“I didn’t know how to pack for this trip to an unknown destination. So I brought a little of everything.”
“Senor and senorita, it will be my pleasure to be your dining manager while you are with us at Dorada. It was indicated on your reservation that both of you are interested in sampling the flavors of Puerto Rico. Is that correct?”
They both nodded. Charlie felt like he’d been eating the same five dishes his housekeeper prepared for him for years now, with him not caring enough to speak to her about expanding her repertoire. Food had been simple fuel—one thing tasted the same as the next. When Tom convinced him to fly off to an unknown destination under the M Dating Agency’s direction, the promise of unusual food had piqued his interest. He was glad that Luna had confirmed herself as game, too.
“I’ve brought some samplings I hope are to your liking. May I start you off with Puerto Rico’s signature cocktail, the piña colada?”
Charlie had tasted that drink, rich with coconut milk and pineapple juice, before. While delicious, he thought it too sweet and heavy for dinner.
“Diego, perhaps tomorrow. Can you suggest a wine for tonight?”
“Of course, senor. I brought a couple of bottles.”
“I’m so hungry,” Luna chimed in. “I can’t even talk about food without eating some. Do you have any snacks we can munch on?”
“Camarones al ajillo.” Diego removed a tray that was being kept warm on a burner from his cart. Luna wasted no time in grabbing one of the succulent shrimp with her fingers and biting in.
“Que sabor,” she said, signaling her approval. “The garlic. And goodness, I needed some protein.”
“With our heritage deriving from Spanish, indigenous Taino and the African peoples, we have a rich culinary tradition,” Diego explained. “If I may serve it, I’ve made for you tonight one of Puerto Rico’s most beloved preparations, arroz con gandules, a dish of rice, pigeon peas and a sofrito of peppers, onions, aromatics and herbs. Along with a slow-roasted pernil—marinated pork shoulder. And for dessert, coconut pudding.”
“Sounds great,” she said.
“Might I suggest this pinot noir?” The chef presented a bottle. Charlie read the label and nodded.
Diego went about setting up the dining table in the courtyard, which was now bathed in the glow of moonlight. Charlie’s phone rang. “It’s Madison,” he told Luna and stepped inside, away from the chef, wanting to keep the conversation private.
“Yes, we arrived safely. But we are dissatisfied with the sleeping arrangements. Luna assures me she made the same thing clear to you, as I did—that we are not her for a romantic liaison.”
“Charlie, I always book my couples into a master suite. Anything can happen,” Madison replied.
“Nothing is going to happen.”
“Didn’t you agree to leave things up to me?”
“Yes, but I would prefer not to be manipulated.”
“I’m sure you’ll find a way to be contented.”
He supposed he could insist she find another resort. But the sofa would really suit him fine. “All right, Madison.”
“Just relax, Charlie. Have an open mind. Give in to the island.”
He returned, frustrated, to Luna and reported what Madison had said.
“I’m going to take a shower. I’ll claim the other bathroom off the kitchen. I’ll meet you at the fountain at eight?”
“Sounds charming,” she giggled with an innocent blush.
“It wasn’t supposed to be.”
After the words fell from his mouth, he wished he could have taken them back.
* * *
“The candles and the moonlight provide perfect lighting,” Luna said as she and Charlie sat at the wrought-iron table and chairs beside the courtyard fountain.
“Says the cinema professional.”
She snickered a little. Charlie hadn’t figured out Luna Price yet. She was nothing like he’d expect from a movie star. As she fidgeted with the voluminous shawl she’d thrown over her sleeveless blue dress, she seemed almost awkward. Not the confident beauty she projected onscreen. Illusion, he figured. Smoke and mirrors. He hadn’t seen many of her movies so he wouldn’t assume to know her public persona, let alone her private one. Which wasn’t to say that her attractiveness was anything but undeniable. In fact, under the moon she was almost unbearably lovely.
“The arroz con gandules is delicious,” she said.
“I’d never heard of pigeon peas before, so when Chef Diego explained the recipe, I was apprehensive.”
“I thought I’d heard of a famous old-timey dish called pigeon under glass but then I remembered it was pheasant under glass.”
He chuckled. “Neither sounds very appetizing.”
“No. They don’t.” She turned her attention back to her food and took several bites, which she chewed slowly and with determination. “Pigeon peas are not that different to green peas. I like the peppers and herbs in this dish.”
“Very flavorful.”
Her shawl slipped down one arm again, revealing a velvety shoulder that looked even nicer in the flickering of the candles . She quickly righted the covering, though in a self-conscious way, as if she’d accidentally revealed a part of her body she didn’t want seen. Rather strange for someone whose likeness was displayed on megascreens throughout the world.
After his shower, Charlie had slipped into khakis and a new white T-shirt, one of the many items his housekeeper had bought when he’d sent her to buy him a tourist’s wardrobe, unsure what he’d need. He felt odd in his bare feet on the stone courtyard tiles, having taken Luna’s cue in not putting on shoes. It seemed almost intimate, something only people who lived together did. Like he used to do. He wasn’t the newfangled sort of tech billionaire who reported to his office in a hoodie and jeans. It was a suit and tie for him every day he went into town, which he did as infrequently as possible. He knew his formality was likely off-putting but it helped him keep his reserve, keep up the appearance of someone in control even though on the inside he was in tatters.
“I have to admit, I’ve only seen a few of your movies.”
“Me, too.”
“What do you mean?”
“I rarely watch my movies once I’ve shot them.”
“Really? Why?”
“Because I’d only see flaws and things I wish I could do over again.”
“I don’t think anyone could accuse you of having flaws.”
She giggled in that adorable way again. Luna had a kind of wholesomeness that continued to surprise him. “You have no idea how many of my imperfections the press and the worldwide web have documented well.”
“Nonsense. They’re all idiots.”
Spearing some of the unctuous tender pork from his plate, he studied her some more. He hadn’t had dinner alone with a woman in ages, in years. The figurative wounds that never healed reminded him of why. They made sure that if Charlie was enjoying himself or even just having a positive thought, the gashes would open again. Reminding him of his loss. Recollecting the tragedy.
For the first time, Charlie wished the cuts could be at least bandaged over for a bit of respite. He knew that they would never disappear. But maybe it would be good for him if he didn’t have to experience the radiating pain every moment of his life. He knew it was he himself who scratched at the sores, kept them from fading. That was his choice. It had become all he knew. The ache was so agonizing that it demanded his full attention, all day, every day. As a matter of fact, it’s what had kept him inside his house for all these years. Night after night, just him and his anguish. There was almost a twisted comfort in it, because there was no risk. It was something he could count on. It was his vigil.
But tonight, looking at Luna’s sexy shoulders as she continually fought with that shawl that didn’t want her to be covered up, Charlie wondered if he co
uld find a salve for his pain. Maybe Madison had a point. Maybe there was a chance that the warm embrace of Puerto Rico could ease him, even just a little.
“Tell me more about your flaws,” Charlie said, but the words had come out all wrong. What he wanted to ask was about how she handled being in the public eye. He knew needed to start interacting again with the outside world. Not long ago, Tom had insisted Charlie come into London for a face-to-face heart-to-heart, and had told him—as both COO and friend—that AMgen’s investors were losing confidence in the sorrowful and reclusive CEO who scarcely left his estate. That they want a visible face for the business. That the company’s messaging as innovators and limitless thinkers was losing credibility when the leader existed in seclusion. Some even directly said that he should be seen dating women. That idea was utterly overwhelming. Yet Charlie did understand that if he was going to keep his company strong he needed to move forward.
“Famous faces really are illusions,” Luna said, breaking into his thoughts. “It might not be obvious to you but if you looked at a publicity photo of me next to how I look tonight, you might not think you were seeing the same person. When you hear it referred to as the glamour factory, that’s no joke. It takes a whole crew to deliver Luna Price.”
“Sounds exhausting.”
Luna went completely silent. Charlie could have kicked himself. What a ridiculous thing to say to a woman who’d had so much success in her chosen profession. Tom was so right that Charlie was out of practice interacting. Perhaps it wasn’t that he needed to become more social and at ease with people. It could be just the opposite. That he needed to relearn how to be a proper English gentleman. One who kept his thoughts to himself.
He hadn’t put his communication skills to the test for a while. Maybe what had happened during those interminable nights alone in agony and loss was that he’d become someone incapable of bull. Someone who cut to the truth. It was his bluntness that had become disconcerting, not his aloofness.
Or maybe it was her. Luna. Even though he’d just met her, his subconscious had detected in her a link. That glaze in her eyes. Something was going on with her under the radar. She lived in Kentucky, yet she lived in Los Angeles. None of that made sense. Not that it was any of his business. “Luna, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Her words came slowly and with an exhale. “Oh, no, you’re right. It is horrible sometimes. The stress can be overwhelming. It’s what led me to my...” She noticeably collected her thoughts and pulled up her shawl again. “My need to get away for a while.”
This was supposed to be both easy and easygoing. Time to press the reset button. “Amen to that. After dinner, let’s watch the video of suggested activities.”
“After all,” she said, “we’re supposed to be here to have fun.”
“Right. Fun.” Charlie thought he might need to consult a dictionary. He couldn’t remember the meaning of the word.
* * *
Once the last of the creamy coconut pudding had been consumed, Charlie and Luna regarded each other across the table. Conversation during the meal had been a combination of strange and fascinating. He’d asked some personal questions and she thought she’d done a good job of skirting what she didn’t want to answer, a necessary skill she’d honed over the years. Although something inside her actually did want to communicate with him candidly, she hadn’t really told him anything about her past or present. What witchery did Madison Morgan have up her sleeve? She seemed to have paired Luna with someone who sincerely touched her inside with every stare those dazzling green eyes bestowed.
“Would you like coffee?” Charlie asked, pointing to the thermos left by Diego, whose meal had left them wanting for nothing.
“No. Thanks.” It was Luna’s turn now to do the inquiring. Curiosity propelled her. “What motivated you to contact Madison’s agency?”
“It was all my trusted COO, Tom, who has been with me since AMgen’s beginnings.”
“Just a buddy looking out for a buddy?”
Charlie blinked a couple of times. “I haven’t done much dating in the last ten years. In fact, I haven’t done any.”
“Ten years. That’s a long time. I’d think as a leader of a successful empire, you’d have women clamoring to make your acquaintance.”
“Some opportunists have tried, I suppose.”
“I know all about that.”
“I’m sure you do.”
“Ten years. Hmm. Is it too personal to ask, were you in a relationship before that?”
His jaw ticked. She could tell he was making a decision about how to answer. “I was married. At a very young age.”
“Oh, I see. And things didn’t work out.”
“Not exactly.” His eyes dropped to his empty dessert bowl.
She didn’t know what, or what not, to say. “So after ten years, why now?” Luna pivoted away from more direct questions about Charlie’s marriage, which he clearly didn’t want to be interrogated about.
“Frankly, it’s a business move. The reclusive —what was it you called me earlier—tech genius rattling around in his mansion isn’t acceptable to our newer investors. And if we’re going to continue to grow the company the way I promised, I need the expansion and shareholder support.”
“What did you promise?”
Charlie’s brow furrowed. “Do you always ask such probing questions?”
“Actually, no. I have to make superficial nice-nice with lots of people, all the time. And answer ridiculous yet personal questions.”
“I’m intrigued. Such as what?”
“About the image. As I was telling you before, no one cares about the real me. They want to know about Luna Price. What is her day like? Does she wake up before dawn to exercise with her trainer? What does she eat? What kind of shampoo does she use? What famous actor or director will she be seen out on the town with?”
“I don’t know how you handle the scrutiny.”
“I don’t. That is to say, I had to take a break from all of it. That’s why I’ve been in Kentucky.”
“Ah, so I’ve been hiding in Buckinghamshire and you in Kentucky.”
“I was attending to some personal business.”
“I see.” He leaned back in his chair, professional enough not to probe further.
“Tech billionaire. Married young, divorced young. You’re an interesting case.”
“I didn’t divorce.”
“Sorry?”
Did that mean he was still married? Luna was sure Madison would have verified his marriage status. Did she work with clients who were still legally married but long separated from their spouses? It didn’t much matter to Luna, as she was not looking toward anything further than this week, but she hated to think about other M clients being paired with someone who was still in an unresolved relationship. What did he mean by hiding?
He bit out, “Perhaps we’ve had enough getting to know each other for the evening. Let’s watch the video.”
And so, the two people who obviously had a lot of skeletons in their closets moved from the courtyard to inside the villa. A group of sofas and armchairs was arranged in a cluster for the best vantage point of the enormous wall-mounted TV.
Luna sat at the end of one sofa, her feet under her bent knees. Charlie hesitated but then sat at the other end of the same sofa. Using the remote control, he quickly found the channel they’d be using for their stay, which offered options such as dining and housekeeping. It was apparent that anything they required would be quickly proffered.
“Bienvenido. Welcome to the Recurso Llave Dorada,” the narrator of the video greeted. And thus began a montage of the leisure pursuits and sights that Madison suggested they might enjoy during their visit.
“Madison asked me what types of activities I like participating in. Did she ask you the same?” Luna looked over to watch Charlie in profile as he
kept his eyes on the screen. My, but he was attractive. His gravity was born of intelligence—that much she could tell. But that chiseled jaw almost worked to his disadvantage because it was distracting in its appeal. She bit her lip in embarrassment as she secretly pictured kissing her way across his perfect bone structure. That wasn’t one of the activities on the menu.
“I enjoy culture and music.” Charlie clicked on that option and the video showed people at an outdoor concert dancing to the Afro-Caribbean music Puerto Rico was famous for. Would she and Charlie dance together this week? Suddenly, she desperately wanted to. Next was a video traveling through the streets and past various historic monuments in the city of Old San Juan.
“I’m looking forward to visiting there.”
“Yes. I see Madison gathered our preferences and chose destinations accordingly.”
“I said I enjoy water.”
He gestured outside, where the ever-present sound of the waves lapping onto the shore was a simple serenade. “Our own private beach.”
And he clicked on the water-sports option for a montage of every conceivable form. One could sail, use Jet Skis, snorkel, scuba dive and paddleboard, just to name a few. A happy couple embraced and kissed under a waterfall. At that image, Charlie stood and sneered, “It’s getting late. It looks like we’ll have plenty to keep us occupied while we’re here.”
Clearly, he’d had enough of her company. She’d have her hands full this week, learning the cues from this unusual man. She stood and said, “Okay. I guess that’s it then. I’ll just go into the bedroom as we discussed.”
“Yes, I’ll be perfectly fine out here and there’s the extra bathroom so I won’t disturb you.” Somehow, she was already disturbed. It felt a bit sad to be so brusquely banished to the bedroom. Rejected.
Harlequin Romance September 2021 Box Set Page 3
