“I don’t know. I doubt he’ll be excited by his greatest disappointment siring offspring. But don’t worry,” he added with a reassuring smile. “The rest of the family will be more supportive. And kind. Especially my mother. She’ll be thrilled.”
His words sliced through the camaraderie and brought her crashing back to reality. Since the age of twelve, it had been her, Johanna and Aunt Norine. And Aunt Norine had been gone for almost two years now.
Just the thought of Alejandro being involved had been hard to digest. Toss in his mother, two billionaire brothers, a fiancée and a bastard of a father, and she could barely keep her tea down.
But that was for another time. She paused. He’d been the one to initiate their encounters so far. As he’d pointed out, if they were truly going to get to know each other better, they needed to spend time together.
“I have a few details to confirm for the party, but if the storm passes, I thought about going to Calanques National Park this afternoon.” She inhaled deeply. “Would you like to join me?”
He blinked. Time passed, each second stretching longer than the last. Another rumble of thunder rolled across the landscape, louder and more aggressive as the amber liquid in her teacup trembled.
“Unfortunately,” Alejandro finally said, “I have a virtual meeting with my father most of the day and tomorrow to discuss the construction delays and review finances.”
His rejection sliced through her. No animosity in his words, no cruelty on his face. But she had no doubt that, had she not let her fear get the better of her last night, he would have been interested, perhaps even excited, to spend time with her.
“I hope it goes well,” she managed to force out.
He stood and bowed his head to her and started to walk off, head held high, his stride steady. Something, though, was amiss. It should frighten her, how easily she was able to pick up on his moods now, discern that something was wrong.
“Alejandro.”
He turned and glanced back at her.
“I’m sorry. About last night.” She looked down at her hands. “I took out my own insecurities on you.”
A shrug. “Happens. I could have handled it better.”
She swallowed hard. He was accepting her apology. Time to let it go.
“Thank you. And...” She floundered for a moment, trying to find the right words. “I know how much the renovation ofLa Reinameans to you. I thought hiring me was just a way to give me money. Even though I think you’re still overpaying me—” his lips quirked “—I know it wasn’t just that.”
He nodded. “You’re welcome.”
And then he left. Still the confident walk, back straight, head tall. Yet something dark seemed to cling to his shoulders, slow his stride as he walked away and didn’t look back.
Leaving her alone with the encroaching thunder, the dark swirl of the sea and her own storm of emotions waging war inside her chest.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
ALEJANDROKNOCKEDONCalandra’s door. He’d closed the laptop on his meeting in the library and come straight to the guest suite. Over the last eleven hours, eight of them had been spent poring over records and reports or engaging in heated arguments with his sire.
If he wasn’t exhausted, he would question why his first thought had been to come see Calandra. However, since he could barely keep his eyes open, he didn’t care to examine his reasoning. He just wanted to see her. Her offer of time together had been an olive branch, one that had surprised him after last night’s acrimonious parting. Pride had inspired his refusal. Pain had flared in her eyes, spurring his flight from the patio.
Coward.
This time, he didn’t shove the thought aside. He’d labeled his previous departures from uncomfortable situations as spur-of-the-moment, a distaste for conflict or, in the case of his father, survival.
But the more he thought about it, the more he realized those had just been excuses. Excuses for running away.
Just like your father.
The thought angered him. He was nothing like his father.
But aren’t you?that nasty little voice whispered. Javier had rarely been a part of family functions, from dinners to vacations. But after Alejandro’s discovery, he’d been even more absent.
He hadn’t been lying about his meetings with Javier. Yet he’d grabbed onto that excuse with both hands. Had seen the hurt flare in her eyes, felt the vulnerable price she’d paid and the pain of rejection in his soul.
The same rejection he’d experienced when she called last night a mistake. The same rejection that, no matter how many successes he’d accumulated, his father still heaped on his shoulders with every criticism of Cabrera Shipping, every snide remark about the women he spent time with—as if the bastard had any room to talk.