Three blocks later she announced, “Here we are.”
He blinked as she gestured to the food cart parked on the sidewalk bearing a blue and white banner that proclaimed “Spiro’s Heavenly Gyros ~ From Mount Olympus to You.”
Aaron gave her a blank look. “Really?”
“You bet. You won’t find a better gyro in the city.” She indicated the line of people waiting their turn to order. “Doesn’t this tell you something?”
New Yorkers didn’t play when it came to time or street food. The fact that all these folks were willing to wait patiently for Spiro’s specialties was recommendation enough.
She and Aaron took their place at the end of the line. When their turn came to order, Spiro greeted her like an old friend. Which she supposed she was, in a way, because she grabbed lunch from his cart twice a week.
“Claudia, lovely lady. How are you? What a nice surprise, to see you here for dinner. Theo, look who stopped by.”
Theo, Spiro’s son, was around fifteen years old but already taller than his short, stocky father. Nodding shyly at her, he blushed. Claudia suspected he had a bit of a crush on her.
“What will you have, pretty lady? The usual?”
“I think I’ll have a falafel sandwich tonight, Spiro. And an orange drink, please.” She gestured to Aaron. “This is my friend. I told him this was the best place in town for Greek food.”
“And you told him right.” Spiro beamed. “Hello, Claudia’s friend. What can I get for you?”
“Try the lamb gyro,” Claudia said. “It’s excellent.”
Spiro puffed his barrel chest. “Everything we serve is excellent. The very best.”
“That’s what I’ll have, then,” Aaron said with a smile.
She had to give him credit for being a good sport. This might not have been the evening he expected, but he played right along with her. After getting their sandwiches, they walked another block then found an unoccupied bench on which to sit and enjoy their meal.
“Thank you,” she offered before she took another bite of her sandwich. The tangy yogurt sauce and crunchy veggies blended deliciously with the falafel, crispy on the outside, soft within.
“You’re welcome,” he answered, handing her a napkin.
Eyeing him, she said teasingly “I was worried for a moment I’d end up paying for dinner.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Why? I asked you. Asker always pays.”
“But Spiro doesn’t take credit cards and I thought rich dudes don’t bother carrying cash. So middle class, you know.”
He snorted. “Give me a break. We’re not all that out of touch. We rich dudes. Anyway, that wouldn’t make a good impression, having my date pay for my meal.”
She tried not to take the word “date” too seriously. “Is that what you want to do? Make a good impression?”
“You bet.” The look he gave her sent a shiver through her. “How am I doing?”
Pursing her lips to hide a smile, she pretended to think it over. No need to make things too easy for him. “So far…not bad.”
They ate in silent camaraderie for a bit until Claudia spoke again. “So. I told you all about my family. Why don’t you tell me a little about yours?”
He wiped his mouth with a napkin before answering. “What should I say? They’re multi-billionaires. My grandfather made a fortune decades ago in luxury goods and has only amassed more in the years since. There were a few short-cuts, some shady back room deals along the way, to insure he didn’t lose what he’d worked so hard to get. In short, the Sinclairs are very, very rich.” Aaron’s voice was matter of fact. Disinterested. As though he were discussing strangers instead of his own people.
“I could find that out by googling,” she told him.
His lip curled. “You should. There’s an entire Wikipedia page devoted to them.”
Them. They. She didn’t miss his choice of pronouns. No us or we. He didn’t want to be included among them. Or maybe he felt excluded. Whatever the case, he didn’t consider himself “one of them.”
She heard herself ask “Why do you hate them?”
He looked at her sharply. “What makes you think I hate them?”
“Because you do everything in your power to embarrass them. When you’re not off on some adventure, that is.”
“Ah.” He nodded. “You’re referring to the gala the other night. I am truly sorry about that.”
“But you went there planning to cause a scene. Why?”
“Don’t you know?” Aaron’s mouth curled in a cynical smile. “I’m a born troublemaker. An entitled rich dude who thinks he owns the world.”
Claudia shook her head, her gaze never leaving his. “I don’t buy that. Someone who thinks he owns the world wouldn’t have changed his mind because I asked him to. The man I spoke to has a conscience.”
Jokingly, he put a finger to his lips. “Sshhh. Don’t let that get around.”
“I’m serious. Why do you want to embarrass your family?”
Aaron’s eyes went dead and his mouth flattened. “Because it’s what they deserve.”
It made no sense to her. She couldn’t imagine trying to embarrass or humiliate her parents. She loved them and from the time she was a little girl always wanted to make them proud. Aaron, on the other hand…
Whatever his reasons, he wasn’t about to share them. And she didn’t know him well enough to dig further.
As she finished her sandwich, Claudia wondered about all his risky exploits—the parasailing, the surfing in dangerous big waves, the mountain biking on hazardous trails. Were they simply to satisfy his sense of adventure? Or were they also his way of getting attention, if not from his family, then from the rest of the world?
He behaved as if he couldn’t care less about his family, but Claudia had to ask herself if that only meant he cared very much.
“I can see the wheels turning,” he said, pulling her out of her thoughts. His voice was gentle. “You don’t understand how I can feel that way.”
She didn’t know how to answer. “If nothing else, I’d think you’d be worried about making them angry. What if they decide to disinherit you?”
He laughed. “Oh, that won’t happen.”
How could he be so sure? “Really?”
“Why would they cause such a dreadful scandal when it’s so much easier to pretend I don’t exist?”
Though he spoke lightly, as though he was making a joke, Claudia gasped. A moment’s pain slashed her. If it hurt to hear him say that, how much more must he be hurting?
“I’m sorry,” she murmured.
His gaze softened. “You come from a loving home, don’t you? Your parents taught you right from wrong. I’m guessing they were your role models. Good, decent, honest people. Am I right?” He sounded wistful.
“Yes, of course.” Surely that wasn’t unusual.
“Then you have no idea where I’m coming from. Be glad. Be grateful for that. But don’t feel bad for me. I know too many dirty family secrets. Where all the bodies are buried. They give me a wide berth, but they won’t mess with me. They don’t dare.”
If that was the case, then he was right—she didn’t know where he was coming from. “Must it be that way? Isn’t there any way to—”
“To mend the rift? To do that, I’d have to crawl back and beg forgiveness. And that’s never going to happen.”
Though she didn’t know it then, Claudia learned an important truth about Aaron that night—that once someone wronged him, he cut them completely from his life. He didn’t hesitate and he didn’t forgive. He never gave anyone the opportunity to hurt him twice.
Chapter 5
Claudia was slow returning to the room, so Aaron could only surmise she’d been waylaid in the hallway by Summer. He knew there would be no scratching or hair-pulling—his ex was too classy to start a cat fight. She didn’t need to, when she was such an expert at delivering a cold stare, designed to freeze anyone in their tracks.
When she at last entered A
ndy’s room, Aaron stiffened, preparing for the deep freeze. Strangely though, she gave him a warm, almost tender look as he held Andy’s hand while recounting a memory.
“Don’t let me interrupt,” she said softly when his voice trailed off. “What were you talking about?”
“About that time we all went to the Bronx Zoo…” he smiled down at his son, lying so still. “Remember that, bud? How old were you then, six or seven? You were mad that I made you hold my hand. You said you were too big for that. But I was scared you’d run head first into some mischief if I let you go. Try to wrestle a python or swing from branches with the chimps.”
“We always had to keep a close eye on him,” Claudia agreed. “Not like with Marcus.”
“That’s right. I was the perfect child,” Marcus joked, rolling his eyes.
“Not perfect, but special. Both my sons are special, wonderful people. I wouldn’t change a thing about either of you.” She gave Marcus a proud, motherly look and took his hand.
“Thanks, Mom.” Marcus smiled at her while Trent looked on wistfully. He had been rejected by his family when he came out in high school and remained estranged from them.
Claudia, noticing the young man’s sadness, took his hand as well. “You know you’re part of this family, too, Trent.”
Aaron’s chest tightened. That was Claudia’s gift. Reaching out to those who felt alone, drawing them into her circle. Letting them know someone cared. Lending them her courage. That was what had made her such a fantastic counselor at My Sister’s House and still served her as a board member.
But she’d lied about one thing. If she could, she’d change something about Andy—she would change his love of excitement, his hunger for adventure. Qualities he’d inherited from his father.
“You dragged me all over the zoo, wanting to see all the animals.” Aaron continued speaking to his younger son. “You tried out-roaring the lions and thumping your chest like the gorillas.”
“I remember not liking the lions,” Marcus confessed.
“Why, Marc? Did they scare you?”
“No, it wasn’t that. I thought they looked sad. Like they really wanted to be home, where they came from. That all their roaring and growling was just for show. Just to hide how homesick they were.”
That was Marcus, his thoughtful, sensitive son. He was very much like his mother. He’d even gotten Claudia’s dark wavy hair and hazel eyes. Andy was wilder, a risk-taker like Aaron himself. His boys were so different, but Aaron would take a bullet for either one of them.
“And of course, in between seeing the animals you had to have every treat in the place,” Aaron went on, again speaking as though Andy could hear and respond. “You made me buy you ice cream and lemonade and cotton candy…I don’t know where you put it all.”
“Made you buy it?” Claudia raised a skeptical eyebrow. But her expression and tone of voice were teasing, not accusing.
Marcus gave a laugh. “Oh, Dad. You were such a soft touch. When we wanted something all we had to do was plead and give you the big sad eyes and you always caved. Not like with Mom. We couldn’t get anything past her. She had a strict one-treat limit.”
“Oh, is that how it was?” Aaron asked, pretending to be miffed. “Daddy was the easy mark just there to get played.”
“And Mom was the big meanie,” Claudia said, playing along with the joke. “Huh. I don’t think I like the sound of that.”
Marcus raised his hands helplessly. “Well, come on, guys. We were kids. Trying to get over on you two was our only source of power.”
“You mean you got over on your mom, too?” Aaron asked. He glanced at Claudia and waggled his eyebrows playfully. “Tell me more.”
Marcus’ face grew pink. “Well, she was tougher, but if we told her something was educational and good for us she’d fold…sometimes,” he added quickly as his mother gave a mock scowl and crossed her arms over her chest.
“You hear that, Claudia?” Aaron laughed softly. “Sounds like our sons knew exactly what buttons to push, the little devils.”
Claudia took a few steps to the bed and clasped Andy’s left hand while Aaron held his right. “Is that true, Andy? Did you and your brother have fun pulling the wool over our eyes?”
When her gaze traveled from Andy’s face to Aaron’s, their eyes met. He knew exactly what was in her mind—she didn’t care what mischief Andy had gotten into or what tricks he’d played. The only thing that mattered was him getting well.
Aaron understood. Because he was praying for exactly the same thing.
Late that afternoon, Aaron sat once more in the cafeteria, trying to make sense of what the doctors had told them about his son’s condition. They’d set his broken leg and he was stable, which meant he wasn’t getting worse. But was he getting better? The M.D.s said signs were hopeful—all the readings from the monitors hooked up to Andy “looked positive.”
To Aaron, it was nothing more than gobbledygook. His hands tightened around his coffee cup. He wanted to crush it to dust or throw it across the room and howl in frustration. He would do anything for his son. Trade places with him in an instant and gladly be the one lying unconscious if Andy could be awake and aware. Give any amount of money. His entire fortune.
But his money was worthless now because there was not a blessed thing he could do to help his son. All he could do was wait.
A fudge ice cream bar suddenly landed on the table’s surface. He looked up to see Claudia standing there, holding a tray. “Hi.”
“Hello.” He nodded at the treat. “Is that for me?”
“Yes. And so is this.” She set the tray down and took the seat across from him. “Vegetable beef soup and turkey on whole wheat. You haven’t been eating well.”
“I could say the same about you.” A moment ago he’d had no appetite, but the soup’s aroma had hunger nipping him. The sandwich looked good, too. “You even remembered the pickle.”
She smiled. “I know how much you love them.”
That was Claudia, always doing for others. Putting their needs before her own. But she’d gotten all this food for him and nothing for herself. That wouldn’t do. “You have something, too. What’s your preference?”
She thought for a moment, then took the bowl of soup. He tore the wrapper from the fudge bar. “If you don’t mind, I’ll start with dessert.”
“You should, before it melts.”
She stirred her soup as he took a bite, then said “I spoke to your friend Summer earlier.”
He went still, his mouth too full to reply.
Still stirring, she looked at him from under her lashes. “Or I should say, she spoke to me. I mostly listened. I should do that more often instead of jumping to conclusions.”
He swallowed, the ice cream a cold lump that went down hard. But he said nothing.
“I’m sorry, Aaron.” Claudia gazed at him, her eyes filled with remorse. “She told me about her father. How you helped him. And how you’re helping her. It’s a wonderful thing you’ve done.”
His face grew hot. He appreciated Summer’s wanting to defend him, but wished she’d just kept out of it. “Not so wonderful. Frank was a good man who got dealt a rotten hand. And Summer’s a good kid. Hard-working and smart.” Except when it came to choosing boyfriends. “I’ve helped our own children. Why shouldn’t I help a friend’s, if I’m able?”
“You don’t have to convince me,” Claudia answered mildly.
“A person shouldn’t be praised for being a halfway decent human,” he muttered, scratching inside his collar where his neck had suddenly gone itchy. “Seems to me that’s the minimum standard.”
“I’ve forgotten how much you dislike being praised,” she said quietly. “Almost as though you think you don’t deserve it.”
He’d grown up in a family of hypocrites who were lauded for their good deeds, but only performed them for show. To get their picture in the papers or have buildings named for them. For the purposes of publicity. But since they were without honesty
and integrity, their charity was empty. They had no compassion even for those within their circle. Because when he had tried to tell them the truth, they’d all turned their backs on him.
“I’ll drop the subject,” Claudia went on. “Except to say I’m sorry.”
The tightness in Aaron’s chest loosened. “Thank you.” Claudia wasn’t like his parents and grandparents. She never said one thing while meaning another. She was honest and true. If she was angry, she let you know it. The same if she was happy. And when she was sorry for something she’d done, her apology was sincere.
Claudia ate her soup while Aaron attacked his sandwich. She didn’t bother asking why he’d let her think he and Summer were an item, because she knew the answer. Aaron never defended himself, never explained. You either trusted him or you didn’t.
And to her shame, she hadn’t. She should have known better. Whatever the problems in their former marriage, she’d never had to worry about Aaron being a womanizer. Though he was happy to let the tabloids think he was.
He’d never cared what others thought of him. In fact, when they first met, he seemed to enjoy giving his family and the public at large the figurative middle finger. He relished being the black sheep and bad actor of the Sinclair dynasty. It was only when she got to know him that she saw his gentler, caring side…
Since Claudia had called the shots on their first date, Aaron insisted it was his turn to take charge on their second. He picked her up on Saturday afternoon in his low-slung little sports car. She didn’t know from cars, but she recognized expensive when she saw it.
“Sweet ride,” she said as she slid into the passenger seat.
“Thanks. It’s a convertible. I can put the top down if you like.”
“It’ll blow the hat off my head.” She wore the hat at his suggestion. He’d also told her to dress casually, in jeans and sneakers. He was dressed in the same fashion with a ball cap sitting atop his head.
The Billionaire's Big Risk Page 5
