“No, you don’t,” Monica agreed. “But then we’ll only speculate.”
That’s the last thing she wanted, so she decided to come clean. “My time with Cortez was so good, I didn’t want to risk having another guy come behind him and diminish the memories.”
Kennedy chuckled. “I thought so. And that’s why I think that you’ll go to Paris with him — not only to relive all those memories, but to make new ones. Heck, I would. In fact, I think it’s kind of romantic.”
“Romantic?” Victoria rolled her eyes. “I’m more practical than that. I’m already concerned about what will happen after the two days in Paris.”
“What do you want to happen?” Sebrina asked.
Victoria glanced around the table at her cousins. “I don’t know. I truly don’t know.”
Sebrina nodded. “Maybe you ought to figure things out before you give Cortez your answer.”
CORTEZ GLANCED UP WHEN his cousin Quinn walked into his office. “Welcome back, Tez. I take it things went well with the handling of Victoria’s legal matter.”
He couldn’t help but smile. The Masters’ family had never managed to reach a consensus as to what his nickname would be. The older generations — his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles — had always referred to him as Cort. His brothers and cousins referred to him as Tez. He answered to both.
“Yes, once I spoke to Lampshade and spelled out the repercussions if they continued to harass Victoria with their fallacious claim, they got the picture.”
“I’m glad to hear it. To be honest, I didn’t expect you back so soon. I figured you’d hang around St. Paul a few days.”
There was no need to wonder why Quinn would think such a thing. His attraction to Victoria had been pretty obvious to some people from the beginning, especially his brothers and older male cousins.
It was funny… Not only was Quinn married to Victoria’s cousin, Alexia, but one of Quinn’s brothers, Grey, was married to Victoria’s aunt, Brandy. Evidently there was something about Bennett women that attracted Masters’ males.
“No, I decided to come back right away.”
Quinn nodded. “Oh, I see.”
Cortez leaned back in his chair. “I’m not sure if you do, Quinn.” Although he knew some people had their suspicions, he’d never told anyone about his connection to Victoria, other than his brothers. And the only reason he’d told them was because when they’d arrived in Paris, a few days after Victoria had disappeared, he’d still been in a bad mood with the way she had run out on him.
Quinn eased down in the chair across from his desk. “Is there something you want to tell me?”
Cortez couldn’t help but smile. That was Quinn for you. He never pried, but was ready to listen when you wanted to spill your guts about something. The triplets had been blessed with having older cousins they could look up to while growing up. Quinn, and his brothers, Grey, Lake, and Shane, had always been there to offer an ear and advice when it was needed. And Quinn’s twin sister, Quinece, had been great, as well. He’d told Quinece about the woman he’d met in Paris who had disappeared on him; however, he hadn’t divulged Victoria’s identity to his cousin.
“Yes, but I’m sure it’s something you suspected anyway,” Cortez said.
“And that is?” Quinn asked.
Cortez stared at Quinn for a moment, then admitted, “Victoria and I originally met four years ago in Paris. She was an intern at the botanical gardens, and I was over there celebrating passing my bar exam.”
Quinn leaned forward in his chair. “Then why did the two of you act as if you didn’t know each other that night at Alexia’s birthday party?”
“Because I hadn’t seen her since Paris, and that night I got the distinct impression that she didn’t want anyone to know of our prior involvement. Besides that, I was mad because I felt she’d deliberately set out to deceive me in Paris, using a phony name and all.” He then explained things to Quinn, though he left out some specific intimate details. He figured Quinn was smart enough to fill in the blanks.
“Alexia and I couldn’t help noticing the awkwardness between you two that night. Then at other family get-togethers it was obvious the two of you were trying hard to avoid each other. We figured there had to be more to the story. Have you and Victoria worked anything out?”
Cortez shook his head. “Unfortunately, not yet. Hopefully that will be resolved soon. I’ve asked her to go back to Paris with me, to the place where it all began.”
Quinn lifted a brow. “And she agreed?”
“She’s thinking about it. I’m just glad she doesn’t have a steady boyfriend.”
“Victoria not involved in a serious relationship is not surprising.”
Now it was Cortez who lifted a brow. “Why?”
“Because her father and grandfather were staunch womanizers. While growing up, she watched how they would mistreat women; especially how her father mistreated her mother by committing adultery. I remember her telling me and Alexia that she would never let a man hurt her the way her father hurt her mother.”
Quinn didn’t say anything for a moment, then shook his head. “Victoria is married to her work. Alexia and I are proud of what she’s managed to accomplish since taking over her family’s business.”
“Are you saying that she actually thinks all men are like her father and grandfather?”
“They aren’t exactly role models when it comes to marriage and fidelity, Tez. I’m sure she knows there are some good men out there — men who love their wives and make them happy. She’s always complimenting my and Alexia’s marriage, Grey’s and Brandy’s, and those of her other relatives who’ve been married for a while. But I honestly believe she’s afraid to take a chance on love and happiness because she thinks neither are meant for her.”
“Then I guess I’ll just have to change her mind about that. I love her, Quinn.” When his cousin didn’t say anything, Cortez said, “You don’t seem surprised.”
Quinn smiled. “I’m not. I fell in love with Alexia rather quickly, too. It can happen that way for a Masters…especially when the object of our affection is a Bennett. But do you think you can convince her of your sincerity in just two days in Paris?”
Cortez met his cousin’s gaze. “I intend to try.”
Maybe you ought to figure things out before you give Cortez your answer…
Three days later, Sebrina’s words were still ringing in Victoria’s ears. Unfortunately, she hadn’t figured anything out yet. At least Cortez hadn’t pressed her for an answer, but she had a feeling she’d be hearing from him soon.
Getting up from her desk, she moved to the window that overlooked downtown St. Paul. It was a beautiful city. Moving here with her cousins after college had been one of the best decisions she’d ever made.
Victoria knew the weather in Paris wouldn’t be ideal. After all, it was January. But she didn’t care. She loved Paris enough to go at any time. She threw her head back, wondering why she was doing this, trying to talk herself into doing something she truly wanted to do anyway. Kennedy had been right. She would love to return to Paris and relive those memories with Cortez, especially those they’d shared in his hotel room. They had made love just that one time, but it had left an impression on her. She’d had two orgasms in one night — and it had been her first time experiencing one.