Alejandro's Revenge

Abby didn’t know what to say. The last thing she wanted was for Edward to imagine she was still interested in Alejandro. All the same…

‘Are you saying that Lauren had something to do with him getting a divorce?’ she ventured incredulously, and Edward hunched his shoulders.

‘No.’ He was impatient. ‘That happened a while ago. He and Maria were having problems before we even got married.’

‘They were?’

Abby tried to hide her reaction from him. She clearly remembered Edward giving her the impression that Alejandro and his wife were happy together. That Dolores had been devastated when Maria had suffered a family emergency and hadn’t been able to attend the wedding.

What emergency had that been? Her impending divorce?

Aware that Edward was watching her rather suspiciously, Abby realised that her face was far too expressive. Raising defensive eyebrows at him, she opted for a casual enquiry. ‘What?’

‘You tell me,’ he said. ‘Why are you looking at me like that?’

‘Like what?’

‘Don’t pretend you don’t know.’ Edward was resentful now. ‘I bet you were thinking that that wasn’t what I said before.’

Abby chose to be obtuse. ‘What wasn’t what you said before?’ she asked, refusing to make it easy for him.

‘That Varga and his wife were having problems,’ he retorted. ‘Okay, I admit it. I wanted to put you off him. I could see you were attracted to him, and I didn’t want someone like him involved with my sister.’

Abby stared at him. ‘So, what are you saying? That you told lies about him?’

‘Not lies, no.’ Edward was defensive. ‘I just exaggerated the truth a little, that’s all. No big deal.’

Abby shook her head in disbelief. ‘And what gave you the right to interfere in my life?’

‘Oh, let’s not get carried away here,’ protested Edward insensitively. ‘The chances of you and Varga getting it together weren’t exactly likely, were they? I mean, I know you were flattered when he offered to take you sightseeing and all, but you have to understand that’s what these guys are like. Coming on to a woman—any woman—is second nature to them, and Varga more than most. I never liked him. I hoped that when the wedding was over he’d crawl back under his stone.’ He scoffed. ‘Some chance!’

‘Edward!’

‘Well…’ He was unrepentant. ‘I assumed he was just a distant relative. I had no idea he’d become such a constant presence in our lives. Do you know, he’s a major shareholder in Luis’s company? This new leisure complex they’re hoping to open next Christmas is being financed by Varga. He and Luis are partners. Partners! How do you think that makes me feel? I’m Luis’s son-in-law, not Alejandro.’

Abby was stunned—as much by the fact that Edward had lied to her as by his obvious envy of the other man. She didn’t know what she thought of his suspicions about Alejandro and Lauren. She would reserve judgement. But after what he’d told her, how dependable was anything he said?

She was so glad now that she’d never confided her own feelings to Edward. Though perhaps it would have been easier if she had. Surely then he would have thought twice about involving her in his present problems. Yet, knowing Edward as she did there were no guarantees.

Feeling her way, she said cautiously, ‘I still don’t see what you’re saying. All right. I accept that—that Alejandro is a regular visitor to the house. But you and Lauren don’t live here. You have your own apartment, don’t you? In Coconut Grove.’

Edward gave her an exasperated look. ‘You don’t know much about Cuban families, do you?’ he snorted. ‘Well, let me tell you, they stick together. Like, living in each other’s pockets, if you know what I mean? Sure, we have our own place, but Lauren’s hardly ever there. When I’m at work she’s more often here. Or somewhere else, if you get my drift?’

‘Somewhere else?’ Abby suspected she knew what he was getting at but she decided to let him go on.

‘Yeah.’ Edward scowled. ‘Making nice with—Alejandro.’

He pronounced the other man’s name just as Lauren did, and Abby’s stomach tightened unpleasantly. ‘But he’s her cousin,’ she protested. ‘Cousins don’t get involved with one another in this country. I read it somewhere. It’s considered too close a relationship.’

‘Tell that to my wife,’ retorted Edward dourly. ‘In any case, he’s not her cousin. Not exactly. He’s a distant relation of her mother’s.’

Abby sighed. ‘Even so—’

‘Even so, I know what I’m talking about,’ snapped Edward irritably. ‘I might have known you wouldn’t believe me. It’s Kenyon, isn’t it? He’s poisoned your mind against me.’

‘Don’t be so ridiculous!’ Abby gasped. ‘Ross couldn’t do such a thing. I just—’ She paused. ‘What proof do you have?’

‘What more proof do I need? You saw them together. Can you honestly tell me that you didn’t think they seemed pretty close for distant cousins?’

Abby pushed herself up from the bed, feeling incredibly weary suddenly. It had been a long day. It might only be early evening in Miami, but it was after eleven o’clock back home. And, after all the upheaval, she’d forgotten to phone her fiancé as she’d promised. Would he understand that she’d had other things on her mind?

But breaking a promise to Ross was the least of her worries, she thought heavily. When she’d agreed to come here she’d hoped to avoid any mention of the man who’d caused such anguish in her life. Now it seemed he was an integral part of Edward’s reasons for contacting her. And she so much didn’t want to have to think about Alejandro again.

She’d done all her thinking and regretting two years ago, she thought bitterly. Even if, as it appeared now, he hadn’t been as black as she’d painted him in her own mind. But he’d still behaved quite heartlessly. She didn’t think she’d ever forgive him for that.

‘Abbs?’

Edward was gazing up at her with a look of hopeful expectation on his face and she guessed he wasn’t thinking about her. Had it ever occurred to him that she might have a life of her own? she wondered. As far as Edward was concerned, she’d only ever been there for him.

‘I’m tired,’ she told him now, glancing longingly towards the large colonial bed. But as that evidently wasn’t the right answer, judging by his sulky face, she tried again. ‘I just don’t know what you want from me, Eddie. I’m only going to be here for a couple of days. If you’re expecting me to spy on your wife for you, then—’

‘Hey, I didn’t ask you here to act like some kind of private eye,’ exclaimed Edward impatiently. ‘I doubt if you’d be any good at it anyway.’ He grimaced. You’re not exactly the inconspicuous type!’

Abby caught her breath. ‘You know,’ she said tensely, ‘I’ve a good mind to phone the airport here and now and ask how soon I can get a flight home. I realise you’re upset about Lauren, but that doesn’t give you the right to insult me.’

‘I’m not insulting you,’ Edward snorted angrily ‘Dammit, you couldn’t be further from the truth. Okay, maybe I’m no good at choosing the right words. I’m not an English graduate, am I?’ he taunted. ‘What I’m trying to say is, people notice you. Hell, they’d notice any tall redhead around here. You may have noticed. They’re not exactly thick on the ground.’

Abby expelled a resigned breath. ‘If you say so.’

‘I do say so.’ Edward tried to reach out and grasp her hand but she evaded him. ‘Come on, Abbs. Lighten up. You could at least say it’s good to see me again.’

Abby shook her head. ‘I’d just like to know why you’ve brought me here,’ she said. ‘I mean, I am glad to see you again, but if it’s just my advice you want you could have had that over the phone.’

Edward’s hand dropped onto his thigh. ‘Well, that’s telling me straight, isn’t it?’

‘Eddie!’

‘Oh, all right.’ He levered himself up from the chair and, using the crutches, made his way out onto the balcony. ‘I want your help.’

‘My help?’ Abby followed him to the doorway, watching as he turned and propped his back against the railings. ‘How am I supposed to help you? Do you want to come back to England? Is that it? Do you need my support to get started again over there?’

‘As if!’ Edward looked incredulous now. ‘Abby, nothing could persuade me to come back to England again. I like it here. It’s my home. Not this house, of course, although with a bit of luck it will be mine one day.’ He grinned momentarily, and then, realising his sister was watching him with appalled eyes, he sobered. ‘No, what I mean is, I’ve got a good job at the restaurant. I’d be a fool to even think about leaving Florida and starting again.’

‘Then—?’

‘Give me time,’ he protested. ‘I’m getting there. But this isn’t easy for me, Abbs. I don’t want you to think I haven’t thought this through.’

‘Thought what through?’ Abby could feel herself getting edgy. ‘Eddie, if you expect me to try and persuade Lauren—’