“Where do they live?”
“In Coral Gables, but they’ll meet us at the Exotic Car Show and we’ll drive to their estate together...” His gaze left her face, and he broke off speaking.
Sharleen glanced over her shoulder, expecting to see a pretty blonde behind her, but she was surprised to see dozens of elementary schoolchildren playing soccer. They ran down the field, shrieking and laughing, and their high-pitched voices filled the air.
“Lucca would have turned seven on August first.”
Sharleen stood, came around the picnic table and sat down beside him. She clasped his hand and stroked his forearms. “Are you still having nightmares about the accident?”
“Not every night.” Emilio wore a sad smile. “You were right. Meditation does work.”
They sat in silence, sipping their drinks and watching the kids play soccer.
“I replay the accident in my mind every day, but I still don’t understand why Lucca died. He was only five years old. He had his entire life ahead of him.”
His eyes were downcast, his shoulders bent, and when he spoke, his voice was filled with sorrow. “I want to tell you what happened. Maybe it will help me heal and bring us even closer together.”
Sharleen nodded to encourage him.
“I was in my office, reviewing film tapes with my crew, when Lucca burst in and jumped into my arms. He was running around, getting into everything, so I sent him to his room so he wouldn’t disturb us. But instead of going upstairs, he went outside.”
Dread flooded her body, and her throat closed up.
“We found him an hour later, facedown in the pool. He wasn’t breathing, so I did CPR until the paramedics arrived... I prayed that he’d pull through, but he didn’t.”
Words didn’t come. Her thoughts were clouded with sadness, and it took everything in her not to break down. Her heart broke for Emilio, and finally after weeks of intense coaching sessions, she understood why he blamed himself for his nephew’s death.
“I should have been watching him instead of film tape, but I was so stressed-out about my upcoming race in Barcelona that I wasn’t thinking straight.” He turned his head away and wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand. “I was so obsessed with fame and fortune and my stupid legacy that I let it consume me, and it cost me Lucca.”
Emilio stared out onto the field, as if he were lost in another world. Minutes passed, and the longer the silence dragged on, the more helpless Sharleen felt.
“I am so sorry for your loss.” Sharleen paused to gather her thoughts. She racked her mind for something insightful to say, for the perfect quote to comfort him, but came up empty. “I wish there was something I could say to make you feel better.”
“You already have.” He faced her and stared deep in her eyes.
“I didn’t think I deserved to be happy, but then I met you and I realized I’d been given a second chance. And this time around I’m going to help others, not obsess over money and fame.”
Entranced by the sound of his voice, she moved closer to him, eager to hear more. In her peripheral vision, she saw something orange flapping in the sky and glanced at it. An airplane, towing a wide banner, flew overhead, drawing everyone’s attention. Sharleen Nichols Is the Most Beautiful Woman in South Beach.
Sharleen gasped and cupped a hand over her mouth. Her heartbeat roared in her ears, pounded so fast she couldn’t catch her breath. Emilio had surprised her again, when she least expected it. She was blown away by the romantic, unexpected gesture. Yesterday, he’d filled her room at the Fisher Island Club with dozens of roses and treated her to a dream date on the beach. He was a modern-day Prince Charming, and there was never a dull moment when he was around.
“Oh, my gosh, this is insane!” she said, her eyes glued to the banner. “I can’t believe you did this!”
“I’ve fallen hard for you, Sharleen, and I want the world to know.”
His caress along the small of her back flooded her body with heat. Leaning forward until their heads were touching, he stroked her cheeks with his fingertips. The baby-fine hairs on her neck shot up, and a delicious tingle zipped down her spine.
“How do you feel about moving our coaching sessions from the office to the bedroom?” he asked, his voice a husky whisper. “I know what I want, and it’s you.”
Sharleen didn’t trust herself to speak. There was so much she wanted to say, but she didn’t know where to begin. Her tongue felt numb, but she forced the truth out of her mouth. “Emilio, there are things about me you don’t know.”
“You’re not an ax murderer, are you?”