No one was in the foyer as she made her exit, clutching one worn dollar bill. A burned smell hung in the air as she made her way down the front steps.
You came here with nothing, and you’re leaving with nothing.
And that’s okay.
She was uninjured, which was a huge blessing under the circumstances. She was young and strong and smart and hard-working.
She owed the local motel two hundred and thirty dollars.
The motel owners seemed like a nice couple. Perhaps they’d let her work off her bill? It was worth a try.
Pay off her bill and get out of town. She’d always been a planner, but right now that was as far as her grand schemes extended.
She set out through the groves in the direction of the motel, which sat outside Round Lake on an empty stretch of highway. She knew the land like she knew her own body, and the cross-country route would be quicker. She could avoid the sight of the burned cottage she didn’t want to lay eyes on, and this route had the advantage of keeping her off the long driveway so she wouldn’t run into Naldo on his way back from the courthouse.
At the thought of him, her stomach clenched and her throat tightened. She didn’t want to see the disgusted look he’d have on his face when he thought of her.
He’d offered her so much. And she’d turned her nose up at it and caused irreparable damage to the estate and to his sister’s reputation. Would he ever forgive her for all the harm she’d caused?
How could he? The family jewels he’d wanted so badly were gone forever. The cookbook his father had lovingly illustrated was destroyed, along with all traces of her mother and the love they’d quietly shared for so many years.
A breeze rustled the shiny leaves around her as she marched through the sandy soil down a long, fragrant row of orange-laden trees. The sun shone bright overhead in a sharp blue sky, already burning her uncovered skin.
Paradiso was not to be her home.
For the first time in her life she felt truly alone. She’d wanted it all and held out for everything.
She cringed as she thought how after the latest altercation over the cookbook Naldo must think she’d wanted a stake in the estate. What she’d really wanted was a stake in his heart.
Her uncompromising attitude and stiff-necked pride had left her with nothing, and no one. Her mother may not have been called Mrs. De Leon, but at least she had love and affection and a place to call home.
Her journey took her into a grove of early-bearing trees in full fragrant flower, then into a grove where oranges hung heavy on the branches, ready to be plucked and eaten.
She’d had no breakfast and her stomach growled with increasing ferocity as her legs ached from her long walk. The lush, round oranges called to her, with their delicious rich scent and deep color. But she’d rather starve than take yet one more thing from Naldo. She didn’t deserve it.
It was past noon, the harsh sun burning overhead like a movie spotlight, by the time she approached the county road. She could just make out the rumble of a big transport truck, maybe taking oranges for processing. The soles of her feet pricked and tickled inside her hot sneakers as her footsteps slowed. Once she left the estate, this was it.
Goodbye.
Her footsteps slowed in the heat and the dry dust in the air. The sand beneath her feet seemed heavy, pulling her back. The sun hurt her head and an agonizing sense of loss hurt her heart.
Her pulse started to pound in her head with irregular beats that made her press her fingers to her temples. Her own heart sounded almost like the muffled thuds of a horse’s hooves.
Then again, it sounded like a real horse’s hooves. Was there a horse nearby? The ghost of a De Leon ancestor so enraged by her presence on his sacred turf that he’d come to scare her off?
A breathy snort in the next row of trees told her a real beast was very close. She stopped walking and stood still, terror streaking along her nerves.
It couldn’t really be a ghost. The foreman come to investigate a report of trespassing?
The hoofbeats moved farther away, and she pressed her hand to her pounding heart. Almost at the road. The roar of a tanker passing at high speed didn’t sound any less appealing than the mysterious horseman, but at least it was familiar.
Suddenly a huge black horse crashed through the trees right in front of her. At the sight of her it whinnied and reared high in the air, hooves flailing. She shrieked and the rider turned the horse hard in a circle and brought it to a panting halt.
Naldo.
He jumped down, holding the reins.
Her blood pounded in her brain as she stood there wordless, rooted in the sandy soil. Naldo’s face wore a stony expression. His hair wet with perspiration and tossed by the wind, his white dress shirt flung open at the collar, he looked wild-and dangerous.
“Where are you going?” His deep voice thundered with accusation.
She straightened her shoulders. “I’m leaving. You won’t see me again.” She swallowed. “I apologize for all the harm I caused. It wasn’t intended.”
Naldo stared at her for one intense second then blew out an exasperated blast of air. “You think you can just leave?”
She blinked rapidly. “I deeded you the land. I know the land is all that’s left now. I’m sorry.” Her legs felt weak. How could she think that one lousy acre of land would make up for the loss of the gems, the cottage, the orchards…
“The land?” His mouth curved into a snarl of disgust. “You really are crazy.”
The horse jerked at the reins and Naldo soothed it with a word, then turned back to her, eyes blazing. “You think it’s all just about the money?”
The force of his stare made her shiver. “I know you must think I’ve behaved badly.”
“Yes.” He nodded. A strange spark appeared in his eyes. “You’re damn right. For someone so smart, you act very dumb sometimes.”
Anger tightened her muscles as her heart started to break right in two. Naldo hated her. “Don’t insult me. I know I owe you. I’ll pay you back. I made a mistake. Anyone can make a mistake.”
“A mistake? Only one? Let’s see…refusing to maintain your van, refusing to mow the grass, insisting on keeping the gems, refusing to take the very large amount of money I offered you, accusing my sister of arson-”
“Are you going to sue me?” She held her chin high, proud of the way she kept her voice steady.
“I probably should.” He petted the neck of his restless horse again. His eyes glinted with a strange look she’d never seen before. “But I wouldn’t dare.” He let out a chuckle. “You’re far too dangerous as an opponent. Lord knows, next time I go up against you I might lose my shirt.”
He looked like he was in danger of losing his shirt anyway, with the buttons undone in front to reveal a broad strip of tan muscle. A stray rush of heat made her cringe.
“You love this place, don’t you?” Naldo’s question, spoken softly, took her by surprise.
“Yes,” she whispered, without thinking.
“That’s why you couldn’t leave. Why you wouldn’t take the money.” His eyes narrowed as his head tilted very slightly.
Tears rose in her throat, and she gulped them away. She nodded, afraid to speak and have her words come out pathetically teary.
“You truly are crazy, Anna.” He shook his head. His majestic brow furrowed. “I offered you four million dollars. Do you have any idea what most people would do for four million dollars?”
She shook her head, still afraid to speak.
“And you wouldn’t take it. It just wasn’t quite enough for you.” He looked at her steadily, black eyes boring into her.
“I know you think I’m greedy,” she protested, as the silence threatened to steal her last breath.
“I know you’re greedy,” he responded. He took a step forward. “So am I. We’re alike, you and I.” He stared at her with force. “We both want it all and can’t settle for anything less. It’s not in us.”
Her heart thumped painfully as he took another step toward her and dropped his horse’s reins. The intense look in his eyes stole her breath. Did he mean to destroy her? To exact revenge in the way that only a man with the
