“Okay...Leon.” Too late, Diane realized that she’d given him the first point. It won’t happen again.
He led her to his car and opened the door. Diane recognized a Ferrari. It was similar to one of her son’s cars. As she settled herself on the passenger’s seat, Leon reached in and snapped the seatbelt across her chest.
“Oh,” Diane exclaimed in surprise.
“We have strict rules about using seatbelts. I hope you don’t mind.”
He was so close she could smell his cologne. “No, of course not. It’s fine.”
Leon flashed a smile. He drew away, walking to the driver side. He entered the vehicle but did not turn on the engine. Instead, he reached for a package on the back seat. “This is for you. I believe Nomad and I owe you.”
Diane unwrapped the box. Inside was a La Perla silk satin robe. She flushed at the memory of what happened to her own robe. “You shouldn’t have bothered.”
“I wanted to.”
“Then, I guess I owe you a shirt.” Diane quipped.
“I’m glad you feel that way. I want us to be friends,” Leon said.
Diane shook her head. “Not until I hear what you have to say.”
He smiled enigmatically and fired up the engine.
Diane remained quiet as he drove. What man would give lingerie to a woman he barely knew? Leon didn’t think this was a date, did he? Diane frowned. We are business competitors. Besides, he and his dog did destroy my robe. There must be nothing to it.
“Do you like paella?” Leon asked.
“Actually, I love paella.”
“Good. I know just the perfect place.”
Diane expected Leon to drive to a fancy restaurant in the city. Instead, he drove past the city limits and followed an unpaved road to a boardwalk. At the end, she saw what looked like a bistro with neon lights. He parked the car and hurried across to open the passenger door.
Diane eyed the boardwalk with misgivings. “My shoes aren’t made for walking in the sand or on a wooden bridge.”
“Take them off then.”
She gasped.“No, I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. Here, let me help you.”
Diane waved his hand away in a panic. This wasn’t going the way she expected.
Live a little, woman! What’s wrong with walking barefoot on the sand?Let loose. Enjoy the simpler things life has to offer.
She looked up to see Leon watching her face closely. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the car. Declining his repeated offer of help, she removed her shoes reluctantly.
To her surprise, Leon removed his shoes as well.
Diane shook her head. I will not be impressed. “Anything else I need to remove?”
“This.” Leon reached across the back of her head, removing the hair clip.Her hair tumbled onto her shoulder. “Now you are perfect.”
He’s flirting with me. Diane hoped her alarm wasn’t on her face. It is different in Europe. A flirtation doesn’t mean anything. This is a business meeting.“Save the sweet talk. I need to hear what you have to say before we can be friends.”
Leon chuckled. “You are eager to get down to business. But in Spain, we prefer to take our time.”
Diane liked the sound of his laughter. But he didn’t need to know that. She turned around and walked ahead towards the boardwalk. She only slowed down as they neared the café. She eyed the establishment with suspicion. “I hope we don’t have to eat with our hands.”
“Actually...”
“That’s where I draw the line—” Diane made an about-face.
“I was kidding!” Leon grabbed her arm. “The place doesn’t look much but I promise you, it’s the best seafood paella in the world. They have their own fishing vessel. Everything is freshly caught from the sea.”
His grip was gentle, but she could feel his strength. Even in the moment, he was conscious of her comfort. Diane allowed him to usher her inside. The small joint was packed. A man wearing an apron greeted them.
Leon indicated her proudly. “This is Señora Hawkins, Alejandro. I promised her paella she will never forget.”
“Si! Si!” Alejandro beamed with delight. He escorted them through an inner hallway leading to a small balcony overlooking the sea. It had a table setting for two. “For my important guests.” Alejandro disappeared, returning with a bottle of Rioja Tempranillo. “Your paella will follow soon.”
Leon poured them both a glass of the wine. As he raised his glass in a toast, his demeanor suddenly became serious.
“You came to hear what I have to say about the medical facility in Torrevieja. We both want it.”
Diane remained silent. She was determined to have the facility, and she was certain Leon was too. What does he have in mind? She would not back down, even if it came to a legal battle.
“Why don’t we both get it? Together…as business partners?” Leon suggested.
It was the last thing Diane expected. “Are you joking?”
“It’s the perfect solution. We both get what we want.” Leon leaned forward, his green eyes firing up as he spoke of his plans. “We split the tasks in two. I handle the reconstruction and all permits to get the facility in place.” He lowered his voice. “I wasn’t lying about the Mayor. Even if I say I am giving in to you, he will hold a grudge against you. Getting permits in Spain can be tedious. There is so much red tape. I can make it easier for both of us.”
Diane nodded slowly. “And my role?”
“You handle the operation of the facility. You have the expertise and know exactly what to do. It’s a win-win for us both—and the facility.”
Diane saw the logic. But there was an important thing to make clear.
“I am naming the facility after my husband. It will be called The William Hawkins Cancer Research facility.”
“And I want to name it after my mother Doña Elena Alvaro.”
Diane leaned back. “Then we don’t have a deal.”
Leon watched her closely. “Is a name that important to you?”
“It is,” Diane replied. She really couldn’t see a middle ground. The thought of a prolonged legal battle left a bad taste in the mouth.
“How about if we call it The William Hawkins Cancer Research Facility, then below that on the sign ‘In memory of Doña Elena Alvaro.’ Would that work?”
Diane’s eyes widened. It could work…which meant she would be seeing more of him. Is that a good thing or bad?
Suddenly, she realized she was leaning toward Leon, her face only inches from his own. She’d forgotten herself—just like she’d forgotten that Leon’s appraising gaze and warm glances meant nothing. The more time I spend with him, the harder it will be to remind myself that he is off-limits! I’m mooning over him like...like a teenager! Diane took firm grip over her reactions.
And is that so bad? You didn’t come to Spain to hide. You came to live...and what is living without fun? Leon Alvaro could be very fun...
Diane roughly silenced the inner voice. I must be out of my mind to even contemplate this. She glanced up to see Leon looking dejected at her continued silence.“Alright. Let’s do this.”
The relief on his face was comical. He jumped out of the chair. For a startled second, Diane thought he might actually jump her. When he reached out his hand in a handshake she was disappointed.
“To the start of a new friendship!” He declared.
Diane smiled firmly. “Yes. Friendship.”
Dinner arrived. Leon was right. It was the best paella she had ever tasted. As she savored every mouthful of the exquisite dish, Leon regaled her with stories of his days playing football. His was definitely an exuberant personality. Leon’s jokes bordered on the ribald and it made Diane blush.
“Tell me about your life in the Big Apple.” Leon refilled her wine glass. “Why does a queen retire her crown?”
Diane hesitated. Why not? We are going to be partners... She talked about her pride in her son Wolfe, her first marriage and why she needed to honor the memory of Wi
lliam Hawkins. Skipping over her failed second marriage, she shared stories of the various charities and the Arts she was involved in. It could have been just the wine but it felt easy talking to Leon.
“By the way, I think I accidentally drove by your house this morning. I missed my turn and ended up in your driveway.” Diane confessed.
“That beast of yours was ready to break down your gate.”
Leon laughed heartily. “Nomad is a good dog—and now that you’ve seen him in daylight, you cannot call him a beast. Admit it.”
Diane pursed her lips. “I wouldn’t exactly call it cute. Let’s just say the dog has personality—just like you.”
“So now you’re comparing me to a dog?” he asked in mock horror.
Diane shook her head. She was not going to be drawn into this flirtation. “No. I meant it as a compliment. You have great personality otherwise you would never have convinced me to partner with you.”
“Do you mind if I continue to walk Nomad along the beach? He loves running on the sand. The previous owners gave me permission, and I’m afraid I didn’t realize the house was sold.” Leon looked at her earnestly. “You’ll like him once you get to know him.”
“As long as neither of you tear any more of my clothes.” Diane smiled.
Suddenly, she no longer felt embarrassed that he saw her naked. It didn’t seem important. Things were happening too fast and she had to learn to let go of the things that kept her safe. Her world was spinning out of control, but for now she was enjoying the ride.
Chapter Five
For the next few weeks, sleepy Calle Santiago became a mass of activity, with droves of people going in and out of Diane’s beachfront home. She converted two of the downstairs bedrooms into a temporary office. The day following her dinner with Leon, large trucks began unloading office machines into the house. Dictaphones, printers, scanners, copiers, and an assortment of electronic hardware soon filled the temporary office space.
Diane hired Ana, a young Spanish woman, to act as a personal secretary. Ana spoke both English and Spanish fluently. A recent graduate from a local university, working for Diane was her first job. She was efficient and eager to learn, hovering around Diane like a ghost each time she dispensed instructions or held meetings with various groups.
“I don’t want anything lost in translation.” Diane sat at her new desk, Ana by her side. She sorted through the pages ahead of her. On that day’s agenda were meetings with the project’s architects, construction managers, design and construction engineers, and project managers. Being a foreigner in a country whose language she could not yet speak fluently posed definite problems. “I’m not particularly fond of problems.”
Ana nodded, “I’ll do my best, Mrs. Hawkins.”
Diane nodded. “Ana, please hand Mr. Alvaro copies of these price quotes.”
“I will make sure he gets them, and I will keep a copy for future reference.”
As Ana went about her task, Diane was glad. Having a well-organized secretary meant she could keep her concentration on her work—and she needed all her concentration powers to ignore Leon, sitting opposite her, working on his laptop. Knowing he was there was like an itch, but she refused to scratch—that is, to look at him. Diane kept her attention on the papers before her. The only way this partnership will work is if we keep things friendly and professional—and that is exactly what I’ll do.
***
Leon’s green eyes tracked every one of Diane’s movements. As he pretended to be engrossed in the data on his laptop, he followed her movements across the room. She was graceful, even when simply rifling through a set of plans. He admired her arched brows, bunching together in concentration. When she found the file she wanted, a fleeting smile appeared before she floated back to the group of waiting men.
I will never tire of watching her. Leon sensed she was about to look his way and returned his attention to his laptop. He made sure she wouldn’t catch him. It would probably freak her out. He was bemused and mystified by this remarkable woman. For all her grace and poise, she was as efficient as a businessman. The men called her ‘la dama dragon,’ the dragon lady, behind her back in reverent tones.
Over the weeks, they’d adopted a routine. He arrived each morning at her apartment, inwardly surprised at how eagerly he looked forward to seeing her. He listened to the daily progress reports before heading to his club or to town to work on the necessary permits. If his calendar was free, he stayed longer, working with Diane on the numerous tasks. The groundwork for the medical facility was the main concern. Construction was due to start in only a few days.
His eyes sought out Diane, seemingly of their own accord.He was baffled about his attraction to her. Most women were impressed by his wealth, power, and status. The conquest was predictable and swift. But Diane didn’t desire those things. She had them all.
How does she feel about me as a man? She had placed William Hawkins on a lofty pedestal. Leon wanted to smash the fucking image from her mind. What the fuck? Why am I even jealous of a dead man?
Diane never spoke about her second marriage. Leon suspected it was bad. That makes it worse for me. Going from a perfect marriage to one that failed miserably would make Diane understandably wary of entering into another relationship. Is that why she rejects my advances?
Leon had to know exactly what she felt about him. There is more than a ten-year difference in our ages. I have to know, am I deluding myself thinking she could be attracted to me? Am I searching for a maternal figure? As Diane leaned over, pointing to the plan set out on the meeting table, her jacket rode up, displaying the curves of her perfectly rounded ass. Leon suppressed a whistle. Definitely not maternal affection. His cock assured him of that.
Diane suddenly looked up, meeting his eyes from across the room. She smiled, resuming the conversation with the construction team.
Leon watched. That is another thing that bugs me. She is so damned calm and sure of herself. She can dismiss me from her mind in a snap.
That was even more annoying because he couldn’t keep his promise to forget the embarrassing way they met. As hard as he tried, he couldn’t forget her naked body. The image imprinted itself in his memory and had even started showing up in his dreams.
“Damn.” There he was, thinking of her again!
“Is something wrong?”
Leon glanced up. The construction team was making their way out the door and Diane stood in front of him.“No, nothing.” He closed the notebook before she saw he was staring at a blank screen.
“I’m glad we came to an agreement with the construction team. I managed to convince them that adding another floor to the facility should not pose a problem.” Diane’s eyes glittered.
“You are good at convincing people.”
She smiled. “My husband always said that if all else fail, trust your charms.”
There it was again. The dead husband was always in the picture. “Was there anything William couldn’t do?” He snapped.
Diane’s eyes widened.
Leon quickly assumed an expression of bland curiosity. “Since the facility will be named after him, I would like to know more about him.”
“Well...” Diane’s fingers smoothed her hair as she thought. “He could never tie a bowtie. I tried convincing him to switch to clip-on but he hated them—called them tacky. I always worried about how he’d cope whenever I went away.”
“You must have loved him very much.”
“Yes. There was never anyone like him. I should have remembered that when I met…” Her voice trailed off.
“I’m sure many men find you attractive. Especially younger men.” Leon suggested. “Psychiatrists believe a cougar-relationship, where the woman is older than the man, brings out the best in both partners.”
“Me? A cougar?” Diane laughed. “I’m too old for that kind of nonsense.”
“I don’t think of you as old. You are the most remarkable woman I’ve ever met.”
She stopped laughing.
Leon cursed his impulsiveness. The unexpected compliment seemed to have made her uneasy. He cast around for something to put her at ease.
Nomad ambled into the room. After their disastrous first encounter, he was always on his best behavior around Diane. He looked at her with soulful eyes.
Diane smiled. “Hello, Nomad. I know exactly what you’re after.” She grabbed a bag of treats from a nearby table and offered him one.
Nomad took it with all the dignity a dog could muster. When Leon gave him a treat on the other hand, he slurped at Leon’s hand with his enormous tongue, leaving him dripping with saliva. Somehow Nomad sensed he shouldn’t be rough with this lady.
The Penthouse Secrets: A NYC Billionaire Romance Trilogy Boxed Set Page 28
