Touch Me and Tango (3 page)

“I’ve already begun selling things. I even advertised a sale
for this Saturday. But that’ll just give us cash for food and upkeep. The only
way to save this house is with my Great Uncle Harry’s diamonds.”

Tanya moaned. “Not that old fishermen’s tale about your
infamous bootlegging uncle.”

“Great uncle.”

“Great, ungreat, whatever.” She waved a hand in the air.
“It’s all made up stuff. One big myth.”

“You’re too young to be so stodgy.”

“Stodgy? Because I don’t believe we can find Captain Kidd’s
buried treasure? Why don’t we just hire a ship and go skin-diving for pirate
booty?”

“Captain Kidd wasn’t a relative of mine. I am the only
descendant left in my Rubikoff line. Those diamonds rightfully belong to me.”

Tanya wiped a hand over her face. “Fine. Supposing there is
a box filled with a few million worth of diamonds buried in the sands of the
North Fork. That’s a lot of square miles to cover. So unless you’re planning to
hire some elite high tech task force specializing in subterranean artifacts,
you can forget about it.”

Eva leaned forward. “You think I’m stupid.”

“I didn’t say that. Just maybe a little, um, unrealistic.”

“Well, I’ve already hired someone and I know exactly where
I’m going to send him to search.”

“But you said there’s no money.”

“He’ll work for a percentage of the take.”

“How did you find this person?”

Eva actually smiled and took a sip of coffee. “When I was
laid up in the hospital the local vet came around each day to cheer us up with
some of the stray animals she rescues. Dr. Bridget Larson. Cute little woman.
And her boyfriend—actually I think they’re engaged—well, he works with her and
also brings free flowers to patients. And wasn’t I surprised to see who it was.
Parker Richardson, who used to work on our yard. As handsome as ever.”

Tanya struggled to hide a surge of volatile emotions. She
knew her reaction was crazy. Knew she had no right to be jealous after all
these years. But she couldn’t deny the part of her that wanted to claw the
woman’s eyes out.

Then something else struck her. “Wait a sec. Don’t tell me
it’s Parker you’ve hired.”

“Certainly is.”

“But…”

“He’s just the person to do it. He’s got a fishing boat, he
knows the North Fork like the back of his hand, and he’s close-mouthed and
trustworthy. I’m sure he’ll keep my secret.”

Parker could keep a secret, all right. For three and a half
years he’d kept their hot affair under cold wraps, safe from the condemnation
of those around them, including from the very lady now singing his praises.
“I’m surprised someone like him agreed to take time from his business to go
searching for diamonds. Especially knowing he’ll only get paid if he finds
them.”

Eva looked away and back. “I didn’t actually explain that
part.”

“What? You mean Parker thinks you’ve hired him to landscape
your garden?”

“He might.”

Tanya bristled. “It’s bad enough you’re insisting on
pursuing this insane idea. But to take advantage of someone so honest and
kindhearted is just—”

“I’m giving him the opportunity of a lifetime. Finding those
diamonds will make him a rich man.”

“You are delusional. There is nothing to find. And I won’t
have any part of this.” Eva grabbed her crutches and stood. “I was about to
share something very important with you. But obviously you think I’m some kind
of a joke.”

“Mom, I didn’t say that.”

“In so many words you did. Enjoy your sandwich.” She hobbled
out of the kitchen.

Tanya went after her. In the TV room she saw one sofa decked
out with a quilt and pillows. “Are you sleeping down here?”

“As long as I don’t have to climb stairs I’m fine.”

“I can take the other sofa.”

“I told you, I don’t need that. And I don’t want you
crowding me.”

“But what if you fall?”

“I’ve got one of those metal police whistles. I’ll wear it.
Now go away. I’m not sure I want to speak to you at all.”

Tanya groaned. “Can we please not—”

Eva flicked on the TV and turned the volume to an
ear-splitting level, drowning her out.

Tanya didn’t have the energy to fight. She’d been awake for
the last thirty hours and had nothing but grief since she’d gotten off that
airplane. All she wanted right now was to shower and crawl into bed.

Parker sank back into the warm comfy sofa. He knew the feel
so well of the old broken-in couch from the days when he was so small he could
curl his entire body up on it while watching late night TV on weekends.

Next to him sat his kid sister Jenna, youngest of the Parker
clan and his mom’s longtime favorite child. Sweet apple of Lauren Richardson’s
eye.

She was a professional dancer now, but it was his middle
sister Casey who started Jenna dancing, introducing her to the big studios in
New York City and a world that would become her own. Jenna snagged an apprenticeship
with American Ballet Theater, was taken into the company’s corps, and finally
promoted to soloist rank. With the company on a two-week hiatus, she came home
to teach at her sister’s school and soak up some family time.

Her mother stood alongside the sofa watching over her with
loving eyes. “More tea? Tell me what I can get you, sweetie.”

“No thanks, Mom. I’m fine.” Jenna watched her brother as he
studied the Scrabble board. “Making up a fake word?”

Parker laughed. “Get out. I never did that.”

“Yes you did. You were always making up words that I
believed were real. But then Casey would come along and set me straight.”

Much as he tried joking, Parker couldn’t completely mask the
turmoil brewing beneath the surface. Tanya looked even better than she did when
he’d last seen her. At age thirty she’d matured into a stunningly beautiful
woman.

Jenna nudged him with her elbow. “You okay?”

Parker snapped out of his trance. “Fine,” he said, smiling.

“For a second it seemed like you’d gone adrift.”

“Nah. Right here. So who’s this doctor I hear you’re
dating?”

“Just a guy I met.”

“Mom says it might be serious?”

Jenna sighed. “Mom always wants it to be serious.”

Their mother chimed in from the entrance to the dining room.
“A couple months? I call that serious. Every doctor wants to marry a ballerina.
Better not lose this one.”

Jenna slumped back in her seat.

Parker leaned in and whispered, “Never mind. You do whatever
you want.”

“Thanks big bro. And don’t worry. I will.”

Their mother came in and placed some light food along with a
pot of tea on the table in front of them. Jenna plucked a sandwich from the
tray and bit into a wedge of turkey and cheese.

Lauren Richardson sat nearby with her cup of tea. “What
about you, Parker? Anything new and exciting in the romance department?”

He folded his arms behind his neck and stared up at the
ceiling. “Hmm. Let me think.”

“Just as I thought,” his mother said. “Same old Parker.”

Jenna rolled her eyes. “Here we go.”

“Well it’s true,” Lauren said. “He goes around with all
these different women but obviously doesn’t find any of them interesting
enough.”

Parker grinned. “Actually I find a number of them quite
interesting.”

“Not referring to that kind of interesting,” his mother
said, twisting her mouth. “I used to think Casey would be the problem. No more.
She’s even giving me my first grandchild. But then what can I expect from the
most stubborn of the bunch? My oldest. Still the same. Never wanting to settle
down. No intention of getting serious.”

“Parker?” Jenna rebounded immediately. “Never serious?”

“That’s me all over.” He snickered in sarcastic fun. “Life’s
a picnic.”

If there was one thing Parker Richardson was known for it
was his sober, hard working demeanor. When his father died, seventeen-year-old
Parker had quit school and taken on the Richardson’s gardening and lawn care
business to support his mother and two sisters.

Jenna reached an arm around him and gave him a squeeze.

“What about the veterinarian?” his mother asked. “She was
such a nice girl.”

“Just a good friend.”

“And that cute little nurse?”

Parker stood up. “Okay, everybody. That’s my cue. Gotta
run.” He kissed his sister on the forehead and traded a fast peck on the cheek
with his mom.

As he pivoted for the door, Lauren stopped him with a light
grab to his arm. “I need a quick favor from you. The air conditioner in room
six is, uh, weird. Would you have a look?”

“Not a problem.” He headed up the stairs.

“And, Parker,” she added, leaning over the banister. “Make
sure you knock first.”

“Always.”

He reached the third floor and made his way to the end of
the hall. After three short knocks the door opened.

Whoa
. Parker’s
pulse rate took an unexpected leap. The woman in room six scored a ten on the
visual rating scale. Her cat eyed, short nosed, perfectly symmetrical face
could have swiped the spotlight off any one of Hollywood’s leading ladies. And
the rest of the view left an indelible impression in his libido as well.

“Sorry to bother you. I’m Parker. Lauren Richardson’s son.”

She gave him a warm smile along with a polite handshake.
“Alix Nicole.”

“My mother said something about the air conditioner acting
weird.”

“Actually I haven’t even tried it yet.”

Uh-oh. Something told him this was a set-up.

Alix Nicole stood in the center of the floor in her short
skirt and heels. “Just arrived here last night.”

To think he used to sleep in this room as a teen. He
recalled the endless stream of alluring girls that floated through his dreams
in the middle of the night. If he had a time machine back then he could have
programmed it for fifteen years into the future. Talk about room service.

Resting her hip on the sill and crossing her legs, Alix
spoke in a sultry voice, “To be honest I sleep in the nude, so I prefer things
on the warm side.”

Oh boy
. “Can’t
argue with that,” he said.

“Especially with those nice sea breezes. Tell me, Parker.
Which do you prefer? AC? Or salt air?”

It took some doing, but Parker slipped into his
down-to-earth survival mode. His basic rule: Ignore distraction. Focus. Solve
the problem. “Mind if I check it out anyway?”

“Feel free… to check it out.”

Oh, man
. Parker
picked the remote from the table and ran the machine through its paces, testing
it at various levels. “Smooth as a newborn pup.”

“Newborn pup,” she giggled. “I like that.”

He nodded. “Nice meeting you, Alix.”

Once Parker hit the bottom of the stairs he walked straight
past the living room for the front door. No sooner had he stepped onto the
porch than his mother caught up with him from behind.

“Well?” she said, her voice muted to confidential volume.

He came to a halt. “Well what?”

“What do you think of Alix Nicole?”

“I’m always a little put off by ladies who go by two first
names.”

“She’s come out from Manhattan. Here on assignment reviewing
the North Fork vineyards for
Visions In
Dining Magazine
. I think the lady could use a guide.”

“If I hear of anyone, I’ll let you know.”

“Come on. She’s beautiful, intelligent, has a successful
career.”

“So long, Mom.” He scampered across the lawn to his truck,
turned the ignition and waved.

Lauren stood there shaking her head at him as he backed out
of the driveway. “Parker Richardson, don’t ask me who it is you’re waiting
for.”

Were all moms psychic? As Parker drove away, his mother’s
question lingered in his mind, bringing on images of the Gentilliano house with
its windowed tower and the honey-haired Rapunzel whose face had always been
there watching him while he worked in the yard. That radiantly beautiful
princess who used to stroll outside to tease him with her devilish smile. How
many times had he almost lost a finger when his concentration refused to adhere
to anything but thoughts of kissing her?

Tanya had been a mysterious, beguiling creature to him back
then. Who knew where she’d learned her tricks, but her lovemaking had taken him
from boy to man. To this day his heart raced and his groin stiffened at the
memory of her feminine curves pressed against him, her lips brushing his bare
skin. Her wonderful laugh. She’d been the sparkling light in his dreary and
difficult life from the time he was seventeen until he’d turned twenty-one.

Yep, Mom, I’ve been
waiting ten years for the woman I love to wake up and realize she loves me
.
And now she was back.

But while one part of him wanted to race toward her, knowing
this could be his last chance to make it all happen, another part warned him
not to get involved with her again.

Whichever way he went, there was one thing he didn’t waver
on.

Ten years ago she’d made a fool of him when he begged her to
be his. This time it would be different.

This time it would Tanya doing the begging.

The next morning Tanya got the silent treatment from her
mother, who sat in the kitchen sipping coffee, staring out at the gray,
overcast day. She did not turn her head at her daughter’s approach, did not
respond to three attempts at a cheerful greeting.

“Can I refill your coffee?”

No answer.

“This isn’t going to solve anything.”

Silence.

“We need to communicate, Mom. I’m here to help.”

A snort.

“I might as well go back to London. You want me to just
leave?”

One-shoulder lifted. Seeing the back of her mother’s head
and that familiar shrug of indifference brought back old childhood feelings in
Tanya. Her hand touched a place on her chest where the hurt used to settle
before it flamed into a hot resentment for a mother who had a “moi” attitude to
rival Miss Piggy’s and a father who’d penned her in with strict ideas about who
his daughter should be and what she should do. No wonder she’d developed a
rebellious streak a mile wide.