The Villa

I."
    "No, you wouldn't," he said to Maddy and had her sulking again.
    "A latte, perhaps?"
    "That's cool. I mean," she corrected when her father's elbow reminded her of her manners, "yes, thank you."
    "And, Theo?"
    "Yes, ma'am, thank you."
    "It'll just take a minute."
    "Man." Theo waited until Pilar was safely out of the room, then plopped into a chair. "They must be mega-rich. This place looks like a museum or something."
    "Don't put your boots up on that," David ordered.
    "It's a footstool," Theo pointed out.
    "Once you put feet into those boots they cease to be feet."
    "Chill, Dad." Maddy gave him a bracing, and distressingly adult, pat on the back. "You're like COO and everything."
    "Right." From executive vice president, operations, to chief operating officer, in one three-thousand-mile leap. "Bullets bounce off me," he murmured, then turned toward the doorway when he heard footsteps.
    He started to tell his kids to stand up, but he didn't have to bother. When Tereza Giambelli walked into a room, people got to their feet.
    He'd forgotten she was so petite. They'd had two meetings in New York, face-to-face. Two long, involved meetings. And still he'd walked away from them with the image of a statuesque Amazon rather than the fine-boned, slim woman who walked toward him now. The hand she offered him was small and strong.
    "Mr. Cutter. Welcome to Villa Giambelli."
    "Thank you, signora. You have a beautiful home in a magnificent setting. My family and I are grateful for your hospitality."
    Pilar stepped into the room in time to hear the smooth speech and see the practiced formality with which it was delivered. It was not, she thought, what she'd expected from the man holding two travel-rumpled teenagers in playful headlocks. Not, she decided, noting the sidelong glances from his children, what they were used to from him.
    "I hope the trip wasn't tedious," Tereza continued, shifting her attention to the children.
    "Not at all. We enjoyed it. Signora Giambelli, I'd like to introduce you to my children. My son, Theodore, and my daughter, Madeline."
    "Welcome to California." She offered her hand to Theo, and though he felt foolish, he shook it and resisted sticking his own in his pocket.
    "Thanks."
    Maddy accepted the hand. "It's nice to be here."
    "You hope it will be," Tereza said with a hint of a smile. "That's enough for now. Please, sit. Be comfortable. Pilar, you'll join us."
    "Of course."
    "You must be proud of your father," Tereza began as she took a seat. "And all he's accomplished."
    "Ah… sure." Theo sat, remembered not to slouch. He didn't know much about his father's work. In his world, his dad went to the office, then came home. He nagged about schoolwork, burned dinner, sent for takeout.
    Or, mostly during the last year, had called home and said he'd be late and Theo or Maddy should call for takeout.
    "Theo's more interested in music than wine, or the business of wine," David commented.
    "Ah. And you play?"
    This was his father's deal, Theo thought. How come he had to answer so many questions? Adults didn't get it anyway. "Guitar. And piano."
    "You must play for me sometime. I enjoy music. What sort do you prefer?"
    "There's just rock. I go for techno, and alternative."
    "Theo writes music," David put in, and surprised a blink out of his son. "It's interesting material."
    "I'd like to hear it once everyone's settled. And you," Tereza said to Maddy. "Do you play?"
    "I had piano lessons." She shrugged a shoulder. "I'm not really into it. I want to be a scientist." Her brother's snort had her temper rising.
    "Maddy's interested in everything." David spoke quickly before blood could be shed. "The high school here, from what I've been told, should speak to both her and Theo's specific interests very well."
    "Arts and science." Tereza leaned back. "They take after their father then, as wine is both. I assume you'll want a few days to settle in," she continued as a cart was wheeled in. "A new position, a new location, new people. And, of course, a new school and routine for your family."
    "Dad says it's an adventure," Maddy said and earned a stately nod from Tereza.
    "And we'll try to make it so."
    "I'm at your disposal, signora," David said, and watched Pilar as she rose to serve coffees and cakes. "I appreciate, again, the use of your guest house. I'm sure settling in will be a pleasure."
    Because he was watching her, he caught the quick widening of Pilar's eyes. So, he thought, that one comes as a surprise to