‘Where the hell are you?’ her father blasted. ‘I’ve been worried sick. I was about to get every cop in Vegas out looking for you. Are you all right? What happened last night? Bruno told me you gave him the slip. Just wait until I see you, young lady. Do you think I’m not serious about your safety? There are creeps out there just waiting to get their hands on a good old-fashioned girl like you. I swear to God if anyone’s hurt my baby girl I’ll have their balls for breakfast.’
‘I’m fine, Dad, please stop shouting.’ Daisy tried to cover the mouthpiece but it was obvious Luiz had heard every word because he was grinning. ‘I’m fine, really I am. Nothing happened. Nothing at all.’
‘Where are you?’ her father demanded.
‘I’m at a hotel with a…a friend.’
‘Which friend? You don’t know anyone in Vegas apart from those silly girlfriends of yours.’
‘A new friend.’ Daisy looked at Luiz with a can-I-mention-your-name? look but, before he could give her an answer, she told her father, ‘I’m with Luiz Valquez, you know, the famous polo champion?’
‘What?’ her father roared.
‘I met him last night. He was terribly nice and took me to his—’
‘That profligate time-wasting party boy?’ Her father was apoplectic. ‘Wait till I get my hands on him. I’ll tear him limb from—’
Luiz signalled for her to give him the phone. ‘I’ll talk to him.’
Daisy gingerly handed the phone to him as her father continued his audible tirade. ‘Sorry,’ she mouthed.
‘Mr…er…Wyndham? Luiz Valquez. Daisy was a little under the weather last night so I—’
‘Drunk?’ her father exploded. ‘How dare you suggest such a thing? Do you have any idea of whom you’re dealing with here?’
Luiz’s mouth developed a smirk, which Daisy was eminently glad her father couldn’t see. ‘Yes, sir, I do. You’re a loving father who is concerned about his daughter’s welfare.’
She grimaced. Her father hated being patronised. She waited for the fallout. Any second now… She exchanged a quick look with Luiz. He wasn’t looking unduly worried. If anything, there was a glint of amusement in his dark gaze.
‘Parli italiano?’ her father demanded.
‘Sì.’
The rest of the exchange was conducted in rapid-fire Italian and, while Daisy was moderately good at languages, she wasn’t that good. Whatever was said was short and to the point. Luiz showed little emotion on his face but she noticed the smirk had gone by the time the call ended and he handed back her phone. ‘Quite a guy.’
‘He’s really sweet when you get to know him.’
There was a pregnant silence.
‘What did he say to you?’ Daisy asked.
‘Nothing much.’
She chewed her lip again. Her father could be quite threatening at times. He was all bluster, of course. He wouldn’t hurt a fly if push came to shove. She reached for her purse again. ‘I guess I should let you get on with your morning.’