Evenings at the Argentine Club (34 page)

“That’s supposed to make it okay for her to be living with you?” Victor’s words were sharp and told Eric that he’d protect his daughter from any harm. But Eric wanted to be the one to do that from now on.

“I understand that I haven’t been very… clear about my intentions.” No matter how old-fashioned this seemed to him, if he wanted Victoria’s very Argentine parents to approve of him, he had to actually ask Victor’s permission. And he realized he was acting a little late as far as Victor was concerned.

“Clear? You mean, you had no intentions that I would approve of when you asked her to move in with you.”

“I’m… sorry.”

Victor frowned. “So now you’ve decided you love her.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Wonderful.”

Eric sighed. “Not so wonderful. I’ve got a lot of money. Not millions, but a lot. Still, it won’t last forever. And all I know how to do is buy and sell properties. If I ask Victoria to marry me, I’m just not sure that I’m going to be able to support her here in California. And I don’t want to ask her to move. I know you all wouldn’t want that.”

“No.”

“So, do I string her along for months or years while I wait to see if I’m going to be able to make it or not?”

Victor returned to his chair and told him to sit in a second chair across from him. Eric wondered who visited him in the garage.

“You really love her?”

“Yes. I want to marry her. I want to have kids. We’re completely right for each other, I know that. But I saw my parents struggle. My dad couldn’t always make ends meet. And my mom suffered. She never complained or anything, but I knew. How can I do that to Victoria?”

Victor rubbed a hand on his chin. His eyebrows drew together in almost a straight line. “You know, when Antonio and I were young, it was a different time. The man was supposed to support his wife. Especially in our culture.”

Eric nodded.

“You young men have it easier. Not only are you not expected to do it all, but women don’t want you to, either. Victoria is very excited about building her career. Quite frankly, I don’t think she’s going to need your money.”

Eric smiled. “I know that. Still—”

“Quiet. Listen. You do what you love to do. What you’re good at doing. And let her do what she’s doing. If you love each other, then you should be together. The right way. Not what you’ve been doing.”

“I don’t think I can stay in California.”

“Bullshit. You can make money anywhere if you try hard enough. Truth is, you’re scared. And you’re using the market as an excuse. If she doesn’t see a future with you eventually, she’ll leave. No woman is going to stay with a man she can’t build a future with.”

Eric understood that.

Victor frowned pensively. “I know, you’re thinking who the hell am I to give you advice when I’m living in a garage?”

Eric laughed. “No, sir.”

“Well, you’d be right to think that. I’ve been a shitty husband, and if you marry my daughter and ever make her miserable I’ll dig a hole in my backyard and put you in it.”

“I won’t make her miserable. That’s what I’m trying to avoid.”

“I’m going to fix things with Jaqueline.” He patted Eric on the shoulder. “Go make things right with Victoria.”

Eric nodded and stood and offered his hand to Victor. “Thank you.”

Victor shook his hand and nodded.

Eric drove home to put his plan into action.

V
ictoria had lunch with Douglas to catch up on what was going on at the boutique. She missed working with him as well as the
slow pace of the small store.

“I hired a nice college kid to work part-time,” he said. “She’s smart, and the customers like her.”

“I’m glad.” She sipped a cup of tea, washing down the great Chinese food they’d shared. She checked her watch.

“Almost time to get back to the office, or do you have a class?”

“The office. They’re so wonderful, letting me take off whenever I need to go to class, that I don’t want to take too long
for lunch.”

“I’m proud of you, kiddo,” he said. “You’re heading down the right path.”

She rested her elbows on the table and clasped her hands, and gazed at him.

“What? I know that look. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Well, not really.”

He chuckled. “That means something. Don’t tell me you’re not enjoying the interior design program.”

“I’m loving it. It’s perfect.”

“You’re worried you ate too much, and will put back on some dreaded weight?”

She laughed. “I ran five miles this morning and had a light breakfast. I’m good.”

“Let’s see, you’re happy with work, not obsessing about your looks, then it must be a man.”

“Why must it be a man?”

“Wild guess.” He shrugged. “And you’re twenty-eight. Besides, I had two sisters and a wife. I remember.”

She sighed. “My personal life is a little sticky, yes.” She laughed. “I can’t believe I can say that. I actually have a personal
life.”

“Good.” Douglas gave her a warm, caressing appraisal. “Eric?”

“Yep. He’s wonderful. And we love each other. It’s just that…”

“He snores?”

Victoria laughed. “No.” She shrugged. “It’s nothing. Forget it.” She checked her watch again. “I’ve got to go.”

“Victoria. Follow your heart. If you love each other, don’t let anything come between you.”

She stood. Nothing was coming between them. But her feelings for him overwhelmed her sometimes. She felt like they’d skipped
quite a few steps in the relationship process by moving in together. The slow buildup, the wondering if they
should
move in together, the conversations of taking things to the next level. Hell, they were having those now, after the fact.
“Okay, Douglas.” She hugged him. “Thank you. I’ll see you soon.”

She hurried to work. As soon as she got there, she got involved in a project for a gymnasium. The work was challenging and
different from designing the interior of a residential property. As she was basically an assistant covering for actual designers,
her jobs were minor. And anything she did was double-checked by whomever ran the project. But the two designers she worked
with had started relying on her more and more as soon as they realized she could do the work.

Before she knew it, it was six o’clock and time to go home. The company VP paused at her cubicle. “Victoria, you’re still
here.”

“I got busy and lost track of time,” she said, standing.

He glanced at her desk and inspected her blueprints. “Very good. How much of this have you done on your own?”

“Only part of it. Dana told me pretty much what she wanted done.”

“Dana and Angie both have told me they’re very impressed with you.”

“Good,” Victoria said, gathering her purse. “I appreciate everything I’m learning.”

“How would you feel about continuing on in the new year?”

Victoria put on a coat and pulled her hair loose of the collar. “I thought the work-study program only lasted for one quarter.”

“I mean permanently. I can give you your own projects. Not too many until you finish your degree, but you’ll be a full-time
employee.”

“Well.” She didn’t know what to say. Sounded like a great offer. Even though she wanted to start her own business and do more
residential designs rather than the big corporate things they did here. “I promised my father I’d complete a design for his
restaurants. He owns La Parrilla downtown; I don’t know if you’ve heard of it. And he’s expanding.”

“Yes, I’ve eaten there a time or two. In downtown Burbank?”

“Yes. And he’s opening up a few more. He asked me to work with his architect on the design.”

He nodded. “Interesting. Well, I can give you one project. I’ve just signed a contract with an office complex in Washington
State. Can you wrap up your father’s project this month and be ready to take this one in Washington?”

A million thoughts were flying through Victoria’s mind. This was an amazing opportunity. She’d get to travel. Be a real designer.
“I can wrap up my father’s project soon, yes.”

“Then I’ll team you up with Karrie, who’s experienced in these large office projects, and the two of you can work on it together.
I’ll have Human Resources contact you and get you hired on.” He nodded. “Welcome aboard, Victoria.”

Victoria was stunned. Had she said yes? Well, why would she say no? This was awesome. She grabbed her purse and headed home.

Eric waited for Victoria to decorate the Christmas tree. When she got home at close to seven that night, he made her close
her eyes and led her to the living room. “Okay, open them.”

She did, saw the tree, and tears touched her eyes. “You got a tree. I didn’t even think of it.”

“You’ve been busy.”

She walked up to it and closed her eyes as she drew in a breath of the evergreen scent. Damn, she was gorgeous.

“Smells wintery and amazing. Now it’s starting to feel like Christmas.”

“If you’re not too tired, I thought we’d go shopping for ornaments,” he said.

She gazed at him, and walked forward, still wearing her coat. She narrowed her eyes and angled her head. “I
really
love you,” she said. She could get used to coming home to him every day.

He smiled and mentally patted himself on his back. He’d done the right thing. “Love you too, Vicki.”

They hurried out to the mall and bought tons of ornaments. Then stayed up until close to midnight decorating the tree. They
fell asleep in the living room, sitting on the couch together, staring at the tree.

*   *   *

Victor never participated in any of the Argentine Club preparations. He didn’t have any interest in that or in any skill whatsoever
in that department. But when Jaqueline told him she was going to go prepare the club for the Christmas celebration, he’d impulsively
told her he was going to go help, too.

She’d looked surprised.

“I can drive us, if you want.”

“All right,” she said.

He felt like a teenager, like he had when they were in Argentina and he was trying to convince her to date him.

“When am I going to get to see the new restaurants?” she asked on the drive.

“Well, I decided that I want to wait until the grand opening to take you. I want you to see them when they’re finished. Victoria
is going to meet with the architects this week to present her final plans. They’re amazing. I can’t tell you how impressed
I am with that girl.”

“She’s so happy, Victor.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry she never got very excited about running the restaurants. I know you’re disappointed about that.”

“No. Not anymore.” Especially not since talking to Carmen.

When they got to the club, she got involved in hanging decorations. Victor and some of the younger men went to purchase trees.
They bought two huge noble firs for either side of the stage. The ladies, pleased with their selection, immediately began
decorating them.

Nelly congratulated him on helping. “It’s not the same without your daughter this year,” she said. “You know, ever since she
got involved with Lucia’s boy, she’s practically dropped out of everything.”

Not true. Victoria still attended club dinners almost every Sunday. She didn’t have much time to donate to things like this—and
Victor couldn’t be happier. He’d always thought these club events were things for old ladies to occupy their time with, not
young girls. “Eric has inspired her to live her life.” He winked. “It always takes a man to jolt you women into action.”

Nelly gasped. “Really, Victor. Do you actually approve of what Victoria is doing?”

“What is she doing?” he asked.

“The way she’s living with Eric, giving away what she should save for a husband.”

Victor had felt the same way. And he’d been glad that Eric had come to him with the promise of rectifying his mistake. But
hearing Nelly voice such stupidity made him realize that they’d all carried away from Argentina very antiquated and stupid
ideas. He was a modern man. And he honestly didn’t give a shit if his daughters decided to experiment with a dozen men until
they found the right one. Well, okay, a dozen might be a bit much, and he hoped they’d be safe. But the truth was, they were
smart girls and he planned to support all their choices from now on. “Nelly,” he said. “I’m not sure what she’s giving Eric
or what he’s giving her in return, but I do know they’ve always got smiles on their faces, so they must be having a damn good
time.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, and I’d appreciate it if you kept your opinions to yourself from now on when it comes to my daughter. She’d always been
too nice to tell you to mind your own business, but I’m not that nice.”

“Of course,” she said stiffly, obviously offended, which gratified him immensely.

Victor’s mood stayed high after that until they were about to leave, and Jaqueline decided to have a little talk with him
before they got home.

“What do you mean you want a divorce? Are you crazy?” Victor shouted as they stood outside by the car.

“We can’t live like this forever,” Jaqueline said. “Apart, alone, and yet still married.”

“I agree. We need to stop all this nonsense.”