“Think carefully about the games you play,” Mateo warned. “You have forced every business your father touched into bankruptcy, and then turned them around. You don’t need to build Caradoc on the back of Dr. Summer’s work.”
“I do. My father wants something from me.” Nino had to prove to his father that he brought nothing to the table. “He thinks he can be useful and creating chocolate on par with Bon Bon Chocolate without him will send a message. One he can’t ignore. I don’t need him.”
“You don’t know that your father can’t be useful.”
Nino made a sound of disgust. His father’s track record with business proved otherwise.
“Maybe he can give you what you’re looking for,” Mateo said softly. “Peace.”
“My father can never give me that.” Unfortunately, Nino suspected the only person who could was the one person he had to betray.
The deal had been made. There was no turning back.
*
“I’ve never been comfortable with mud on my face,” Aubrey said, barely moving her mouth because the mud had dried.
The female wedding guests were having morning spa treatments. Their high-pitched voices and laughter drowned out the mellow music and filled the room, which was decorated with original artwork, pots of live bamboo and pale green walls.
It was meant to be relaxing, but Aubrey was wound up tighter than an early spring rosebud. This afternoon they were going to taste his company’s chocolate against her company’s chocolate. She’d enjoyed his kisses last night knowing she’d be making her move today, an oh, so innocent experiment that would prove Marcos Alfaro could never make fine chocolate. And then he’d know he could never have her.
Goodbye, kisses.
Aubrey sighed.
“You get used to mud on your face with age.” Grandma Dotty would say that. She put a mask on every night. And then slathered her face with moisturizers every morning. “It’s a necessary evil.”
“Agreed. And I love hot wax on my feet.” Layla sighed. “A spa day is the best, especially when followed by a chocolate tasting in the afternoon.” She reached between the recliners to grasp Aubrey’s hand. “I’m so glad you came. You never take enough time for yourself. You are always working.”
“There’s safety in the lab.” It was a place Aubrey couldn’t be lied to. Results were results.
“I’m so glad you and Nino are hitting it off,” Layla continued, as if oblivious to Aubrey’s comment. “I’ve known him a long time. He’s a good man.”
“Did you really grow up with Nino?” Aubrey asked. Now was as good a time as any to verify the things Nino had told her.
“My mama says we were neighbors when we were babies. And then they moved, and about ten years later, they moved back, except without Nino’s papa.” Layla sighed. “So tragic. And then Nino practically abandoned his family.”
“Really?” This was great news. The sins of Nino stacked up against his physical perfection. If Aubrey could build a wall of his flaws, her foolish heart would have to concede.
“Oh, yes.” Layla nodded. “Nino supported his mama and abuela in any way he could. He was always working–driving the chiva, working as a caddy, fitting in school between any job he could get. His mama and abuela were neglected. How do you say…” She snapped her fingers. “Lonely.”
Lonely for Nino when he was a hard worker was far different than abandoning his family as his father had done.
So much for adding to the impression that Nino was heartless. His experience as a caddy explained why he’d stopped to apologize for Jeron almost running one over and giving him a tip.
Aubrey only had one more lead to follow to find a flaw. “Nino said you almost punched him once or twice.”
“I did threaten to punch him once.” Layla flashed a wicked grin.
One that made Aubrey’s heart sink. That had to mean they’d been romantically involved. The jealousy she’d felt at the idea of someone else kissing him illogically surfaced.
“Nino kept missing church because he preferred to work and his mother cried on my mother’s shoulders.” Layla stared at the ceiling. “You should never hurt your mother. So I waited for him to come home and threatened to punch him.”
She made it sound so straightforward, as if that alone would make a man rethink his priorities.
“But I didn’t have to,” Layla went on. “Because he made time for them from then on.”
“Never underestimate the power of a mother’s tears,” Grandma Dotty said sagely, eyes closed.
Layla half turned toward Aubrey, cracking the mud on her face with her frown. “Bree, you sound as if you are questioning Nino’s honor. I can assure you that the only flaw he has is to make his father pay for leaving he and his mother homeless.”
“Revenge is not very honorable.” Aubrey sighed. “But they don’t lock up men for abandoning their families, do they?”
“They do not. Ecuadorians are passionate about payback, I’m afraid.” Layla settled back on the recliner. “And from what I hear Nino’s father has finally hit rock bottom. Now Nino can finally take the time to enjoy life. All he needs is love to show him the way.” She made a clicking noise with her tongue, waggling her perfectly plucked brows at Aubrey.
“That was subtle.” When dealing with Nino, subtlety would lose every time.
“If you wanted subtlety, you’d stay in your lab,” Layla pointed out. “If it’s love you want– ”
“Love.” Dotty scoffed. “This Alfaro fella took Aubrey’s nose. And he wants to know how to use it.”
Layla’s eyes widened. She glanced at Aubrey and whispered, “Dotty has gotten worse, no?”
Aubrey shook her head, refusing to explain.
*
“How do I look?” Dotty asked.
Aubrey turned, mid-chocolate preparation, expecting to see her grandmother in a long flowing skirt and flowery blue blouse.
That was indeed what Grandma Dotty wore, except she’d accessorized her look with a blond wig, slightly askew, straight locks draped over her shoulders. She looked like an aging fairy godmother in one of those old cartoons. It was both too much of a look for most senior women to carry off and just the right look for her grandmother’s youthful spirit.
“What do you think, Bree? It takes ten years off me, doesn’t it?”
To avoid answering, Aubrey popped a chocolate truffle in her mouth.
Grandma Dotty frowned. “You don’t like it? I thought for sure it’d get me someone Nino’s age at the bar this evening.”
Grandma Dotty and her bucket list.
Aubrey vowed then and there to keep her grandmother in the hotel room tonight. Aubrey wouldn’t have any plans this evening given Nino would never want a date after his chocolate suffered a big defeat in the tasting. But she didn’t want to hurt her grandmother’s feelings. “The wig does make you look younger. You took me by surprise, is all.” She walked over and straightened her grandmother’s hair so the part was in line with her petite nose. “Your blue eye shadow is the bomb.”
“Isn’t it?” Grandma Dotty fluttered black false eyelashes caked with mascara. She glanced around the room, taking in the silver flower print wallpaper above the tall, white board and batten. Her gaze landed on the main feature of the room. “Well, will you look at that? That crystal chandelier looks like a white fern hanging up there. Do you think it’s made of plastic?”
“It is real crystal and undoubtedly very expensive.” Nino entered and greeted Dotty with air kisses and compliments for her new look.
He sounded sincere, reminding Aubrey he’d been abandoned and homeless. Somewhere inside, that man had a heart.
Nino turned to Aubrey and drew her close for a hug. His arms, his scent, his warmth encompassed Aubrey, and for a moment she allowed herself to imagine his interest in her was genuine.
“You look as beautiful as always, mi cielo.” Nino pressed his lips to her forehead before releasing her. “I can’t stop thinking about last night. And I cou
ld hardly wait to taste chocolate with you today.”
Chocolate.
It was her safe word. Aubrey’s romantic fantasies came crashing back to earth. She side-stepped Nino’s kiss-laden landmines and sought neutral footing. “I learned a lot about the subtleties of beer.” That much was true. Someday she might not need a nose, having trained her own.
“Your skill can only go up from here.” Nino turned toward the door and snapped his fingers. “And look. I’ve brought you a surprise.”
Eugene shuffled in, looking extremely unhappy. His clothes were as wrinkled as always, but his hair was uncharacteristically limp, and his nose was beginning to peel. “Hello, Dr. Summer.”
“This is my surprise?” Aubrey said weakly. Does he know that I know who he really is?
“Yes.” Nino drew Aubrey forward to greet her former research assistant. “I found Eugene in the lobby asking for you.” Nino had taken the game to the next level by bringing Eugene into this.
Aubrey didn’t need any more proof to know what Nino thought of her. To him, she was just a naïve scientist.
“Hey.” Grandma Dotty frowned at Eugene. “Isn’t that–”
“My former lab assistant,” Aubrey cut her grandmother off. Anger surged. “Good to see you again.”
Eugene stared at the floor.
“What a coincidence that Eugene came on the same day as your chocolate tasting.” Nino’s smile made Aubrey want to scowl. It was no coincidence. “He brought you triple chocolate truffles from Caradoc Confections’ test kitchen. We can taste it today.”
On cue, Eugene held up a box.
Aubrey glared at Nino, registering a flicker of what a more charitable person might have called remorse. She spun away, pretending great interest in the espresso and liqueur bar Layla and Diego had requested for post-tasting fun. “I’m sorry, Nino, but I’ve already staged the chocolate in tasting flights.”
A tray clattered to the floor at Nino’s feet, scattering Caradoc chocolate. “Oops,” he said.
Aubrey clenched her jaw so hard, it popped. “You leave me with no choice.”
Again, a look passed in Nino’s eyes that felt similar to regret.
Layla entered, followed by her fiancé and other members of the bridal party, surrounding Grandma Dotty and Nino.
Since the tasting was scheduled to begin, Aubrey had no choice but to use the chocolate in Eugene’s box. She yanked it from his hands and removed the lid. Each truffle was the size of a golf ball. They were as big as the chocolate-covered, peanut butter-filled reindeer droppings Grandma Dotty made for Christmas every year. “White chocolate. I didn’t think Caradoc did white chocolate.”
“Dr. Summer,” Eugene whispered, head bent so she couldn’t see his face. “I can’t be a double spy. I want to throw up.”
Although Aubrey understood how it felt to fall into Nino’s clutches, she had no sympathy. “You made your bed, Eugene.”
From across the room, Nino watched Aubrey stage the chocolate. A server placed a bottle of sparkling water and some glasses in the center of every table. They were nearly ready to begin, and it looked as if everyone had arrived.
“I should go.” Eugene finally found his spine. He backed away. “I have a lot of work to do.”
“Don’t go yet.” Nino joined them at a tall table. “I can’t wait to taste your special chocolate.”
Aubrey swallowed a growl.
Eugene paled. “But–”
“I insist.” Nino clapped Aubrey’s former employee on his bony shoulder.
“Let’s do this.” Aubrey was ready to have it out with Nino. His chocolate couldn’t be as good as hers. She called for the tasting to begin. “We’ve got chocolate made from cocoa beans grown in Ecuador. If the sugar doesn’t perk you up, when you’re done, the espresso or chocolate liqueur will. Start with the small piece on the left and work your way over. Take your time, drink some water in between. Just for grins…” She bared her teeth at Nino. “At the end of the tasting, we’ll be choosing a favorite.”
The Caradoc truffles had a white chocolate coating, a dark chocolate layer underneath that, and a soft chocolate cream center. Admittedly, it was good. But it was so rich it required a big drink of water. Aubrey made a face for Nino’s benefit. “I’m not a fan.”
“This white chocolate one is good,” Grandma Dotty contradicted Aubrey with her mouth full. She was powering through the samples as if she hadn’t eaten today. She snapped up one of Bon Bon’s high end chocolates. “This looks familiar. It has the company’s logo stamped on the bottom.” She popped it in her mouth and closed her eyes, exposing them to layers of bright blue eye shadow. “Yum.”
Aubrey agreed. The creamy texture and rich dark chocolate lingered.
And then came the samples fermented in her great-great grandfather’s yeast. They’d been made in Bon Bon’s test kitchen. The truffles had a creamy vanilla filling, the better to let the enhanced flavors of chocolate shine through.
“This is fabuloso,” Layla said, holding hers up. “I taste a hint of berry.”
“Raspberry,” Nino murmured, staring at the piece he’d bit into. “Incredible.”
Yesterday, before she’d known his true identity, Aubrey would have savored Nino’s praise. This afternoon, she savored the expression of defeat on his face. His death-by-triple-chocolate wouldn’t win this competition.
“This is the chocolate from your work?” Nino brushed his hand over her shoulder, sending a ripple of heat through her. “Magnifico.”
“Brilliant,” Eugene murmured, an expression of bliss on his face, perhaps more due to his contribution to the chocolate than its actual flavor. “You can smell the raspberry notes before you eat it.”
Aubrey sniffed the chocolate, trying to identify raspberry, or any berry, and failing.
“It’s like fine wine.” Layla could always be relied upon for a supportive word. “Oh, Bree, I’m so happy for you.”
“Time to vote.” Aubrey took advantage of the role of emcee to step away from Nino. “As many guessed, the last truffle is from Bon Bon Chocolate’s latest efforts in Ecuador. Who chose that as their favorite?”
About half of the room raised their hands, including Eugene, although he slouched when he did so, unable to look at his boss.
“The white chocolate is still my favorite.” Nino raised the half he hadn’t eaten. “Who’s with me?”
The remaining half raised their hands, including Grandma Dotty.
Aubrey may have been smiling on the outside, but she was scowling on the inside.
“That’s chocolate from Caradoc Confections.” Grinning, Nino slapped Eugene on the back once more. “Thank you, Eugene, for bringing that over.”
“Can I go now?” Eugene asked, staring at the table.
“Yes,” Nino and Aubrey said in unison.
Eugene scurried out the door, while wedding guests gravitated to the beverage bar. Grandma Dotty sidled up next to Layla’s grandfather and struck a pose, which Elicio chose to ignore.
Aubrey and her grandmother had the same problem. They were both infatuated with the wrong man.
“Your work is impressive.” Nino rested his elbows on the table and gave Aubrey his full attention. “How is it done?”
Did he think she was stupid?
“If I told you, I’d have to kill you,” Aubrey quipped. Regardless, she had some killer instincts toward him now.
“We made it!” Aubrey’s sister Maggie led two of her other sisters into the room. She wore a short black jersey dress over black stockings that ended in chunky black heels, clinging to the Goth armor of her youth.
Identical twins Lily and Violet were right behind her. Brown hair in a conservative bun, Lily wore a lilac colored pantsuit. She was a junior congresswoman from New York and took her image very seriously. Violet wore a plain yellow flowered sheath and sensible shoes. Her sunglasses held her hair away from her face. She was every bit the relaxed college professor.
The three brunettes rushed in to embrace A
ubrey, and then their grandmother, complimenting Dotty on her appearance. Grandma Dotty was their favorite grandmother, after all, and they were used to her flamboyance. And then they greeted Layla with the same enthusiasm. She’d spent many a summer visiting them in New York.
“I’m in charge of the activity tomorrow afternoon.” Nino bent to whisper in Aubrey’s ear, having closed the distance between them. “Don’t you want to know what I have planned?”
A part of her–the traitorous part that appreciated his attention–thrilled at his words. How could she be so shallow?
She picked up Eugene’s white chocolate sample. He hadn’t touched it. “Is it another beer tasting?”
His dark eyes sparkled, and one side of his perfect mouth tilted upward, giving away his amusement. “We’re having dancing lessons. I look forward to holding you in my arms.”
Oh.
“I promise to step on your toes,” she said weakly, although she meant it. She might even borrow Maggie’s chunky heels.
Nino left the room, his chuckle echoing in Aubrey’s ears.
“Who was that hottie?” Maggie arched her brows in sisterly curiosity. She meant, “Who is that hottie to you?”
While she explained her love-hate infatuation, she took a knife and cut the white chocolate candy Eugene had brought into slices for her sisters to taste, but in doing so, the flat bottom layer of chocolate popped off. The size of a quarter, Aubrey picked up the remains, turning it over because she couldn’t bring herself to eat it. Stamped on the bottom was a very familiar mark.
Bon Bon Chocolate’s logo.
Nino had dipped Bon Bon truffles in white chocolate and forced Eugene to bring them in as his own.
“Oh, that dirty dog.” Anger made Aubrey’s hands shake.
She could never hope to outwit Nino. He was always one step ahead of her.
She smashed the slices of truffle with her palm before her sisters could take a piece. “I need some sisterly advice.”
Chapter 9
“Her chocolate is exquisite,” Nino told Mateo in Spanish the next afternoon.
And Then He Kissed Me Page 8
