but when Miguel assured them the reptiles were harmless, they set about capturing the creatures. Miguel handed over his captive to the manager.
In her peripheral vision, J.J. caught a glimpse of a tall, slender brunette in a striking hot-pink dress as she bent down and grasped one of the snakes and handed it to a waiter. Only after the fact did J.J. realize that Miguel had seen the incident, and now the attrac tive woman was smiling at him as she walked toward him.
“A fearless woman,” Miguel said to her as she approached them.
“Señor Ramirez…” She held out her slender, well-manicured hand to Miguel. “What a shame that someone had to play such a dreadful prank and ruin the luncheon for everyone.”
Miguel kissed the woman’s hand. She batted her long eyelashes at him and smiled coyly.
“A day is never ruined when I make the acquaintance of such a lovely and brave lady. I am afraid you have me at a disadvantage,” Miguel said. “You know who I am, but I do not know who you are.”
“I am Gala Hernandez.”
“It is my pleasure, señorita. It is señorita, is it not?”
She giggled. The silly woman actually giggled. J.J. glared at her.
“I’m Jennifer Blair, Miguel’s fiancée.” J.J. stuck out her hand.
Gala glanced at J.J.’s hand, but quickly returned her attention to Miguel. “I must tell you, before someone else does, that I have ties to the enemy camp.”
Miguel lifted an inquisitive eyebrow.
J.J. tensed.
“Your sister…your half-sister, Seina, is my oldest and dearest friend.”
Getting close enough to brush her shoulder against Miguel’s, she lowered her voice to a whisper, making it difficult for J.J. to hear what she was saying. So J.J. pressed up against Miguel’s other side.
“Your sister secretly supports your bid for the presidency,” Gala told him. “She does not dare speak publicly on your behalf. I am certain you can understand. So, she has sent me in her place.”
Miguel eyed the woman suspiciously. Good for him, J.J. thought. At least he’s not buying her story hook, line and sinker. For all they knew, Gala Hernandez could be a spy for the enemy camp.
“Please tell Seina that I appreciate her support and when I am president, I hope that she will be able to publicly acknowledge me as her brother.”
“I am sure that is her heartfelt wish,” Gala said.
“Miguel, querido…” J.J. tugged on his arm. “I do not mean to take you away from a new convert, but you really should make a statement to the ladies who are still here, then we need to contact Roberto and Carlos to make arrangements for a car to pick us up. We’re due at St. Augustine’s in less than an hour.”
“Oh, please, allow me to drive you back to Nava,” Gala said. “It would be my honor.”
J.J. groaned internally. Bad idea, she wanted to shout, but kept quiet. Surely, Miguel would decline the woman’s offer.
“How very kind of you, Señorita Hernandez. Thank you. But I am sure my driver has arranged for another car and will soon arrive to pick us up.”
J.J. breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Miguel with new respect.
A crew of news people had followed Jennifer and him as Juan introduced them to the children at St. Augustine’s. His lovely fake fiancée had shown genuine compassion and caring for the residents of the pediatric ward and somehow he had not been the least surprised to find that the lady had quite a way with children. The little ones had responded to her warm smile and gentle touch.
After returning home, both of them weary from the events of the long day, J.J. had gone upstairs to his bedroom suite and was now soaking in his marble bathtub. But he was not alone. Per J.J.’s instructions, Domingo Shea stayed at his side.
“Whenever I can’t be with you, Dom will be. After all, he is supposed to be your cousin and there’s no reason for anyone to be suspicious when he’s often with you.”
Miguel had called in Emilio and Roberto to discuss the two possibly unrelated incidents that had plagued him today. A rifleman shooting out one of the limousine tires and someone releasing a dozen hognose snakes at the Ebano Country Club luncheon. Neither had been life-threatening, although each had been momentarily unnerving.
“What information do you have for us about the limousine?” Miguel asked Roberto. “You kept the incident confidential, as I asked.”
“We took the car to a trusted auto shop,” Roberto replied. “The tire has been replaced and some of our people are running a check on the bullet. Señorita Blair was correct about the tire being shot by a rifle.”
“For what purpose?” Miguel glanced from one man to the other.
“To scare you?” Roberto suggested.
“To make a point,” Dom said.
“And that point is what? That they could take a shot at me anytime they choose and there’s nothing I can do about it. We already knew that.”
“Dolores was very upset by what happened at the club,” Emilio told them. “If shooting out the tire on the limo was to scare you, to make a point, what did they hope to accomplish by letting a dozen hognose snakes loose in the dining room during your luncheon?”
“Once again, to make a point,” Dom said.
“And perhaps to make a laughingstock of you,” Emilio added.
“No, there is more to it than their wanting to show me that they can reach out and touch me at their will. The assassination attempt already proved that is possible.” Miguel feared the real reason was far more frightening, but he hesitated voicing his thoughts aloud.
“You can’t have overlooked the obvious,” Dom said as his gaze connected with Miguel’s, the two men sharing a silent acknowledgment.
“And that would be?” Roberto asked.
“They already know that I am willing to put my life on the line, that they cannot frighten me into withdrawing my candidacy,” Miguel said. “But what if, now, they want to see if I’m willing to risk the lives of others?”
“You can’t mean that you think—” Emilio’s eyes widened in shock.
“I think only that it is a possibility.” Miguel grimaced. He prayed he was wrong. What if he had to choose between the presidency and the safety of the people he loved? What would he do if he was forced to make that kind of decision?
Chapter 6
J.J. had intended to soak in the tub for no more than ten minutes. But she had stayed twenty before reluctantly getting out, drying off and putting on her silk robe. Now, she had to choose the proper attire for tonight’s dinner party. Miguel had told her that it was not a formal affair, that he wouldn’t be
