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Alyssa’s mum met her gaze. “I hope you’ve had even half as wonderful a weekend as I have. I’m sorry I abandoned you.”
Alvaro nodded beside her and smiled at Alyssa. “I hope you can forgive me; I stole your mother away.”
She could hardly tell him that she was grateful to him. “That’s okay.” She checked her watch. She was still thinking about poor old Reaves and Ollie. The two of them wouldn’t be enjoying their weekend right now, they’d be at the hangar or on their way there.
She was surprised to hear the hesitation in her mum’s voice when she spoke again. “There you go, Lizzie, checking the time, making sure that we’re not going to be late. But …”
Alyssa met her gaze, wondering what she was about to say.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I’m not ready to go. Alvaro has said that he can bring me home.”
Alyssa just kept staring at her. She didn’t know what to say.
It was Bentley who broke the awkward silence that had descended. “As a matter of fact, we were just saying that perhaps there’s no big rush to get back to San Francisco. Alyssa doesn’t have any meetings until Wednesday so …”
Alyssa’s mum just kept staring back at her.
Alvaro let out a hearty laugh. “I’m afraid that Wednesday would still be too soon. I have asked Julia to stay here with me this week. Then, she’s going to come and see my place.”
Alyssa’s mouth opened and closed a couple of times before she stopped trying to form words. This guy was just planning to take her mum back to Argentina with him?
“Lizzie?”
“Mum. Can I please have a word?”
She didn’t say anything until they reached the flower garden behind the hotel. She was too busy trying to process it all.
“Are you mad at me?”
When she turned and met her mum’s gaze, she understood. “I don’t think I am, Mum, no. I’m shocked. I don’t mind tellingyou that. I’m a little worried, I mean you don’t know him from Adam.”
Her mum chuckled. “You’d be surprised just how well I know him …”
Alyssa held her hand up. “Don’t! Please, just don’t.”
Her mum laughed. “I know I’m your Mum, and I’m a widow, but I’m not dead. I … Can you honestly tell me that you’ve never gone out for an evening and gone home with a guy? I wouldn’t say that I make a habit of it, but it happens, Lizzie. And whether you believe it or not, it can lead to something more. In this case, with Alvaro? I think it will. I don’t know if you can understand that, but all I can do is ask you to trust me.”
Alyssa had to blink away tears. “I trust you, Mum. And I believe it can lead somewhere – to something special.”
Her mum smiled through pursed lips. “You never told me how you and Bentley met.”
Alyssa had to laugh. “No, and I’m not going to. You really like him then, Alvaro?”
Her mum’s face grew serious as she nodded. “I know that I must have sounded terrible all this time, talking about finding myself a husband – a wealthy one. I don’t know if you can understand, not at your age, but I’m lonely, Lizzie. I convinced myself that I needed to find someone – just anyone – so that I wouldn’t end up alone. Alvaro’s … he’s not just anyone.”
Alyssa reached out and squeezed her arm. “In that case, I hope he turns out to be someone special.”
~ ~ ~
It had been a long day in the office, and Bentley hadn’t seen Alyssa once. Willow had whisked her away this morning, andfrom what he’d heard, she’d been working her way around the building ever since, making friends everywhere she went.
He eyed his cell phone when it rang on his desk.
“Greetings, Mr. Jacobs. What can I do for you?” he answered with a smile.
“Greetings, Mr. DuPont. I don’t need a damn thing. Just calling to check in with you.”
“All’s well here, thanks.”
