Iâve written it. I prefer to talk directly to the source. However, if you are willing to give me a heads up, Iâm all for it.â She placed her hands on her lap.
âHmm.â His brows furrowed and he paused so long Dani thought heâd given up on the subject. Taking a sip of wine, he put the glass down and said, âCarlos, he has toured the world, performed for dignitaries, including presidents, but it was a woman who was his undoing.â He let out a low whistle. âThis Cecilia Ortiz, she captured the hearts of thousands. Her beauty and talent was only second to La Gringa Magnifica .â
She sucked in air so fast a sharp pain caught in her throat. Oh god. Change the subject. Change the subject!
âYou are all right, Dani?â He placed the back of his hand against her forehead. âDo you not feel well?â
âIâm fine.â She breathed out. âThis Cecilia Ortiz was Carlosâs fiancée, right?â She already knew the answer but had to steer away from her mother becoming a topic of conversation.
âYes.â
âAnd?â
Gualberto cast his eyes around the room, no doubt searching for his cousin. Eventually, he rested his gaze upon her. âThey were not perfect away from their adoring fans.â He sighed. âSuch tragedy.â
âSo it wasnât an easy relationship?â
âYou are correct. Carlos, he is a private man and I do not blame him. I am still surprised he is talking to you. The journalists blamed him for things he did not do. This killed the relationship he had with Cecilia. Kaput!â With his hands he mimed a bomb exploding. âShe left him and now he teaches the dance that broke his heart.â
âWhy does he teach if it gives him so much grief? He doesnât give the impression of hating it.â
âHe knows nothing else. Would you ask Sir Paul McCartney to plumb a sink? No, you would not. Plus he needs the money.â
âHow badly does he need it?â
âIt is not my place to say.â
âSure, I understand,â she said. âHeâs got to live, right?â
âAh, but itâs not for living, itâsââ Wariness flashed across Gualbertoâs face. âDo not worry what it is for. My cousin only knows tango.â
âSo if he didnât cause the accident why does he let the public think he did?â she asked. âWas it Ceciliaâs fault?â
He mimed zipping his lip then gave a small shrug.
âIf it was Ceciliaâs fault and he loved her deeply heâd take the flak, wouldnât he? The media would have crucified him for damaging their darling and so theyâd take her side and ... wow.â She paused to let her thoughts line up. âWhy wouldnât he hate the media?â
Gualberto raised his eyebrows but his lips remain closed.
âAnd with the public and media blaming him for the accident, she probably believed them even though it wasnât true.â She studied Gualbertoâs non-committal expression but his eyes told her what she needed to know. âHow did the accident happen?â
Gualberto exhaled and said, âYou have to ask Carlos this. I was not there.â
âBut youâre willing to believe your cousin. Because families stick together.â If theyâre not mine, that is .
CHAPTER
5
A man coughed behind Dani and she turned around. Bright lights shone in her eyes and it was impossible to read Carlosâs expression but she figured he wasnât impressed. It might have had something to do with his tapping foot and hands on hips.
âI see you have given up on this dancing business.â Carlos took a seat on the opposite side of the table.
âI donât think your cousin wants broken feet and split shins.â She turned to Gualberto. âSorry again.â
He laughed and raised a glass in the air. âTo foreigners and their inability to dance like an