California Girl (3 page)

“So, when are you coming home?” Subtlety was not Stephan’s strong suit.

“Soon.” Niko let his mind wander off to Nice and the possibilities the city held now that he was going there with Veronica. “I got a little something I have to take care of first.”

“Don’t hesitate too long, big brother. Another week and I’ll steal your place as father’s heir apparent.” Stephan’s latest attempt at humor lingered on Niko’s mind. He might have taken it seriously if it hadn’t been so damn funny.

“You go ahead and take over, little brother.” Even as Niko said it, they both knew he didn’t mean it. “I’ll just remain here in—” Niko stopped abruptly. Damn. He’d almost let his location slip.

“I almost had you.” Stephan’s bragging reached across the connection and attempted to crush Niko. It almost worked.

“In your dreams.” Cynicism inflamed Niko’s voice. Wasn’t that what she’d said? He was sampling Veronica’s comebacks. Pathetic.

“Do you need company?” Stephan asked. “Mother thinks you need a traveling companion to keep up your spirits.”

Niko sealed his lips as the laughter charged up his throat but had nowhere else to go except out his nose.

“I told her you probably already have a traveling companion.” Stephan chuckled, sounding devious.

If they only knew. “I’m hanging up now,” Niko said, in a wisecracking tone.

Niko heard Stephan say, “very well,” as he flipped his phone shut and tossed it onto the bed. He sat motionless for a moment and pushed the worries of home to the back of his mind. He decided it was time for a quick shower. He’d wasted too much time talking to his brother. Veronica would be back soon.

He finished the shower in record time, dressed in a dark suit with a deep blue silk shirt that almost matched the color of his eyes, and waited for Veronica’s return.

Niko passed the time pacing the length of the windows. When he tired of that, he took turns languishing on the bed and in the different chairs in the room. Time marched on. Not nearly fast enough at first, but soon he insisted it slow down.

After three hours, he started to consider the notion that he’d been—how would the Americans say it?

Ditched.

CHAPTER 2

Fontvieille, Monaco

Several days later....

VERONICA POURED A GLASS of Bourgogne. She’d discovered the wine in France, and had quickly learned to love the sweet, fruity flavor that was accentuated with a hint of licorice.

Glass in hand, she strolled barefoot onto the terrace of her second floor hotel room. The quaint inn nuzzled on the shore of a small cove pleased her. So did the price. After that fiasco in Saint Tropez, it was about time something went her way.

Nestling into the cushioned chair, she propped her feet on a stool and sipped the wine. Niko crossed her mind. Damn good actor. What a shame. A twinge of regret clipped her over that whole Nice thing. It could’ve been fun—if the invitation had been real.

She dropped her feet and they slammed against the floor. “Don’t do this to yourself,” she whispered. He was just an actor. All that stuff he said was just a well-thought-out, albeit over-the-top,
scheme concocted by her ex for revenge.

“Here’s to you, Ray.” She raised the wine glass, saluting. “I didn’t think you had it in you.” She took her time bringing the glass to her lips, but when she did, she wet them generously with the wine.

Ray had almost gotten the better of her, but luckily she’d caught on to his ruse before it’d gone too far. She’d have to be careful from here on out; he was sure to step up his retaliation a notch once he found out his actor had failed.

She huffed a deep sigh, bored and lonely. Too bad she hadn’t gotten the chance to see the look on Ray’s face when he realized he’d been out-snaked. Again. He must have been pissed when he discovered he wasn’t getting the European scandal he’d gone to such great lengths to arrange.

A
knock at the door filtered through the room and out onto the terrace. Rising, she glanced at her watch and went inside. Less than ten minutes ago, she’d ordered
take-out from a nearby restaurant that had been recommended by the hotel.
“That was quick.”

Hurrying across the room, she stopped at the table, sat the wine glass down and fished her wallet out of her purse. She was going to like this place. The beauty of old-world charm and a restaurant’s quick delivery service that gave new meaning to the term
fast food
—what more could a girl ask for?

The second knock was more forceful.

Efficient, but impatient.
Oh well, can’t have everything
.
“Coming...” she chimed, turning the knob and swinging the door open. “I wasn’t expecting you so soon.”

“Really?” Niko Leandros—if that was even his real name—was the last, well maybe next to the last, person she expected to see at her door.

She cut her eyes, examining the hallway behind him. Empty. Good.

“How long did you wager it would take me to show up?” He smirked and tried to edge his way inside.

Veronica shortened the space in the open door, blocking his way.
Snide, arrogant bastard.
Well, maybe that was meant for Ray. “What are you doing here?” she asked, continuing to block his way.

“There’s a little matter that was left unfinished when you...ran away.”

“Are you serious?” Disconcerted, she crossed her arms and looked away. How the hell had Ray found her?

“May I come in?” Niko asked. “Or do you prefer airing our personal affairs
out here in the hallway?” His mocking tone sent waves of irritation rippling through Veronica.

Shaking her head, she said, “I’m not letting you in my room. I don’t even know you.”

“You married me. You woke up in my bed...naked.”

“I’m not letting you in,” she said, more forceful this time.

“So, you want to stay married to me then?”

Well, no, not if they truly were married. Hell, she didn’t even know this guy. Although, he did seem awfully sincere. Yet she still thought he was Ray’s pawn, and until she found out what Ray was really after, she’d better play ball. “Okay, if you want to talk, we’ll meet in a public place. You got any favorite restaurants nearby?”

“
La Salière,” he muttered restlessly.

“Okay, I’ll meet you there at eight.”

“I don’t think so.” He shook his head. “The last time I trusted you to
meet
me, you disappeared.”

“Well...you’re welcome to stand out here in the hallway and wait until I leave for the restaurant.” Veronica shrugged dismissively and swung the door shut.

She crossed the room, curses falling from her mouth. Ray had taken this game a step too far. Okay, so she’d gone a little overboard during the divorce proceedings, but who could blame her? Grabbing her cell phone off the table, she flipped it open and punched in a number she’d just as soon forget, but it was etched in her brain. She wished he’d change it.

Her top lip stretched into a snarling motion as she heard Ray’s voice mail greeting
. I got it, and you want it. Leave a message and maybe you’ll get lucky.
Flippant, smug bastard.

“Damn it.” She didn’t wait for the beep; instead, she snapped the phone shut and tossed it onto the nearby couch. She had to put a stop to Ray’s scheme before it got out of hand. But how, if he wouldn’t answer his phone?

Casey
. That’s it, she’d call Casey. She could deliver Ray a “cease and desist letter”. Hopefully today or tomorrow. An inner, triumphant smile curled up the corners of her mouth as she hit the speed dial number.

The phone rang twice before she heard her friend’s voice.
“Vee! How’re the Frenchmen hanging?” Casey’s laughter reached across the airwaves, chasing away Veronica’s sullen mood.

“I’m in Monaco now,” she said.

“Guess who’s on the line with me?” Casey asked, instead of commenting on Veronica’s new location, but Veronica knew she’d heard her. That girl didn’t miss a thing.

“You guys should catch the next flight out and meet me here,” Veronica said hopefully.

“No can do. I’m right in the middle of a project.” Rosanna, the third member of the tight trio
, was always in the middle of a project these days. Behind the camera, she was truly a gifted photographer, and it seemed that lately everybody who was anybody wanted Rosanna Carmichael to do their portfolio.

“Girl, you need to get off the workaholic track and have some fun,” Casey said to Rosanna.

“Don’t I know it.” Rosanna laughed. “Hey, Vee...can you send me a hottie?”

Veronica ignored their jokes. “What’s the news been like on the west coast lately?”

“Quiet.” Casey seemed to know exactly what she was talking about. “Britney’s at it again. You’re old news, honey.”

“Thank, God. Have you seen Ray lately?” Anxiety rattled Veronica’s nerves.

“No,” Casey said. “But Graham said they’re talking about a European tour.” Graham was Casey’s brother and the guitarist in Ray’s band. “I heard Ray needs money...” Her words trailed off into a devilish
snicker.

“Thanks to Vee.” Rosanna snorted.

“Was it my fault Ray didn’t have the forethought to ask me to sign a prenup because he might one day be a famous rock-star?” Veronica had married Ray long before his rock-star days, back when
Daybreak
wasn’t much more than a garage band. Ray was the lead singer, and Veronica had been smitten with him from the get-go. He’d knocked her up, and then married her—the only decent thing he’d ever done for her. Five months into the pregnancy she lost the baby.

Then three years ago, Veronica penned some lyrics and Graham laid down some chords, and when Ray added his tranquilizing voice to the mix,
Daybreak
became an overnight sensation. Ray had insisted they keep the marriage quiet so he could maintain his rock star image, and now in hindsight she was happy they had. Otherwise, the European press would be all over her.

But Ray was still out there, dreaming up ways to settle the score. She was sure of it. When their ten-year marriage had finally come to an end—after she’d caught him in a compromising situation for the umpteenth time—things got a little nasty during the divorce proceedings.

As payback for his disregard for their marriage vows, V
eronica had taken the bulk of their community property, including everything that Ray held dear—especially his collection of guitars—and sold it all for a nominal fee.

Her share of the earnings left her with more than enough money to pay off her condo in Malibu; and then she got the brilliant idea—thanks to LA Afternoon’s summer hiatus—to use the rest to flee to Europe until the dust settled. Veronica knew how to live on a budget, but Ray—a guy with extravagant rock-star tastes—had been backed into a corner while he tried to figure out how to recover from his massive financial loss.

“Apparently,” Veronica said into the phone, “he has more money than we thought.” She blew out an exasperated sigh, rolled her eyes and thought of Niko. “Casey, he’s trying to set me up. I think. Well, he’s definitely up to something. He hired some guy to get me drunk, and then the next morning pretend we’d gotten married.” That must have been how it happened. Niko had to have had an agenda, one that read something like that.

“Holy shit!” Rosanna said.

“Is the guy still hanging around?” Casey asked.

“Yes. He followed me to Monaco.”

“Why’d you tell him where you were going?”

“I didn’t.”

There was a pause on the line, until Casey finally said, “Well shit, if Ray’s carried it that far, he must really be pissed about the money thing.”

Of course, he’s pissed.
He retaliated, and she almost fell into his trap. Veronica’s eyes fluttered shut for a second. She was thankful her best friends couldn’t
see
how foolish she felt. “Casey, can you talk to him for me? Tell him to do that cease and desist thing you do so well.” It paid to have friends in high places, or at least one who was a hot shot attorney.

“Sure. I’ll pay him a visit tomorrow.” Casey’s tone had turned serious. When she got started, Veronica sometimes thought the opposing council gave in just to get Casey to shut up. “In the meantime, maybe you’d better play along and see if you can dig up details on what Ray hopes to accomplish with this scheme.”

Veronica let out a soft groan. Playing along meant spending time with Niko, and spending time with him was dangerous. Normally, she’d be all for the company of a guy like Niko. Normally. But not when he’d been hired by her ex-husband to seduce her.

Veronica shook her head. Ray had stooped pretty low during the course of their ten-year marriage, but this, this definitely took the cake.

CHAPTER 3

VERONICA PUSHED THE half-empty salad plate toward the center of the table and reached for her goblet. How had Niko found her so easily? Ray must be on to her every move. Times like this, she needed a much stronger drink than wine.

“You seem...” Niko hesitated, eyeing her with an examining stare. “A bit anxious.”

Veronica snorted.

“And evasive.”

She looked at him with what she hoped was a hard glare. “Why did you come looking for me?”

“I told you.”

“Oh, yeah.” She smirked. “That business about us being married.” She stopped and studied him again. “How did you find me?”