Fire In His Eyes (Secrets & Seduction #1)(54)
“Thanks for sharing this with me, Kat. It helps me to understand a little better why Victor has done what he did. He hasn’t shared anything like this with me,” I reached out to squeeze her hand.
“He would never bad mouth the mother of his child. That is just not him,” she offered with a smile. “But I wanted you to know.” Joe was calling her over, so we both strolled over to the other side of the lanai where Joe was talking to Michael and another guy I had not met yet.
“Hi, Monica. It’s nice to see you again. This is my friend, Rick,” Michael stated. “Rick, this is Monica,” Michael added finishing the introductions.
“Hi, Michael. It’s nice to see you again, too. And, it’s nice to meet you, Rick,” I smiled.
“It’s always nice to meet a stunning woman,” Rick smiled wickedly proffering his hand. He was tall, taller than Victor, leaner too, but well defined. He was quite a bit younger, with brown, close cropped military hair, and hazel eyes. Good looking, rugged. I shook his hand intending to make it quick but he would not let go. “Come on and dance with me and we can get to know each other,” he stated as he pulled me to an area where some couples were dancing. I had no choice in the matter, really, he was practically dragging me. But I was happy to see Michael following us and Tina not far behind.
When we started dancing it was an up tempo song, and Michael and Tina kept circling around us making it more like a group dance so that I felt more comfortable. After two songs, Victor interrupted us to tell us the kids were all going to Joe’s for a sleep over, and wanted to say goodnight. I saw that he looked upset and was eyeing Michael like crazy. We stopped dancing, said good night to the girls, and Stacey hugged me. I was a little surprised at how affectionate she was. “You’re so pretty. Good night, Monica. I hope I get to see you again.”
“I hope to see you, too, Stacey, goodnight.” I leaned down to hug her back. “And, I think you’re pretty, too.” I straightened and Victor wouldn’t look at me. He was deliberately looking the other way.
“I’ll be back in a bit,” he said to Michael. “Joe’s daughter is going to put in a movie for the kids. I just want to see Stacey settled.” And with that, he marched off with Stacey.
“Catch you in a bit, buddy,” Michael called out to his back. “We’re good here.”
“Right,” he called over his shoulder.
I was a bit concerned with his sudden change in mood and a bit distracted when Rick pulled me over to a chair. “Hey, let me get you a drink, Monica, and we can get to know each other. What will it be?” he asked, referring to the drink.
“Umm, a Michelob Ultra would be nice. If they don’t have it, anything light will do,” I murmured absently as I was distracted in trying to puzzle out Victor’s mood change.
“A beer drinking woman. My kind of girl,” he stated as he walked off. That snapped me back to reality. Uh-oh, Vic didn’t think? Well, I would straighten that out right away when he returned, I thought, suddenly nervous.
Michael and Tina sat with me, asked me a few questions about work, I answered, but was edgy as heck. I would be until Victor returned and I had a chance to explain, and to let him know I hadn’t been flirting or anything. But before Victor came back, Rick had returned and handed me my beer. I would deal with him first, I thought as he sat beside me in one of the pool chairs.
I turned to Rick, and gave him a polite shake of my head. “Hey, thanks Rick. I just want to be upfront with you, okay, so there are no misunderstandings. I’m thirty-one, you look like you’re twenty. I am not from here, and don’t come to Tampa often. I don’t do one night stands, and I’m just not interested in dating right now, ok?”
“Ouch! I’m wounded, I’m twenty-four and I dig older chicks. They can teach me a thing or two,” he teased, not giving up so easily.
He was a funny guy, not a bad sort, but he was persistent. So Michael chimed in, “Give it up, man, you’re not going to get anywhere with Monica,” and there was a cautionary note in his voice, but Rick still wasn’t hearing it. He was twenty-four, and a little buzzed.
“I don’t see a ring on her finger,” he joked, and kept trying to give me flirty glances.
“Please, Rick. You’re a nice guy and all, but too young for me, and frankly, I’m just not that into you,” I teased back using that famous line from the movie. Often humor helped to diffuse a potential situation, before it arose, so I tried that tack instead.
“Aw, surely you jest.” He pouted. “I can’t do anything to change your mind, another dance maybe? I can show you my moves.” When I nodded in the negative, he just shook his head, but clasped my hand and gallantly stated, “Well, my dear, at least that was the nicest put down I ever had.” With my hand in his, he kissed the top.
I heard Victor’s roar of anger before I saw him, and when I turned my head he was charging across the lanai towards Rick with fury in his eyes. Michael and Tina sprang out of their chairs and jumped in defense of Rick, placing themselves in front of him. I got out of my chair and tried to step in front of them, but Kat was there all of a sudden, and just yanked me out of the way.
“What the hell,” I heard Rick say, as Victor pounded directly into Michael’s chest trying to reach over and grab Rick. Michael went back two or three feet, but held firm barely remaining standing.