For my money, maybe. Ive never gone after a woman for hers.
Aha. You let some information slip out there, Maguire. Youre losing your edge. She winked at him. Want to look at my gorgeous legs again?
Hey, did your parents never spank you? No one ever said, honey, dont touch a hot stove? Dont open the cage door of a bear?
Did yours? Is that how you got so wary? Youre just too adorable to be alone, Maguire. There should be women snapping at your heels, doing inventive things to capture your interest, thrilled to make sure you never have to sleep alone at night.
He squinted at her in the sunlight, just as the pilot announced their imminent descent into Monaco. Youre getting way, way stronger faster than I thought you would, Cee. Im beginning to think the shoes are a factor.
Me, too. Think what red shoes did for Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Of course, all she wanted was to go home to Kansas.
Maguire said quietly, And thats all you want, too, isnt it? Your reference point isnt Kansas. But you want the same thing Dorothy did. To find your way back home.
She thought about that on their drive to the hotel. Maguire was right. This crazy journey hed taken her on was all about becoming strong enough to go home.
And the truth wasshe felt stronger every day. Maybe she still had no clear plan about how to face all the dragons waiting for her at home, but she was starting to feel. Starting to stand up. Starting to own her heart again.
But she wasnt ready to leave Maguire.
Even if a broken heart was at the end of this journey, shed come far enough-become strong enough-to be absolutely certain how important he was to her. She had no illusions that he felt the same. She only knew she wanted whatever time with him she could beg, borrow or steal. Maguire at his worst challenged her heart more than any man ever had.
Carolina didnt expect to see Maguire at his worst quite so soon, but walking into the hotel turned into an eek. A half-dozen messages were waiting for him, all marked Urgent. The hotel rooms hed wanted werent ready. Nothing was right.
Maguire didnt do frazzled, of course, he just went into hypermanagement mode. She was given a temporary room, with a couple hours free to nap and change clothes before they met in the lobby for dinner. He took over an office somewhere. It all worked out.
Actually, it more than worked out. Four hours later she was seated in a magical place. The restaurant had the look of a castle, washed in glowing gilt as the sun went down. They ate outside, their table on the veranda with the bay just below. From the white tablecloths to the sparkle of crystal, the atmosphere was elegant. Tables filled up, but conversations were muted, with others-mostly couples-enjoying the sights and sounds and smells of the fabulous scenery, fabulous meal. Carolina had never before seen more jewels in one spot. There were enough dazzling diamonds to cause neck and earaches.
Maguire, though, was his usual common-sense self. Youre certain you want to mix that Japanese sushi and the Thai curry?
I think the chances of my ever coming here again are nonexistent, so Im trying everything theyll let me. She tried to keep her eyes off him. His business glitches had been taken care of, and hed lost the take-charge posture, even looked relaxed. But he still stunned her in the tux.
Apparently tuxes were standard Monaco attire, judging from the number of men wearing them-but it was only Maguire who glued her attention. The shock-white shirt and formal black tux did something to him. He looked all brash and blond. A rogue trapped in gentlemans clothes. There was something not quite civilized in the tilt of his chin, the way he walked, the arch of his brow.
Shed had a blast dressing for dinner, but it wasnt as if she could compete with this crowd. Maguire had had Henry pack a few of her own clothes before this trip, but she was still limited in what she could pull together. The black satin pants and top had been on sale at T.J. Maxx the holiday before, and just happened to go perfectly with her red Versace shoes. Maybe the cowl neck could have used jewelry, but she didnt have anything for this sort of occasion or place, so her neck and wrists were bare. Shed stroked in some mousse to add body to her hair, used a simple crystal clip to make the style look more formal, but there was a limit to what she could do with the equipment she had.
Trying to impress Maguire wasnt a goal, anyway. Or trying to pretend she was something she wasnt. As far as Carolina could tell, trying to outthink Maguire was a waste of time. He didnt respect people who lied to him or tried to manipulate him.
So, she didnt have to do anything but be herself-a T.J. Maxx girl who intended to try everything on the menu-if they let her. The waiter, so far, had been a hundred percent on her side. When I saw the menu didnt have any prices listed, I knew it had to be over the top. And since Im on major greedy mode, how about if I pay for my own dinner?
Nice try. Not going to happen.
Have you ever been here before?
To Monaco, once. But not to this restaurant. Its got a reputation around the world for being stupendous.
It sure is. Midway through the meal, though, Maguire responded to the vibrator mode on his cell. He stood up, apologized and moved away from the other diners to take the call. It was business, Carolina could tell, because he immediately went on hard-face mode. He listened. Spoke crisply. He hadnt told her what business glitches hed been dealing with that afternoon-she suspected he never would. But whoever he was talking to, Carolina was mighty glad it wasnt her.
The interruption gave her a chance to stand up. She wasnt sure how many courses theyd finished-surely six or seven-and she was comfortably stuffed. She carried her half-filled wineglass to the balcony edge. Night had dropped. Clouds skimmed past necklaces of stars, and the turquoise waters of the Côte had turned black satin. Just below, cars kept delivering patrons to the restaurant car models shed never seen before anywhere.
She must have been there several minutes before she realized Maguire had joined her, and was leaning over the edge as she was. You see down therethe first car, the one everyones looking it? Its a Bugatti Veyron, he informed her. Its the most expensive car in the world, if I remember right. Under two million, but not by much. Its the only car that can hit four hundred miles an hour.
Where on earth could you drive four hundred miles an hour?
Thats not the point.
She motioned below. Whats the yellow one?
Porsche 911. This years model. Right behind him is a red car Its one of the newest Ferraris. You can buy that one for a cool million. Oh. Man.
She glanced below, at the car that had finally brought Maguire to his knees. He wasnt drooling, but his tongue was all but hanging out. All she saw was a grayish car that looked like a long bug.
The Pagani Zonda, he identified it. She can go from zero to sixty miles per hour in 3.2 seconds. I had a chance to drive one a few months ago. An idiot friend of mine bought one. Drove it to my place just to show it off, wanted to make me suffer.
Did you? Suffer appropriately?
Oh, yeah. Believe me, shes a honey. She could park in my driveway any time.
Finally, a chink in his armor. Carolina was charmed. Sowere you tempted to buy one?
Wellno. Shes wonderful. But shes not exactly a car you could take for a trek in the mountains, much less drive in a snowstorm.
Was it bad news? she asked.
Pardon?
All those business calls this afternoon and then, just now. You lookedannoyed.
No. It was just some problems. Solving problems is what I do. He straightened. And right now we have a problem to solve together-which is to find out how you take to gambling.
Thats easy. I can tell you right now, Im a wild gambler.
Ill have to see that to believe it.
Ill stake both of us, since you sprang for dinner, she offered.
Ill stake myself, Carolina but Im all for you using your own money to play with. My thought would be to give you a little stake to get you started, until you learn what the games are about.
No way. Im thrilled were doing this. But Ill learn on my own money. Period.
He shot her a look. Whew. Youre getting tougher all the time.
She was used to his teasing, but this time it itched. Just because shed been through a stretch when she was overwhelmed didnt mean she had no character or strength or skills. Just once, shed like Maguire to see that she didnt need or want to be treated like Waterford crystal.
By the time they reached the infamous casino, she was buzzed. Maguire cupped her elbow as he escorted her past fountains and lights, and into the heart of the casino. The buzzed sensation intensified, just from the warmth of his hand on her arm. From the way he walked next to her, as if they were a couple. From the way her pulse did musical scales-in several pitches-just from being this close.
Sodo you have any ideas which games youd like to play? Or like to learn?
Hey, I can hold my own at a card table. Trust me.
I do trust you. The way Id trust a lamb at a slaughterhouse. If you just wait here for a minute, Ill get us some chips. You pick the game-anything you want is fine by me.
Baccarat, she voted.
Yeah, I watched that James Bond movie when I was a kid, too. You tired? he asked swiftly when she stumbled.
No! It was possible, very unlikely, but possible, that shed been wearing her new shoes nonstop for a little too long and her feet were a wee bit tired. But admit that to Maguire, and shed never hear the end of it. Ill just wander around while youre getting the chips, okay?
Sure, but stay in sight. This is safer than an alley in a big city, but there are still sharks here. They just look nicer. I want you to have fun-but were not putting you in any situations where you have to worry.
She couldnt have been less worried. She picked a baccarat table, and wedged herself between a woman draped in sapphires and a white-tuxed Japanese gentleman. There were no seats together, but Maguire had a spot at the end. The gaming table was one of the most crowded. The dealer, Carolina thought, spent more money on a hairstylist than she did. Was cuter, too.