The Villa

words at the same time without Gina interrupting him."
    "Believe me, he made up for it." She rolled her dark, exotic eyes. "So, Ty, how are you?"
    "Fine."
    "Hard at work for MacMillan?"
    "Sure."
    "Know any words with more than one syllable?"
    "Some. Thought you were in New York."
    "Was," she said, mimicking his tone as her lips twitched. "Now I'm here." She glanced over her shoulder as her two young cousins began to shriek and sob. "Mama, if I was ever that obnoxious, how did you stop yourself from drowning me in the fountain?"
    "You weren't obnoxious, sweetie. Demanding, arrogant, temperamental, but never obnoxious. Excuse me." She handed the plate to Sophia and went to do what she'd always done best. Make peace.
    "I suppose I should have done that," Sophia said with a sigh as she watched her mother scoop up the miserable young girl. "But I've never seen a pair of kids less appealing in my life."
    "Comes from being spoiled and neglected."
    "At the same time?" She considered, studied Don ignoring his screaming son, and Gina making foolish cooing noises to him. "Good call," she decided. Then because they weren't her problem—thank Jesus—she turned her attention back to Tyler.
    He was such a… man, she decided. He looked like something carved out of the Vacas that guarded the valley.
    And he was certainly more pleasant to contemplate than the four-year-old temper tantrum behind her.
    Now if she could just pry a reasonable conversation out of him, she could be nicely occupied until lunch was served.
    "Any clues about the theme of our little gathering today?" Sophia asked
    "No."
    "Would you tell me if you knew?"
    He shrugged a shoulder and watched Pilar murmur to little Tereza as she carried her to the side window. She looked natural, he thought. Madonnalike, he supposed was the suitable word. And because of it, the irritable, angry child took on an attractive, appealing look.
    "Why do you suppose people have kids when they're not going to pay any real attention to them?"
    Sophia started to speak, then broke off as her father and Rene walked into the room. "That's a good question," she murmured and, taking the glass from his hand, finished off his wine. "Damn good question."
    At the window, Pilar tensed, and all the simple pleasure she'd gotten from distracting the unhappy little girl drained away.
    She felt instantly frumpy, unattractive, old, fat, sour. Here was the man who had discarded her. And here was the latest in the long line of replacements. Younger, lovelier, smarter, sexier.
    But because she knew her mother would not, Pilar set the child on the floor and walked over to greet them. Her smile was warm and easy and graced a face much more compelling than she thought. Her simple slacks and sweater were more elegant, more feminine than Rene's slick power suit.
    And her manner carried an innate class that held more true sparkle than diamonds.
    "Tony, how good you could make it. Hello, Rene."
    "Pilar." Rene smiled slowly and trailed a hand down Tony's arm. The diamond on her finger caught the light.
    She waited a beat, to be certain Pilar saw it, registered the meaning. "You look… rested."
    "Thank you." The backs of her knees dissolved. She could feel the support going out from under her as completely as if Rene had rammed the toe of her hot red pump into them. "Please, come in, sit. What can I get you to drink?"
    "Don't fuss, Pilar." Tony waved her off, even as he leaned down to give her an absent peck on the cheek. "We'll just go say hello to Tereza."
    "Go to your mom," Ty said under his breath.
    "What?"
    "Go, make an excuse and get your mom out of here."
    She saw it then, the diamond glint on Rene's finger, the blank shock in her mother's eyes. She shoved the plate at Ty and strode across the room. "Mama, can you help me with something for a minute?"
    "Yes… just let me…"
    "It'll only take a second," Sophia continued, quickly pulling Pilar from the room. She just kept moving until they were well down the hall and into the two-level library. There, she pulled the pocket doors closed behind her, leaned back against them.
    "Mama. I'm so sorry."
    "Oh." Trying to laugh, Pilar ran an unsteady hand over her face. "So much for thinking I pulled that off."
    "You did beautifully." Sophia hurried over as Pilar lowered to the arm of a chair. "But I know that face." She cupped her mother's in her hands. "Apparently so does Tyler. The ring's ostentatious and obvious, just like she is."
    "Oh, baby." Her laugh was