Читать книгу First Class Seduction - Anita Bunkley - Страница 10

When the sleek black Mercedes pulled up to the Passenger Drop-off area at Mexico National Airport, Ramón turned in his seat and faced his brother, Xavier, who put the car in Park.

“Congratulations again, bro,” Ramón said to Xavier, flashing a proud smile at his elder, and only, sibling. “You’re gonna be the best judge in the state of Guerrero,” Ramón predicted. “Probably make it to the Mexican Supreme Court one day.”

Xavier Vidal assessed his brother’s face with a steady, solemn gaze. “That is definitely part of my plan,” he stated with the kind of confidence that validated Ramón’s prediction.

At forty-two, Xavier was ten years older than Ramón, but the two brothers were very close. Their parents had emigrated from rural Mexico to the United States when Xavier was five years old, becoming U.S. citizens by the time Ramón was born in Houston five years later. After graduating from law school at the University of Texas, Xavier returned to Mexico to open a law practice in Acapulco, leaving his baby brother behind.

“Thanks for coming down for my swearing-in ceremony,” Xavier said, placing a hand on Ramón’s shoulder.

“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Only wish Dad could’ve come with me,” Ramón replied, swallowing the emotional lump that rose in this throat as he recalled his father’s disappointment when Ramón insisted that he stay home.

At sixty-one, Tomás Vidal, who had suffered two heart attacks in the past four years, resided in an assisted living center near Ramón’s condo in Houston. Ramón visited his dad every day, made sure he had everything he needed and kept him up-to-date on family news. Since Ramón and Xavier were all the immediate family that Tomás now had, the three Vidal men were very close.

“I know Pop was upset, but his heart was so weak that any travel is too risky,” Xavier agreed.

“Yeah, but it’s so hard for him to accept.”

“I know…I’m glad you live close enough to keep an eye on him.”

“Dinner once a week at Hugo’s. No exceptions or excuses allowed.” Ramón laughed.

“I know he loves that,” Xavier replied.

“He does. And as soon as we sit down at his favorite table, his face lights up. He even flirts with the waitresses.”

Xavier grinned, slapped Ramón on the arm, and said, “Well, give him my love. I’ll call next week, after things settle down.”

“Will do.” Ramón reached around, grabbed his carry-on bag off the back seat, and patted the outside pocket. “I got your swearing-in ceremony right here on DVD, so Pop can see you taking your oath of office.” Ramón shook his head and chuckled under his breath. “He’ll probably invite everyone in the center over to his room to watch this with him. He’s very proud of you…and so am I.”

Xavier nodded, lips compressed in understanding. “Well, next time you come to Acapulco, you’ve gotta stay at the house.”

“I will. I promise.”

“And we’ll spend some time just hanging out,” Xavier added. “Sorry I couldn’t hit the club with you last night, but with all the people in town, and the crowd at the house…”

“No problem,” Ramón interrupted, knowing that Xavier had been swept up in a whirlwind of congratulatory lunches, dinners and parties all weekend. “I understand, bro. Not much was happening at Azule anyway.”

The blast of a taxi driver’s horn alerted Xavier that he had been at the Drop-off stand longer than allowed. “Hey. Gotta go,” he said to Ramón, who quickly opened the passenger-side door. “I’m blocking traffic and you’re gonna miss your flight. Later!”

“Yeah, later!” Ramón echoed. He shook his brother’s hand, got out and slammed the car door shut, but remained at the curb as Xavier nudged his luxury car into the long line of vehicles clogging the exit from Mexico National Airport.

Ramón adjusted his sunglasses and thought about his comment on the club scene last night. Not much was happening at Club Azule. Really? If that was the case, why did his encounter with the most attractive and intriguing woman he had ever danced with keep flashing like a Technicolor video in his brain?

Ramón turned and headed into the terminal, thinking about the weekend, glad he’d made the trip to see Xavier take an honored place in Mexico’s judicial system.

“Good for him,” Ramón murmured to himself, a deep sense of satisfaction coming over him. He admired his older brother very much, and the age gap between the two had seemed to narrow over the years. It was as if the older they got, the closer they became, and now, even though they lived more than a thousand miles apart, they talked, texted or e-mailed each other almost every day.

Just as he entered the terminal, Ramón’s cell phone rang, breaking into his mental musing. Checking the phone’s screen, he saw that Keith Harris, his business partner in Houston, was calling. Punching the trackball, he greeted Keith, and was upset to hear that the installation of a security system for a major furniture retailer in Dallas was a week behind schedule. As the co-owner of the high-tech security company, Vida-Shield, Ramón was constantly putting out fires.

“Who’s at fault—the site foreman or the supplier?” Ramón asked Keith, pissed off that one of his most complicated jobs was only half finished and already over budget.

“Both,” Keith replied.

“Need me to fly straight into Dallas, instead of coming home?” Ramón asked, knowing he could not let this situation deteriorate any further.

“No,” Keith said. “I’m on my way up there now. I’ll check in after I get a handle on what’s happening.”

“Good. I’m about to board my plane. I’ll call as soon as I land,” Ramón replied, thankful that he had such a competent and trustworthy business partner.

Inside the terminal building, Ramón scanned the flight board for the gate number for Globus-Americas Airlines flight 565, eager to get home to Houston and back to work. Maybe then, he’d be able to get last night’s dance-floor kiss out of his mind.