Authors: Brenda Jernigan
"How about Rio Rio Cantina?” Steven suggested. “It's your favorite Mexican restaurant."
"Sounds good. We can sit outside and watch the river.”
They strolled along the cobblestone walkway, making small talk about the weather. Dani had always felt comfortable with Steven . . . but that feeling had left her. One of them had changed, she told herself again. And it wasn't Steven.
After they ordered dinner, Dani handed the waitress the menus. It was time for answers. She'd waited long enough.
Once Adrian had finished at the store, he returned to the hotel. He realized his Vice President probably wondered why he hadn’t called. Either that, or Marty, thinking he had been killed in the hurricane, was celebrating full control of the company.
Quickly, Adrian punched the numbers, regretting that he’d lost his cell phone during the storm. "Hi, Marty."
"Where the hell have you been?"
Adrian couldn't resist a little teasing. "At the beach, of course."
"Don't give me that bullshit! I saw the hurricane in the news. I've been working my ass off in your absence, I might add. Now, where were you?"
"In the
middle
of the hurricane."
"No shit!" Marty's voice calmed down a notch. "We thought you'd left the island."
"Afraid not. I hadn't been listening to the news, so I had no idea Hurricane Felix had turned. And by the time I did, it was too late. Hell, I thought the storm was still down in Florida tearing up their coastline."
"Sorry about your birthday present. We cancelled her at the last minute with the hurricane reports, but I guess that was the least of your worries."
"No problem. I had a
very
interesting birthday with a surprise you wouldn't believe."
"Like what?"
"Let’s just say I had a better time without your little present. I'll fill you in when I get home."
Adrian smiled as he put the phone down. Marty would never guess what had really happened. Adrian wasn't too sure
he
believed the last few days.
He showered, then dressed in the black silk shirt and charcoal pinstriped slacks he'd purchased at the mall.
After checking Dani's address, he decided that would be the first place he'd go, but this time he'd leave her purse here. After he found her, they could come back and get it. He had definitely had enough of the purse jokes.
It only took a few minutes to get to her place. He liked Dani's Spanish-looking apartment. Walking up a flight of stairs, he eyed two doors before spotting her number to the left. He pressed the doorbell
button and waited. When there wasn't any answer, he knocked. Evidently, she wasn't home, and he wasn't going to wait like a puppy on the doorsteps for her return. Maybe, he'd grab a bite to eat.
He had just started back to the stairs when the other apartment door swung open.
"I thought I heard someone out here. Are you looking for Dani?"
"Yes, I am. I don't suppose you know where she is?"
The woman moved over to him and held out her hand. She was cute with short, sandy-blond hair that barely came to her chin. She glanced up at him with big, brown eyes.
"I'm Susan Cross. Dani's best friend. And you are?"
Adrian chuckled. Smart lady. No information until she knew who was asking. However, she wouldn't recognize his name. "I'm Adrian Massimino--"
"You're the one!" She shook his hand like he was her long lost friend.
Adrian arched a brow. "I take it she's mentioned me."
"Kinda. I can't believe you two went through a hurricane together."
"I have trouble believing it myself. Do you know where Dani has gone?"
"She went out to eat. You'll probably find her at Rio Rio Cantina since that's her favorite. It's about halfway down the River Walk on the right."
"Thanks,” Adrian said. “I'm sure I'll find her." He started to turn.
The short young woman with the bobbed hair gave him a peculiar look. "I've no doubt you will."
He had to admit the River Walk wasn't Broadway, but the dark cooling water and lush green trees were a paradise all their own. His steps quickened as he crossed the footbridge over the river to look for the restaurant.
He saw Rio Rio Cantina just ahead. High on the balcony, he glimpsed a bright fuchsia jacket worn by a woman with long blonde hair. His stomach tightened. It had to be Dani. But she wasn't alone. Damn.
He wasn't sure why he expected her to be by herself. Of course, she'd be with Steven. A village idiot could have figured that out
. It
didn't take her long to find him
, Adrian decided as he asked the waiter for a table upstairs toward the back. They found the perfect table. Dani's back would be to him, yet he would be able to hear everything they said.
He'd just see how happy she really was!
Dani cleared her throat and placed her hands on the table in front of her. "I was looking forward to our reunion at the beach last weekend. What happened?
Steven reached across the table and took her hand in his, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles--a sure sign she wasn't going to like what he was about to say. She was just realizing everything St
even did was a song and dance. He'd mastered the angelic look and used it with perfect timing.
"I really wanted to come, but at the very last minute Kevin and Joe, two guys I worked with, told me they had rented an Italian Villa and they wanted me to have one last fling with them."
He let her hand go, leaned back, and shrugged, then fixed his baby blues on her. "Well, baby, I couldn't turn down an offer like that. You know.” He shrugged again. “It was the last hurrah. I knew you'd understand."
Dani carefully picked up a glass of tea and took a sip. Her eyes never left his face. In the past, her eyes would have been brimming with tears by now, and she'd be hurt that he’d wanted to spend more time with his friends than with her. But that was in the past. Slowly, she set the glass down.
"You're right." Dani smiled and tilted her head to the side while she watched Steven relax again with male satisfaction. "I understand perfectly. Did you have a good time?"
"We had a blast!"
"I'm glad you did,” Dani said. “Because I enjoyed my weekend, too." She leaned forward in her chair. "And I didn't want to feel guilty that you couldn't make the trip."
"Really?” Steven gave her a strange look. “What did you do?"
Nonchalant became Dani’s middle name. "I had the pleasure of spending the weekend with another man."
"You did what?" Steven jerked the napkin out of his lap. "How could you?"
My, my, my
, Dani thought.
Evidently, when the shoe was on the other foot, it seemed to pinch Steven's toes.
His face turned beet-red.
"It was easy." Dani grabbed her purse, then stood. "I think I've lost my appetite . . . for food." She raised a meaningful brow. "And for you."
Steven stormed to his feet. "You bitch!" He gave her a none-too-gentle shove.
Dani took a step back, but Steven caught her arm. He'd completely lost his composure, that shallow façade he wore for her, she realized as she jerked away from him. A chair tipped over, crashing to the floor, and Dani caught a glimpse of someone looming threateningly over Steven.
Dani gasped, her eyes wide.
Chapter Nine
"Bitch!"
The words came at Adrian loud and clear. He jumped to his feet so fast his chair fell
backwards. In two swift moves, he advanced toward their table. Steven looked up at him, startled.
Adrian's knuckles connected with the jerk’s jaw with a satisfying crunch, and the jerk flew backwards, landing on the floor in an undignified heap.
"Don't you ever make the mistake of touching Dani again!" Adrian stepped over Steven, took a startled Danielle by the arm, and escorted her out through the patrons and down the stairs as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Once they were out of the building, Dani came out of her stunned silence. She shook his hand off her arm. "What are you doing here?" she demanded as she smoothed out her rumpled clothing.
Her cheeks matched the hot-pink jacket she wore, and Adrian liked the effect. He hadn't planned to embarrass her back in the restaurant like that; he’d just wanted to see which way the wind blew. Then that SOB had shoved her, and all bets were off. The thought of the man laying hands on Dani made Adrian want to go back and hit him again!
"Listen." He slid his hands in his pocket. "I guess I've ruined your dinner. Let me make it up to you. We can go somewhere else and eat. “Unless you want to go back and take care of your friend."
Dani shook her head. "That's over." Still, she stared at him as if he were a ghost. "There's a little restaurant up the walk that will be nice--and quiet. We can go there, I guess." She watched him intently. "You still haven't answered my earlier question."
Adrian's fingers tightened on her elbow and they started forward. Dani wondered if she were dreaming. She couldn't believe A
drian was here in San Antonio. Had he really come to see her?
"I found your purse," he said in that deep voice she remembered. “I wanted to return it.”
"You found it!" Dani looked up at him as they walked, admiring his strong chin. She couldn't perceive something as small as her purse hadn't been washed out to sea. "Where?"
He didn't get to answer the question because she nudged him toward the doorway of Café Olé. "Here's our restaurant."
"Two?" the hostess asked.
Adrian nodded and said,
"A table outside if you have it."
They waited only a minute before they were shown to a small, checkered-covered table beside the river.
After they ordered, Dani asked, "Where is my purse?"
Adrian grinned. "Back at the hotel. After being the butt of enough jokes today about carrying a purse under my arm, I decided it was best to leave it until I found you. We'll go and get it after we eat." His smile faded as he propped an elbow on the table. "Why did that jerk shove you?"
The waitress came over with their drinks. After she left, Dani's eyes shifted her gaze from the glass of tea to Adrian. "I told him I spent the weekend with you."
Adrian leaned back in his chair and gave her an odd look. "That wasn't a good idea. Especially if you want to marry the man."
"I don't."
"You don't?"
The surprised look on Adrian's face was priceless, Dani thought with satisfaction. "Guess I wised up and realized I'd always be second choice with Steven.” Dani shook her head. “I don't want that. Not anymore."
"You don't deserve to be second in anyone's book."
"Thank you," Dani said. She wanted to ask if she'd ever be first with him, but she wouldn’t push.
As they ate dinner, Adrian filled her in on how he'd found her purse and what changes
they planned for the house. He kept saying they as she didn’t believe he owned the house. Dinner ended much sooner than Dani would have liked. She didn't want to say goodbye so soon. "Let's take a walk along the River, and I'll show you my city."
"Sure." Adrian placed his napkin on the table and politely helped her up, taking her hand as they strolled along the dark, lazy river.
"Is this your first time here?"
"Yes, it is," Adrian admitted. "My business partner recently took a trip down here."
Dani started to ask what kind of business, but remembered
all too well
their earlier discussion. However, this Adrian looked so different from the man at the beach. His black shirt made him appear so suave and debonair. Tonight, she really could picture him in a boardroom taking charge.
Maybe the beach house did belong to him. Maybe he was a big time playboy who had spent the weekend with her because he’d had nothing better to do.
No. She wouldn't ever let herself think that way. She wanted him to be different.
"This is a beautiful place. I can see why you like it so much." Adrian's comment interrupted her thoughts.
"It is pretty and growing fast. We have our own basketball team, and I've heard a rumor we're going to build a big amphitheater.”
"You know, I've never been to a concert." Adrian pulled Dani aside to let a couple pass them on the narrow walkway.
She was too aware of his presence as he stood behind her. He possessed a lethal attraction she'd never expected. She couldn’t explain the deep compelling fascination she felt for him. "You're kidding. Why not?" She took his hand again and they moved on.
"I don't know." He shrugged. "I just never thought about going."
"Well, it's lots of fun. Or it can be, if you can get a good seat."