Sweet On You

chapter Twenty-three



"Give me good news," Daniela said into the phone when she answered her real estate agent's call.

"We lost the building."

"Where did it go?" she asked as she walked into the kitchen.

"No, we were outbid," Ken explained patiently. "Cruz Enterprises bought it."

"That's not possible." She stopped abruptly in the middle of the kitchen. "I made an agreement with Chris Ludlow. I took him three loaves of cinnamon bread."

"Well, it must not have made the same impression Cruz's offer did."

"How much was his offer?"

"Half a mill over what we bid."

She sat down, on the floor, abruptly.

"Daniela? Are you still there?"

"Barely," she said, staring unseeingly ahead. "Is there anything we can do?"

"About this property? No. Cruz closed on it. But I can look again for other buildings that might work, within your budget. Maybe we'll have better luck after the holidays."

"I'll let you know. Thank you, Ken."

"I'm sorry, Daniela. I wish I could do more."

"It's not your fault." It was Nico's.

She hung up but stayed on the floor, staring at the cupboards in front of her. She'd been staying with him for days. Days. When had he made the deal? When had he signed the papers?

She should have been upset because he got the building, but, damn him, she was more upset because he hadn't been honest with her. Why had he hid the fact that he'd outbid her? To surprise her one night when they were soaking in his Jacuzzi tub? Did he think she wouldn't find out?

Anger boiled in her chest, like a pot of Nonna's penne a la arrabiata.

She'd make some now, she decided. She got up, determined, needing to channel her fury into something.

Nico ordered food in all the time, but after she'd decided to stay she'd stocked up on some essentials so she could cook. Nonna's arrabiata sauce was simple to make, needing only tomatoes, passion, and time.

She had plenty of the last two ingredients, thanks to Nico. That bastard.

Determined, grim, she strode to the wine rack and looked through all the bottles first. She stopped when she saw the '82 Chateau Margaux.

"Why not?" She plucked it out and uncorked it. Pouring herself a large glass, she sipped it, nodded in approval, and set a pan on the burner for her sauce.

She was on her second glass, about to toss the cooked pasta into the spicy tomato sauce when she heard the elevator doors open. She picked up the wine bottle, looking at it regretfully. A waste, but it was going to feel so satisfying.

"Daniela?" Nico walked into the kitchen.

She threw the bottle at his head.

He ducked just in time. The bottle hit the wall behind him and broke, making a splatter pattern of wine over the white walls and carpets.

Nico swiped what splashed on his cheek and tasted it. "Good vintage."

"When were you going to tell me?"

He looked resigned. "I told you all along that I was going to buy the property. It shouldn't have been a surprise."

She downed the wine in her glass and threw that at him, too. "Bastard."

He ducked again. "Daniela, you're going to run out of things to throw at me. Let's just stop and discuss this."

"We could have discussed this," she yelled, "if you'd told me. But you didn't."

Holding his hands out to try to calm her down, he approached her cautiously. "It's just a building. I'll help you find another one that suits your purposes. I know there's that family living in it. I won't turn them out without a care. I'll find a place for them too."

"That's not the point. The point is you didn't tell me. I'm living here with you, and you didn't mention a word to me. How do you think that makes me feel?"

Of all the things he could have said, she didn't expect him to go with "I needed to buy that building, Daniela."

"Well, you got what you needed." Wiping her hands on a towel, she tossed it on the counter and walked toward the bedroom.

"Where are you going?" he said, following her.

"Home," she said, not bothering to turn around.

He caught up to her and made her turn. "Daniela, you have to understand—"

"Do you know what I understand?" She got in his face, wanting to kiss it as much as she wanted to spit at it. "I understand that I told you my dream, what I wanted so badly, and you disregarded it. More than that, you went ahead with your own plans, even though they directly conflicted with mine. But most of all, you kept me in the dark. How is that different than Tony? You should have had my back, but you stabbed it instead."

"You're being dramatic," he said.

"And you're being an a*shole."

He tugged her against him and kissed her. There was the residual taste of sweetness and spice, but the overtone of bitterness overwhelmed everything else.

She broke away from him, putting a hand to her mouth. Her lips felt bruised, but not nearly as much as her heart. "You screwed up," she said in a low voice. And then she turned and walked straight to the elevator.

She realized she didn't have shoes on when she got to the lobby, but she didn't care. She had the porter flag her a taxi, and she numbly rode home, calling Marley to ask her to come pay for the cab once she realized she didn't have her purse.

Marley was waiting out by the curb when she pulled up. Looking as grim as Daniela felt, she paid the driver and then studied Daniela head to toe. "You look like I feel," she finally said. "Man problems?"

"What else could it be? You?"

Marley sighed so hardily Daniela almost smiled. She slung her arm through her assistant's and walked gingerly into the house.

Tony was inside, waiting. Fuming. "Where the hell have you been, Daniela?"

"Put a sock in it, Antonio."

"Fine!" He threw his arms in the air. As he stormed out, he yelled, "Ruin your lives. You'll come running back to me soon enough."

"As if." Daniela turned to Marley. "You and I are getting a bottle of wine, some chocolate, and retiring to my room."

"Kinky," Marley said.

Daniela smiled in shock. "Marley, that was funny."

She rolled her eyes. "You want funny? I have a story to tell you about the wrong man who got away."

"Will one bottle of wine be enough?" she asked, an arm through Marley's as they headed to the kitchen.

"Probably not, because I may have to quit tonight too."

"Damn." Daniela looked at her assistant. "Are you really giving notice?"

Marley took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes," she said, sounding sure. "Yes, I am. I'm going to focus on my photography."

"Good for you." Daniela hugged her tightly.

After a moment, the younger woman returned the embrace. "You aren't angry?"

"What I am is impressed. It takes courage to step out on your own." She went straight to the fridge and pulled out champagne and truffles. "I know you don't drink, but you're making an exception tonight. We're going to toast your new endeavor, curse our men, and generally get trashed."

"I'll get the glasses," Marley offered helpfully.