Home Again, Home Again

TINA

“Here we are,” Alejandro said as he switched off the engine of his car.

I got out of the car, and my eyes opened in awe.

This was a freaking mansion that had a front yard that was almost the size of the city park. There was a fountain at the center of the yard. The twin statues at the top gushed out clean water that sparkled under the moonlight. Even the ground I walked on was smooth and spotless. This place was beautiful. If I died, I wanted this to be my heaven.

“Are you all right, Tina?” I felt Alejandro’s hand on my back.

“Yeah.” I blinked in surprise. He looked so worried. “Why?”

“Sorry.” I shook my head. “Just taking it in.” I surveyed the large front yard again. “I’ve never seen a place so big.”

“Are you serious?” He raised an eyebrow as he led me toward the large door.

“Yeah,” I replied. “This place is paradise. It’s so beautiful and peaceful.”

His lips pursed in a thin line. An expression I couldn’t decipher formed on his face as he pressed the bell. He glanced toward me, and a calm smile was on his face.

“Peaceful, eh?” he said. “I’m happy you feel that way.”

I returned his smile as the door opened.

I recognized the man who opened the door as the driver who’d been with Armando the time I was hospitalized. I’d forgotten his name. He was dressed as I remembered, in a black chauffeur uniform with gold buttons and a badge on his left breast pocket.

“Good evening, Señor.” His wrinkled face broke into a smile as he bowed courteously toward Alejandro.

“Gustavo.” Alejandro nodded.

Ah, Gustavo. That was his name. I remembered it now.

“Miss Campbell.” Gustavo smiled at me. “A pleasure to see you again. I’m sure Señor Armando will be delighted.”

It had been a while since I saw Armando, and I suddenly felt guilty. The man was the reason I had bounced back from a downward spiral, and I’d nearly forgotten about him. I should have at least sent a card.

“Are you all right?”

Alejandro was staring at me in concern.

“Yeah.” I grinned sheepishly, rubbing my arm.

“Where is Padre?” Alejandro asked Gustavo as we stepped inside. He took off my coat and hung it on a nearby rack. I felt my insides flutter at the gesture. I was so loving this side of him. A pity he never showed his tender side at the office.

“In the living room,” Gustavo replied. “He’s not alone.”

We stared at him, and from the nervous look in his eyes, Alejandro understood the statement.

“Mother.” His voice was icy. “She’s here, isn’t she?”

Gustavo nodded, then bowed and made his exit.

Alejandro ground his jaw, startling me a bit. He glanced toward me.

“Sorry.” He smiled apologetically.

“It’s okay.” I caressed his face. “I’m more worried about you wrecking your glass jaw.”

We laughed as I pulled my hands away. He grabbed them and kissed my knuckles. My heart warmed at his warm lips on my fingers. His eyes focused on mine as he pulled his lips away. I felt blood rush below.

I didn’t want those lips on my fingers; I wanted them somewhere else. I knew the thought was selfish, but I was impatient. Months without getting action was getting to me, and I was not such a strong believer in sex toys. I needed the real thing. And teasing me here was really not fair. I knew he wasn’t really trying to tease me, but I was getting to a boiling point. I wanted him.

Alejandro glanced toward the living room, where we could hear voices.

“Let’s get this over with.” He took my hand and led me to the living room.

If I thought the outside was heaven, then I was in for a shock. The living room screamed money and gold. Everything virtually sparkled. The ground shone so bright I could see my reflection in it. There was a large chandelier hung above, and it was made of gold. Who the hell uses a golden chandelier? A large flatscreen was mounted on the wall, and it displayed the evening news.

Armando watched the news on it, sitting with a beautiful woman in her late forties. This was obviously Alejandro’s mother. She had brown hair with graying streaks at the side, gray curious eyes, and thin red lips. Armando may have gotten his eyes from his father, but this woman was a total knockout. Which means no matter whose genes Alejandro had inherited, he would’ve turned out to be a hunk.

“Miss Campbell.” Armando’s eyes lit up as soon as he saw us. I smiled nervously as the woman’s gaze focused on me.

“Good evening, sir,” I said to Armando. Despite his smile, he looked a bit frail, and I couldn’t help but worry.

“It has been a while. You are looking well.” His eyes shifted to his son, and he smiled. “Alejandro.”

Alejandro smiled back.

“And there’s a smile.” The woman finally spoke, a sly smile on her face. “I haven’t seen that in years.”

“Mother,” Alejandro said plainly, the smile disappearing from his face. I had no idea if that was a greeting.

“It’s good to see you again, Alejandro.” Her smile widened.

“I wish I could say the same,” Alejandro spat.

I saw venom flash in his eyes. I would have to find out what was going on between him and his mother. Hopefully I’d be able to ask without making it worse.

“Alejandro!” Armando bellowed, startling everyone. “Do not speak to your mother that way. She is still your mother. You will show her respect. Do I make myself clear?”

Tension filled the air as father and son engaged in a face-off. I shuddered at the similarities between the two men. Armando was enraged. I had seen Alejandro angry lots of times, but seeing the same emotion from his father was terrifying. The sweet man who’d helped me stay calm at the hospital seemed to be gone.

I had the thought that being in the same room with two angry billionaires was a recipe for disaster. The fact that they were Mexicans increased my worries. If there was one thing I knew about Mexicans, it was that they could be unpredictable when triggered. I hoped that wasn’t a racist thing to think. It had been my experience with the kids I’d gone to school with, and I knew I had a temper as well.

I grabbed Alejandro’s hand. His eyes shifted to mine.

“Understood,” he mumbled.

I breathed in relief as the tension dissipated and Armando’s anger vanished.

“Good,” he said. “Now what’s left is dinner.”

Right. Dinner. I swallowed a bit as we moved toward the dining area. Please, let there not be any more family drama.