at the full moon and stars. I was
seriously
buzzed. But I liked the faint feeling of spinning; it made the sky
twirl for me.
“I’ve divulged more about myself than you have,” he said, his voice rumbly with relaxation. “I can’t tell you how unusual that is.”
“Ask me light questions, and I’ll answer.”
“Very well. What was your first pet? A dog?”
“A goldfish. I never got to have a dog.”
“If you want one, why don’t you have one now?”
I stretched an arm over my head. “Ah, to be Máxim Sevastyan for a day. What you want, you get.”
“I want more answers from you, but I don’t get them.”
Bob and weave.
“What was
your
first pet?”
“A gelding.”
“I’ve never been horseback riding.” There were plenty of farms on the coast, but my family’s mansion was isolated. I’d been secluded till I’d gone to high
school. After that, all I’d cared about was partying.
He looked at me like I’d grown two heads. “That’s unacceptable. None of your clients took you? A lover didn’t?”
I shrugged again.
“I’ll take you. You’ll enjoy riding with me.”
I was sure I would. And yet it would never happen. I drained my flute, raising it for more, and he poured. I could drink this stuff till eternity. “Do you often take lovers out
riding?”
“Lovers? I’ve never had one.” His voice turned chilly as he said, “My previous relationship was with a blond escort and lasted one hour. I wish her all the best.”
Dipping even chillier, he added, “I’d ask when your last relationship was, but I have no doubt you’re currently in one.”
“What? I’m not.”
“A couple of times tonight I caught you staring off at nothing. I’ve found that usually means a woman is thinking about a man.”
I had been. About Edward. What if I’d been mistaken about seeing him in Miami? What if I gave up more nights like this, fleeing for nothing?
Or, what if he
was
here to make good on his last vow to me?
“I’m not in a relationship, Máxim.” How could I ever trust another man? I’d always think he was using me. I jokingly thought,
Unless he’s a
billionaire
. Then I chastised myself.
Jets. Cooled. NOW.
“What about you? Do you want one?”
“It would depend on whether I found the right woman.” He turned on his side to face me. “What’s your earliest memory?”
I had vague impressions of my father. He’d been an attaché to Cuba, with a ready laugh. Sometimes I could remember hazel eyes that crinkled at the sides and the smell of cigars.
“My most fully formed one? Helping my mother and grandmother make paella. I got to toss a handful of spices in, and I was beaming. My mother warned me to watch my pride.”
If she hadn’t been able to extinguish it, a year of Edward’s inexplicable disdain couldn’t have. My pride had merely lain dormant for a short while, bouncing back with a
vengeance, roaring to life.
And yet I’d chosen to disappear—instead of fighting back, a decision I still struggled with. Was I being shrewd?
Or cowardly?
Máxim asked, “Are you close to your mother and father?”
“My father died a while ago.” He’d been in a car accident in the Cuban countryside, far from any hospitals. “I wish my mother and I could have been closer before she
passed away.”
She didn’t “pass away,” Cat.
I’d never forget the way my stomach had plummeted when I’d learned for certain that she’d been murdered. The rage I’d felt. . . .
“You’re so sure that Ana-Lucía will keep quiet?” Julia asked Edward. “She’s an impulsive troublemaker.”
“What could she say to the police?” he asked. “That she suspected I had something to do with the old bat’s death? I’ve been a model husband for over a year, and
I’ve snowed everyone she’s ever come into contact with. I play tennis with her lawyer. Who would believe her? And even if her mother was exhumed, the case is in Ana-Lucía’s
safety-deposit box, the one she obtained
seriously
buzzed. But I liked the faint feeling of spinning; it made the sky
twirl for me.
“I’ve divulged more about myself than you have,” he said, his voice rumbly with relaxation. “I can’t tell you how unusual that is.”
“Ask me light questions, and I’ll answer.”
“Very well. What was your first pet? A dog?”
“A goldfish. I never got to have a dog.”
“If you want one, why don’t you have one now?”
I stretched an arm over my head. “Ah, to be Máxim Sevastyan for a day. What you want, you get.”
“I want more answers from you, but I don’t get them.”
Bob and weave.
“What was
your
first pet?”
“A gelding.”
“I’ve never been horseback riding.” There were plenty of farms on the coast, but my family’s mansion was isolated. I’d been secluded till I’d gone to high
school. After that, all I’d cared about was partying.
He looked at me like I’d grown two heads. “That’s unacceptable. None of your clients took you? A lover didn’t?”
I shrugged again.
“I’ll take you. You’ll enjoy riding with me.”
I was sure I would. And yet it would never happen. I drained my flute, raising it for more, and he poured. I could drink this stuff till eternity. “Do you often take lovers out
riding?”
“Lovers? I’ve never had one.” His voice turned chilly as he said, “My previous relationship was with a blond escort and lasted one hour. I wish her all the best.”
Dipping even chillier, he added, “I’d ask when your last relationship was, but I have no doubt you’re currently in one.”
“What? I’m not.”
“A couple of times tonight I caught you staring off at nothing. I’ve found that usually means a woman is thinking about a man.”
I had been. About Edward. What if I’d been mistaken about seeing him in Miami? What if I gave up more nights like this, fleeing for nothing?
Or, what if he
was
here to make good on his last vow to me?
“I’m not in a relationship, Máxim.” How could I ever trust another man? I’d always think he was using me. I jokingly thought,
Unless he’s a
billionaire
. Then I chastised myself.
Jets. Cooled. NOW.
“What about you? Do you want one?”
“It would depend on whether I found the right woman.” He turned on his side to face me. “What’s your earliest memory?”
I had vague impressions of my father. He’d been an attaché to Cuba, with a ready laugh. Sometimes I could remember hazel eyes that crinkled at the sides and the smell of cigars.
“My most fully formed one? Helping my mother and grandmother make paella. I got to toss a handful of spices in, and I was beaming. My mother warned me to watch my pride.”
If she hadn’t been able to extinguish it, a year of Edward’s inexplicable disdain couldn’t have. My pride had merely lain dormant for a short while, bouncing back with a
vengeance, roaring to life.
And yet I’d chosen to disappear—instead of fighting back, a decision I still struggled with. Was I being shrewd?
Or cowardly?
Máxim asked, “Are you close to your mother and father?”
“My father died a while ago.” He’d been in a car accident in the Cuban countryside, far from any hospitals. “I wish my mother and I could have been closer before she
passed away.”
She didn’t “pass away,” Cat.
I’d never forget the way my stomach had plummeted when I’d learned for certain that she’d been murdered. The rage I’d felt. . . .
“You’re so sure that Ana-Lucía will keep quiet?” Julia asked Edward. “She’s an impulsive troublemaker.”
“What could she say to the police?” he asked. “That she suspected I had something to do with the old bat’s death? I’ve been a model husband for over a year, and
I’ve snowed everyone she’s ever come into contact with. I play tennis with her lawyer. Who would believe her? And even if her mother was exhumed, the case is in Ana-Lucía’s
safety-deposit box, the one she obtained
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