Page 43 of Never Again
Alarm entered Alfred’s eyes. “You don’t mean that.”
“I meant it before. I didn’t leave because…because Carlos wanted to go alone. He was worried he couldn’t take care of me. But this time, nothing will keep us apart.”
“Is that what he told you? That he was worried he couldn’t take care of you?”
“Yes.”
Alfred chuckled and shook his head. “And you think you know him?”
His smug response sounded as if he knew something she didn’t, which made Carmen frown. “Idoknow him.”
“You don’t know him like I do. You don’t know the kind of man he is,” Alfred said. “I didn’t want to hurt you, but he’s left me no choice.Youhave left me no choice.”
The pit of her stomach contracted in fear, and her bluster took a hit. “What are you talking about?”
“He didn’t tell you about the money, did he?”
“What money?”
Alfred sighed and sat down. He patted the cushion beside him. “Have a seat, and I’ll tell you everything.”
18
Carlos checked the time and then flipped the plant-based burgers on the stovetop grill. He and Carmen had discussed going meatless two days this week. He’d tried this brand of patties before, and they were pretty tasty. He figured Carmen would like them, too.
“She’ll be here soon, Sofia,” he said to the cat, who lapped water from her bowl nearby. For some reason, Carmen was bringing Franklin with her this time, and he would bring her to the apartment.
Carlos double-checked the contents of the refrigerator and then sprayed air freshener throughout the loft. When he finished, he removed each burger, set them on plates, and covered them with foil to keep them warm. Several minutes later, while slicing tomatoes, the doorbell rang.
“Shit,” he muttered. He’d hoped to have everything ready before she arrived.
He set down the knife and went to the door. When he saw Carmen, as lovely as ever in a pair of thigh-hugging jeans and a white cashmere sweater, he became overwhelmed. Damn, he loved this woman. She was standing on his doorstep, and they’d have an entire week together. He needed to figure out how to move back to Canada because the time they spent apart was eating away at his soul.
Carlos immediately swept her up in his arms, burying his face in her rose-scented hair. “Mi amor, it’s so good to see you.”
He set her on her feet and moved to kiss her, but oddly enough, she dodged his lips.
Startled, Carlos stared for a second but held on to her arms. “Hey, something wrong?” He glanced behind her. “Franklin didn’t bring up your bags?”
Carmen eased away from him and shut the door. “They’re downstairs.”
That was strange. Why didn’t Franklin just bring them up?
“Do you need me to go down and get them?” Carlos asked.
She’d told him not to come to the airport to pick her up because she was bringing Franklin with her and he’d make sure she got here, but maybe she was upset he hadn’t pushed harder. He couldn’t read her mood. He expected her to be as happy to see him as he was to see her, but instead, she appeared cool—almost aloof so far.
“No.” Carmen rubbed her hands together and walked around him and farther into the apartment.
“I made veggie burgers. I’m almost done with the fixings.”
Carmen turned and the emotion in her eyes rooted him to the spot. A deep sadness filled their depths, and he almost dragged her back into his arms again. “What’s wrong?”
She blinked rapidly. “Since last night, I’ve been trying to figure out how to broach this topic with you. I even considered not coming, but I thought…no, that was a bad idea. Because I said I was coming, and I wanted to do this face to face. And I wanted to give you a chance to explain because maybe my father was wrong or had lied.” She swallowed hard.
Carlos waited for the inevitable bomb to drop.
“Did you take money from my father to leave me?” Carmen whispered shakily.
