said.
“Predictable.” Victoria puckered her lips to apply a thin coat of her favorite classic, matte, candy-apple-red lipstick. “But you know what? You’re right. At least it will look somewhat tamed.”
“You’d look gorgeous dressed in a tent. Don’t go crazy fixing your hair and makeup. Who gives a fuck what Henrique Santana thinks of your hair? The last thing you want is for him to believe you got all dolled up for him.”
Victoria didn’t answer as she scrutinized her appearance. She pulled her hair from her neck then dropped her hand away. She shook her head from side to side, allowing the long waves to cascade down her back.
Jennifer cocked an eyebrow, studying her. “You agree, don’t you?”
“About what?” Victoria answered.
“Vicki!”
Like a dog with a bone, Victoria thought, sighing. “Sure, Jenn,” she said.
Jennifer made a guttural sound as she moved from the bureau. “You know, Vicki, I’m seriously getting worried about you,” she said, pacing back and forth across the room.
Sighing, Victoria fastened the rhinestone clip, securing her thick tresses into a French twist. Jennifer’s heated expression glared at her from the reflection in the mirror. “I’m a big girl, Jenn. Let it go,” she said.
“Let it go?” Jennifer braced her hands on her hips. “Let it go?” she repeated, her voice rising.
“Yup. That’s what I said.” Victoria cringed as Jennifer’s face contorted with rage.
“You’re a big girl? That’s what you have to say?”
“It’s what I know,” Victoria answered, willing herself not to back down.
“A big girl that has lost her fucking mind!”
One...two...three... Victoria counted, breathing in deeply and exhaling slowly between each number. Still fuming when she reached the number ten, she spun around, coming face to face with her best friend. “Who do you think you are judging me?” she asked, her jaw clenched.
“Do you think that I don’t know what you aren’t telling me? Do you think I’m too stupid? That I’m some type of fool who’s unable to read between the lines?” Jennifer hissed.
Call it concern or call it love—it didn’t matter. Victoria had had enough. “I am not stupid,” Victoria said, her tone clipped. “I’m a grown woman who is perfectly capable of making her own decisions. That includes who I talk to and where I go. I don’t need a bodyguard, and I certainly didn’t ask for one.”
“You’re playing with fire, Vicki. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Hands fisted at her side, Victoria blurted, “Is it so hard for you to believe that a wealthy, handsome man might be interested in me and not you?”
Jennifer staggered a few steps back as if she’d been punched.
Victoria’s hand flew to her mouth. She’d never meant to say that out loud. More than once, she’d questioned if Jennifer had been unknowingly jealous of the attention she was getting from Henry. After all, men always lusted after Jennifer, not her.
Jennifer’s aqua-blue eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I guess after all these years you don’t know me at all.”
“I know you are trying to help, but I am being cautious.” Victoria’s voice softened. “Honestly, Jenn, I am.”
Arms folded across her chest, Jennifer’s wounded expression locked on her.
“There is nothing romantic
between us. I’m only trying to gain his trust. If I can do that, maybe he’ll reconsider building a resort.”
“I never thought you’d lie to me, Vicki. I guess I was wrong about a lot of things.” Jennifer hastily buttoned her coat, donning her scarf and gloves as she walked to the door.
“You don’t have to leave.”
“Yeah, Vicki, I do. This conversation is making me sick.” The large handbag banged against the wall as Jennifer swung it over her shoulder. “He is going to hurt you. Mark my words, you’ll be really sorry if you continue this infatuation with him. Henrique Santana is a snake. He won’t think twice about destroying you.”
A strangled cry burst from Victoria as the door slammed.
LOCATED IN THE HEART of the city, the Newport Performing Arts Center was renowned for their stellar productions. Annually, the historic opera house sponsored the children’s production of The Nutcracker, featuring the local students from Heidi’s Dance Studio. Victoria remembered how excited Lilly had been last year when she’d first enrolled in ballet lessons. Ever the proud mother, Mrs. Taylor had explained that Lilly’s physician felt the child’s weak arms and legs could benefit from the added muscle formation bound to result from routine practice. Unfortunately, Victoria also recalled the day Mrs. Taylor arrived at the shop in tears. Lilly had a setback. Readmitted into the Newport Children’s Hospital, she was unable to perform in last year’s production.
Opulence surrounded Victoria as she blinked back tears. The Newport Performing Arts Center had always brought back lovely memories. She ran her fingers over the gold-encrusted walls. Nana had brought her to the theatre often.
Victoria startled at the sound of Henry’s deep voice. She’d been so preoccupied with her thoughts that she hadn’t noticed Henry approach.
“You’re stunning,” he said, looking as if he wanted to devour her.
“Thank you,” she said, fiddling with the decorative clasp on her clutch.
“Royal purple becomes you,” he said. “I knew you were meant to be a queen.”
Seriously? The man always takes things way too far. Victoria arched her neck to look at him, her eyes narrowing on his. “A queen?”
Sapphire eyes locked with hers, his cocky smile vanishing. Sounding concerned, he stated, “You’ve been crying.”
Victoria waved her hand in dismissal. “It’s an emotional night for me.”
He regarded her skeptically. “Understandable,” he finally answered, not sounding the least convinced by her lame excuse.
Without thinking, Victoria added, “I suppose it didn’t help that Jenn and I had an argument.”
He stiffened, annoyance lacing his voice. “Ms. Jordan is responsible for your tears?”
Victoria wanted to kick herself for letting that little tidbit of information slip out. If he thought she and Jennifer were at odds, he’d probably try to leverage that information to his advantage.
“Was she upset with you because you offered me her ticket?” he asked.
“I didn’t offer you anything, Mr. Santana. You benefited from the unknowing innocence of a child who didn’t know better than to suggest Jennifer give it to you.”
He stared down at her, his mouth pressed into a tight line. “If I’d known she was going to berate you to the point of tears, I’d have refused to take it.”
Victoria rolled her eyes toward the heavens. Two angelic cherubs leered down at her from the mural painted above. A prolific warning? Now that she’d slipped and told him about the unfortunate incident, she might as well confess that it was her fault. “Jenn did not make me cry. I made myself cry. There’s no one to blame but me.”
Looking perplexed, he said, “I’m not sure I understand.”
“Please,” Victoria placed her palm in the air, stopping Henry before he could say another word. “I’ve waited a long time to see Lilly’s performance. I want to enjoy it. Forget that I ever mentioned anything that occurred before I got here.”
“Very well,” he said and curled his elbow in invitation. “Would you like to find our seats?”
With a drawn-out sigh, Victoria wrapped her fingers around Henry’s bicep, a slight thrill shooting through her as his muscle flexed in response. “I suppose we should,” she answered.
Arm in arm, they glided down the aisle of the theatre. Reminiscent of the night they dined at Riccardo’s, Victoria heard the whispers and murmurs as they strode toward their seats. Dressed in a gray, tailored suit and black shirt with matching solid black tie, the notorious man at her side was causing quite a stir. The gossips were probably loving her scandalous behavior. Yes, indeed, they must be racking their brains to figure out why she’d attend the ballet with her known rival.
The usher’s flashlight clicked to indicate they had arrived at their assigned seats.
Lightly, Henry squeezed her arm and motioned toward the row of seats. He waited patiently for Victoria to settle into the inside chair and then folded his long torso onto the red velvet seat beside her. She jumped, squeezing her arms close together in an obvious attempt to make herself smaller when his broad shoulder brushed against hers.
He leaned in close, his breath scorching her cheek. “Everything all right, Ms. Hathaway?”
“Yup.” She swallowed hard.
Henry grinned knowingly, his hypnotic blue eyes sparkling. He adjusted his rugged frame beside her. His broad shoulders and beefy arms smothered the wooden armrests while his sturdy, long legs stretched along the side of the aisle.
Her breathing shallowed, his nearness driving her to distraction. Her imagination strayed. Thoughts of resting her head against his broad shoulder nearly overwhelmed her. Her attraction to Henrique Santana had to stop. She hated him. It was wrong to feel such desire.
Recalling the night of the gala, she longed to once again be blanketed within the warmth of his jacket. She clung to the memory of the fresh scent of soap that mingled with a masculine woodsy cologne. The scent that was uniquely him. The scent that stirred a temptation within her like never before.
“You really need to wear that color more often,” Henry said, his fingertip brushing over her arm.
She trembled, her flesh burning from beneath his touch. Victoria picked the Playbill off her lap and fanned herself with it, a stray blonde hair blowing around her face.
“It’s a bit warm in here, isn’t it?” He shrugged his shoulders from his jacket, giving Victoria a better view of his delectable neck.
Suddenly, the lights dimmed. Victoria sucked in a deep breath of relief as moments later, the substantial red and gold curtain was raised.
Henry nudged her lightly with his shoulder and smiled.
A sense of pride welled within her as she returned his smile. Joyfully, she turned her attention toward the stage and focused on the inspiring child posing with her arms curved in position above her head. This was the moment she’d been waiting for. She’d just have to suck up the fact that the sinfully handsome man beside her also happened to be her nemesis.
Chapter 14
Henry
The audience erupted into applause as the lights rose. Children shuffled onto the stage, lining up in a row of adorableness. Together, the ballerinas clasped one another’s hands and bowed as one. Victoria sniffled, dabbing a tissue to her eyes as the curtain closed. Henry’s hand strayed to hers, giving a comforting squeeze as his fingers entwined with hers.
Eyes downturned, Victoria looked to her lap. “That feels nice,” she said shyly, seeming to have forgotten her oath to despise him.
Henry’s gaze lingered on her, his fingertip weaving a circular pattern atop her hand. Victoria Hathaway is breathtaking. Not only was she physically beautiful, but she had a beauty that radiated from within. If only he’d met her under different circumstances.
“We should go,” she said, uncurling her fingers from his.
The intimacy broken, Henry felt a sense of loss. “Yes, I suppose we should,” he agreed, looking around the empty theatre. “We’re the only ones still in here.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “I was too engrossed with the performance to notice,” she said, smiling sweetly.
She’d be a wonderful mother.
Holy shit! Where the hell did that thought come from?
Henry adjusted his tie and stood up. “I’d like to go backstage,” he said. “I’d hate to leave without telling Lilly how wonderful her performance was.” Tossing his jacket over one shoulder, Henry gestured for Victoria to step into the aisle.
“Me, too,” Victoria replied as she wiggled from her seat and then exited before him.
Designed to hug her shoulders, the gown revealed an alluring amount of porcelain skin along her neckline. Henry’s mouth watered. If he had his way, he’d brush his mouth over the delicate softness of her long, swan-like neck. Slowly, he’d lower her zipper and stretch the fabric across her smooth back. Then he’d paint a trail of kisses down her spine while his hands snaked around her front to fondle her breasts.
Victoria peered over her shoulder. “Coming?”
If only you knew how much I wish I were.
Nodding, he snapped out of his reverie and followed close behind her. Several wisps of hair had fallen free from the rhinestone clip used to secure her tresses. The soft hairs lay invitingly along her shoulders, begging for his touch. He reached out, feeling her shiver as he adjusted the clasp of her pearl necklace. “Your necklace was crooked.”
“Oh,” she breathed, moving her fingers over the string of pearls. “Thanks.”
He knew she felt it, too—the electric currents of desire too strong to ignore. Victoria could deny it all she wanted, but Henry knew she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
“There she is,” Victoria said, breaking the moment of intense connection, and pointed toward an open doorway.
“I knew you would come!” Lilly screeched, her arms flailing as she ran toward them from the backstage lounge.
Arms opened wide, Victoria bent down and enveloped the child into a big bear hug. “You did such a great job.”
“I thought I was watching a prima ballerina,” Henry said.
The Prodigal's Desire Page 10