A few seconds later, she darted a glance in my direction, finally smiling. "I'm sorry. I have a lot on my mind."
"I can understand. I'm certain what your father said was difficult."
She took a sip and nodded. "More than that. I allowed myself to believe a lie. He truly never wanted me."
"I don't believe that."
"Very true. One night years ago, I overheard my parents arguing. My father clearly said that he'd never wanted me to be born in the first place. I think that's why I tried so hard to get him to love me all these years."
"Perhaps that's the case, Valencia, on both levels but you need to remember that we all do things in the heat of the moment we don't mean and aren't proud of." She was handling his betrayal better than I could. Then again, I didn't know the extent of my father's disloyalty.
"That's obviously why I overlooked all his foibles, but I'll keep that in mind for the future." She laughed half-heartedly. "Foibles. I should say murderous ways."
"Parents often hide their true selves from their children."
"Did yours?"
I chuckled as I twirled the glass. "No. Never. I knew exactly who and what my father was from a very early age. I learned a great deal from him, especially since he refused to allow me to have anything to do with his organization until I'd graduated from college. Going to Harvard certainly did me some good. I value the experience. I'm a better man because of it." Why did I feel awkward telling her about my past?
She leaned over the table. "What's troubling you tonight?"
"Nothing for you to worry about."
"I don't think it has anything to do with your business or my life."
I lifted my glass, studying her wry smile. My cock ached as it always did around her, the electricity sparking and buzzing between us. "You think you know me better now?"
"A little but only when you let that armor slip. What's wrong? While I realize that you'll never share your business with me, there are other aspects of life including good and bad times. If we don't get to know each other, then how am I supposed to love you?"
Love. The burden and guilt of wanting to feel romantic, crazy in love was almost too much. Perhaps I was simply too practical. The feel of her hand wrapping around mine was enough to send a wave of almost violent arcs shooting into every cell and muscle in my system. "Valencia, I don't want to burden you. You have enough things on your mind."
"Perhaps I need to think about something else. I can feel sorry for myself later if I want to." Her smile turned mischievous, a warm flush creeping up along her cheeks. "Family problems perhaps? I heard you have a niece."
I laughed, surprised Sylvie had told her anything. "I do. Selena is a handful. She thinks she's going to be an astronaut."
"Brother? Sister?"
"My guess is you already learned that information while searching for data on the internet," I smirked, winking at her.
"Perhaps. You have two sisters and no brothers. The tabloids and newspaper articles never mentioned a niece."
I sighed, darting a glance at the ocean. "Something both my sister and I insisted on. My niece doesn't deserve to grow up in this world."
"If you hate it so much, why not get out?"
"Obligations."
She nodded several times. "I know them well although I'm not willing to play them any longer." Another sigh was followed by a wrinkling of her nose. "I have premonitions sometimes, violent and angry ones that terrify me far too often."
"Have you had one recently?"
"Yes," she whispered. "That's bothered me all day and when that I noticed that man outside the shop, I have to tell you that I wasn't terrified."
"You should have been."
"No," she said defiantly, turning her head in my direction. "I'm not the one in danger. You are. Someone desperately wants you dead."
I shrank back, processing her words. That was a possibility. "Either way, whoever this is won't get close any longer."
"How can you be certain of that? Guards every day?"
"No. I'm going to hunt down the person responsible and they will pay."
"Always violence. I just wish there was more. No, I know there's more. You're a decent and wonderful man buried deep inside," she insisted, much like she had before.
Sadly, I knew that I would disappoint her over and over again.
The woman was still rebellious, a trait I hoped I would never break completely in her. "I did something today that might mean I'll never be able to see Selena or my sister again."
"What in God's name did you do?"
"Destroyed her marriage."
"What?" Valencia gasped. "You are many things, Miguel, but not a homewrecker."
"Yeah, well, the asshole deserved what he got. Winston had everything. An amazing career, a beautiful wife and child, a huge house, and all the toys in the world. What did he prefer? Having affairs and beating the shit out of my sister."
"Oh, my God. That's horrible." She nibbled on her lip, obviously absorbing the information. "What did you do to him?" Her question was tentative.