Don't Say a Word - Barbara Freethy [53]
"Because apparently there's some connection between his father and my mother. They knew each other in college. We're still trying to figure out the rest."
Confusion ran through his eyes. "I don't understand. Now you're tied to this guy, too?"
"I don't know yet. I have only bits and pieces. Nothing makes sense. That's what I'm trying to tell you, Michael. It's not my imagination. There's something wrong with the story my mother told me about our past."
He considered that for a long moment. "Okay, so why don't you let me help you? I can do whatever he's doing. I can look on the Internet. I can go with you to talk to people."
She was surprised by his offer. "You would really help me, feeling as you do about the matter?"
"I want to be the guy you turn to, not this Alex," he said with irritation. "He's involved, Michael. He's my key to the past." "And that's all he is to you?" She hesitated for a split second too long. "Of course that's all he is," she said, but it was too late. She saw anger flare in his eyes. "Michael-"
He put up his hand, cutting her off. "No. You've said enough for now. It's clear to me we won't have a reasonable discussion about our future until you get the answers you're looking for, which won't be tonight, so I'm going home. I'm running a fishing charter at five o'clock in the morning. We'll talk tomorrow." She was relieved to postpone the discussion. "All right."
"Come here." He opened his arms, and she moved into his embrace. He held her tight for a long moment, resting his chin on top of her head. "I don't want to lose you, Julia," he murmured. "I wish you could see that the future is more important than the past."
She didn't know what to say to that. Michael knew everything about himself. He could trace his ancestors back to a villa in Tuscany a hundred years ago. He didn't understand that her world kept shifting beneath her feet. That she had to find something solid to stand on.
He leaned in and kissed her long and hard. She kissed him back, because she really wanted to love him. But there must have been something missing, because when he pulled away he looked even more troubled than before. They had to talk. She had to tell him. They had to be honest with each other.
"Michael," she began again.
He shook his head. "No, not now. I don't want you to say anything until you're sure. I'll see you tomorrow."
Julia blew out a breath as he left. She had a feeling she was sure-sure that she couldn't marry him. But she was so confused. She didn't want to hurt Michael. She didn't want to make a mistake in either direction. She needed time to think. But tonight her mind was too full to concentrate. Maybe tomorrow, in the cold light of day, everything would make more sense.
"I'd like to thank Guillermo Sandoval for being our guest today," Julia said, smiling at the slim, classically trained Brazilian musician whose group would be playing popular Latin American rhythms later that night at a San Francisco nightclub. "There are still' tickets available for tonight's performance. Don't miss Guillermo's intriguing blend of samba, chow, and bossa nova, the music of his homeland. We'll be giving away two free tickets after this message from our sponsor." Julia hit the button to go to commercial and took off her headphones. "Thank you so much for 134 coming," she said as Guillermo got to his feet. "I know eight o'clock in the morning is early for a musician."
He smiled. "I didn't mind. It was my pleasure. Your station has wonderful programs, important music that should be shared with the world."
"I completely agree." Julia escorted him out of the control room as the next on-air host arrived to take over at the microphone. In the lobby, the receptionist offered Guillermo coffee and pastries. Julia stopped by her cubicle to check her messages and found Tracy in her chair, reading the newspaper and eating a doughnut. With only four full-time employees at the station, they were very casual about sharing office space. "What's up?" she asked.
"Not