Modern Romance November Books 5-8. Annie West
stroller into the back. Taking calming breaths, she reminded herself that Rodrigo was in San Francisco on business today. He couldn’t know Lola would be at this café with his ex.
The thought reassured her as she started the engine. Then she stopped, staring out at the blue ocean.
Elise Patel’s phone number was unlisted. Lola had gotten it from Marnie yesterday. Rodrigo could have easily found out where she planned to be. He could have sent the stranger, either as some kind of loyalty test, or something more malicious.
Was it possible that Rodrigo was trying to get rid of her, just like the rest? Trying to end this marriage as cheaply and easily as he could, by luring her into an affair—or even just the appearance of one?
Fear went through her, followed by rage. She gripped the steering wheel.
Enough of this. She would ask him directly when he got home tonight.
No. She couldn’t. If Rodrigo was innocent, if this was all just a wild coincidence, he would think she was crazy, for getting so upset over two chance encounters with a man who had been, after all, merely friendly.
After she got back to the beach house, she spent hours pacing back and forth, unable to decide. She felt like she was losing her mind.
The truth seemed to be screaming in her face.
But she didn’t want it to be true. She wanted to be blind, to take whatever comfort she could, for as long as she could, while denying the evidence that was piling up all around her.
“Mrs. Cabrera?” The housekeeper looked in on her.
“What?” Lola snapped, turning on her mid-pace. At the other woman’s expression, she instantly felt bad. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Lee. Did you need something?”
“You received a letter. I’ll just leave it here.” Leaving an envelope on the gleaming wood sideboard, the housekeeper backed away.
“A letter?” Frowning, Lola came forward. Then she saw the return address. A suburban town in New York.
Her sisters.
Heart pounding, she ripped it open.
The money she’d sent for her sisters’ college fund, the six-figure check she’d sent them as an olive branch, floated gently to the floor.
They’d returned it. Uncashed.
Lola’s heart lifted to her throat, choking her. Her sisters weren’t interested in forgiving her. They still hated her...
But there was a note. Desperately, she clutched at it. The childish uneven handwriting looped in pencil.
Dear Lola,
Thank you for sending us this college money. Our parents said we can’t accept it. We have enough and we don’t need charity.
But they said we should invite you for Christmas. And I think that’s a good idea because we could use a big sister. Not me, cause I have one, but Kelsey could. I’m sick of her always bragging about her memories of you and I’d like some, too.
I’m sorry I was scared last time. I’m not scared anymore. Please say you’ll come.
Yours truly,
Johanna Sandford
Tears rushed to Lola’s eyes as she crushed the note to her chest. A torrent of conflicting emotions rushed through her.
The last day Lola saw Johanna, she was just six, riding her bike happily with her older sister on the shaded street in front of their two-story white house with green shutters. When Lola had told the girls she was going to take them away, she’d expected them to cry with joy. Instead, they’d clung to their mother and the family’s golden retriever. Johanna’s face had been terrified. After that, Lola had never been able to face either of her sisters again.
Now, pain lifted in Lola’s throat, sharp as a razor blade. She blinked fast, looking out through the beach house’s windows. Jett was sleeping in the nursery. The room was shadowy and silent. In the distance, she could see the pink and orange sunset over the black ocean.
All these years, she’d been too scared to face them. She’d told herself that they’d either forgotten her, or hated her.
Only the money—and Rodrigo—had given her the courage to finally contact them, hoping they could forgive her, and let her back in their lives.
But they’d sent back the money. They didn’t want it.
They just wanted her to come for Christmas.
She closed her eyes, holding her baby sister’s note like it was a precious gift. Raw emotions were pouring through her like torrential rain.
I’m sorry I was scared last time. I’m not scared anymore.
Then she opened her eyes, as everything became suddenly very clear.
Later that night, when Rodrigo came home from his trip, she turned on the light where she’d been sitting on the sofa, waiting for him.
“Lola.” He looked surprised. “I thought you’d be asleep. What are you doing, sitting in the dark?”
Gripping her hands at her sides, she rose to her feet. “We need to talk.”
Rodrigo’s black eyes gleamed. “I’m glad you’re awake. I’ve missed you, querida.” He gave her a sensual smile. “I can hardly wait to—”
“A handsome stranger flirted with me today.”
He froze, staring at her. “What?”
She shrugged. “He was just being friendly. It would be no big deal, except it’s the second time he’s tried. And—” she paused “—it’s exactly the same thing that happened to all your other fiancées.”
His expression changed. “I heard how you spent the morning. Having coffee with Elise Patel.”
“Did Marnie tell you that?”
“She mentioned in passing you asked for Elise’s phone number. What I don’t understand is why.”
“Ulrika Lund came up to me at the awards ceremony in Madrid, while you were giving your speech.” Lola met his eyes evenly. “She had an interesting theory about why all your engagements ended.”
“Because they were unfaithful,” he said flatly.
“Yes, but why?”
He stiffened. “What kind of question is that?”
“Did you hire men to deliberately seduce them?”
Rodrigo dropped his suitcase with a loud bang against the floor. He gave a harsh laugh. “Is that some kind of joke?”
“Maybe you were just testing their loyalty. Or maybe...” Speaking her deepest fear, she whispered, “Maybe you were afraid of loving them, and wanted to get rid of them before they got too close.”
His black eyes glinted sparks in the small halo of lamplight as he came forward. “You’re insane.”
Lola set her jaw, trying desperately to appear strong, but her voice wobbled as she said, “Did you send that man to flirt with me today? Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“How can you even think such a thing?” he said in a low, dangerous voice, looking down at her. “After I decide to trust you—”
“Trust me! Is that what you call it, when you have Lester follow me?”
“That was for your own protection!”
“No!” she cried. Her chest rose and fell in quick, angry breaths. “It was for yours!”
The two of them glared at each other with matching ferocity.
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