She felt a stab of pain at the memory and suddenly could barely see his face through her tears.
‘In fact, you were so happy you walked off.’
His face tightened. Running his hand through his hair, he said slowly, ‘I didn’t want you to—’
‘Didn’t want me to stay. I know—’
‘No.’ He cut her off. ‘I didn’t want my grandfather to rush you. You seemed unsure, and he was so desperate for you to agree. I thought he’d just keep on pushing and—’
‘And you thought I’d say yes?’ Her voice rose and she shook her head. ‘So you decided to talk it over with me and your grandfather.’ She paused, her lip curling contemptuously. ‘Oh, no. You didn’t. You walked out.’
Laszlo looked at her, his expression bleak. Finally he nodded. ‘Yes. I walked away. I didn’t know what else to do. So much had happened between us, but so much still wasn’t resolved. Like us being married. I knew if you agreed to take the job then you’d come back. And not just for a couple of weeks this time.’
Prudence felt like throwing up. ‘Imagine that,’ she said flatly. ‘No wonder you couldn’t wait to get away.’
She took a painful breath as he shook his head.
‘I wasn’t thinking about me. I knew you’d have a problem with that.’
Staring at him incredulously, she gave a humourless laugh. ‘Not as big a problem as you.’ Pausing, she gritted her teeth. ‘I don’t really understand what you’re trying to say, Laszlo. But you know what? I don’t care any more.’
‘I do!’
He practically shouted the words and she took a step back from him.
‘I care. And I cared in Hungary. You hated lying to my grandfather about us. And I knew it would be a problem doing it again. And for so long. I thought if he pushed you, you’d panic and say no—’
His voice cracked and she stared at him in shock.
‘And I didn’t want you to.’
For a moment she thought she must have misheard him. She opened her mouth and then closed it again. Her breath was burning her throat. ‘Why?’ she said shakily. ‘Why didn’t you want me to say no?’
He stared at her and then bowed his head. ‘Because I love you.’
Her heart twisted inside her. ‘Don’t say that, Laszlo.’
Tears sprang to her eyes as he reached out and, taking her hands, raised them to his lips.
‘I will say it.’
He looked up and she saw that his face was wet with tears.
‘I will say it. And I’ll keep on saying it until you believe me. I love you. I only worked it out when we talked about my parents and their marriage, and I realised that I’d only believed in their love and not mine.’ He grimaced. ‘I should have just come right out and told you, but...’ He smiled weakly. ‘I’m so bad at this stuff.’
He shook his head.
‘I have trouble explaining it to myself. Let alone to the person I’m so scared of losing.’
She stared at him in exasperation. ‘So you thought it would be a good idea to make me believe that our relationship was only about sex?’
‘I’m an idiot.’
‘So it wasn’t?’
He screwed up his face. ‘Maybe a little bit—at the beginning. When I was angry and mean.’ He let out a ragged sigh. ‘But I’m only flesh and blood, and I don’t think you have any idea how sexy you looked in that blouse and skirt and those heels.’
He bit his lip.
‘But it changed. I changed. I wanted more. I wanted my wife back! I was going to tell you before the party but I bottled out.’ Letting go of her hand, he sighed. ‘If only I’d let you open the putsi when you wanted to,’ he said sadly.
Prudence reached into her handbag and pulled out the small leather bag that she hadn’t been able to face discarding.
He stared at it as though mesmerised. ‘Open it!’
His voice was husky and she pulled clumsily at the cord. With shaking fingers she tipped the bag upside down and into her hand tumbled an acorn, a key and a beautiful diamond ring.
She felt suddenly faint again. But this time with happiness. ‘Oh, Laszlo!’ she whispered.
‘Prudence—’ He reached out hesitantly and, taking the ring from her hand, slid it onto her finger.
‘I thought you didn’t want me,’ she said, tears rolling over her cheeks.
He stepped close to her and took her hands in his. ‘And I thought you didn’t want me.’ His voice cracked. ‘After the party I went to Mihaly and I told him everything.’ He clenched his teeth. ‘He told me to stop being such an idiot and tell you how I felt.’ He smiled ruefully. ‘Actually, he didn’t quite use those words. They were slightly more colourful.’
Prudence laughed.
His smile faded. ‘But when I got back to the castle you’d gone.’ He took a breath. ‘Then I lost it and I told my grandfather everything as well.’
Prudence bit her lip. ‘And...?’
Frowning, Laszlo pulled her closer. ‘He told me I was an idiot too.’
She pulled away slightly and smiled. ‘I wish I’d stayed after all,’ she said teasingly. There was a brief silence, and then she said hesitantly, ‘Were they angry?’
Laszlo shook his head. ‘No. They were delighted. In fact, I think they thought I was quite lucky to catch you. And they love you already. Almost as much as I do.’ His face tightened, grew suddenly strained. ‘I just wish my grandmother was here. She so wanted to see me married and with a family of my own.’
He gave her an unsteady smile.
‘I’m warning you now. You think my grandfather was pushy about you taking the curator’s job? Just wait until my aunts hear that I’m married!’
‘Never mind your aunts. What about you? Do you want children?’
He grinned. ‘Yeah, I do. Loads. At least seven.’
‘Seven?’ she squeaked.
He nodded, suddenly serious. ‘One for every year we were apart,’ he murmured, tightening his grip around her waist.
She smiled. ‘I see. I suppose we should get started, then?’
He grinned. ‘Definitely! I’d like to be a father as soon as possible. Like in about nine months. Do you think that’s possible?’
She kissed him gently on the lips. ‘I can do it in seven.’
He looked at her blankly. ‘Seven? You mean nine.’
In reply, she took his hand and put it gently on her stomach. ‘No. I mean seven.’
He stared down at the slight bump of her belly. ‘Really?’
She nodded. ‘Really!’
Pulling her gently into his arms, he closed his eyes, too choked to speak. ‘Only another six to go,’ he whispered against her cheek—and then abruptly, he released her and took a step back, his face clouding over.
‘What is it?’ She stared at him anxiously.
He let out a long breath. ‘Everything moved pretty fast after you left. Papi and Rosa have moved into the cottage, but...’ He frowned. ‘As of tomorrow I’m going to be homeless.’
‘Oh,’ she said slowly. ‘Actually, this really is my last day at work. So, as of now, I’m unemployed.’
They stared at each other in silence, and then both of them burst out laughing.
‘For better for worse,’ he said softly.
She felt his gaze drift over her face. ‘For richer for poorer!’ she murmured.
He grinned, and then his smile faded. ‘Don’t worry. I’m not going to make you live in a trailer.’
‘I don’t mind—’ she began, but he shook his head, grimacing.
‘No. But I do.’ A faint flush coloured his cheeks. ‘I know I shouldn’t really say it, but I don’t really like living in trailers.’ He shivered. ‘They’re even draughtier than the castle!’
Prudence giggled.
Reaching down, he picked up her hand and fiddled with the ring on her finger. ‘I guess, with the pregnancy and everything, you’d like to live near your family?’
Frowning, she nodded slowly. ‘Actually, I am living w
ith them. They wanted to be there to help me when the baby comes.’
He stared at her anxiously. ‘And that’s what you still want, is it?’
Smiling weakly, Prudence leant against him and rubbed her cheek against his. ‘No. I want to live with my husband. But I do want to be near them.’ She sighed. ‘It’s such a shame. The cottage next door came up for sale and that would have been perfect. But it never even went on the open market. Apparently the buyer offered twice the asking price. I’m not sure why...’
Laszlo gazed at her steadily. ‘Maybe he liked the location.’ His hand tightened around hers and their eyes met.
She stared at him, confused. And then she realised that he was waiting—waiting for her to understand. ‘You bought it?’
He nodded, his face creasing into a smile. ‘Yes. I think your neighbour thought I was insane.’ He groaned. ‘It’s probably the first time ever that a Romany has paid more than the asking price!’ His smile tightened. ‘But I had to have it. You see, I wasn’t sure you’d even speak to me—’
‘So you thought you’d stalk me?’ Prudence shook off his hand. But her eyes were dancing.
‘I thought if I lived next door you wouldn’t be able to avoid me,’ he said softly. ‘Then all I’d have to do was wear down your resistance.’
‘Is that right? And how, exactly, were you going to do that?’
She felt her stomach flutter as his eyes narrowed.
‘Let me show you,’ he murmured, and then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her until, for the third time that afternoon, she thought she’d faint.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from TYCOON’S DELICIOUS DEBT by Susanna Carr.
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Tycoon’s Delicious Debt
by Susanna Carr
CHAPTER ONE
THE NATURAL BEAUTY of the Algarve was lost on Cooper Brock as he strode across the well-maintained beach, his handmade shoes kicking up the white sand. Anger rolled through him, pressing against his chest, ready to tear free. He ignored the heat blistering through his black business suit as he scanned the people sunbathing.
Where was she? Cooper clenched his teeth as he studied a group of women frolicking in the ocean. Where was Serena Dominguez, the woman who had tormented him for the past month? The moment they met four weeks ago at a charity dinner in London, Cooper had pursued her relentlessly, enjoying the thrill of the chase. But what she did today changed everything.
She had no right to invade his territory. Cooper wanted to bellow his displeasure until it rang in the air. Victory had been in his grasp. After two years of incredible patience, he had almost closed the deal that had eluded the Brock empire.
And he had done it within the law. It was like winning a bar fight with one arm tied behind his back.
The Alves property had represented more than a major deal for his family’s business. It had been the one prize his father had not been able to claim. Finalizing the deal today would have proven once and for all that his methods were better than Aaron Brock’s.
Serena had interfered with more than his business, Cooper decided as his mouth settled into a grim line. This deal would have brought him a sense of deep satisfaction. The achievement would have blunted the edges of the restlessness he could no longer banish.
He came to an abrupt halt when he heard the throaty laugh over the ocean waves and the snatches of the desultory conversations. The sound gripped him as the sexual hunger scorched through his veins. He knew it belonged to Serena. He hadn’t heard it before—it was one of the many things she wouldn’t share with him—but somehow he knew. Cooper changed directions and marched to the oversize blue umbrella at the very back of the beach.
Cooper halted his pursuit when he spotted Serena Dominguez. His heart lurched and he hunched his shoulders as if he had taken a fist into his stomach. He raggedly drew in a breath, wishing he didn’t react like this every time he saw her.
He decided it was safer if he focused on her feet as he approached. The gold chain around her ankle caught his attention as it gleamed under the sunlight. It was the kind of gift an infatuated man gave to his woman. He didn’t want this woman to be claimed by another and fought the need to rip the anklet from her.
Cooper’s gaze traveled along the length of her strong and toned legs to the white bikini bottoms that scandalously clung to her hips. He closed his eyes and swallowed hard as the hunger for her tore through him. He forced his eyes open and determinedly stared at Serena’s profile as she ended a call.
He was disappointed that her large sunglasses hid most of her face. He stared at her high cheekbones, full lips and pointed chin. Serena Dominguez was more than just beautiful. Her sensual grace left him spellbound.
She tossed her cell phone down and reached up to smooth the wavy dark brown hair that cascaded past her shoulders. Her sudden stillness was his only indication that she saw him.
“What are you playing at, Serena?” he said in a rough whisper.
“Olá, Mr. Brock,” Serena said, her Brazilian accent making his name sound like a caress of a bold lover. “What brings you to Portugal?”
“Drop the innocent act. I don’t have time to play games.”
“How very unusual,” she said as she removed her dark sunglasses and set them on her head, pushing her hair back. “You live for games.”
The shade of her eyes reminded him of his favorite gold tequila, only her gaze packed a stronger punch. He also noticed her tight and polite grins had disappeared and were replaced with a wide and brazen smile. He had wanted to see her smile at him. He had ached for it. But not like this.
“I was supposed to close the deal today on the Alves land,” he said as calmly as he could while the anger whipping through him collided with his ferocious lust for her, “and I find out that you stole it from under me.”
“Stole?” She clucked her tongue at the word as her eyes glittered. “Careful, cowboy. I’m not a thief.”
The way she said it suggested he was the one who couldn’t be trusted. That was ridiculous. “How did you pull this off? I know you’re some sort of financial genius, but you don’t have the money or the connections to make this kind of deal.”
She splayed her arms out. “I don’t need any of that when all I have to do is bat my eyelashes and smile.”
And wear very little, Cooper decided as his gaze drifted to her voluptuous breasts. The delicate bikini top faithfully outlined her curves as her tight nipples pressed against the thin white fabric. She may as well be sunbathing topless.
He cleared his throat but his voice was gruff as he replied. “If you think I’m going to let you take what is mine and walk off into the sunset, you don’t know me very well.”
She laced her hands behind her head and he knew the movement was not as casual as it appeared. It was designed to divert his attention. “You would be surprised at how much I know about you.”
“Don’t play with me, sweetheart,” he warned quietly as he dragged his gaze back to Serena’s eyes. “What do you want with this project?”
“Nothing. I simply wanted to intercept the deal. How does it feel not getting what you wanted? To fail? To have something you need snatched away. It must rub at you.” She pursed her full red lips with false concern before her mouth widened into a
bitter smile. “Don’t worry. It will only get worse.”
“If you wanted to get my attention, you’ve had it since I first met you.”
Serena arched one eyebrow as her smile faded. “It’s not your attention I want. I thought I made that very clear.”
“Who are you kidding? You can’t keep your eyes off me.” It was one fact that had kept him sane all these weeks.
“Only because I’ve learned not to turn my back on a Brock,” she said as she reached for her drink.
“Well, don’t leave me in suspense. You must want something very badly from me to go through all this work.”
She took a sip of her cocktail and licked the moisture from her lips. He wanted to capture the tip of her tongue with his own so badly that he almost missed her answer.
“How is it that you have pursued me for the past month but you don’t know anything about me?”
He crossed his arms and braced his legs as he towered over her. “I know all that I need to know. You’re smart, sexy, and you keep your distance from me because you know I would actually make you feel something.”
Amusement flickered across her face. “Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better.” She paused and tilted her head. “That’s it? That’s all you know?”
“What else do I need to know?” Other than the magic word that would get him into her bed, but she wasn’t going to share that.
“This should not surprise me at all. It’s exactly how you make a business deal. No research. It’s a visceral decision for you,” she said with a mix of distaste and wonder. “You decide you want something and you go after it, so sure that you will succeed.”
“It works for me.” He didn’t see any need to apologize for it.
“If there are any obstacles, all the better. It makes the win sweeter. Any enemies blocking your way and it makes the game more interesting for you.”
Cooper narrowed his eyes. “You know this and yet you are in my way.”
Vows Made in Secret Page 18
