Desert Bound (Cambio Springs) (19 page)

“It’s only ever been you.”

Chapter Fourteen

“Did you really think something happened between me and the concierge?”

“Did you really think I put you in the same category as Cam’s girl?”

She was quiet for a minute. They were curled up in bed together, the sunlight touching the shear drapes that hid them from the rest of the world. He’d pulled her back to his chest and rested his stubbled chin on her shoulder as they dozed.

“No. I don’t think you put me in the same category as ‘Laura-en.’ My boobs aren’t nearly fake enough.” 

He chuckled against her back. “Your boobs are great. That’s why Romano was checking them out when he met you.” He was. Asshole. Even if he was an asshole that kept Ted in Vegas and not driving down the road pissed out of her mind the night before a full moon.

“Seriously? Romano?” Ted reached down and grabbed both of his hands from around her waist, crossing them over her chest so he cupped her breasts. “Feel better now? Marked your territory, alpha boy?”

He gave them a squeeze. Then another. “I feel a little better. And don’t pretend you didn’t mark some territory yourself. I have the scratches on my back to prove it.”

“There’s bite marks on your neck, too.”

“Some on you too, baby.”

“Don’t call me baby.”

At that, his arms tightened, and when he spoke, his voice was raw. “I missed mornings with you.”

She said nothing, but grabbed his hands and squeezed them in her own. 

Alex took a deep breath and asked the question that had haunted him all morning. “Are we back? I need to know. You told me you love me, but—”

“Love was never the problem, was it?”

“No.”

She turned in his arms and looked at him, bringing her hands up to stroke his cheeks. He nuzzled into her hand and scraped his chin across her palm, content to let her pet him. But he turned his eyes to hers, locking into her as he had the night before.

“You want the job?” she asked softly.

“What?”

“The job. Taking my back. Putting up with my crazy family and their bullshit. Putting up with me when I’m a raging bitch, because you know I can be. Not giving up when I’m stubborn. When I’m angry.” She paused, but just like when they’d made love, his eyes never left hers. “Sticking with me,” she continued. “Making the Springs home, all the messy—”

“I want the job.”

No questions. No hesitation. The tightness that had creeped up on him when he woke eased away even as she blinked in surprise.

“Alex—”

“Best job in the world.”

“But—”

“No buts. I’ve got just as much baggage as you do. Maybe more, considering my pack. So Teodora Vasquez, if you’re willing to take me on…” He rolled over and trapped her under him. “Then I’ll take you on. Are we back?”

He could read her answer in her eyes.

“
Querido
,” she whispered.

Querido
. Dearest.

They were back.

Holy shit
, they were back.

She smiled, a soft sweet smile that made him want to take her again. The night before had been intense and fast and hot as hell, but he needed to drink deep. He’d missed her for too long. Missed their mornings together, when they would talk about random stuff. Some of it serious. Some of it silly. Talk and pet and kiss.

He bent down, working soft lips from her jawline up to her mouth, then he held it, suspended in the sunlight that crossed their skin.

They were back.

A soft growl left his throat as the wolf inside stretched in approval.

“That said—” Ted broke from him. “—we still have shit to talk about. So no growling.”

He laughed and rolled her back into the pillows with him, settling her on his chest so he could play with her hair.

“Fine,” he said. “As long as the shit we need to talk about is
how
we’re going to be together, not
if
we’re going to be together.”

“Deal.”

He kissed her again. Longer. Sweeter. Just a lick of his tongue against her lower lip. “Deal.”

“Mmm,” she hummed in quiet contentment. 

“You know, Jena told me I needed to charm you.”

“Oh really?”

“Romance you.”

Her shoulders started to shake. “Was the ‘Did you hop in bed with the concierge?’ argument part of the charm and romance strategy? If so, that wasn’t very effective.”

“No. I think I just figured charm and romance wasn’t working, so I’d go with pissing you off.”

“It’s probably not a healthy sign that it actually worked for you, is it?”

“It’s us,” he said. “What can I say, Ted? It’s just… us.”

They drove out to the Di Stefano’s house in Alex’s truck, and the dusty scratched Ford looked just as out of place in the luxurious gated community as it had on the Las Vegas strip. He pulled in behind Cam’s Jaguar and walked around to help Ted out of the cab. He’d asked Cam the night before if he should bring her or if it was just going to cause another fight. Cam had laughed and said to bring her.

Alex didn’t know if that was because Cam and his dad wanted to see Ted, or if Cam just thought Alex and Ted fights were fun to watch.

“So, we’re meeting his dad. That’s all you got out of him?”

“That was an hour long negotiation, Ted. Cam does not like crossing wires.”

“Crossing wires?”

“He has family life and business life. And they don’t often meet.”

She nodded and took his hand. “And you’re business life.”

“And a little bit family life, since I’ve known him a long time.”

“I can see the conflict.”

“His dad’s very old school, so if he asks to speak to me alone—”

“I got it.” She turned as they walked up the walk-way and tugged on his collar. “I won’t go off half-cocked.”

He smiled. “It’s not that you’re a woman, it’s that you’re sort of like a cop.”

She laughed and started walking again. “Me? A cop?”

“In their minds? Yeah.”

By the time they reached the front door, it was already opening, and Cam stood, tan and smiling in a golf shirt with a drink in his hand.

“Alex. Ted. Just in time for drinks.”

“Hey, Cam.” Putting his hand on the small of Ted’s back, he ushered her into the house. He saw her chest rise as she took a deep breath. Testing the scent of the room. Scanning for threats. Her sense of smell in human skin had always been better than his. She had to focus her attention, but when she did, it was almost as good as her natural form.

The corner of his mouth turned up as Cam shut the door. Alex bent to tuck a curl of her hair behind an ear and whisper, “Anything I should know?”

She smiled at him and put her mouth to his ear, giving the impression to anyone else that they were flirting. “Five men, two women by scent. But the air conditioning is blasting, so that’s messing me up.”

“Got it.” Alex was guessing that the two women were Cam’s mom and younger sister. If Constance and Yvette were there, Alex and Ted had nothing to worry about. Frank and Cam were both intensely, almost obsessively, protective of the women in their family. Most likely because Frank’s sister, according to Jolene’s research, had been murdered at sixteen by a business rival of Cam’s grandfather.

They stopped in a huge living room with a view of the golf course behind Frank and Yvette’s house. Massive double pane plate glass windows looked over the ninth green, and in the distance, Alex saw a group teeing off at the tenth. He felt a moment of longing for his clubs before he focused on the people sitting in the room.

“Alex!” Frank said with a huge smile. “How long has it been? My god, look at you. You’re an adult, just like my kids. What’s the world coming to?”

“Frank, good to see you again.” He held out his hand and shook Frank’s. 

Frank Di Stefano was clearly on the way to building a solidly legitimate reputation. The dark tan and stylish clothes spoke of a healthy professional in late middle age. Successful. Active. The house on the golf course, along with the distinct lack of the typical “wise guy” accent, were only part of his carefully constructed identity. His wife was Catholic, but not from Jersey, where he’d been born. His children went to private schools on the West Coast. And his house looked like a page from Architectural Digest.

Yvette Di Stefano rose and came to Frank’s side. 

“Alex. So good to see you. I hope your family is well.”

“They are, Yvette. Thank you.” He nodded to Cam’s sister Constance, who stood silently, but politely, behind her parents. “Connie.”

“Hey, Alex.”

Stylish, trim, and still holding on to a hint of a French accent, Yvette gave Alex a quick kiss on the cheek before she held out a graceful hand to Ted. “You must be Doctor Vasquez. Welcome. It’s very nice to meet you.”

“Thank you. Please, call me Ted.”

“Ted?” Yvette’s laugh sounded like bells. 

She grinned. “My mother was out of it when my dad named me after his grandmother. So my name is actually Teodora. Ted was the nickname that stuck.”

“I think that’s delightful.”

Alex pinched her waist and said, “I think it fits.”

“It does,” Cam said. “Have no idea why, but it does.”

“Are we still talking about my name?” She gave Cam an arch look. “Or are you going to get me a drink?”

“You’re still pissed about last night, aren’t you?” 

“Cam!” Yvette said. “Language, please.”

Ted just grinned. “I am. So, vodka tonic or it’s gonna get ugly, Di Stefano.”

Cam laughed as he sauntered to a marble topped bar in the corner while the rest of them sat down near the windows.

“Ted,” Yvette nodded at her, “you seem like such an interesting woman. Cam said you’re a medical doctor?”

“I am. Family practice.” Ted gave him a confused glance, but Alex only tried to hide the grin. “Strep throat. Colds. Exciting stuff like that.”

“That’s wonderful.” Yvette turned to Alex. “Your parents must be thrilled you’ve found such a bright girlfriend.”

Now Ted was the one trying to hide an incredulous snort as Cam walked over. 

“Mom…” he warned. 

“How did you meet?” Yvette asked Alex.

“We grew up together. Then we both went to college in L.A.” He squeezed Ted’s shoulder, catching her attention as he smiled. “We lost touch for a while. Finally back where we need to be.”

Ted smiled, ignoring the drink Cam held out to her. “Yeah,” she said softly.

Alex cleared his throat and looked back at Yvette, who clearly thought theirs was the most romantic story she’d ever heard. Then her expression sharpened as she glanced at her son.

“Imagine!” she said. “Not meeting a woman at a bar—”

“Mom.”

“Or a dance club—”

“Seriously, Ma—”

“But finding a woman who clearly has goals beyond finding a new purse.” 

Cam gave up and sighed, leaning back in his seat as he took a deep breath and let his mother speak.

Ted grinned at him. “This is making me feel so much better about last night.”

“Glad I could entertain you, Ted.”

Alex smiled and leaned back, his arm around Ted’s shoulders. Judging by the expression on both Frank and Connie’s face, this was not an unknown topic of discussion.

“Connie,” Alex broke in, trying to save his friend the grief. “What are you up to lately?”

She smiled. “Managing a gallery in Santa Fe, actually. Just here for a visit. We got some of your sister’s new canvases in last week. They’re stunning.”

“I’ll have to tell Willow. She’ll love that.”

“And your new place?” Frank asked. “Cam’s told me a bit about it. Sounds like a challenge.”

“It is.” He turned and caught Ted smiling at him. “But I do love a challenge.”

Lunch was fantastic. Conversation was polite, but warm. More than one joking reference to Cam’s love life was made while Alex held Ted’s hand under the table and played with the seam of her pants. If only she’d worn a skirt…

After lunch, Yvette very diplomatically went to “sort the kitchen,” taking Connie with her. That left Frank, Cam, Alex and Ted sitting with glasses of wine in the living room, which had suddenly gone very quiet.

Alex saw Cam looking at his father. “Dad?”

“She stays,” Frank said quietly, his eyes level on Ted.

Alex leaned forward and said, “Frank—”

“You’re a smart girl, aren’t you, Ted?” Frank spoke directly to her.

The room fell silent, and Alex squeezed Ted’s hand.

“Wouldn’t exactly call myself a girl,” she said.

The man shrugged, and in it, Alex saw an edge of the wise guy Frank hid so well.

“You’re the same age as my kid,” he said, “you’re a girl. Not intended as a slight.” He took a sip of his wine, then he looked at Alex. “You live in an interesting place, Alex.”

His breath was deliberately even. He didn’t allow his expression to change to anything except casual amusement. 

“Not that interesting, really. Just home.”

“Lot of people depending on your resort project going smoothly.”

Alex paused. “I took a hit when Marcus Quinn died. He was a good man.”

“Yeah.” Frank took another sip of wine. “I knew Marcus. He
was
a good man. And a good businessman. Took care of his family. Honest with his investors.” Frank’s quick glance told Alex he knew that
they
knew the Di Stefanos had financed Marcus Quinn’s operation. “A tragedy, what happened to him.”

“Not a tragedy,” Ted said softly. “A crime.”

Frank’s eyes swung back to her. “Yeah. A crime.”

Cam leaned forward. “Listen, Ted, maybe you could—”

“She stays,” Frank said as a muscle jerked in Cam’s jaw. “Don’t you worry about Teodora, Cameron. She won’t be a problem.”

Ted said nothing, staring at Frank with a cool smile on her face. 

“Frank,” Alex said, mirroring her posture. “I don’t much appreciate threats against my woman.”

“Not a threat, Alex.”

And Alex realized it wasn’t. If anything, Frank was sizing Ted up as he would a competitor.

“She’s a good match for you, Alex,” Frank said. “Got the same eyes.”

Ted said, “How’s that?”

“Secret eyes, Teodora.” Frank gave her a slow smile. “You know how to keep a secret, don’t you?”