All That I Desire (26 page)

“But I bet he wasn’t sneaky about it,” she said, her eyes narrowed angrily.

“No,” Rio admitted. “I think her entire family pretty much let Blade know they were
watching him. I think Shane and Paige’s mother had a talk as well.”

“Their families probably didn’t try to stop them from dating Shane or Blade. Or interrogate
the men at dinner,” Skylar said.

Rio gently cupped her face. “I’m not sure that would have worked with Sierra or Paige;
although she’s quiet, she not weak. Otherwise she and Shane wouldn’t be together.
When a family loves you, sometimes they overstep.”

“I’m not such an idiot that I can’t tell when a man is trying to con me. Father should
know that!”

“Then you’ll just have to convince him otherwise. You made a good start tonight by
canceling his invitation.” He almost smiled at the memory.

“I never expected he’d do anything like that. I wanted them to get to know you, you
to know them.” She leaned her head against his. “Instead, I was embarrassed and angry.”

“There’s no reason to be.” He lowered his hands and helped her out of the car. “Check
your phone, I’m sure you have calls.”

“I didn’t feel it vibrate,” she said, but she opened her small purse and picked up
her cell phone. “Five calls. Mother and Father each called twice. My grandparents
once.”

“Let’s go inside and you can call them while I fix you something to eat.” Catching
her hand, he started up the steps.

“I’m not calling Father until he apologizes to you.”

Rio entered the code and opened the front door. “If you don’t call him, how will you
give him a chance to apologize? He doesn’t have my number.”

She stopped. “You sound like you want me to forgive him.”

He placed his hands on her shoulders and stared down at her. “Skylar, it isn’t in
you to hold a grudge against those you love. You’ll be miserable if you try. So sooner
or later, you’re going to have to talk to him. It might as well be now.”

“I can try,” she stubbornly said.

“Come on.” He started toward the kitchen. In the great room, he saw Blade and Sierra
curled up on the long sofa watching a movie. “Maybe I won’t have to cook if Sierra
left any of the food Martin prepared.”

Sierra’s dark head popped up. “Martin cooked a fantastic dinner for us. I don’t think—”
She stopped when they neared and she saw Skylar’s miserable face. Sierra stood, her
questioning gaze going to Rio.

“Maybe Sierra should tell you what overprotective Brandon and Pierce thought of Blade
while I raid the kitchen.” Rio kissed Skylar on the top of her head and kept walking.

“They hated my guts, especially Brandon.” Blade got to his feet and chuckled. “Luke
and Morgan were a little bit more restrained, but Luke made it pretty clear that if
I messed up he’d be standing on my doorstep.”

Sierra rounded the sofa, hooked her arm through Skylar’s, and followed Rio toward
the kitchen. “Brandon and Pierce were pitiful. You should have heard them go on and
on about Blade’s reputation, as if I was a ninny. They actually thought about trying
to keep me in Santa Fe instead of entering into the selection process for the position
of executive Realtor at Navarone Place in Dallas.”

“What happened?” Skylar asked.

“Mama,” Sierra said simply. “She said I could go. We might be grown and gone, but
we still listen to her.”

“As I understand it, there was a meeting and a caveat to Sierra’s going to Dallas,”
Blade said. “They would be watching me and if I caused her any pain, they’d be there
and I’d regret it until the day I died.”

“Family can be a blessing, but they can also make you want to send them to another
planet to live,” Sierra said.

“My father would be on the first flight,” Skylar said tightly.

“Good timing.” Rio placed a plate with a thick slice of prime rib, red potatoes, and
broccoli on the table. Bread and butter were already there. “I’ll get you something
to drink.”

“I’m not hungry,” Skylar murmured.

“Sit down, Skylar,” Sierra urged. “I’m trying to picture this new Rio. Perhaps the
next time Martin is away or on vacation, Rio can do double duty.”

Rio placed the glass of lemonade on the table. “As long as you do the grocery shopping,
wash and chop the vegetables, set the table, clear the table, wash the dishes, and
do a few other things to help.”

Sierra crossed her arms. “You’re good at multitasking. Why can’t you do it all?”

Rio crossed his. “Because you’re going to be doing it.”

“We’re missing the movie.” Taking Sierra’s hand, Blade pulled her from the kitchen.

Skylar finally smiled. “You and Sierra don’t give an inch, and Blade loves both of
you.”

“I like that smile.” He sat in the chair in front of the plate and held out his arm
for her to sit in his lap. “Come and sit down so we can eat.”

She placed her purse on the stone counter and sat on Rio’s lap. He hugged her, kissed
her cheek. “It’s going to be all right.”

“I believe it when you say it,” she said softly.

He kissed her again. “Eat. You were running around so much today you missed lunch.”

“I thought I’d eat—” She jumped up and reached for her purse. “I might not be the
only one that didn’t eat.” She punched in her mother’s cell phone number. “Mother.”
Skylar reached for Rio’s hand as soon as her mother answered. “I’m fine. Rio and I
were about to eat and I thought about you and the grands.” She shook her head. “If
you don’t order room service, I’m going to be annoyed with you. Besides, you want
to be at your best tomorrow evening.

“Yes, I arranged a car to pick all of you up so you can arrive a bit early and view
the pieces unencumbered.” Skylar bit her lower lip. “I’m not sure I can talk to Father
tonight, but I’ll call the grands. Yes.” She smiled up at Rio. “I’ve already apologized.
Being such a great, understanding guy, he understood. I love you, too. Good night.”

Releasing Rio’s hand, she called her grandparents. “I’m fine. Did you enjoy your meal?
You left Father at the table? I’m glad you ordered room service. Yes, we were about
to eat. Love you both. Good night.” She ended the call, then rubbed her forehead.

Rio massaged her stiff shoulders. “Go on and call him.”

“Grandmother said when I walked away, he just stood there staring after me, then sat
back down. She said the only time she’d seen him look so lost was the day Mother filed
for divorce.” She leaned against Rio’s chest. “They all left him sitting alone at
the table.”

“You won’t be able to sleep—and like you told your mother, you need to be at your
best tomorrow.” He lifted her hand. “Put him out of his misery.”

“Why do you care?”

“Because you care. I’ll reheat the food while you call.” Rio picked up the plate and
went to the microwave.

Skylar stared at the phone. She was worried about him. Despite what he’d done, she
loved him and knew he hadn’t acted maliciously. Then there was the very real threat
against her life. She didn’t want his last memory of her to be of her angry and walking
away. She punched in his number.

“Skylar, baby. I’m sorry—I…” He blew out a breath.

“You should be. The man you tried to investigate and browbeat is the reason I’m calling.
Unlike you, he knows and understands me.”

There was a long silence. “Is he with you now?”

“Yes, and he’s not going anyplace!”

“Could you put on the speaker, please? I want him to hear this.”

She glanced at Rio. “Why?”

“To apologize.”

She put the phone on speaker and went to Rio. “You’re on speaker.”

“Rio, I’m sorry. What I did was uncalled for. I lost her mo … Never mind. I just miss
her and I don’t want to lose her, too.”

“She loves you, Mr. Dupree. Neither I nor anyone else will ever be able to change
or diminish that love. I think she has something else she wants to say.”

“What is it, baby?”

“You can come tomorrow night. And don’t you dare make me regret my decision. The auction
means a lot to people I care deeply about, and some well-deserving students,” she
told him.

“Thank you. I’ll arrange my own transportation. Meredith…” He sighed again. “Thanks
for calling.”

“Did you eat?”

“No. Just sat there like a fool as the waiters placed everyone’s order on the table.
Which might be apt.”

She’d never heard him sound so down. “Like I told Mother, order room service.”

“You think she listened?”

There it was again, the deep concern her father always had for her mother. “You still
care about her, don’t you?” She’d never had the nerve to ask before.

“Of course, she’s your mother,” he answered.

He’d evaded, but what else had she expected from one of the best lawyers in the country?
“Good night, Father.”

“Good night, and thanks again. I love you, Skylar.”

“I love you, too, Father. Good night.” She ended the call and heard the ding of the
microwave. For a moment she just stood there, then put the phone back in her purse.

“Come here.” Rio extended his arm.

She went to him, curving her arms around his waist and placing her head on his chest.
“I think Father still loves Mother. He wouldn’t admit it.” She lifted her head. “You
were right. He sounded miserable. Mother has her parents with her. He has no one.”

“You can have the world and it still won’t help the ache of loneliness,” he said quietly.

“I understand that now.” She rubbed her finger across his lower lip. “I miss you when
you’re gone, and nothing else can fill that void except you.”

“One day I’ll be gone.”

Skylar ignored the pain in her heart, and lifted her lips to his. “But you’re here
now.”

*   *   *

Later that night, Rio lay awake with his arms around Skylar’s shoulders as she lay
with her arms draped loosely around his neck, one of her legs thrown across his. Before
Skylar, he’d never slept with a woman, never stayed longer than the act of intimacy.
He’d never wanted to. He’d simply engaged in a biological need. And never the same
woman twice.

Even before he began working for Blade, women were never difficult to find. He was
in his teens when he realized he presented them a challenge—bending him to their will.
More often than not, he walked away. The Man With No Name had taught Rio that a man
who couldn’t control his baser needs would never control his destiny and would always
be at the mercy of someone else.

Holding Skylar while she slept, watching over her, taking care of her, he felt a peace
and true contentment for the first time in his life. The oddity was that he hadn’t
realized anything had been missing in his life. Before Skylar, he could have named
nothing that he wanted and didn’t have or have access to.

Blade had the billions, but he was extremely generous and Rio and Shane had access
to anything he owned. No questions asked. Money wasn’t an issue, nor was holding his
own around the wealthiest people in the world.

The woman sleeping in his arms, sprawled halfway on top of him as if ensuring he didn’t
slip out of bed and leave her, was. Even before their first kiss, he’d realized as
much.

He was stuck on her father’s comment that she had mentioned Rio before. Of course,
he’d known she watched him, but not that she had mentioned him to her parents. As
he’d imagined, she wanted more than an affair. She wanted what he couldn’t give her:
marriage and happily ever after.

He had no idea how a marriage worked, how to compromise. Yet he’d walk through the
fires of hell before he’d hurt her. Once he nailed Tennyson’s hide to the wall and
the men he’d hired, Rio would take one day at a time with Skylar.

If he felt that either of them was in danger of getting in over their heads, he’d
walk away. He’d give his life to save her, but he’d never ruin her life to have her.

Chapter 17

Saturday morning dawned bright and clear. By seven, Skylar had eaten a quick breakfast
with Rio and iPad in hand met with Patterson, Rio, and the men he’d assigned to mingle
with the guests and guard the entry doors of the castle.

“No food or drink will be allowed past the doors into here. There’ll be wait staff
on one side of the doors to take those items and wait staff on the other with drinks
and finger foods when they leave,” Skylar said. “Stationed around the room will be
students from St. John’s Music Department with computers connected to the Web site
to assist with bids. Or the guests can do it themselves.”

She pointed to a large screen on the wall. “The items are listed alphabetically as
they are in the catalog and will be updated as quickly as possible so bidders can
easily see if their bid has been topped. Between eight thirty and nine, we’ll clear
this room of guests so chairs can be brought in. Everyone will come back at nine when
I, with the help of an auctioneer, will go through the bids. If no one tops a bid,
we’ll move on to the next item. Any questions?”

There were head shakes and murmurs of no. “If you think of anything later, I’ll be
the one running around like the Energizer Bunny.” She laughed, and everyone laughed
with her.

“Although the invitation said seven, we know some will come early to beat the rush.
For those of you in here, please be on duty by six thirty. The main dining room is
where the buffet will be set up with tables and seating. Dancing will be in the ballroom
next door.” She glanced at the house manager. “I’ve coordinated with Mr. Patterson
for you to eat at six in the small dining room.”

The room erupted in applause. Skylar did a little curtsy. “Thank you. Rio.”

Rio stepped forward. He wasn’t smiling now, and neither were his men. “We’ve already
talked this morning. I expect each of you to be on high alert. With family and friends
coming in before the guests, it’s going to be an almost constant stream of vehicles
and people. No one gets on this property or in this house without clearance. You know
what to do. That’s all.”

The men piled out of the room.