Finding Passion (Colorado Veterans Book 3)

by Tiffani Lynn

  “Yeah, I fought the VA until they finally shelled out the money. I had problems with the three different sets before these. They work wonders and are mostly hidden so it’s hard to tell I even have them. What are you doing here?”

  “I’m a surgeon here.”

  He shakes his head, obviously surprised. “Beautiful and smart. I bet you don’t have a free night until the next millennium.”

  “Me? What do you mean?”

  “Someone who looks and dances like you and is smart enough to be a surgeon doesn’t usually sit at home in the evenings.”

  “Maybe not, but I do, except when I have my daughter. She’s not one for sitting around.”

  “Well I think it’s possible to remedy that. What are you doing tomorrow night?”

  “I have my daughter.”

  “The next night?”

  I shake my head. Is he really asking me out? It feels so weird considering it’s been so long since I’ve been asked out on a date. I vaguely wonder what Javier will think of that since he didn’t like it when I danced with Victor or when Ricardo was hitting on me. But if Javier was interested in me for more than his friend he would’ve asked me out, he had plenty of opportunity, so it doesn’t matter what he thinks.

  “Thea’s staying with a friend, which means I’m free.”

  “Can I take you out for dinner and dancing?”

  It’s been awhile since I’ve had a date at all, much less one like that. Dancing with him and Javier at the Suarez house last week was so much fun.

  “I’d love it. What time should I be ready and what should I wear?”

  “How about seven. A dress. I’ll take you to the Spanish-American club. The food is fantastic and the music on Friday nights is perfect for dancing. Here,” he says as he hands me his cell phone, “type in your address and phone number.”

  After another minute of chit-chat, he excuses himself.

  Date night arrives and I’m a bundle of nerves. I’ve tried on every dress I own and after a Skype chat with Summer, I made an emergency run to the store to buy a new dress. After multiple texts and changing-room selfies I ended up with a pair of silver slingback pumps and a sexy red wrap dress that’s a little shorter than I normally wear and a lot lower on the cleavage. Summer coached me to buy some special tape so a boob doesn’t come flying out.

  Once I’m finally done dressing and ready to go I realize that I’m so nervous my hands are shaking. Not that Victor necessarily makes me nervous, but I haven’t been on a date since Bill Clinton was president and I have no idea what the expectations are. What if he expects me to sleep with him? I mean, I did get a little crazy with Javier, but it was Javier and something about him makes me feel less anxious, not more. I wasn’t nervous or afraid, except maybe about getting caught having sex in the store room. That would have been humiliating.

  I don’t know Victor. Hell, this could be his thing, taking a woman out to dinner and dancing with the expectation of getting her between the sheets. Javier did say that was Ricardo’s thing, so maybe it’s Victor’s too. I’m mentally unprepared for this whole scenario. Maybe I should cancel. Maybe this dress screams things I’m not ready for. Lord knows even as handsome as Victor is I don’t want to have sex with him. Do I have time to change?

  The doorbell rings in the middle of my freak-out and I freeze. If I don’t answer it none of this will be an issue. Of course, that would be rude, which isn’t part of my usual personality, but it would make things easier for now. What was I thinking accepting this date? I’m still technically married for goodness sakes.

  The doorbell rings again and I know I can’t hide like a coward. I need to answer and explain that I can’t go out. I could say I’m not feeling well. Yeah, that will work.

  I open the door and Victor stands in front of me dressed in the sexiest black suit I’ve ever seen, sans tie, and an expression on his face that says he’d like to eat me for dinner. I’m struck stupid for a second. How did that happen? I’m a strong, intelligent woman. I rarely run out of things to say, but right now, with him standing in my doorway looking like he does, I can’t find any words.

  “Valerie, you in that dress is more than I imagined tonight. Beautiful.” He doesn’t wait for my invitation but steps inside, closing the door behind him and bringing my hand to his lips for a kiss. Wow. He’s smooth. I can’t even get my excuse out.

  “Are you ready?” He studies me intently, waiting for my response.

  I nod, not sure if I’m ready, but certain that I should go through with it. I snag my coat, which he helps me put on, my purse and my keys off the table, lock the door and follow him outside. He leads me to his slick little black sports car and opens the door for me to climb in. The scent of his cologne is a little heavy in the confined space; thank goodness it’s at least a scent I like.

  As he drives us to the Spanish-American Club he tells me about himself. Because he’s polished and so well-spoken I shouldn’t be surprised when I find out he’s an estate lawyer working in a satellite office here in town for a Denver firm. Victor’s handsome, seriously handsome, but something seems to be missing. Almost as if everything about him looks good on paper, but when you bring him to life he’s flat. There’s no passion, no fire.

  I’m starting to calm down by the time we arrive, allowing my confidence to return. Like any gentleman would, he helps me out of the car and leads me to the door with a hand at the small of my back. When we step inside the reception area of the building he takes my coat and checks it in at the coatroom. Then he takes my hand and guides me into the beautiful cavernous ballroom. The large wooden dance floor is in the middle of the room and it’s surrounded on all sides by round tables for two or four with classy table settings and large, silver and blue centerpieces. The set-up is similar to what you’d find at a wedding reception, except with smaller tables. Enormous chandeliers made of glass and mirrors hang from the celling throughout the room, providing the perfect mood lighting for a dinner and dance. All of the men are dressed in suits while the ladies are in elegant evening attire—mostly dresses but a few dressy pantsuits can be seen.

  Victor leads me to the fourth table to the left and pulls my chair out for me. I can tell that other people have been sitting at the tables around us and some have eaten, their plates not cleared yet, but we’re the only people in this section at this time. A waiter sets the menu in front of me and fills my water glass while we decide what we want. I relay to Victor that I’d like a glass of moscato and the prime rib, and he orders for us.

  Through dinner we make small talk, keeping things very surface. Victor fidgets with the stem of his wine glass and the nervous gesture seems out of character for a guy so smooth. I’d love to ask him what’s making him nervous but I’m not sure that’s okay to do. I hate not knowing the rules of dating. Ron and I were married for so long that if something was up with Ron, I’d just ask. There was no tiptoeing around this stuff.

  Once our plates are cleared he asks me to dance. In his arms, I remember that dancing is something Victor excels at, and although I’m having a very good time, I realize I had nothing to worry about. Don’t get me wrong, he’s hot enough to be on the cover of a most-eligible-bachelor calendar, but I’m not even slightly tempted by him. It won’t be difficult to turn him down if he makes a move to take it to the next level. While I’m having a great time there’s a spark missing, but that doesn’t mean I’m not enjoying it. Though nothing about his demeanor tonight suggests he’ll come on strong at the end of the night. In fact, everything about this date is structured. It’s almost like he read an instruction manual for the perfect date and is executing it step by step.

  We’re into the third dance of the night when I spot Javier strolling through the door with a young blond beauty on his arm. His smile is warm and bright as he greets an older couple near the door while his date hangs on his arm, studying her manicure instead of engaging the couple in front of them. She’s not at all what I would expect for him. As boisterous and full of life as he i
s, I figured he probably dates high-energy, smiley, sexy women, not bored, barely legal, spoiled young girls. Even over the music I can hear Javier’s laugh, a laugh that has held me captive since the moment I first heard it through the phone, and I can’t help but glance over at him again.

  For a second I’m taken back to the benefit when I first danced with him. Warmth spreads throughout my body as I think about how well I fit in his arms and how smooth he is on his feet. Don’t get me wrong, Victor’s no slouch, he’s an excellent dancer, but like I said, something’s missing.

  Victor glances over his shoulder and then pulls me in close to ask, “Do you want to go say hello before you trip over your feet?”

  “What?” I stare at him, a little embarrassed at being caught.

  “It’s okay. I know you guys are friends. We can go say hello when this song ends,” he says.

  “Oh, that’s not necessary. I’m sure we’ll see him at some point.” I drag my eyes away from Javier and his date again and pull my attention back to Victor. There’s no reason for me to be concerned about who Javier’s date is or the fact that she’s so young or how amazing his laugh is and how warm his smile is. Ugh. I’m on a date with another man. Why do I care that Javier reeks of fire and passion for life in a way no one else I know does? And why do I care that his date looks like she should be on an MTV reality show rather than on Javier’s arm as his date?

  We dance through one more song and then Victor leads me off the dance floor toward our table where he pulls my chair out again. Ever the gentleman, he leaves me to rest while he goes to the bar to get fresh drinks since there isn’t a waiter in sight.

  I’m only sitting there for a minute or so when the air around me changes, thickening and warming. I’ve never had that happen before and I turn to see what may have caused such a feeling. I jump, startled to find Javier standing behind my chair glaring holes through my head with his child-date next to him.

  “Good evening, Javier,” I greet as sweetly as possible, struggling to keep the sour look off of my face as I study his date up close.

  Without even a hello, he blurts, “You’re out with Victor?” The anger is sizzling off him and I can’t for the life of me understand why.

  “Yes.” I turn to his date and stand, putting my hand out between us. “Hi, I’m Valerie, a client of Javier’s.”

  His eyes narrow on me when I say client. “I’d say we’re more than that, Valerie,” he says not hiding the irritation at all.

  My eyebrows rise. Is he ready to lay claim to me right here when he’s with another woman and I’m out with Victor? I doubt it. “Sorry, yes, I’d say we’re friends now too,” I correct.

  “Marcy,” she responds with no welcome in her voice. Instead of a regular handshake I get a limp finger-shake. I hate when people shake like that. Just grab a hand and give it a good squeeze. It shows character and manners. She obviously has neither.

  “How did this happen?” he asks, waving between me and Victor who’s still standing in line at the bar.

  “I was outside of work when he saw me and invited me out for tonight. It’s been awhile since I was on a date so I accepted. He’s been the perfect gentleman.”

  “I bet he has,” Javier grumbles, and I notice Marcy is back to studying her nails. Wow! What a bore, not someone I would’ve expected him to be out with. Beautiful or not, she’s lacking a personality.

  “What’s the problem, Javier?” I squint my eyes at him as I try to rein in my rapidly growing temper. I’m a grown-ass woman who doesn’t need anyone’s permission to go out on a date.

  “Him, really?”

  “What’s wrong with him? Isn’t he your brother’s best friend?”

  “He is, which means I know more about him than I want to. I’m not sure this was your best choice.”

  Victor walks up behind Javier and if looks could kill, Javier would be dead.

  “So, Javier, why don’t you enlighten the lady on why I’m such a bad choice for a date. I can’t wait to hear this one. Could it be that I’m a widower? Or could it be that I make a six-figure salary and rarely get a chance to spend it on anyone other than my mother? Or could it be something even more sinister like when I was in the ninth grade I made out with your sister behind the bleachers? I’m a bad man, she never should’ve accepted this date.” His sarcasm is thick and if flames could shoot out of Victor’s eyes the whole place would be embers. Javier has the decency to look ashamed.

  He’s a widower? We covered quite a bit of ground tonight; it seems like that’s something he should’ve at least mentioned. Besides, he’s far too young to have lost a wife. I wonder how long it’s been since he’s been on a date and how long his wife’s been gone.

  “That’s not what I meant, man. I’m sorry. I should’ve kept my mouth shut.” Javier is suddenly backpedaling, his former anger gone.

  “Yeah, you should have. You don’t know everything, Javie, and I would’ve liked to tell my date those things without an audience.”

  Javier steps in close to Victor, remorse written all over him, and leans in for a back-pat-guy-hug. I can’t hear what’s said in Victor’s ear, but I imagine it’s an apology. When they pull away Javier introduces Marcy, and Victor greets her with only a short nod in her direction. Then he steps around her and reaches for me, asking, “You want to dance some more?”

  “Um, yes, sounds good, but I’d like a drink of water before I do.” I glance between him and Marcy, who doesn’t even seem fazed that he dismissed her. Weird.

  “I’m sorry, I set our drinks on the table behind Javier.”

  He reaches around them and grabs our drinks. We all stand there awkwardly as Victor and I drink our water. Out of the corner of my eye I can tell that Javier is staring, hoping I’ll turn and give him my attention, but I can’t. I’m angry that he’d try to embarrass me and his friend like that. Especially when he’s made it clear that he doesn’t want me for anything more than a good time or two. It would be wonderful if I didn’t care, but it’s eating at me and I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of my attention.

  When we’re done with our water, Victor leads me to the dance floor for a slow song and draws me in against him. My heels bring us closer in height, making it easier to converse. The revelation of his deceased wife and lack of dating life has helped me to relax further. I no longer feel the pressure I did before he arrived at my place.

  “I’m sorry about Javier,” he says. “I’m not sure what that was all about except I clearly have the better date. Did they even card her when she walked in?”

  I laugh out loud. “I noticed you didn’t seem fond of her.”

  “I don’t know her, but I know Javie and she means nothing to him so I’m not going to bother to get to know her. I realize that sounds rude, but I know her type and she doesn’t care either.”

  “Oh.” I’m not sure what to say to that or his suddenly dark mood so I go where he leads, both with the conversation and the dance. It seems he’s gearing up for something but is unsure of how to say it. “My wife died of cancer about three years ago. I haven’t dated at all because no one caught my attention the way Carol did, so I avoided it. We didn’t have any kids so I’ve been married to my work since she died. I didn’t want to bring the mood of a lovely date to such a dark place, which is why I didn’t tell you. After he brought it up I felt like you deserved to know, but I could kill Javier for mentioning it.”

  I stop moving and step back so I can look in his eyes. “I’m honored to be the first since… As a matter of fact, you’re my first real date since my husband walked out on me to live with his girlfriend.” I smile at him, hoping to lighten the mood because what else can I do? Between the two of us we have the sob-story sector covered.

  “I can take you home if it’s weird now,” he tells me.

  “No way. It’s rare that I get to dance like this. I’ve always loved it, but my ex had two left feet so we never did. You’re an amazing dancer. I’d be stupid to pass up this opportunity.”
r />   “Are you sure?” he asks, a small grin starting.

  “Absolutely.”

  Without another word he picks up he beat to the salsa song that just started and we dance until we’re the last ones on the dance floor. I do my best to avoid looking for Javier and his child-date the rest of night and mostly succeed, well, at least until I hear his laughter. At those times, I find myself staring right at him.

  At the end of the night Victor walks me to my door and instead of kissing me on the mouth he kisses my forehead. “I’m so lucky you said yes, that you were the first dance and first date after Carol. I enjoyed your beauty and your company tonight, but I think we both know that neither of us is ready for more. However, I’d love to take you dancing again sometime, as friends. It felt so good to move to the music with a beautiful woman against me and to forget to be sad even for a little while.”

  The sadness in his eyes breaks my heart a little. I’m so glad I came on this date despite my earlier freak-out and the awkward mess with Javier. “You’re such an amazing guy and I love that you’re honest about not being ready. I’d love to dance or go to a movie or just hang out as friends any time. It was nice for me too. Thank you.” One side of his mouth lifts a little but the sadness in his eyes still lingers.

  “Good night, Valerie,” he whispers as he kisses my cheek.

  “Night, Victor,” I say before I disappear behind the door.

  An hour later my makeup is off and I’ve changed into some comfy pajamas and I’m reading my book. This story is hot. When Barb recommended it to me I scoffed a little, thinking it’d be just another trashy novel, but I can’t put the damn thing down and the worst part is it’s turning me on. The sex scenes are the kind every woman dreams of having with some overbearing, super sexy alpha male that they could never live with but want to have fantasy sex with. Why did she recommend this book when she knew I had no one to help me with the aftereffects?