Evenings at the Argentine Club (31 page)

He stood abruptly, facing her, but not particularly looking at her. “Listen, I’m going to go for a drive.”

A bit stunned, she stepped back. “Where?”

“I just need some air.”

Air? He was sitting outside. “Are you okay?”

“Fine.” He leaned forward, dropped a quick kiss on her lips, and left.

Victoria wasn’t sure what to think about his strange behavior. Was it just that it was time to move on and he didn’t know
how to let her down easy? Once the house sold he would leave, and maybe he felt guilty about that. Or was he just worried?
Victoria stood outside long after he left, playing different scenarios in her mind, until she finally snapped out of it, deciding
that it wasn’t doing her any good trying to guess what was going on in his mind. Instead she went inside and made some dinner.
Then she went to bed—his bed. Alone.

Tonight was one of those nights Eric wanted to be alone. He drove to Hollywood Boulevard and stopped at a touristy burger
joint with flashing pink and baby blue neon signs, loud music inside, and way too many people crammed into one place. He had
a greasy bacon cheeseburger, fries, and a vanilla shake. He people-watched through the glass window as he ate, not really
seeing anything but a blur of humanity.

When a house went up for sale, he always started to question everything. Had he spent too much? Had he taken too long on the
project? Had he made the right choices? Always caused a little edginess inside him until the house finally sold.

But it was more than that this time. As soon as the sign went up outside, he started to feel sick to his stomach. Something
was wrong. But what? He knew he had taken too long on this remodel. Truth was, he didn’t want to finish. He was having too
great a time with Victoria and being back in Burbank. The house should have been sold by October, but he’d dragged his feet
and now he might be stuck with it until the new year.

Still, that wasn’t such a big deal. An extra house payment or two wouldn’t kill him. The real problem was that it was almost
over. He and Victoria would need to start looking for a new place to live soon.

The plan had originally been that he’d go back to his mother’s house, and if he didn’t find a new property to buy he’d leave
town and return to Austin, where real estate wasn’t as over-inflated. Victoria would get her own place. They’d shake hands
one final time and agree to get together next time he was in town. But that was before. Shit. Way before.

He took out his wallet and laid a few dollars on the table and left, then walked down the street toward his truck. Who was
he kidding? He’d expected—well,
expected
was too strong, maybe
hoped
—he’d hoped that when she moved into the house, they’d get sexually involved. Why the hell not? He was single, she was single.
And he was attracted to her.

But he and Victoria had started something special that went beyond a sexy little romp he could walk away from. Now they were
supposed to go their separate ways because it was time to sell the house? That was crazy. He had to talk to her, but he wasn’t
sure what to say. Maybe after Thanksgiving, they could have a chat about their future. He didn’t want to ruin the holiday
by bringing all that up now. As he reached his truck he saw a little shop with scarfs and wallets and all sorts of fancy bags.
He went inside and asked the woman to help him choose a nice purse. He’d rather buy her some lingerie, but this would do.
And some flowers, he decided. He’d apologize for being a moody ass, tell her he needed some time to think about his business.
He wouldn’t admit that it was because his life was one big question mark right now and he was fucking miserable.

When he got home, she was in his bed. He woke her up with a kiss.

“Hey,” she said in her cute sleepy voice.

“I went shopping,” he said, and gave her the flowers and store bag.

She sat up in bed and frowned, the blankets and comforter dropping to her waist. “Shopping?” She rubbed her eyes.

“I didn’t want you to be mad at me. It’s a bribe.”

“But I’m not mad at you.” She peeked inside the shopping bag and pulled out the Louis Vuitton purse, wallet, and key chain.
Her eyes grew to the size of golf balls. “Eric… oh, my God. What did you do? Cheat on me? This must have cost you a fortune.”

Yeah, he’d almost fainted when the girl gave him the total. He hoped she would keep this for the rest of her life. He smiled.
“I’m just sorry for walking out tonight, like I did. I wanted to be alone. Wanted to think.”

She turned concerned eyes on him, her gifts completely forgotten. “What’s wrong? Whatever it is, you can talk to me.”

“I will, but not tonight.”

“Is it me? Are you—?”

“You’re perfect. It’s just… business. The house. I’m a little stressed.”

“Stressed,” she said, as if she knew there was more to it than that.

“Yeah.”

She sat there, just looking at him. Waiting. Finally she nodded. “I can relieve your stress,” she said, lowering her eyelids,
a sexy invitation that had him immediately aroused.

He pushed the items he’d purchased to the floor and moved the blankets aside. He climbed into bed with her. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. If you had said that to begin with, we could have taken care of it hours ago, and saved you a lot of money.” She wrapped
her arms around him. “Though I do love the bribes. Great taste.”

“Thanks.” He reached between them and pulled her nightgown off. “I’ll remember that next time.”

His hands covered her breasts. She placed her hands over his. “Hey. I’m serious, though. I’m happy to give you alone time,
or to listen, or to hold you if that’s what you need. Just tell me, okay?”

God, he loved her. “I need
you
.”

“You can have me.”

Gratefully, he lost himself in her. In her kisses, in her caresses, in her body. And he didn’t care if he never got out of
this bed or moved out of this house. He just didn’t care anymore.

L
ucia prepared Thanksgiving dinner, going all out this year. With Eric home, Victoria at his side, and Jaqueline joining them,
her house was full of the people she loved most. Eric and Antonio watched football while Victoria and Jaqueline helped out
with the last-minute preparations.

During dinner, they bragged about the wonderful cruise.

“I hope you enjoyed it, because you’re never going anywhere without me again,” Antonio teased her. Though she was sure he
wasn’t really teasing.

“We wanted to take more trips together. Once a year to renew our spirits.”

“Your spirit is going to clash seriously with mine if you decide to do that,” he said.

Jaqueline changed the subject, describing the feeling of being surrounded by water. “I think I should have chosen to live
closer to the ocean in my life. I would have felt more at peace.”

“It’s never too late,” Eric said.

“Oh, honey,” Jaqueline said. “It’s too late for me.”

“Why? Tell me your dream house on the beach and I’ll find it for you.”

Jaqueline laughed, but then played along. “Okay, well, it’s on the beach.”

“Okay,” he said, and laughed.

“I mean
on
the beach. It’s small, but comfortable, but sort of rustic. Has a fireplace made of river rock. A nice kitchen with a breakfast
nook. A couple of bedrooms. And only one story,” she said. “Oh, and it has a small yard for a little flower garden.”

Eric listened and ate as she spoke. “Easy enough.”

“Then every morning I can go for a walk on the beach. I could even get a little dog to walk with me.”

Lucia enjoyed Jaqueline’s daydream. “Don’t forget that you can always invite your good friend over on the weekends to walk
with you.”

Everyone laughed.

Jaqueline enjoyed spending Thanksgiving with Lucia and Antonio, but it wasn’t the same as cooking for her family. Carmen called
her earlier that day promising that she’d be home for Christmas. She had a cold and would be spending Thanksgiving alone in
bed. Jaqueline wanted to fly out to Pennsylvania and make sure she ate and took care of herself. She even mentioned it to
her, but Carmen told her she was being silly. That it was just a cold and that she’d be fine in a few days.

As she and Lucia cleaned up, Victoria and Eric snuggled on the couch. He continually whispered in her ear and made her laugh.
He never let her out of his sight for long, and always seemed to make an effort to touch her.

“What do you think about Eric and Victoria?” Jaqueline asked Lucia.

“You know I think it’s wonderful.”

“Do you think they’re in love?”

“Or do I think they’re just playing house?” Lucia asked. She wiped the dishes dry and put them away.

“Exactly.”

“Doesn’t make any difference.” She placed the towel on the rack. “As long as they’re happy.”

“I don’t agree. Happiness comes and goes. Love and commitment makes you stay together during the times when things aren’t
so happy.”

“Does it really?” Lucia asked, lifting an eyebrow that reminded her that even love and commitment ran its course in time.

“Yes,” she said stubbornly.

“I knew I loved Antonio from the first day I met him. How about you and Victor?”

“I didn’t love him right away. I’m not sure I even liked him.” She smiled when she remembered how cocky and annoying he was.

“I think the kids have loved each other since they were… well, kids. Not like now, of course, but they’ve always been so perfect
together.”

Jaqueline looked past the door into the living room. She watched them sit side by side on the couch and wondered at how perfect
things could be in a world where a generation of young people thought pretending to be in love was the same as the real thing.

She left soon afterward, leaving the two couples to enjoy coffee and dessert. She parked in the driveway and glanced at the
garage. Victor stood at the side door of the garage.

“Happy Thanksgiving,” he called.

Through a lump in her throat, she thanked him and wished him the same. “Did you eat?” she asked.

“Oh yeah,” he said. “I bought a turkey dinner from the grocery store. It had everything, and it was good.”

Jaqueline’s heart ached, knowing he’d spent Thanksgiving alone.

“Not as good as yours, of course,” he added.

“Do you want to… come inside for coffee?”

“Sure,” he said.

She unlocked the house and they walked in. She went into the kitchen and he followed. He sat at the kitchen table. The sight
of him at the table looked so familiar she almost started crying right there and then.

“I heard you went on a nice cruise.”

She turned away and started making the coffee. “Yes.”

“Did you like it?”

“Beautiful.”

“Good.” He tapped his fingers on the table. “I talked to Carmen this morning. She’s sick.”

“I know. I told her to get some rest.”

“She promised to come home for Christmas,” Victor said.

“It’ll be wonderful to see her.” Jaqueline sat at the table and waited for the coffee to drip into the carafe. “Have you spoken
to Victoria?”

“Yes.”

“I’m glad to hear that. She needs you in her life, Victor.”

“I’m sorry I told her to move out. I never thought she’d move in with that man.”

“They put that house up for sale. Maybe she’ll get her own place now.”

Victor scowled. “I doubt it.”

“Why?”

“She told me she loves him.”

Jaqueline stared wide-eyed at Victor. Victoria hadn’t told
her
that. “Love? She used that word?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, boy.”

Victor smiled, then stood and started pouring the coffee.

“Oh, I’ll do that.”

“No, stay there. I’ll do it.” He poured both their cups and placed them on the table.

Neither of them spoke as they added sugar and cream.

Then he stared at her with his smoky gray eyes, searching and warm. Jaqueline stared back. He looked away first.

“The restaurants are almost finished. Except for the interior.”

“Great.”

“I’d love it if you came to see them on opening day.”

“Of course I’ll go. I’d love to.”

“Are you still planning a trip to Argentina?”

“I don’t know. I’d like to go and see what our country looks like after so many years. Walk the streets that I did as a child.
See our flag flying proudly in the capital. But I don’t need to go to figure things out anymore.”

He drank his coffee. “No?”

“No, my life isn’t there anymore. It’s here.” She wanted to say
with you,
but she wasn’t sure it was with him anymore.

“I feel like I should apologize about that.”

“About bringing me here? No. I’ve had a good life here with you and the girls.”

“But not what you thought it would be. Away from your family and friends.”

“I made new friends.”

He nodded and gazed at her for a long time again.

“Besides,” she said, her voice cracking, “nothing ever turns out the way you think it will. That doesn’t make it bad. Just
different.”

He cradled his coffee cup, not meeting her eyes anymore. Then he stood. “I’d better go. Thanks for the coffee.”