Fierce Passion (39 page)

Ana held Alejandro’s arm. “Lamoreaux sent me several presents, including Romeo and Juliet. You can’t see the chauffeur’s face in any of the shots, but he doesn’t look anything like the man who just brought me home, does he?”

Alejandro leaned against the counter to study the images. “No, this is a taller man, broader in the shoulder and more muscular. He’s tucking his chin to hide his face. He could have been the man who came to the hospital.”

“You think so? It makes me wonder what prompted Lamoreaux to hire a new chauffeur. Thank you, Henry. Let’s go upstairs and decide what to do.”

As the elevator doors closed, Alejandro pulled her into a lingering kiss. “Were you trying to scare me to death this morning?”

“No, that’s not my idea of fun.” Ana waited until Fatima had made coffee before she explained how uncomfortable she’d become working with Lucien Lamoreaux. “There was nothing unusual about today’s shoot, but he’s a wealthy man who could have backed Jaime Campos’s nudes, although that doesn’t mean he had anything to do with the murder, does it?”

Fatima brought a plate of hazelnut meringue cookies to the dining table and surveyed Alejandro with a coldly disapproving glance before returning to the kitchen.

“What did you tell her?” he whispered.

“The truth, but that’s a story for another day. Do you think there’s a reason to call Montoya, or should I wait to see what I can discover tomorrow?”

“I don’t know which would be worse, calling Montoya or for you to risk going back.” He reached for her hand. “That Lamoreaux has Mapplethorpe photos might merely be a coincidence, but that he’s hired a new chauffeur could be significant. Montoya could get information on the former chauffeur that might lead somewhere. We ought to tell him.”

“I’d hate to go to the police station.” She picked up one of the light meringues and took a bite of the heavenly fluff. “These are so good, Fatima. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” the housekeeper called from the kitchen.

After worrying about Ana all day, Alejandro had no appetite for sweets. “Let’s make him come here. I still have his number.”

“Let me talk to him.” She gave the detective a call to inquire about the case, and when he had nothing new to report, she told him she might have discovered something. He came directly to her home.

Dressed in dark gray, he looked as smugly proper as ever and paced while Ana described her newfound suspicions about Lucien Lamoreaux. She handed him the limo’s license plate number, and he nodded thoughtfully. “We weren’t able to get clear prints from the clipboard the man dropped at the hospital, but it’s possible he thought we could and left town. Thank you for the limousine license. I know just how to use it. Tomorrow an officer will go to Lamoreaux’s apartment to inquire about unpaid traffic tickets. They’ll have your address and a time when you were receiving gifts, so a ticket could be plausible. Lamoreaux will undoubtedly claim to know nothing about any traffic tickets, and the officer will inquire about his chauffeur.” He stopped and turned toward her and Alejandro.

“Go back and work with him again tomorrow so he won’t connect you with an investigation of his chauffeur.”

“I don’t think that’s wise,” Alejandro argued. “Maybe Lamoreaux is deep into the porn industry. He could be far more dangerous than a women’s shoe designer.”

“You could come with me,” Ana suggested. “Lucien asked about you today, so he wouldn’t be surprised if you were with me.”

Alejandro glanced between them. “What do you want me to do, search the place while you’re working?”

“No, absolutely not,” Montoya replied. “Just be there so Ana will feel safe while our investigation continues.”

“Ana shouldn’t be used as bait.”

“Of course not,” Montoya exclaimed. “You brought me this information, and I’m pursuing it. Ana won’t be in any danger.”

Alejandro looked at her and shook his head. “I have a very bad feeling about this.”

Things got out of hand for them so often, Ana knew exactly how he felt. “Please give us tonight to think about it, Lieutenant. I’ll let you know what we decide in the morning.”

“I trust you to make the right decision. We need to solve Mr. Campos’s case before anyone else is harmed.”

Alejandro showed the detective to the door and then strolled into the kitchen to talk with Fatima. “I deserve whatever name you might call me, but Ana and I have declared a truce. For her sake, I’d appreciate it if you’d pretend cool indifference rather than open hostility whenever I’m here.”

“It will be a struggle,” Fatima answered tersely.

Certain that was all he could get from her, he rejoined Ana in the living room. He removed her shoe and rubbed her foot. “Despite your suspicions about Lamoreaux, how did the shoot go?”

She wiggled her toes. “That feels wonderful. I looked at it as a day of work, which I need. It went well in that respect. The French photographer was very good, and had I been anywhere else, I’d have been happy with the job.”

“I’m going with you tomorrow, but for now, I need to get back to work. I’ll call you later about dinner.”

“I’d like to stay in.”

He leaned down to kiss her. “I’ll bring dinner.”

When he left, Fatima came to the doorway and shook her head. “I know,” Ana confided. “If I’ve caught him in a lie, he’ll work doubly hard to keep me from catching him in the next one.”

“Or the following dozen,” Fatima emphasized.

Ana bit into another cookie. “I like the hazelnut flavor.”

“I don’t care what flavor Alejandro is—just be careful not to take too large a bite.”

Knowing she already had, Ana felt her cheeks fill with a bright blush.

Chapter Nineteen

Alejandro disliked Lucien Lamoreaux the instant he set eyes on him. Ana had called the Frenchman that morning to let him know she wouldn’t need his chauffeur, but the designer’s eyes widened as they came through the door.

“It’s Mr. Vasquez, isn’t it? How wonderful that you could come with Ana. The most provocative poses come to mind. Would you mind joining her in a few shots?”

“It’s Alejandro, and that depends on how provocative you care to get,” he replied with as charming a smile as he could fake. “Ana told me she wouldn’t mind if I came along if I promised to stay out of the way.”

Lucien offered his hand and looked Alejandro up and down. “The suit’s handsome on you. Maybe we could have you dancing, and we’ll focus on Ana’s shoe. There’s a new rack of clothing for you, my dear. Choose whatever you like, and Nanette will help you.”

The photographer came forward. “Pierre Duvernay. Ana is the most photogenic model I’ve ever worked with, and you look as though you might be equally good in front of a camera.”

“As long as I’m here,” Alejandro responded with a careless shrug. “Just tell me where to stand.”

Lucien opened a shoebox and removed a gold lace shoe. “Shall we do Cinderella? Your arm would hide Ana’s cast.”

“Fine, as long as I don’t have to wear tights.”

Lucien and Pierre laughed, and the designer assured him he wouldn’t need a wardrobe change. Alejandro was grateful for the relaxed mood, but he found it difficult to stand close to Lucien. Miguel Aragon had been significantly older than Ana, and not having grown up with a father, she might be drawn to older men. Lucien’s blue eyes and graying hair were a handsome combination, and Frenchmen were known for their charm. He silently cursed himself for being jealous, but if Ana weren’t so suspicious of Lucien, the designer might pose some real competition. The baby held Ana to him, but he shouldn’t have to rely on a child to keep her faithful.

When Ana appeared in a red ruffled gown, Pierre placed her in a gold occasional chair upholstered in silver brocade. “Turn toward me and, Mr. Vasquez, Alejandro, if you’ll kneel and hold the shoe. It’s the shoe we want to feature.”

Ana pulled the ruffled hem of her gown over her cast. “Wait a minute. Alejandro needs a touch of makeup so his skin won’t shine.”

“You’re right,” Pierre replied. “Nanette, give him a light dusting.”

Alejandro followed the makeup artist into Lucien’s bedroom and immediately noticed the Mapplethorpe photos. He sat down as directed but flinched at the first brush of powder. He raised his hands to his nose. “Sorry, I have to sneeze.”

Nanette stepped back until he’d finished. “Your dark, dangerous look sells cologne and whiskey. You should let my husband do your portfolio.”

“Thank you, but this is the only day I’ll model.”

“What a shame. There, you look fine now.”

Alejandro followed her into the living room. “I love the Mapplethorpe prints. He knew how to make a calla lily look erotic, and he did amazing nudes.”

“Indeed he did,” Lucien replied. “Now let’s try again. How does he look to you, Ana?”

She smiled at Alejandro. “Very fine, as always. How much of us will be in the ad? Just the shoe, or both of us?”

“Both of you look too good not to use. Give me your best smile, and Alejandro, you have a fine profile and should concentrate on her foot and ignore the camera.”

Alejandro gazed up at Ana. “You should have warned me I might have to pose.”

She raised a finger to her lips. “Hush.”

He slid the shoe on her foot more than a dozen times before Pierre and Lucien were satisfied. “Now stand together as though you were dancing. Do you want another shoe, Lucien?”

“No, let’s use the gold again and switch for the next pose.”

Alejandro held Ana tightly so she wouldn’t fall, but they’d never danced together, and now he wished they had. “We need some music,” he whispered in her ear.

“Hum to yourself, but if you make me laugh, we’ll be here all day.”

“I’ll be serious,” he promised, but it wasn’t easy, and the tunes he hummed in his mind were all silly jingles for products he never used.

Although he appeared in only half the photos they took that morning, he was relieved when he finally had time to sit and observe. As promised, he kept quiet and was impressed by how easily Ana summoned a gorgeous smile on cue. It reminded him of the day he’d discovered her true identity. He’d thought every minute they’d spent together had been a cruel hoax, and if Jaime hadn’t been murdered, he might not have seen her again. With his father’s influence, the damning pieces had fit together perfectly, but Ana had blown them apart with the truth.

They were preparing to stop for lunch when a blue-uniformed policeman arrived at the door. Alejandro winked at Ana, and she responded with a slight nod.

The conversation at the front door could be easily overheard. “I’d no idea my chauffeur had any parking tickets. I’ll take care of them today,” Lucien said.

“It’s really the chauffeur’s responsibility,” the policeman insisted. “May I speak with him?”

“I’m sorry, but he’s left my employ.”

The policeman scribbled in his notebook. “I should make a note of his name.”

“René Charles,” Lucien replied. “If you’ll give me the tickets, I’ll see they’re paid.”

The policeman handed them to the designer, thanked him and left. Lucien shuffled the three tickets and placed them on the entry table before rejoining the others. “It looks as though René parked in the wrong zone when he stopped at your condo. It isn’t like him not to tell me, but I doubt I’ll ever see him again.”

“I hope they won’t cost you much money,” Ana exclaimed.

Lucien laughed at her dismay. “Please don’t worry. My sales are so good here in Barcelona, a few parking tickets are of no concern, although I’m surprised someone would come to my door to make inquiries. Perhaps the Spanish are always so thorough. Now I hope you’re hungry. I asked Etienne to make a vegetable dish he promises will be superb. Are you also a vegetarian, Alejandro?”

“No, but I’ve found everything Ana chooses is quite good, and I may become one someday. Right now, I bicycle to keep in shape, and I can’t do it on a carrot salad.”

“Will you excuse me?” Ana asked. “I need to change into my own clothes before we eat.”

Lucien nodded. “Of course, take your time.”

When the three reached the dining table, Lucien motioned for Ana to again take the seat on his right and put Alejandro on his left. As soon as they were served, Lucien concentrated on Ana. “I’m developing a perfume, a delightfully fresh and yet intoxicating blend of scents, and I’d love to feature you in the ads. You could do them now, and you wouldn’t have to stand. We’ll surround you in roses, orchids, all manner of colorful blooms, and all you’ll have to do is hold the elegant bottle and smile.”

“I don’t work exclusively for anyone,” Ann replied.

“You’ll be free to work with whomever you choose,” Lucien assured her. “I merely want you for the launch of the fragrance. We’re aiming for the fall to market during the holidays.”

“Aren’t there enough perfumes on sale now?” Alejandro asked, and he caught a bright spark of anger cross Lucien’s gaze. “Of course, I know nothing about ladies’ perfumes.”

“Apparently nothing about women at all,” Lucien countered. “Women never tire of shopping. When they become tired of a favorite scent, they want something new, something captivating. Ana’s face and figure are perfect for my new perfume.”

“So there’s always a market for perfume and shoes?” Alejandro surmised.