Treacherous Secrets novel Chapter 9

"No," she mumbled. "I think I'm good. Thank you for taking Carol and Barbara home."

"No problem."

"You're a good man, Mario."

"I try to be."

"I think I helped you start your own company today, did Sonja tell you?"

"No, but we haven't had a chance to talk. We'll talk about it more tomorrow, after your headache gets better."

Emily reached out and took his hand. She looked him up and down. "I just wanted to make sure I wasn't dreaming that I had a beautiful man in my bedroom."

Mario laughed, "You get some sleep, and we'll talk tomorrow."

She nodded and passed out.

The phone buzzed as she sipped her coffee. "Have you told them?" sjk asked.

"I need more time."

"By the end of Derby week," sjk insisted.

She drummed her fingers on the table. It was too soon. Damn that sjk. She dialed a number. When the call was answered, she said, "Meet me in Louisville. We need to deal with our little problem."

The next day was the beginning of Derby week in Louisville, Kentucky. Emily knew that Kenton was probably already in Louisville attending all the parties leading up to the big race. She had gone with him to the Kentucky Derby the first three years they were married, but she hated the parties and couldn't understand why so much fuss was raised over watching twenty horses run around a circle. The actual race lasted all of two minutes, but the festivities leading up to it lasted two weeks. Kenton hadn't asked her to go the last two years. When Damon had moved back to town, he started going to the race with Kenton. Emily was thrilled that she didn't have to go anymore.

Since she expected Kenton to be gone all week, she decided to have a little get together of her own at the house. She invited her parents, Ashley and Kim, Barbara, Carol, Sonja, Fernando, and Mario. It was a Friday night so everyone would have tomorrow off if the party ran late. She didn't expect her parents or Sonja and Fernando to stay late, but everyone else might be there until the early morning hours.

Dinner was going to start at six and everyone would probably stay for drinks afterwards. Even her parents enjoyed a mixed drink every once in a while. Emily was extremely excited. She'd never had a party of her own here, and her parents had never been at the house when Kenton wasn't there.

At five, Sonja went home to change clothes while the food was in the oven. Fernando, Mario and she came up to the house at five-thirty. Both men were wearing pressed black slacks and short-sleeved, button-down shirts. Fernando's was a mix of colors, browns, reds, purples and blues in triangular and striped designs. Mario's was a solid dark blue shirt that clung to his muscled form. Sonja was wearing a sundress with colors similar to Fernando's shirt.Emily ran upstairs and changed into comfortable tan slacks and a pink, short-sleeved, button-down shirt, with ruffles down the front. She slipped on low beige heels and put on the slightest bit of make-up. She let her hair down and sprayed a small amount of perfume on her neck and wrists. She found herself thinking that she hoped Mario would think she looked nice, and then stopped herself. She wasn't dressing up just for him. She wanted to look nice in general.

She looked at herself in the mirror. She did look good. She was still as trim as she had been when she and Kenton got married. She only had a few strands of grey hair, but they weren't noticeable. And she did want Mario to find her attractive. She hated to admit it, but she was very attracted to him. He was so different from Kenton. He didn't go out of his way to flirt with women. He liked to work with his hands and they could talk about flowers and plants for hours, something Kenton wouldn't waste his time with.

Taking a deep breath, she headed downstairs. Sonja was in the kitchentaking dinner out of the oven. She looked up at Emily. "You look nervous."

"Yes, sir," Mario said.

"I might be able to throw you some more work, if you鈥榲e got time to fit a few small yards into your schedule."

"I think I could fit a few more in," Mario said. "Once we finish the big landscaping jobs here and at Emily's friends' houses, I'll have plenty of extra time."

"Excellent," her father said. "I'll get Emily the details for you."

"Thank you."

The doorbell rang and Emily went to answer it. Carol and Barbara were on the other side. She hugged both of them. "Thanks for coming," Emily said.

"I never pass up free food and alcohol," Barbara said with a laugh.

"I want to meet Ashley's partner," Carol said. "You know, just to make sure she's not playing on both sides of the fence."

Emily shook her head. "I really don't think Ashley would do that, even if she didn't have a partner."