All That I Desire (25 page)

Thanks also to the handsome man walking beside her. She looked up at Rio, tall, handsome,
with a mysterious edge that had women in the lobby of the hotel turning for a second
or third look.
He’s mine,
she wanted to say. Thank goodness that when she’d blurted it out the other day, it
hadn’t scared him off. Rio didn’t want a permanent relationship. While it saddened
her, as she’d told him she was going to enjoy every second with him.

Last night was a prime example. They’d loved each other most of the night and awakened
this morning for more of the same.

“You still think we should have come early?” Rio asked as they passed the registration
desk of the hotel.

“Yes. They can’t wait to see you,” she admitted, some of her nervousness returning.
She was her father’s little girl, no matter that she was grown and gone. He still
thought she needed guidance and protection. She’d warned all of them not to ask—translation,
drill—Rio about his past or his family. But her father was a loose cannon and unpredictable
at times.

Rio took her hand. “It’ll be all right. Your parents love you.”

“They’re also overprotective, and that goes double for my father.” She almost bit
her lower lip before she stopped herself. She loved and respected her parents, but
there was no way she was going to let them ruin things between her and Rio.

Her hand tightened on his, and when he glanced down, probably thinking she was even
more worried as they neared the restaurant, she rose to her tiptoes and kissed him.
“With you, I can face anything, do anything.”

He smiled. “Of course. You’re my little warrior.”

“Works for me.” She grinned up at him.

“Come on.” He placed his hand on the small of her back and approached the maître d’.
“Reservations for Skylar Dupree.”

“Yes, sir.” The man in a black tux bowed to Skylar. “Ms. Dupree?”

“Yes,” she answered and scanned the restaurant. “My parents and grandparents are probably
already here.”

He smiled and picked up two menus. “They were just seated at one of our best tables.
It’s in a quiet area, as you requested. I’ll show you to their table.”

“Thank you.” Skylar was infinitely glad she’d requested a quiet area when she made
the reservations. She hoped her father would behave, but she wouldn’t bet on it.

They hadn’t gone five steps before Rio said, “To the far right at the round table
in the alcove.”

Skylar tried to look around the maître d’ and failed. “I’m too short.”

“Another time I might lift you up,” Rio whispered.

She giggled and glanced up at him. “I kind of like the sound of that.”

The maître d’ stepped aside. “Here you are.”

Skylar turned and saw her parents and grandparents staring at her. For a second, she
thought she might have spoken the words too loud—or perhaps she wore a look on her
face that clearly said,
I can’t wait for us to make love again.

Rio’s fingers tapping against the small of her back brought her back on track. She
realized they weren’t staring at her, they were staring at Rio. “Hi, it’s so good
to see all of you.” She hugged her maternal grandparents. “Grandfather and Grandmother,
you both look wonderful.” Next she went to her parents and rested her cheek against
each of theirs. “Mother and Father, it’s so good having you both here. You’re looking
pretty incredible yourself.”

“So do you, Skylar.” Her mother caught her hand, her smile filled with warmth. She’d
always been a beautiful woman, with thick black hair she wore in a razor cut. She
wore a soft blue Valentino suit.

Her father’s hazel eyes narrowed. Any opposing attorney knew to watch out when Beau
Dupree did that. “She’d look better in Boston.”

Behave,
she mouthed. At fifty-eight, handsome, successful in his own right, and distinguished,
her father liked doing things his way. He seemed to have forgotten that so did she.
She reached for Rio’s arm.

“Rio, I’d like you to meet my maternal grandparents, Cecil and Olivia Carrington,
and my parents, Beau and Meredith Dupree. Everyone, this is Rio Sanchez.”

“Good evening.” Rio shook hands with the men and nodded cordially to the women. They
smiled, but he could tell they were sizing him up. He pulled Skylar’s seat out, then
sat next to her at the round table.

The patient maître d’ handed them their menus. “Would you like anything to drink,
or should I send the sommelier over?”

“We’ll have sparkling water,” Skylar said.

“You usually have wine with dinner,” her father said and picked up his own red wine.

“Not for a long time, Father. How was the trip? Do you like your rooms?” she asked.

“Your father was late getting to the airport as usual.” Meredith cast a scathing glance
at her ex-husband sitting next to her. Their chairs were at least eighteen inches
farther apart than everyone else’s.

“I told you, business detained me,” Beau said, his voice crisp.

“So you said.” Meredith picked up her glass of white wine. “The rooms are lovely,
Skylar. Thank you for arranging everything. It’s so good seeing you again.”

“You look happy and beautiful,” her grandmother said, looking lovely in a toffee-colored
St. John suit.

“Thank you,” Skylar replied.

Rio felt Skylar’s leg touch his. He was aware she was telling him he was the reason;
he just hoped she didn’t keep doing that during dinner. “Have any of you been to New
Mexico before?”

There were murmurs of “no.” “First time,” her father said. “Interesting town and friendly
people. Like Boston, it’s a bit crowded.”

“Have you decided what you want to order?” Skylar looked over the top of the leather-bound
menu. “The chef is excellent.”

“Don’t let Brandon hear you say that,” Rio said.

“Why? Who’s Brandon, Rio?” Her mother placed her wine on the table.

“It’s a bit complicated, Mrs. Dupree, but Brandon Grayson is a chef and owner of the
Red Cactus restaurant. His mother is Ruth Grayson. His wife’s family owns this hotel.
He and the executive chef here have a running feud about who is the best chef.” Rio
looked at Skylar. “Brandon thinks you’re in his corner.”

Skylar smiled up at him. “He would be right, but Brandon’s restaurant is for casual
dining. He’d understand.”

“I wouldn’t bet on it,” Rio said.

Skylar just grinned up at him.

Her father cleared his throat. Skylar held up her menu. Rio slowly turned and caught
the disapproving look of Mr. Dupree. Rio’s expression clearly said he didn’t care.
Skylar’s father’s lips tightened.

“Let’s order.” Mrs. Dupree signaled the waiter. “Have you ever dined here, Rio?”

Rio’s face lost the hard look. Mrs. Dupree was willing to get to know him. “Several
times in here and too many to count in the other restaurant on the terrace. Blade’s
wife, Sierra, is Brandon’s sister. She and Faith are close friends. While the Grayson
family booth was being enlarged at the Red Cactus, they ate here a lot.”

Mr. Dupree’s frown deepened. “What have—”

“Not now, Beau,” Meredith cut in. “The waiter is here to take our order.”

Her ex snapped his mouth shut. Skylar’s shoulders slumped. Beneath the table, Rio
nudged her knee with his. She glanced up. He smiled. She smiled back and sat upright.

As Rio glanced down at his menu, he noted that Skylar’s grandparents sitting next
to him had witnessed the exchange. Her grandfather looked thoughtful; his wife, pleased.

The waiter took their food orders, asked about wine and drink orders, then withdrew.

“Can I continue now, Meredith?” Mr. Dupree asked.

“Only if you have to, Beau,” his ex came back. “Personally, I’d like to hear more
about the auction tomorrow evening. I can’t wait.”

“I’m a bit anxious myself,” Mrs. Carrington admitted. “There are a couple of things
I have my eye on.”

Her husband shook his gray head. “What if I left my checkbook and credit card at home?”

She smiled at him. “I made sure you didn’t.”

Everyone laughed, including her husband.

Rio saw Skylar in fifty years in her grandmother, still having the last word and making
him like it.

“Well,” Beau began, only to be interrupted again.

“Your salads.” The server placed the food on the table. “Appetizers will be out shortly.”

“What has your employer and his wife eating here have to do with you?” Beau asked
in a rush.

“I hardly think that’s any of your concern, Beau.” Meredith frowned.

Rio agreed, but he answered anyway. “When possible, Blade and Sierra are together.
Sierra has four bothers, including Brandon. All are married. They’re a close family
and enjoy being around each other,” Rio explained. “I’m head of Navarone security
worldwide, and Blade’s personal bodyguard.”

“Father,” Skylar said, impatience and annoyance in her voice. “You already know that.
I told all of you about Mrs. Grayson and her children when I explained about the auction.”

“She certainly did.” Her mother picked up her salad fork. “Now drop the subject and
let’s enjoy our meal.”

Beau pushed his salad aside and stared across the table at Rio. “I’d like to know
more about the man taking my daughter out.”

“Which means the private investigators you hired were too inept to find out anything,”
Rio said, his voice flat.

Skylar gasped. “Father, you didn’t.”

Beau’s uncompromising gaze swung to his daughter’s. “I love you. I’d do anything to
protect you.” His attention switched to Rio. “You’re the first man our daughter ever
mentioned more than once. Even before now, your name had come up in conversation.
Protecting her and keeping her happy is what’s important.”

“That’s why I’m still sitting here,” Rio replied evenly.

Skylar’s mother was appalled. “You’re just pushing her farther away.”

“I’m seeing to her well-being.”

“Like you saw to it by sleeping with that woman and destroying our marriage,” Meredith
snapped.

“I’ve told you that—” Her ex shoved his hand over his neatly trimmed head of hair.
“What’s the use? You only believe what you want to believe.”

“Because it’s the truth. You make me ill,” Meredith said tightly. “To think I trusted
you. Believed in you, and it was all a lie. I wouldn’t be anywhere near you, and certainly
not sitting beside you if it wasn’t for Skylar. Let her run her own life before you
mess it up any further.”

Beau braced both hands on the table. “I—”

“Please stop,” Skylar said, her voice shaky. She wanted to hide her face and crawl
out of the restaurant in embarrassment. How could he act this way? Have Rio investigated
and then try to interrogate him after she’d specifically asked him not to.

Rio’s hand covered Skylar’s, clamped tightly in her lap. His thumb gently stroked
the back of hers. She couldn’t look at him.

“Father, I’m removing your name from the guest list for the charity auction.” She
swallowed. “Good night, Mother, Grandmother, and Grandfather.”

“You can’t mean that, baby,” her father said, his handsome face a study in disbelief.
“I was just trying to protect you.”

“You went about it in the wrong way.” She stood on unsteady legs. Rio curved his arm
protectively around her shoulders. “Good night.”

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Dupree. She’ll call you and her grandparents a little later,” Rio
told them.

Her father stood, his face angry. “Now, you’re running her life and telling her what
to do?”

“You were so focused on me, you forgot that Skylar is her own woman,” Rio said quietly.
“She loves you and you hurt her. Don’t make it worse.” His arm tightening around Skylar’s
trembling shoulders, he led her from the restaurant.

*   *   *

“It’s all right, Skylar. It’s going to be all right.”

Rio had repeated the words on the way to the valet station, and after seating her
in the BMW SUV and fastening her seat belt. She hadn’t responded, just closed her
eyes and leaned back against the headrest.

Feeling helpless to soothe her misery, he got in and pulled off. She’d been looking
forward to him meeting her parents and grandparents, showing him off. He didn’t mind
for himself. He’d been judged and found lacking in the past, and it would probably
happen again.

He didn’t care what others thought of him. As the Man With No Name had taught him,
know who you are and whose you are, and then no man can make you think or feel less
of yourself. If it had been anyone but her father, Skylar would have blown him off
or put him in his place. She respected and loved her father too much to say anything
more than she had.

Uninviting him to the charity function, however, made it very plain that she was disappointed
and upset with him. He’d been shocked. Her mother angry. Her grandparents upset.

Rio kept looking at her to make sure she wasn’t crying. When he wasn’t shifting gears,
he was holding her hand. At least it wasn’t trembling any longer. He wasn’t sure if
he should talk or leave her to her own thoughts. He finally figured she’d talk when
she was ready.

He found a station on the radio that sounded like the same kind of melody as the Johnny
Mathis song they’d danced to, hoping the music would help. “We’ll be at the castle
soon. We can take a walk or sit out back or anything you want.”

Her eyes closed, and her head remained against the headrest as it had been since he’d
seated her in the car. Silence. He vividly recalled the other time when she had been
upset. She’d thought some other woman was after him.

He turned into the driveway, rumbled over the drawbridge, and stopped in front of
the castle. He went around and opened her door. “Your father didn’t bother me. Your
being upset does.”

Silence.

“Come on, Skylar.” His hand swept down her arm. “It’s all right. Talk to me.”

Her head lifted. Slowly her eyes opened. “He had no right to investigate you. None.
I can’t apologize enough.”

“You have nothing to apologize for.” He let out a relieved breath that she was talking.
“Luke made inquiries about Blade.”