Fire In His Eyes (Secrets & Seduction #1)(51)

“Really?” I asked. I didn’t know why he was telling me this. Or, if I wanted to know. I guess he wanted there to be no more secrets, if we were going to be friends.

“Yeah, I don’t know why I am telling you this.” His voice echoed my thoughts. “As friends though, that is something I would tell you. I . . . just . . . don’t want you to think I have ulterior motives. You’re friendship means too much.”

“It’s okay. Victor. I think I understand,” I expressed to him sympathetically. I heard the pain and frustration there. Confusion.

“Yeah, well, I think I am coming to accept it. Stacey even knows that we are probably going to divorce. The counselor wanted us to talk with her about it so that it didn’t come as a shock to her.”

“That’s a good idea,” I told him. It would make any transition easier whatever it may be.

“Yeah, but the kid tells us. ‘Please, tell me something I don’t already know. I love both of you and you both love me, so no biggie. We haven’t lived together in a year.’ she said.” He stated with wonder.

Kids were versatile. They adapted well if they had love and support on all sides. I saw this all the time in my career. “Kids are smart today, Victor,” I offered.

“She sure is,” he laughed. There was another pause. “Well, I will let you go to bed. Thanks for listening.”

“No problem. Good night, Victor,” I whispered.

“Good night, Monica,” he said softly.



On Friday, during my lunch break, before I knew Ana had to go to work, I called her and filled her in on what was going on. She warned me and reminded me again that we were playing a dangerous game with this friendship business, but was glad Victor wasn’t leading me on and giving me false hope. I admitted to her that was what I was hoping she would say. She again cautioned me not to hope because anything could happen. She reminded me how our parents had remarried, albeit they had divorced again. I sighed, knowing this was true, having lived it myself.

Friday night rolled around, and I called Victor. He had his daughter for the weekend. I could hear her in the background with Kat. They were laughing.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Oh, Kat and Stacey are in the kitchen cooking and baking up a storm, and I’m trying to stay out of their way,” he laughed.

“You lazy SOB, you just don’t want to help!” I heard Kat yell.

“Yeah, daddy!” Stacey yelled laughing.

“Are you slacking in your duties?” I accused. I could tell that Kat must be close to Stacey by the way they talked and were so easy going together. She must spend a lot of time there.

“Not you, too,” he laughed. “Don’t tell me you’re on their side?” he whined.

“Good girl, Mon. Fight the power. Make sure he knows that the kitchen is not just a woman’s domain!” Kat called out.

“What’s fight the power mean?” I heard Stacey say.

We all laughed. “You’re lucky she didn’t ask what SOB meant,” I said, and I heard him chuckle.

“Yeah, really. That one just slipped past her,” he mumbled. “That doesn’t happen too often.”

“So, why are the girls in this cooking and baking frenzy for which you refuse to help?” I asked continuing to mock him.

“They are . . . um cooking and prepping for a party, Joe’s retirement actually. We are doing a little something for him down in the courtyard area by the pool tomorrow night. All of us from the apartment complex are going.”

“Yeah, and you should be helping!” Kat complained.

“He’s your boyfriend!” Victor retorted. “Plus, I refuse to go anywhere near that counter.”

“Oh you devil,” I heard Kat say. Then she yelled, “Tell Monica to come. It would be nice to see her.” Oh, my. Why would Kat put us in this predicament, I thought.

“Is that Monica,” I heard Stacey say. “I want to meet her.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” I hastily stated. “I’m not sure.”

“She says she is busy,” he started to offer as an excuse.

“Busy, my arse!” Kat snipped.

“I really want to meet her, daddy! Kat says she’s cool!” I heard the girl complain. Kat told Stacey I was cool. They had talked about me. The slight panic I felt began to rise.

“Tell that skinny bit— um, Monica,” Kat cut herself off, “She’s expected at eight.”

There was an awkward silence from both Victor and I.

“So, eight then?” he asked when I hadn’t said anything.

I paused, “Eight it is, then.” I felt like I hadn’t been given a choice. But the temptation to see him with his daughter was just too much. It would be painful, but something I thought I should do.



At eight on the button, I made way into the courtyard of Victor’s apartment complex. I just followed the noise. It was obvious the revelry was already under way from the sound of laughter and music that filled the evening air. I walked between Victor’s building and the one next to it, and made my way down the small lane of potted plants, and decorative shrubbery to the pool and lanai area. I noticed someone had strung nets of white Christmas lights over the fence, some trees, and the umbrellas. It made for a nice atmosphere in the waning light of November in Florida. I saw two tables laden with food and drinks. There were a lot of people, much more than there had been when Joe had thrown a party last summer. People stood and sat in small groups, all around the oversized swimming pool and a sign was hung across the fence that read, “Good luck Joe! Congratulations.”