“Certainly,” she said and moved to get in the sedan, only to have Luciano open the door for her and offer an apologetic smile.
“This won’t take long,” he said.
“It’s okay. Take your time.” She busied herself fishing her netbook from her tote and hoped he didn’t see how her hand shook.
Several strained seconds passed before the door closed. Only then did she take a breath and glance out the window. The two men squared off between the two sedans, looking obstinate and commanding. Father and son. So much alike in that regard yet something was driving them apart.
She didn’t want to guess what it was. She didn’t even want to know details. She only wanted to find a way she and Luciano could work together for the next month without tearing each other apart. And without her losing her heart to him all over again.
It wasn’t going to be easy.
* * *
“What is this urgent business?” Luc asked his father, having no patience for this interruption to his own plans.
“Victore wants to do business with us at the new lodge. I can’t refuse them.”
“I can,” Luc said with heat.
His father bit off a ripe curse. “Carlos Victore has been a friend of mine for fifty years. It would be a slap in the face to refuse to meet with his son because of past issues you have with Carlos’s eldest son.”
“Past issues?” Luc said, balling his fingers into fists. “His son had an affair with my wife while he was doing business with me. He’s not to be trusted.”
His father stared at him, unmoved. “Let it go.”
“I most certainly will not let it go. I will never do business with a Victore.”
And he most certainly would not stand here while his father tried to strong-arm him into dealing with the man who ruined his marriage. He stormed toward the waiting sedan.
“Wait,” his father barked.
“I’ve nothing more to say on the subject. I’m considering Mario Godolphin as the architect.” He wrenched open the car door and dropped in beside her. “Go,” he told his driver as he reached for the door.
His father positioned himself in the door’s opening and the driver noticed and remained parked. Stubborn old fool!
“Our families have done business for decades,” his father said. “We are like family!”
“Family that stabs one another in the back,” Luc spat.
His father slashed the air with a hand. “What proof do you have for such a claim? None, other than your wife and Carlos’s eldest son dying in a horrific motor accident. Think, Luciano. We can make this work to our advantage. What do I tell Carlos and his son?”
“Tell them both to go to hell.”
Luc pulled at the door and his father backed out of the way with a scowl that screamed retribution. He didn’t want to have this talk and he sure as hell didn’t want Caprice privy to the details of his family’s scandal. “Drive.”
* * *
The big sedan jolted forward, slamming Caprice against the plush cushions. Heat seeped from Luciano and tension pulsed inside the car. Her heart raced. Should she ask what was wrong? No. This wasn’t her business. Wasn’t her concern.