Dying for You

“Why, thank you, senor. You’re too kind. And I am in charge of Bedell, Inc. because, as I’m sure you know, I inherited the family business.”

“As did I.” Tomas Castillo smiled, revealing a set of perfect sparkling white teeth.

“Would you honor me with a dance?” he asked, and without giving her a chance to respond, he slipped his arm around her and waltzed her onto the dance floor.

Apparently Senor Castillo was a man accustomed to having his way, especially with the ladies.

“Ah, the rumba. A sensuous dance, is it not? Perfect for us, yes?”

For you, maybe, Cara thought.

If his intention had been to impress her and possibly titillate her, he had achieved the first and failed at the second. His dancing was as smooth as his tongue and by the end of the hot, tempestuous rumba, Cara was thankful she had chosen to wear topaz crystal-encrusted sandals that matched her evening bag. Not the most graceful person in the world, she might not have managed to keep up with Tomas’s passionate dance steps if she’d worn heels.

As far as arousing her, unless you counted being damp with perspiration, a bit out of breath and having a face flushed with warmth as titillation, then he hadn’t accomplished that goal. She supposed if she hadn’t already experienced being infatuated in her past with a suave, sophisticated, egomaniac by the name of Grayson Perkins, she would be more susceptible to Tomas’s undeniable charm. But her taste in men these days ran to the strong, rugged, hard-working type, like a certain Chattanooga police detective.

For the remainder of the evening, the handsome oil tycoon showered attention on Cara, but not once did he mention business. If she hadn’t known better she would have sworn that he was infatuated with her. But despite his expertise as a seducer, she knew that what he wanted was a deal between Castillo, Inc. and Bedell, Inc. If he thought bedding the CEO of Bedell would gain him the upper hand over Delgado Oil, he would make mad, passionate love to Cara whenever she snapped her fingers.

Four hours into the gala, Cara had had more than enough. But when she said good-night to Tomas, he begged her not to go, then begged her to allow him to escort her home.

“I have my own transportation,” she told him, then glanced from Lucie to Jason. “And my own private-duty guards to escort me.”

Tomas grasped her hand, kissed it and looked longingly into her eyes. “Tomorrow night, you must dine with me on my yacht. Or better yet, pack a bag and we’ll take a short cruise.”

Easing her hands from his possessive hold, she smiled warmly. “I’m afraid this trip to Ameca is more for business than pleasure. Instead of dinner tomorrow evening, why don’t we meet for a business lunch tomorrow and you can tell me why Bedell, Inc. should sign with Castillo, Inc. instead of Delgado Oil.”

“Ah, I see you are a woman who prefers to put business before pleasure.” He shrugged dramatically. “So be it. Lunch tomorrow to talk business. But afterward, I hope that I can persuade you to indulge in something that will give us both far more pleasure.”

Barely managing to keep her smile in place, she replied, “We’ll see, senor. We’ll see.”

Lucie fell into step alongside her as they made a hurried exit. Cara grumbled. “Deliver me from a guy who thinks he’s God’s gift to women.”

“Senor Castillo seemed quite smitten,” Lucie said, humor in her voice.

“Seemed being the operative word. I swear, I believe if I’d given him the least bit of encouragement, he would have made love to me on the balcony, under the stars.” Cara laughed.

Lucie laughed, too. “A prospect many women would have found irresistible.”

“Not this woman.”

When they reached the front entrance, Lucie halted Cara while Jason walked down the steps and requested their car, another Rolls-Royce from Senor Delgado’s collection of five.

When the valet brought the car around, Lucie followed Cara down the steps, but just as they reached the driveway, a slender, bearded man in a sport coat and slacks came out of nowhere and called Cara by name. Lucie stepped in front of Cara while Jason made a mad dash toward them.

“Senorita Bedell, I must speak with you,” the man said.

“Hold up,” Jason called to him, his hand on his shoulder holster. “Who are you and what do you want?”

Suddenly two men, both with rifles over their shoulders, slipped out of the darkness and came up behind the other man. Jason pulled his Beretta from the holster. Lucie snapped open her evening bag and retrieved her weapon.

Chapter Five

“I AM NALDO SALAZAR, Senorita Bedell,” the man told her, his voice deep and soft. “I mean you no harm. But I must speak to you. Privately.”

“Then why not set up an appointment with me?” Cara asked. “You’re a friend of the Delgado family. You could visit with me at Felipe and Suelita’s home—”

“No, that is no advisable. At present, I am—” he searched for the correct term “—persona non grata. Since losing the presidential election, it has become necessary for me to, as you Americans say, go underground. I do not wish to create problems for my friends, those such as Felipe and Suelita, who might put themselves in danger by welcoming me into their home.”

“I don’t pretend to understand the complexities of Amecan politics, senor,” Cara said. “But accosting me in this manner is hardly the way to gain my approval.”

“I apologize, but I had little choice. If perhaps you will allow me to ride with you for a few miles and my men follow in a separate car, I can explain. You may have your guards check me for weapons, if you like, before we leave.”

Lucie could tell that Cara was considering this man’s request. An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. Before she had a chance to voice her opinion, Cara instructed Jason to frisk Salazar. Once that was done, she invited the man to join her. He ordered his guards to follow; or at least that’s what Lucie thought he said. Her command of Spanish was so-so, enough to get by, but she certainly wasn’t proficient in the language.

Jason remained outside the Rolls until Cara, Senor Salazar and Lucie were seated in the back, then after scanning the area, he slipped into the front with the driver, one of Delgado’s trusted employees. Once outside the gated palace grounds, Salazar faced Cara in the semidark interior, the only illumination coming from the lights of San Luis as the car eased through the late-night traffic.

“I wish to plead my case in person,” Salazar said, his dark eyes searching Cara’s face for any expression of understanding.

Lucie eased her handgun back into her evening bag, but kept the bag open. She studied the man who had made a reputation for himself worldwide as a radical reformist, a man intent on dethroning Ameca’s privileged kings of finance. He didn’t look dangerous; if anything, he looked like the stereotypical mild-mannered professor with his graying hair, his outdated black-framed glasses and his seen-better-days suit that was slightly too large for his tall, lanky frame.

“I am certain that you have much information about Ameca at your fingertips and you have, no doubt, investigated both Felipe Delgado and Tomas Castillo and their oil companies,” Salazar said. “I also know that you are the chief benefactor of Helping Hands, yes?” He nodded, but didn’t pause for her reply. “You are a very wealthy woman, but one with a big heart who wishes to do much good with your money. My people need the kind of help that a contract between Delgado Oil and Bedell, Inc. will provide. If you sign a deal with Tomas Castillo, there will be no benefits for the poor and needy of Ameca.”

“Senor, I assure you that I will make an informed decision, one that will benefit both my company and the people of Ameca.”

“I had hoped that while you were staying with Felipe and Suelita, they could sway you to our side. But I was informed that you spent a great deal of this evening with Senor Castillo. He can be a charming man, one very popular with the ladies, and when he wants something, he goes after it without thought of the consequences to anyone involved. I warn you, Senorita Bedell, you cannot trust this man.”

Lucie noted the way Cara didn’t respond immediately and knew she was thinking, going over everything in her mind. No doubt, she was wondering just how Salazar had known that she had been in the company of Tomas Castillo for a large portion of the President’s ball. And how Salazar and his men had managed to get past the guards at the gate. Just as Lucie surmised that Salazar had spies within the palace walls, she knew that Cara would come to the same conclusion.

“I appreciate your concern,” Cara said. “And I realize you took a risk by coming here tonight to plead your case and warn me against Senor Castillo. But as a business-woman who must consider all aspects of any deal I make with an Amecan oil company, I intend to have lunch with Senor Castillo tomorrow and listen to his proposal.”

“Por qué?” Salazar asked, obviously upset. “I tell you that he cares nothing for others. He is not a good man.”

“I understand what you’re saying. And if Tomas Castillo is not willing to include provisions in the contract that will return a portion of his profits to Ameca, then I won’t—”

“To Ameca? No, senorita. Be careful. He may agree to your terms, but giving profits to Ameca through the government will help only Castillo and Ortega and their kind.”

When Cara reached out and touched Salazar’s hand, Lucie sucked in a deep breath. The opposition leader, the radical reformist, tensed at Cara’s touch, but did not withdraw his hand.

“I promise you that any decision I make will benefit those in greatest need here in Ameca, as well as make profits for both Bedell, Inc., and either Castillo or Delgado.” Cara lowered her voice to a whisper and said, “Unless Tomas is more convincing at our lunch tomorrow than he was wooing me tonight, then I can promise you that Bedell, Inc. will be signing with Delgado Oil.”

Salazar sighed heavily, but he didn’t smile. Nor did he thank Cara. He merely spoke to the driver in Spanish, asking him to pull over as soon as possible. The driver asked Cara for permission, which she gave. When Salazar got out of the car, he turned, leaned into the backseat and looked directly at Cara.

“I will be waiting to hear about your decision. For all our sakes, I pray it is the right one.” He walked away and got in the car that had pulled in behind the Rolls.

Cara glanced at Lucie. “Should I take what he said as nothing more than him stating his opinion or should I take it as a threat?”

“With a man like Salazar, it’s difficult to know,” Lucie replied. “But from what I’ve read about him, he’s a man who backs up his words with actions.”

THE RESTAURANT WHERE Cara met Tomas Castillo for lunch the next day was no doubt one of the most elegant and expensive in all of San Luis. Cara wasn’t surprised. After all, Tomas would want to impress her. The tile-roofed building faced the bay, and the tropical garden patio, shaded by enormous umbrella-covered tables and towering palm trees, was bright and airy and caught the afternoon breeze off the ocean.