Alejandro's Revenge (8 page)

‘So cold,
cara
,' he murmured. ‘Is this what your English men have done to you? You used to have such a lust for life.'

‘Whereas you—' Abby broke off before she said something unforgivable. Then, determinedly, ‘Why did you ring, Alejandro? Aren't you afraid that the Esquivals might be curious about why you're contacting me?'

‘Why should I care what my cousins think?' he replied carelessly. ‘I do not have to ask their permission to speak to an old friend.'

‘We were never friends, Alejandro,' Abby blurted, too tired to be tactful, and then shivered uncontrollably when he gave a soft laugh.

‘I am glad you agree,' he said. ‘We were not friends, we were lovers. Like me, I think, you cannot forget what we shared.'

‘We didn't share anything,' Abby broke in desperately. ‘I don't know why you're doing this, Alejandro, but I wish you'd just leave me alone.'

‘Do you?' Alejandro hesitated. ‘Is that what your brother wishes also?'

Abby gasped. ‘Leave Edward out of this.'

‘Unfortunately, I cannot.' Alejandro gave a regretful sigh. ‘Is that not why he sent for you? Because he hopes you may succeed where he has failed?'

Abby stiffened. ‘Failed?' she echoed. What was he admitting? ‘Failed at what?'

‘Ah…' Alejandro sounded as if her confusion had pleased him. ‘You do not know. I thought that must be true.'

‘Know what?'

‘That is for me to know and you to find out,' declared Alejandro tormentingly. ‘So—you will have dinner with me tomorrow evening. We will continue this discussion then,
no
?'

‘No!'

‘Oh, I think you will,
cara
,' he told her softly, and again she felt that little twinge of menace she'd felt that morning by the pool. ‘Do not make me angry, Abigail. Your brother would not like it. After all, he wants us to be—friends.'

Abby's hands trembled and she badly wanted to slam down the phone. She was no match for a man like Alejandro. She didn't know what he was or what he was capable of. He was Edward's problem, not hers. She was getting too far out of her depth.

‘Please,' she said, and she despised the beseeching note she could hear in her voice, ‘tell me what this is all about.'

‘Tomorrow evening,' said Alejandro inexorably, and she didn't know whether it was a threat or a promise. ‘I will tell Luis and Dolores that we were discussing sailing at lunch today and that I have offered to show you my boat,
sí
? They may be—surprised, but that is not your concern.'

Abby blew out a breath. ‘I'm their guest,' she protested. ‘I can't just have dinner with you. What will they think?'

‘At least you are no longer refusing to consider my proposition,' remarked Alejandro sardonically. ‘Leave the details to me,
cara
. I will see you tomorrow.
Adios.'

D
INNER
that evening was a more relaxed affair.

The robbery at the Coconut Grove apartment was the main topic of conversation, and although Edward had been dismissive of it earlier he now appeared to be as willing to talk about it as everyone else.

Or perhaps that was just because Lauren and his in-laws expected that of him, reflected Abby broodingly, aware that she was getting very cynical about her brother's motives for anything. It didn't help to see him sitting there, looking as if he was innocent of any wrongdoing, when he must know that the Esquivals believed Abby had invited herself here.

‘At least they didn't trash the place,' said Lauren fervently. She turned to her sister-in-law. ‘Perhaps you'd like to come and see it tomorrow. The music centre and the TV are missing, of course, but the rest of the apartment is okay.'

‘Which proves they were only after items they could easily sell,' observed her father, before Abby could respond. ‘Like Edward said earlier, they were most probably kids looking for ways to make money to buy drugs.'

‘I don't think they were kids,' Lauren insisted, glancing at her husband almost defensively. ‘Kids couldn't have got in without setting off the alarm.'

‘So what do you think it was?' Edward asked scornfully. ‘A professional hit?'

‘It could be.'

Lauren wasn't deterred, and Abby sensed that she had doubts about the break-in. Edward, meanwhile, was avoiding his sister's eyes, and she wished she didn't have the feeling that he had his own reasons for not pursuing that line of thought.

‘
No obstante
, I am not at all happy about Lauren returning to the apartment,' declared her mother staunchly. ‘Do you not agree, Luis? If these—thieves—can get in once, they may get in again.'

‘
Es verdad.
That's true,' agreed her husband sagely. ‘What do you think, Abigail? Have you heard that villains often return to the scene of the crime? Particularly if they think the insurance company has paid for the stolen items to be replaced,
no
?'

Abby wasn't at all happy about being put on the spot, particularly as she suspected her brother had his own reasons for wanting to return home. But Luis was waiting for her answer and she shrugged. ‘I've heard that, too,' she admitted, giving Lauren a sympathetic look. ‘But perhaps if you fitted a new alarm—'

‘That's a good idea, Papá,' said Lauren at once. ‘And if it was teenagers, as Edward thinks, they probably won't bother us again.'

‘That's what I think,' said Edward, and Abby wondered why he seemed so keen to play the incident down. Did he have something to hide? Surely he hadn't arranged to have the apartment burglarised himself.

But, no. As Abby determinedly put such thoughts aside, Luis's aunt chose to make her own contribution. ‘Why do we not all wait and see what
la policia
come up with?' she remarked mildly. ‘I am sure Abigail does not wish to spend her holiday discussing our little problems.' She paused. ‘How are you enjoying your stay,
pequeña
? Dolores tells me you and she had lunch together at La Terraza. Did you know that I used to work at La Terraza? When I was a much younger woman,
naturalmente
.' She smiled.

‘What Tia Elena means is that her husband's family used to own La Terraza,' Dolores explained shortly, clearly eager that Abby shouldn't get the wrong impression. She gave the old woman a reproving look. ‘It is a great pity that they decided to sell. These days it is making a fortune,
no
?'

‘Money is not everything, Dolores,' returned the old lady, undaunted. ‘I think you forget that sometimes.'

‘I forget nothing, Tia,' retorted Dolores quellingly. She lifted the bell beside her plate and rang it imperiously, speaking in rapid Spanish to the maid when she arrived. Then, after the girl had cleared their plates, she said, ‘Shall we go into the salon? I have asked Anita to serve coffee in there.'

Abby got the chance to talk to Lauren after they'd all adjourned to the salon. The younger girl had settled herself on a hide-covered sofa set at right angles to the huge fireplace and Abby hesitated only a second before taking the seat beside her.

She noticed that Edward didn't look particularly pleased that she'd chosen to join his wife, but that couldn't be helped. He shouldn't have told her Lauren was having an affair with Alejandro Varga if he'd wanted to keep it a secret. Besides, Abby had no intention of asking her about that. She just wanted the opportunity to gauge for herself exactly what was going on in her brother's marriage.

Lauren herself looked slightly surprised when Abby sat down, but she was too polite to offer any objection. On the contrary, she immediately struck up a conversation, asking Abby about her engagement, admiring her ring and proffering the suggestion that she and Ross ought to consider returning to Florida for their honeymoon.

Abby, knowing full well that Ross would never agree to such a thing, made some neutral rejoinder before saying lightly, ‘It seems no time since we were discussing your honeymoon, Lauren. But I suppose you and Edward are quite used to being married now.'

‘Y—e—s.' Lauren drew out the word in such a way that Abby was hardly reassured. ‘We are happy enough, I suppose. Though this has not been an easy year for us.'

‘No.' Abby nodded understandingly. ‘I suppose the accident was quite a shock.'

‘It was.' Lauren accepted a cup of coffee from the maid before continuing. ‘But that isn't what I meant.'

‘It's not?' Abby was aware that her brother was watching them with a lowering expression. She moistened her lips. ‘I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry.'

‘It's not your fault.' Lauren hesitated. ‘Oh, I suppose I should not say anything to you. But you are Edward's sister. You have a right to know.'

Abby wondered if she did. And if this was about Alejandro she didn't think she wanted to know. Though how else was she to learn the truth? She had the feeling Lauren wouldn't lie.

‘Has he said anything to you?' the younger woman persisted, and Abby had no idea how to answer her.

‘I—Edward and I haven't had a lot of time to talk about anything,' she murmured evasively. ‘What with the break-in and all.'

‘Por supuesto.'
Of course. Lauren circled the rim of her cup with a nervous finger. ‘And I suppose it is not an easy thing for him to tell you.'

This was getting worse and worse. Abby, glancing at her brother, was uneasily aware that she might have misjudged him all along. It sounded very much as if Lauren was trying to break it to her gently. Had Lauren been having an affair? And, if so, with whom?

‘You—er—you don't have to tell me if you don't want to,' Abby said quickly. ‘Honestly, I—'

‘But I want to tell you,' said Lauren firmly. ‘Perhaps you will understand my feelings better than your brother. Now that you are going to be married yourself.'

Abby wanted to say
Don't hold your breath
, but her mouth was too dry to allow more than a strangled gulp to escape her.

Lauren seemed to take her silence as acquiescence, however. Setting her cup on the low table in front of them, she said quietly, ‘You see, Edward and I have been having some—personal—problems.'

Oh, no!
Abby was convinced now that she didn't want to hear this. ‘Really…' she began again, recovering her voice. ‘I don't think I am the person you need to talk to.'

Lauren gave her a thoughtful little look. ‘Perhaps that is so,' she conceded softly. ‘I forget—things are different in your country, are they not?'

Abby didn't quite know what she meant by that, but she thought it was wiser not to probe. Obviously Lauren couldn't talk about this to her mother and father. Still, why she should think her sister-in-law might view her behaviour more sympathetically, Abby didn't know.

Or want to, she assured herself. It was bad enough having Edward unloading all his troubles onto her shoulders. She couldn't take on Lauren's as well.

‘Did I tell you Alejandro joined your mother and Abby for a drink at lunchtime?' Edward asked suddenly. He had propelled himself across the room to where they were sitting and now perched on the arm of the sofa at his wife's side. ‘He's very fond of Abby. They met at our wedding, you know.'

His wife looked up at him with narrowed eyes. ‘No, you did not tell me,' she said, a wary note entering her voice. She turned back to Abby. ‘I did not realise you knew Alejandro so well.'

‘I don't,' said Abby shortly, wondering what her brother was playing at now. ‘Edward's exaggerating.'

‘I don't think so,' he said annoyingly. ‘He was certainly delighted to renew your acquaintance yesterday, as I recall.'

Abby's eyes bored into his. ‘Mr Varga was simply being polite, that's all,' she said tersely. And then, remembering that she was supposed to be having dinner with Alejandro the following evening, she cursed Edward anew for getting her into this situation. She clenched her fists. ‘You know him better than I do.'

Edward was undaunted. ‘Do I?' he challenged. ‘I wouldn't say that. I shouldn't be at all surprised if he wants to see you again before you leave.'

Abby's face burned with embarrassment. Was he only guessing that Alejandro had been in touch with her? She could tell little from his expression, and she didn't know whether to
be glad or sorry when Dolores chose that moment to stroll across the room to join them.

‘Who wants to see you,
cara
?' she asked, touching her daughter's shoulder with a gentle hand, and Lauren looked up at her mother with some misgivings.

‘Not me, Mamá,' she said tautly. ‘Abigail. Edward has just been telling me that Alejandro had a drink with you both at lunchtime.'

‘Well, yes. He did. But I do not understand.' Dolores frowned. ‘What are you saying?'

Abby stifled a groan. In spite of the fact that her brother had presented her with the perfect opportunity to tell them all about Alejandro's invitation, she couldn't speak. Not after what Lauren had just told her. Not after she had virtually admitted that she was involved with another man.

‘I was just saying that it was possible that—Alejandro—' and, although Abby was dismayed at his audacity, she sensed the effort it took for Edward to use his name ‘—that he might like to see Abby again before she leaves,' he continued, his words dropping into the sudden silence like pebbles into a still pool. ‘What do you think, sweetheart?' He laid a possessive hand on his wife's arm, as if challenging her mother's protection. ‘Didn't you get the feeling that he was unusually pleased to see her the other day?'

‘But Abigail hardly knows Alejandro,' protested Dolores, before her daughter could speak.

‘They spent some time together when Abby came over for the wedding,' Edward countered, despite the look his sister cast his way. ‘And now that he's divorced the situation is different. There's no reason why they shouldn't be friends.'

Dolores was not pleased. ‘Alejandro is a busy man,' she said tightly. ‘Abigail should not be deceived by his very obvious charm.' She turned to Abby. ‘I'm sorry if this sounds unfeeling, Abigail. But Alejandro can't help flirting with the ladies.' She forced a smile to soften her words. ‘He's very naughty sometimes, but I'm afraid he treats us all the same.'

‘Not all of us, Mamá,' Lauren contradicted, glancing up at
her husband, and Abby wondered if that was a tacit admission of her own guilt or something else. ‘And we don't know what Alejandro thinks of Abigail. We are not in his confidence.' She turned her dark eyes on her sister-in-law now. ‘Perhaps we should ask her.'

Abby hadn't expected this. ‘I'm not in his confidence either,' she averred quickly. ‘Like your mother says, I hardly know him.'
And what I do know, I don't like,
she finished silently, wishing Edward would stop embarrassing her. ‘Um—would you mind if I said goodnight now? It's been a long day and I'm afraid my body's still working on London time.'

 

Abby spent the following morning with Lauren and her mother, visiting the Coconut Grove apartment.

The two women seemed to think last night's discussion about Alejandro required no further explanation, and Abby couldn't help a certain frisson of resentment that they had dismissed any connection between her and Alejandro out of hand.

Not that she wanted them to think that she was attracted to him, she assured herself firmly. She had quite enough to deal with as it was.

She would have found Coconut Grove itself delightful if she'd been more in the mood to appreciate it. The district was one of Miami's oldest, with lots of fabulous shops and boutiques and restaurants crammed into a comparatively small area. She guessed it would really come alive after nightfall, when the old-fashioned streetlamps were lit and the music swelling out of its bars and cafés took on a darker rhythm. But even in daylight it possessed a warmth and character that was different from even its closest neighbours.

Edward and Lauren's apartment was part of a restored complex surrounding a central open-air mall. Although the old buildings had been extensively modernised inside, outside they maintained their essentially Spanish appearance. Stucco-washed walls and tiles in different colours; palm trees growing
in pots in the courtyard; narrow wooden balconies with white-painted rails.

If you could overlook the evidence that the place had been dusted for fingerprints, the apartment itself was cool and attractive. A large living area opened onto one of the balconies Abby had seen from below, and Lauren was quick to point out that they could see the tropical gardens and the marina from their windows. Adjoining the living room was a small kitchen, with every conceivable domestic appliance, but Abby guessed from its appearance that her brother and his wife seldom cooked at home.