The Spaniard's Woman - Contemporary Romance (2 page)

He looked up when Rhianna walked in, expression peevish. Although he was only twenty-six years old, Grady looked much older. His experiences had prematurely lined his thin face, while dissatisfaction with life had given him an air of world-weary cynicism. ‘You’ve been out for ages,’ he snapped, as soon as he caught sight of her. Immediately, Rhianna shelved any plans she had for asking favors. Grady’s mood was as black as midnight.

‘It’s my day off Grady.’ Rhianna reminded him. She was used to his moods. ‘Is there a problem?’

Grady was silent for a moment, long fingers picking restlessly at the fabric of his dark trousers. ‘We need to go out tonight,’ he said baldly. Rhianna raised an eyebrow and waited. Obviously something had put Grady in a temper but experience had taught her it was easier to wait, rather than to irritate him further by asking a lot of questions. ‘I’ve been invited to a function at the Park Hyatt.’

‘The fundraiser for earthquake relief?’ Which just happened to be in Spain. Rhianna dealt with all of the Grady’s invitations - and there were many since his father had effectively retired last year due to a heart attack - leaving his son to more or less run the company. She had been grateful, when she’d seen the invitation, that he wouldn’t go; sending a donation was more his style. The last thing she wanted were any reminders, no matter how incidental, of a country that had been so momentous in her life. ‘I thought you’d decided not to go to that?’

‘I have to go.’ he sighed, ‘Edmund Bishop is going to be there.’

It took Rhianna a moment to work out what Grady was talking about. ‘Edmund... oh, the new contract.’ Suddenly it was all crystal clear. Grady’s company had been chasing the business of Edmund Bishop for over a month now; securing the Bishop deal was worth millions. ‘But why would he want you to go to the Hyatt?’

‘His wife’s Spanish.’ Grady said bitterly. ‘The man practically promised us the contract if I’d go. Can you believe it? I need you to come with me. I don’t want to go by myself.’

Rhianna hesitated. It wasn’t unheard of for her to accompany Grady to social functions if it made his life easier but it was not a function she wanted to attend. ‘I was going to watch some television with Dylan and get an early night tonight.’

‘You can do that any time,’ Grady said bluntly. ‘I need your help.’ He looked up at her, face tight with anxiety. The prospect of venturing out in public often tied him up in knots. ‘Please, Rhianna. And before you go off, I’ve already asked Enid to mind Dylan. You know she’s perfectly competent.’

‘You should have checked with me first.’ Rhianna said, but without heat. When Grady got into a state like this her protective instincts cut in. Grady could indeed be a pain in the butt but he was so uncomfortable in social situations, it often felt like she was being cruel if she refused to accompany him. And maybe it was time she moved on from the past. Spain was a country, not a disease. ‘What time do we have to be there?’

‘Eight o’clock. There’s a dinner and then dancing afterwards. Not that I’m expected to participate in that,’ he added, scowling down at his legs.

Rhianna ignored him. ‘I’d better go and find something to wear, then.’

‘Buy something new,’ he suggested, displaying his gratitude the only way he knew how. Clumsy with words, he could be very generous with money by way of compensation, especially if he knew he was being unreasonable.

Rhianna shook her head and touched him lightly on the shoulder. ‘Relax, Grady. It’ll be fine.’

His smile was twisted. ‘Easy for you to say. But... thanks anyway.’

Rhianna paused just inside the door of the Park Hyatt’s grand ballroom, surveying the scene before her. She had spent some time getting ready and now she was glad of it. The long, silky black jersey dress with its halter neckline and simple lines was a perfect choice for the expensive elegance of the evening. She’d swept her thick, silver-blonde hair up into a smooth chignon, her only jewelry a plain gold pendant with matching earrings. Beside her, Grady looked surprisingly handsome in a black tux, his customary expression of impatience smoothed away behind a facade of polite civility.

Tables were set out around the room, the snowy linen covered with crystal and silver. A small orchestra played Rachmaninoff on a compact stage. The board beyond the double doors had announced that this was a charity benefit for the Spanish Earthquake Relief fund and touches of red and black around the ballroom echoed the theme in a subtle way.

Guests were mingling, groups of people standing together talking while black clad waiters and waitresses distributed drinks and canapés. Rhianna sighed inwardly, wishing herself elsewhere. She often felt out of place when she accompanied Grady to functions like this, hardly surprising when she considered that she had more in common with the waiting staff than the guests.

‘Do you see Bishop?’ Grady muttered beside her.

‘No, but he’s sure to be here if his wife is the hostess for the evening,’ Rhianna pointed out. A young waiter paused before them and offered glasses of champagne. Grady accepted one but Rhianna shook her head. ‘I might just go and find the ladies room.’

‘Don’t be long. I feel like I’m swimming with sharks here!’

Rhianna skirted the chattering groups, making her way towards the toilets. She would have to watch Grady; when he was nervous he tended to drink too much and that could be disastrous at a business meeting, even if it was in a social situation. Hopefully they could find Edmund Bishop as quickly as possibly and Grady could at the very least set up a meeting at the O’Farrell offices. Then, perhaps, they could relax a little. Babysitting her boss wasn’t the easiest job in the world when he ended up in one of his moods.

Preoccupied, Rhianna sidestepped a group of people, murmuring an apology as she brushed past a tall, beautiful brunette in a stunning red dress. Intent on avoiding the trailing hem of the gown, she bumped into the tall, solid figure that suddenly seemed to appear out of nowhere before her.

‘Oh! I’m sor -’ The words died on her lips as Rhianna looked up into the face of the last man she had ever thought to see again.
The last face in the world that she had ever wanted to see again.

The world dipped and span for a mad, breathless moment as she looked into the dark, seductive eyes of Gabriel Ortega.

Chapter Two

His hand reached out to clamp around her arm, fingers like a vice. The pain brought her back to her senses as nothing else could. Despite the fact that her heart was hammering so hard she was sure the entire room could hear it, Rhianna managed to right herself, wrenching herself away from him so quickly that he had no choice but to let go.

For a long moment the world seemed to hold it’s breath. At least, Rhianna felt it did. In reality, of course, the babble of chatter in the room remained the same. It was the shock of seeing Gabriel that made her surroundings slow to a dream like speed.

‘Excuse me.’ Desperate to get away, Rhianna turned and began to walk back the way she had come.

His voice behind her was peremptory. ‘
Rhianna
. Wait!’

Once, she would have stopped immediately but she was no longer the girl he had left in Catalonia; Rhianna lengthened her stride, walking faster. To no avail because after a moment Gabriel was there, shouldering his way through the crowd to stay in step beside her. ‘Rhianna!’

Rhianna came to a stop, concerned that heads were beginning to turn. She had no desire to be the centre of attention. Drawing a deep breath, she made herself look at him. He hadn’t changed, not one little bit but then, it was only three and a half years since she had last seen him. He wore a black tux with a white shirt and looked... deliberately, Rhianna didn’t allow herself to dwell on just how devastatingly handsome Gabriel looked. It was horrifying to realize that after all this time she could still find him intensely attractive. ‘What are you doing here?’ she demanded, without preamble. Attack could sometimes be the best form of defense.

Surprise momentarily showed in those dark eyes. ‘The same as you, I should imagine. Attending a charity benefit for my country.’ His eyes ran over her and she shivered a little at the heat that suddenly warmed them, ‘I am surprised to see you here.’

‘I’m sure you are,’ she replied tightly. It seemed unlikely that he would have thought of her at all in the intervening years. Her heart continued to pound within her chest, an uneven tattoo that told her just how much his presence was affecting her. She’d never thought to see Gabriel again, had never dreamed of trying to think up a strategy that might help her cope with this situation. Why should she when they moved in such different circles? In different
countries
? This was the last place she had ever expected to see him. But there would be time enough to wonder what he was doing here later. Right now, all she wanted was to get away. ‘Excuse me.’

‘Wait.’ He reached out a hand once again. His touch was lighter this time, but no less commanding. Gabriel intended for her to stay right where she was. Something deep within her protested. He had been able to control her once, body and soul. There was no way she would ever allow him that kind of power again. ‘What is your hurry,
pequeno
? I said I was surprised to see you, but pleasantly so.’

Rhianna raised her chin, her clear green eyes meeting his squarely. ‘I wish I could say the same. If you will excuse me, I am not alone and I should return to my companion. I have been away too long.’ Once again, she went to turn away from him and, once again, was forestalled.

‘Ah, but of course you are not alone.’ His eyes strayed over the crowd, as if he were trying to assess just who might be accompanying her tonight. Rhianna drew a sharp breath. The implication that she would naturally be here with some man stung, even if it did have the element of truth in it. Gabriel seemed to have automatically assumed that she had taken his advice, so lightly given all those years ago, and had found herself another ‘protector’, another lover who would provide for her. The knowledge made heat dance across her skin.

‘Exactly,’ she snapped, voice tight with tension, ‘I am not alone. Goodbye, Senor Ortega.’ And before he could say another word she was gone, moving blindly through the crowd, heading towards the door. She could feel his gaze burning a hole in her back. She had no clear intention of where she was going, only that she had to get away from him. All she really wanted to do now was to leave, to go home and pretend that her encounter with her ex-lover had never taken place. As if that were possible. Knowing that he was in Australia would drive her crazy!

Grady had obviously found Edmund Bishop because when she reached him, he was deep in conversation with a middle aged man with a pleasant, open face and a receding hairline. Both men looked up when she came to a precipitous stop beside Grady’s chair. She managed to give Bishop a smile.

‘Rhianna,’ Grady said, a great deal more cheerful now than when he had first arrived, ‘There you are. Let me introduce Edmund Bishop. Ed, Rhianna St James.’

Edmund rose to his feet and took her hand in his, shaking it warmly. ‘Delighted to meet you Rhianna. Thank-you for coming along tonight.’

‘Thank-you for inviting us,’ Rhianna replied quietly. Leaving was impossible now that Grady had obtained the introduction he’d been aiming for. She had no right to ask him to go when he had just managed to achieve what he’d set out to do.

‘Do you dance?’ Edmund demanded jovially. ‘My wife claims I have two left feet but I’d be honored to claim a dance later on.’

Dancing was the last thing that Rhianna had in mind but she smiled. ‘I’ll look forward to it.’

Shortly afterward, dinner was announced and the crowd circulated, finding their designated places. Rhianna was terrified that she would be stuck on a table with Gabriel but it seemed her fears were unfounded when she glanced around at the assembled faces. Her relief was short lived, however because another covert glance brought a headlong clash of eyes between herself and Gabriel who was only a table away and in her direct line of vision. He was seated next to the stunning brunette in the red dress she had almost collided with earlier. His wife? Gabriel raised an eyebrow, picking up a wine glass and toasting her, his eyes never breaking contact. The gesture was strangely intimate, almost lover-like and Rhianna’s heart sank. She turned to look at Grady. They had removed the wooden ladder-back and his wheelchair was partially tucked under the table beside her. He gave her a quizzical look. ‘What’s the matter? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.’

Which was exactly what she
had
seen. A ghost from her past that had intruded into this particular feast. ‘I’m not feeling very well.’ It was partially true, after all. The sight of Gabriel made her feel ill. ‘I’ll be all right. How was your meeting with Edmund Bishop?’

‘Great,’ he grinned. ‘It was almost worth putting up with an evening of this. We’ve got a meeting tomorrow.’

‘Wonderful.’ Rhianna murmured, hoping her voice didn’t sound too hollow. She took a deep breath, trying to gain some perspective on the situation. So she’d finally laid eyes on Gabriel Ortega once again. It had been a shock but there was no reason why she should let it turn her world upside down. The beautiful woman beside him was probably his wife, the woman he had ended their relationship for so abruptly. Rhianna knew a sudden urge to turn her head and look, just to see who it was that Gabriel had finally settled on but she managed to keep her eyes fixed firmly on her plate. What did it matter who he had married? The relationship she had once shared with him was well and truly over. All that was left from it now was Dylan...

The thought of her son brought a sudden wave of paralyzing dizziness sweeping down on her and she reached out a hand that trembled slightly for her water glass. Gabriel didn’t know about Dylan and he must never know. Not
now
. He undoubtedly had a child with his wife, a child he would have been proud to lay claim to. With an heir to the Ortega fortunes firmly in place, surely he wouldn’t be in the least bit interested in any son he had sired with her. Just the same, the thought of him finding out about Dylan made her feel sick to the stomach. She took a mouthful of water, glancing across at Gabriel. He was still staring at her, dark eyes unfathomable. Rhianna shivered and replaced her glass on the table abruptly, suddenly sure of one thing. Once, she had tried to tell him he had a son. But now… now it as a different story. Gabriel must never learn about Dylan. She recalled the Ortega’s family motto. She’d thought at the time that it was both noble and proud but now it seemed oddly threatening.

‘Sostenemos cual es los Nuestros
.’ We Hold What Is Ours... Rhianna wondered if Gabriel would consider Dylan his and, if he did, what he would do if he discovered her secret. It was a terrifying thought.

For Rhianna, dinner took forever, each course an eternity. She kept her attention firmly on the men on either side of her, Grady and a pleasant young stockbroker who seemed delighted to monopolize her. Despite her attempt to concentrate, Rhianna had very little idea what they talked about. All she really wanted was an excuse not to let her eyes stray to the man at the opposite table and with this in mind she pretended complete absorption in everything the young man had to say.

It could not last and perhaps she had know all along that he would find a way to speak to her again. He was Gabriel, after all. When the dancing started she had hoped to whisk Grady off. He wasn’t in the least bit interested in watching other couples do what he could not and, unless she was unlucky enough to lose him to some conversation again, she should have had no problem getting him to leave. Unfortunately, Gabriel allowed her no chance of escape, appearing beside her chair almost as soon as the music had begun.

‘Dance with me.’ It wasn’t a request
.
The stockbroker, who had been about to ask Rhianna the very same question, frowned but Grady laughed.

‘I hate taking you to these things,’ he observed ruefully, ‘There’s always a dozen men queuing up to flirt.’ He looked up at Gabriel, oblivious to any under currents. ‘To the victor, the spoils but be sure to have her back soon. Rhianna turns into a pumpkin if I don’t have her home by midnight.’

Gabriel looked down at the man in the wheelchair, expression unreadable. When he spoke, his voice was as smooth as silk. ‘With a woman such as this, I can promise nothing.’

Rhianna did not
want
to dance with Gabriel. In fact, she would have done anything to get out of it but it seemed that she had little choice in the matter. It appeared to have been settled between Gabriel and Grady and the tall Spaniard was already reaching for her hand, never doubting for a moment that she would go with him. Furious at the high-handed way she had been ‘managed’ she swept past him, heading towards the dance floor.
One dance
, she fumed silently to herself,
just one and then I am going to demand that Grady take me home and to hell with anything else!

As soon as they entered the crowd of couples who were beginning to move around the floor, Gabriel slid his arms around her, pulling her far closer than she was comfortable with. Rhianna held herself stiffly, anger fragmenting as she became suddenly, intensely conscious of the man who was holding her, his nearness sending a jolt of physical awareness shooting through every nerve end in her body. She had forgotten just how powerful an effect his presence could have on her. Rhianna sucked in a shocked breath, her eyes fixing on a button on his ice-white shirt. She had no desire to look up into those knowing dark eyes. God only knew what her expression would reveal. The thought of Dylan brought her a measure of calm; more than anything else, she had to be careful.

‘You are not going to speak,
poco
Rhianna?’ he queried softly, after a time.

The arms that encircled her were strong and even with the passing of time they felt dangerously familiar. ‘I have nothing to say to you Senor Ortega,’ she returned, her voice flat. She was longing for this ordeal to be over, for the music to finish so that this hell could end. It was as if her body, treacherously female, was waking up after a long sleep, recalling how much it had always enjoyed being touched by him. Dancing in his arms felt like the most natural thing in the world and she fell into his rhythm with an easy familiarity that was disturbing.

‘Senor Ortega?’ he mocked, ‘But you are so formal. Are you angry with me,
paqueno
?’

This brought her gaze up to meet his, anger and incredulity flashing in her eyes. ‘Angry with you?
Why
would I be angry with you? You are nothing to me.’

Abruptly, his arms tightened around her. ‘Is that so?’ Rhianna bit her lip, knowing that she had made a mistake. Her best line of defense would, perhaps, have been to pretend indifference to him or, if she could have managed it, some measure of warmth. Not that she could ever hope to be that good an actress, Rhianna reflected bleakly. Still, Gabriel liked nothing better than a challenge and claiming that he meant nothing to her was sure to provoke every masculine instinct he possessed. ‘I see that you are not married.’

It was not a question but a statement. He would have noticed the lack of rings on her fingers. ‘No.’

‘So that man, the one you called Grady, he is your lover?’

Rhianna hesitated. Instinctively, she wanted to protest because she knew that Gabriel would naturally think she had run straight from him, into the arms of the next man who was willing to ‘protect’ her. It was a very Spanish way of looking at women. Once, she had laughed at his insistence that he deal with her affairs, thinking it was a sign of how much he loved her. Now she knew it was simply that men like Gabriel believed women to be less than capable. It was an in-built arrogance that seemed to be common in Spanish men.