Layover (Open Skies #1) - Becca Jameson Page 0,48

him and make him listen.

It took only a few minutes to get to the mansion she’d admired for most of her life. She’d never realized who lived in it. It seemed ridiculous that Eddie owned it. He couldn’t have owned it long. He wasn’t that old. Mid-twenties. What the hell did he do for a living? He’d never told her. She hadn’t cared to ask.

She parked her car in the circular drive and headed for the front door. It was one of those enormous entrances, the double doors wide and tall as if giants lived there.

She rang the bell and waited, wiping her hands on her jeans. She was just about to return to her car when the door finally opened. An older man in his seventies stood there. “Can I help you?”

Libby was taken aback. “I’m looking for Eduardo Lopez. Does he live here?”

“Of course.” The man stepped back. “Come in. I’ll go tell him you’re here. What’s your name, miss?”

“Libby. Libertad,” she corrected for some odd reason.

He nodded. “Wait right here. I’ll be right back.” He shuffled off to the left, leaving her to glance around at the foyer. Jesus. This place was the wealthiest home she’d ever seen. How was it possible Eddie hadn’t mentioned this detail to her?

Several minutes went by before another older man appeared. His eyes were dancing as he reached out a hand. “You must be Libertad Garcia. I’ve heard so much about you.” He was impeccably dressed in pressed dress pants, a white dress shirt, and a black tie. His hair was slicked back, but it was long enough to curl a bit at the back of his neck.

She took his hand, confused beyond measure. “I’m sorry. Who are you?”

“Eduardo Lopez. Eddie’s father.”

“Oh. I, uh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize…” What the fuck was she supposed to say?

“Come on in. My wife is in the kitchen. She’d love to meet you.”

Libby’s heart thudded so hard she thought it might jump out of her chest. This could not be happening. It was a nightmare. “I really can’t stay, sir. I was looking for Eddie. Is he here?”

“Not right now. He’s at the office.” He waved his hand, trying to get her to follow him. “But if you’re not in a hurry, Mija, Elena will have my hide if I tell her you were here and she didn’t get to say hello.”

“I really can’t stay, sir,” Libby insisted.

“Who’s at the door?” a woman’s voice asked from behind.

Great. This disaster was getting worse by the second.

“It’s Eddie’s girlfriend, Libertad,” Eduardo tossed over his shoulder.

“Oh, how delightful.” The beaming woman hurried toward Libby. “My God, Eddie was right. You are stunning. Come on in. I’ll make tea. Or coffee? Which do you prefer?” Elena was a stunning woman of about fifty. Her hair was stylish and either still black or she dyed it. She wore an expensive skirt and blouse and pumps as if she were heading to the country club at any moment. Maybe she was.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. I can’t stay. I was hoping to speak to Eddie. I’ll just catch him later.”

“Oh, that’s too bad.” Elena looked seriously defeated, as if Libby’s arrival was the most interesting thing that had happened to her in days. “I’ll talk to Eddie and make sure he invites you over for dinner soon.”

Libby couldn’t even respond to that. The hole she was in kept getting deeper. Her world was upside down. “Sorry to bother you,” she said as she backed up to the door and then opened it.

“No bother at all, Mija,” Eduardo insisted. “Please, come again soon.”

Libby did nothing but nod and rush down the steps back to her car. She knew the two of them were staring at her from the doorway, so she didn’t glance back.

She pulled away, holding her breath, not able to wrap her head around the events of this morning the entire drive home. The moment she was back in her townhouse, she pulled out her phone and shot a text to Eddie.

I went by your house to talk to you. Your parents told me you were at work. I also got your package this morning. I can’t accept this. I also thought I made myself clear last night. Nothing is going to happen between us, Eddie. You have to stop sending me gifts.

The fact that the guy lived with his parents didn’t escape Libby’s attention. What self-respecting grown man lived at home even if they did have a luxurious house with