Tracie Peterson Read Online Free Page A

creation. With her high-heeled strappy sandals and simple diamond earrings, she looked neither too extravagant nor understated.
    “Mrs. Holbrook, I am Bartolo Aznar. I’ve long wanted to meet you,” an older, salt-and-pepper-haired man spoke as he took hold of her hand. “Your husband has told me much about you and your business.”
    Tess smiled. The man’s dark-eyed gaze was fixed intently on her face. “I’m flattered. What was it that so intrigued you?”
    The man flashed brilliant white teeth. “I must confess, I sawyour photograph on Brad’s desk. We started to talk about you and he told me of your business in helping senior citizens.”
    Tess nodded. “It’s a challenging but rewarding career.” She turned to find Brad making his way to where they stood.
    “Ah, I see Bartolo has already cornered you.” He leaned forward and gave Tess a kiss on the cheek. “You look fantastic,” he whispered against her ear before straightening.
    “Mr. Aznar—”
    “Please call me Bartolo, as your husband does,” the man interjected.
    Tess smiled and nodded. “Bartolo tells me my business became the topic of office conversation.”
    “Yes, he’s very excited about what you’ve been able to accomplish,” Brad replied. “He and his wife have been in business for themselves for nearly as long as they’ve been married. They have two teenagers and live here in Miami.”
    “How did you two meet?” Tess asked.
    “We share a common interest in tourism,” Bartolo told Tess. “Along with other things. Retirement communities and such. That’s why I found your business fascinating. I would very much like to discuss it more, if the evening will allow,” the older man replied.
    Tess couldn’t imagine why the man found her work so exciting, but she quickly agreed. “I would be honored.”
    “Perhaps after dinner,” Aznar suggested before giving her the slightest hint of a bow and taking his leave.
    “What a pleasant man,” Tess said, gazing up into her husband’s eyes. “Not as pleasant as you, but very nearly.”
    “You may not think me pleasant at all when I tell you what I’ve done. I hope you don’t mind,” Brad said, putting his arm around Tess’s shoulder, “but I’ve invited Justin to join us this evening.”
    Tess laughed. She was used to Brad’s last-minute additions and always ordered at least three extra portions of food. “I suppose we’ll fit him in.”
    Brad kissed her again. “You’re awfully good to me, Mrs. Holbrook.”
    Laughing, she walked away, but she looked over her shoulder to answer playfully, “Yes, I am. Just don’t forget it.”
    Tess quickly explained the addition to Esperanza, who merely nodded and went to set another place at the table. She couldn’t imagine why Brad had invited his best friend to join a tourism business meeting. Justin Dillard was a lawyer by trade, so perhaps there were legal matters to be considered. Nevertheless, Justin was always a pleasure to have at their table. Tess also figured it did the man good to be around other people. His wife had been killed only four months earlier in a car accident. Justin had been devastated, and had it not been for his active role in the church, Tess was certain he would have locked himself away in his grief.
    “Tess, you look wonderful,” Brad’s supervisor, Mel Grommet, declared. “But then, you always do.”
    Tess smiled. The man was old enough to be her father, yet she knew him to be married to a woman at least ten years her junior. “How are you, Mel?”
    “I’m hitting four under par and making a fortune on those technology stocks Brad clued me in on,” the man replied with a devious twinkle in his eye. “Now, if I could just get this deal wrapped up tonight, I could take Kelly to the Keys for the weekend. She been dying for a little excitement.”
    Tess nodded, imagining the shapely wife of this aging business executive prancing about one nightclub after another while Mel struggled to stay awake