Fire In His Eyes (Secrets & Seduction #1)(40)

When we got off the plane, we exited the terminal and took the shuttles to the main lobby. I saw Victor right away. He stood leaning against a pole looking so good in faded, ripped jeans, and grey shirt, I could have gobbled him right up. I was that excited to see him. It was funny, too, because he was also standing right next to hunky bartender boy and they did not know that the other one was picking up one of the sisters. Teddy was waving at my sister like crazy jumping up to see over the other passengers who had disembarked from the tram before us. I looked at my sister and giggled. She rolled her eyes at me and stated, “You’ve got your ride; I’ve got mine.” She shrugged her shoulders and opened her arms as the hunky bartender ran in to them, picked her up and swung her around. Shaking my head, I continued to walk to Victor, and got up on my tip toes to kiss him, but he turned his face and I caught him on the cheek just barely. He was looking around nervously. “Come on, babe. I don’t have a lot of time.” He turned and I, a little put off, followed him to the elevators.

In the elevator without listening ears, a little miffed, and little envious at the way my sister had been met by Teddy, I remarked sarcastically, “Nice greeting.”

“Sorry, I’m a . . .” he paused, “just a little distracted. I told Juli—I would be back as soon as I could, and that I was helping a friend move.” He looked at me then and I saw panic.

“Who is Julie?” I asked trying not to sound suspicious.

“A, a family member,” he replied and looked at his watch.

“Oh, okay, but why did you tell your family you were helping someone move, when you were coming to get me?” I was confused now. He didn’t answer. Then a light went on. “You haven’t told your family about me,” I thought out loud.

“Umm, I . . . no . . . I did not know where this was going . . . I don’t tell my family about my one night stands. Would you?” He snapped. I could see he was getting agitated.

“Umm, my sister maybe, but no, not the rest,” I answered truthfully. Then added because I was hurt, “But, we are not a one night stand. You could have mentioned me later.”

“You just never came up,” he said lamely as the elevator door opened to let other passengers in.

When the elevator door opened onto the sixth floor he began to walk out peering at me to see if I was following. He shook his head, and he took my suitcase then. He just seemed to notice I had been dragging it along behind me this whole time. “Sorry, about that,” he said indicating the suitcase and turned a little bit abashedly. I followed in the parking lot practically jogging to keep up with his longer strides.

“Victor, please slow down,” I stated breathlessly.

“Oh, sorry,” he apologized again. “We’re here, anyway.” I looked around but did not see his car. “My car wouldn’t start so I had to borrow this one from someone in my family, this Chevy here.” I was standing behind a massive black Chevy Suburban.

“Oh, okay,” I stammered.

“That’s why I was so distracted. I was thinking about how and when I am going to find the time to get my car fixed.”

“Uh-huh,” I murmured. “Anything I can do?” I asked. So, that was why he had been upset and rushed. It made some sense. I had never seen Victor like this, he looked so rattled. Stop questioning him, I told myself. He’s upset by the car, and he is a busy. This weekend he had moved things around to come get me, I told myself. I’d cut him some slack.

He put my suitcase in the back of the Suburban, and shut the door, but not before I noticed some toys. It must be a family member or friend of his who had kids, I thought. Maybe this Julie person was his sister, and he had some nieces or nephews. He did not mention his family much, I didn’t even know if he had a sister, and Kat had warned me not to ask about his family, so I kept my mouth shut.

But when we left the parking garage, I was startled again. He had mentioned going to his place for a few hours, and then taking me home later. But, he took the exit that led to the Veteran’s Expressway and my home. When I looked at him he winced, his eyes pleading with me to understand. “I’ve got to get the truck back, sorry, really sorry.” He looked like he meant it, too. I could see the disappointment in his eyes.

“It’s okay, don’t worry about it,” I said. “We always have Thursday.” I gave him a smile and hoped it looked genuine. He patted my knee and smiled back, then concentrated on his driving, both hands on the steering wheel. I turned to look out the passenger side window watching the other cars fly past on the Veteran’s. I imagined those families doing things together on this remarkably beautiful Saturday in June. I stared out the window the whole way home hiding the tears of regret that glided down my cheeks.

I felt his hand caress my knee through the white capris I wore, but I couldn’t look at him. I just couldn’t. If I did, I knew I would lose it. I did reach for his hand and he held it there the rest of the ride home. The whole way was silent and neither one of us said a word. I knew he, too, was just as disappointed.

At my door, he placed my suitcase down, and said, “We’ll talk Thursday. Really talk, okay?”

I remained silent and just nodded, not looking at him.

He took my chin in his hands and lifted my face to meet his eyes, and the tears that I had managed to control began to fall again silently down my face. “I really, really missed you, baby.” He kissed me then, on the lips softly, nothing sensual, just tender.