by Maya Blake
Gael wasn’t sure why the memory had chosen that moment to return, but his insides snagged hard as he recalled how he’d felt when he’d received the call from his driver about her visit to the attorney’s office. The hour he’d paced until her return had felt like the blackest of his life.
Which puzzled and disturbed the hell out of him.
Telling himself it was just because she carried his child rang a little hollow. Now that he’d accepted he was to be a father, it was a position he was looking forward to. If nothing else, he wanted to conquer the demons that howled at him that the seed he came from was poisoned. He didn’t believe that any more. He would be better. Their child would be cared for and cherished.
What he’d felt yesterday had been something different altogether. He’d been afraid of losing Goldie, not the child she carried. And if that wasn’t unnerving enough, the sharp swing of his mood in the opposite direction when she’d revealed the reason for her visit had been so acute he’d been almost dizzy with it.
That latter feeling had continued to cascade through him all through the night and to this moment. For the first time in his life Gael didn’t know whether he wanted to face the problem head-on, as usual, or back away from it.
‘Um...say something? Anything?’
He chose to back away. ‘It’s way past time to go.’
She grimaced. ‘Right. Fine.’
He smiled. ‘And you look magnificent, querida.’
When she reached him she punched him lightly in the arm. He responded by catching her offending hand and trailing his lips across the back of it. And as he was rewarded with a smile as luminescent as her eyes Gael felt himself swing towards that unknown high. Felt himself lose the solid ground beneath his feet.
Shaking his head, he took a deep breath and escorted her outside.
They just needed to get today over and done with. Then he could make the time to examine these feelings that had taken hold of him.
The limo ride to Alejandro’s adjoining estate took fifteen minutes, and he welcomed the time to answer Goldie’s subtle questions about his relationship with his brother. As he answered her he realised it was another first. He didn’t find talking about Alejandro as difficult as he once had, and the half-brother he’d once believed he would never willingly accept had become more of a family symbol in his mind than his own mother.
His jaw tightened as he thought of his mother and her threatened visit. Gael hadn’t gone out of his way to keep Goldie’s pregnancy a secret—he’d told Alejandro and Elise—but he knew his mother kept tabs on him through his household staff. So he hadn’t been surprised when she’d called yesterday and dropped subtle hints until he’d divulged the news.
Her immediate announcement that she intended to visit had rubbed him the wrong way. But, no matter how disappointed and bitter he felt over her behaviour, he’d never rejected any overtures from her.
‘Gael, if you clench your jaw any harder it’ll snap,’ Goldie said gently from beside him. ‘Same goes for my hand.’
He exhaled sharply, released the tight grip he’d unconsciously placed on her hand and kissed it better. ‘Lo siento. I should warn you—my father will most likely be at the wedding.’
She nodded, her sexy curls bounced. ‘And...?’
‘And I haven’t seen him for over ten years.’ He shrugged. ‘I can’t say how things will go.’
‘Okay.’ She frowned. ‘Your mother won’t be there, will she?’
He gave a bitter laugh and shook his head. ‘No, but she’s coming to the villa tomorrow.’
Her eyes widened. ‘Does she know about the baby?’
‘Yes, but not about us being married.’
‘Do the rest of your family know?’
‘I told Andro and Elise last week. As much as I relish being a pain in Alejandro’s backside, I didn’t want our news to take over their day.’
Her smile warmed him, made him feel less edgy. It felt like the most natural thing in the world to slide his hand around her shoulders and pull her close. Her face turned up to his immediately, and he lost himself in the sensation of kissing her.
His driver’s throat-clearing announced their arrival and Gael pulled back reluctantly.
‘You owe me another dozen of those when we get home.’
She rolled her eyes, but her smile widened as she slid her hand into his and let him help her out.
Alejandro’s villa was almost a carbon copy of his, bar a few minor details—like the absence of a climbing vine in the courtyard and the presence of an art studio built for Elise. His soon-to-be sister-in-law had become an overnight Manga-writing sensation when she’d sold her thirty-story collection for a fortune last year. Now retired from her previous work as a PR consultant, she was pursuing a flourishing full-time Manga-creating career.
Alejandro was descending the stairs when they entered. Gael locked eyes with his half-brother and noted that the acrimony he’d spent years nursing was almost non-existent. In their own stilted way they’d managed to forge a bond—one Gael suddenly hoped would grow stronger.
He eyed his older brother’s state of semi-undress with a mocking smirk. ‘Are you sure you’re getting married in an hour? You look like you’ve just escaped a drunken sailor’s bachelor party.’
Alejandro’s mouth quirked in a half-smile. ‘This is the result when I’m not allowed to see my fiancée for almost twenty-four hours. Whoever came up with that idiotic tradition deserves to hang.’
His dark hazel eyes shifted to Goldie. Lingered.
Although Gael knew the depth of feeling between his half-brother and his almost-wife, something very much like jealousy shifted inside him. ‘Goldie, this is Alejandro, my bear of a brother. Andro—meet Goldie.’
‘Pleased to meet you. And congratulations on both accounts,’ Andro drawled.
Goldie smiled and held out her hand. Alejandro’s eyes widened infinitesimally before he took her hand and brushed his lips over the back of it.
Gael bristled.
Andro sent him a payback’s a bitch wink.
He laughed, knowing he deserved the payback for flirting with Elise the first time they’d met.
‘Okay. Well played,’ he replied.
Goldie looked from him to Andro. ‘Am I missing something?’
Gael shook his head. ‘Nothing worth mentioning.’
Alejandro laughed under his breath, then his expression sobered. When he glanced at a nearby clock Gael was sure he growled under his breath.
‘Do you need my help with anything, or shall we leave you to your growling and staff-frightening?’ he mocked.
‘If I wasn’t absolutely certain Elise would have my hide, I’d sink a double shot of bourbon right about now.’ He cast another look at the clock.
Gael laughed. ‘Good luck with that. I’ll see you at the altar.’
Alejandro nodded, started to walk away and then stopped. ‘Mi hermano, I should warn you—our father is here. He arrived early. You can avoid him if you want, but if you’re headed for the salon he’ll be in there.’
His eyes narrowed and Gael saw the same ruthlessness that coursed through his veins reflected in his brother’s eyes.
‘For Elise’s sake I would prefer it if you kept your reunion brawl-free—entiendes?’
Everything inside Gael tightened, but he managed a nod before his brother walked away. Gael remained where he stood, his senses once more on the finest of edges.
‘We don’t have to go in there if you don’t want to.’
He started, having momentarily forgotten his wife’s presence. Resolutely, he shook his head. ‘This meeting has been inevitable and it’s long overdue. Besides, I have a couple of things to get off my chest,’ he said.
He saw the trepidation in her face, wished he could soothe it. But the stri
des carrying him into the salon demanded all his attention.
Gael’s eyes zeroed in on him immediately—saw the moment his father sensed his presence. He stood next to his wife, Alejandro’s mother, who was seated with a coffee in her hand.
Tomas Aguilar’s gaze sharpened, then widened with a mixture of shock and shame before his expression was neutralised. Gael wished that evidence of shame soothed the part of him he’d for a long time denied was still hurting. Perhaps a few months ago—before Tomas had struck up his illicit affair with his mother once more—it would have gone some way to soothe the rejection.
But not now.
He strolled forward until he reached the two of them.
Evita Aguilar glanced up at him, her face reflecting neither acceptance nor rejection. For a moment he felt sorry for her, having tied her destiny to a man with such low scruples. But she averted her gaze and her opinion ceased to matter.
His eyes reconnected with Tomas Aguilar’s and again he saw that momentary flash of shame, this time accompanied by regret.
‘It’s good to see you...son,’ his father said in his native tongue.
Shock held Gael rigid, then he replied tersely, ‘English, please. My wife doesn’t speak Spanish.’
Both Tomas and Evita started.
‘Your wife?’ His father recovered first, his gaze swinging to Goldie.
‘Sí,’ Gael responded.
After observing her for a few charged seconds, he inclined his head. ‘I’m Tomas, and this is my wife, Evita.’
Goldie’s smile was a little guarded, but sincere. ‘Hello, I’m Goldie.’
Gael’s smile felt tight. ‘Now that we have the pleasantries over and done with, enjoy the rest of your day.’
His father opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something. Then he glanced down at his wife and shut it again.
More bitterness dredged through Gael. Tightening his hold on Goldie, he led her away.
‘I thought you were going to talk to him?’
‘So did I, but I find that even that isn’t worth doing any more.’
They walked through the salon’s French doors and out onto a wide terrace. Beyond the large white columns rolled a sea of green grass, and in the centre was displayed the wedding arch where the ceremony was to be held. Fifty white-linen-draped chairs were divided on either side of the arch for the guests, the first of whom were appearing in limos and luxury cars at the bottom of the long driveway.
‘Are you sure?’
Gael was certain the answer was yes until he opened his mouth. ‘Maybe not.’
‘He looked like he wanted to say something. So maybe let him do the talking?’
He glanced down at her with a slight frown. ‘Only a short while ago he loomed large over my life, dictated my choices without me realising it.’ He shrugged. ‘But not so much any more.’
Gael suspected the feeling had something to do with the woman in front of him. Yet another thing to be examined later.
‘All the same, you have a chance to get rid of the toxin once and for all. Do you want to look back and wonder if it would’ve been better to reconnect, to find some answers for yourself?’
Gael remembered hinting at something similar to Alejandro last year. At the time he’d blithely dropped a suggestion that his brother reconnect with the parents he’d walked away from. He knew Alejandro’s visit to Seville hadn’t been easy. Just as the contemplation of today hadn’t been easy for Gael.
Slowly, he nodded. ‘Maybe. Now, enough about this. You owe me a dozen kisses. Make good on one of them now, please.’
He was seconds from losing his mind from a kiss alone when footsteps pulled them apart.
Alejandro, followed by his parents, had stepped out onto the terrace, followed by the first of the guests. Waiters were serving mimosas and champagne to keep the guests refreshed until the organ struck up.
When it did, Gael led Goldie to the front row and stepped beside his brother.
The ceremony went without a hitch. Elise smiled widely when Gael welcomed her into the family. Then he watched as his new sister-in-law and his wife fell into instant friendship.
All through the ceremony he’d caught his father’s eyes on him. And after countless trips to the dance floor with Goldie—because he didn’t want to miss any opportunity to hold her in his arms—she pushed him towards Tomas.
‘It’s time, Gael. Come and find me when you’re done.’
He caught her before she could walk away. ‘No, you come and find me in ten minutes. I’m guessing that’s about how long I’ll be able to stand it before things head south.’
She nodded. ‘Okay—deal.’
He watched her sway off the dance floor and immediately be accosted by Elise.
His father was looking his way when he turned.
Gael snagged a whisky from a passing waiter before stepping out of the giant marquee onto the green grass. Above him the night sky twinkled with a thousand stars. But he was too on edge to appreciate the view.
Tomas joined him a minute later.
Gael turned his head and met eyes the same colour as his own. ‘I hated you for a very long time.’
He didn’t see any reason to mince his words. A second later he realised that he’d spoken in the past tense and spoken in English, because he wasn’t ready to have another thing in common with the man whose blood ran through his veins.
A wave of pain and regret passed over Tomas’s face. ‘I know. And I deserved all of it. For what I did to you, and to your brother, you have every right to hate me.’
‘But you’re still doing it, aren’t you? With my mother?’ he accused, and a deep cloying emotion he recognised as pain roughened his voice.
Tomas shook his head. ‘No, I’m not.’
Gael snorted. ‘I spoke to my mother two weeks ago. She was going to see you.’
‘Yes, I met with her to end it.’
Gael stared hard at his father, wondering whether to believe him or not.
‘I should never have started things with your mother again. It was selfish. But after Andro came to see me last year I thought you and I might reconnect too... I couldn’t summon the courage to reach out directly to you. So I called Katerina.’
Gael cursed under his breath.
Tomas shrugged. ‘I think you know that I’m far from perfect. I would go so far as to call myself unworthy of being a father to both my sons. But you and Alejandro have grown into exceptional men, and I remain selfish enough to want to be a part of your lives. I would be honoured to be in your life at some point beyond today, but if you don’t think that’s a possibility let me tell you now that I’m proud of you.’
Something tugged in his chest. Gael fought to resist it.
‘You’re proud? You told me I was a mistake—that I should never have been born! Because of you I don’t trust anyone... I don’t know how to love anyone. I’m a bastard who shouldn’t exist.’
Tomas paled, his eyes anguished as he stared at Gael. ‘But your relationship with your brother is thriving, and you have a beautiful wife who clearly worsh—’
His laughter cut off his father’s words. ‘A wife I’m incapable of loving because I don’t know how. A wife I’ve paid for. Because on the night I found out you were still sniffing around my mother I was so angry that I slaked my anger and lust on an innocent woman. After that she fell pregnant with my child, and now I’m tied to her for life—’
The ragged gasp behind him tore through to his very soul.
Even before he turned around Gael knew the landscape of his life had changed irrevocably.
Because six feet behind him Goldie stood, ghost-pale and pain-ravaged, her eyes lost pools as she shook her head slowly.
‘Dios mio... Goldie.’ He started towards her.
H
er hands flew out. ‘No. Stay away from me!’
He couldn’t fathom ever doing that. So he took another step. She stumbled back, her heel catching on the grass.
It was Tomas who went to her aid. Tomas who helped her to her feet with a gentle touch that turned Gael’s stomach.
Get your hands off her! he wanted to scream. But the words wouldn’t come. His life was too busy flashing before his eyes.
But he had to act. He couldn’t lose her.
Unable to believe what was happening, he tried again. ‘Please, querida. Por favor, let me ex—’
‘I swear, if you take one more step towards me I’ll scream the place down. And I’ll leave you to explain to your brother what went down here.’
They stood frozen, the three of them, in a twisted tableau.
After a handful of seconds Tomas turned to him. ‘Let her go, Gael,’ his father said to him in Spanish. ‘Emotions are too high right now. You can try and repair things later.’
Every instinct screamed against his taking his father’s advice. But Goldie’s raised chin and her aggressive stance spelled a no-go zone he would find impossible to breach. Still, his chest felt on fire with the idea of letting her go.
‘Amante, please...’ he tried again.
‘I’m leaving, Gael, and I don’t want you to come with me.’
He glanced at his father. Saw a tiny nod from Tomas.
His ragged sigh felt like a gasp of death. ‘I’ll tell the driver to take you home. I’ll be there in an hour, maybe two. Will...will that be enough time?’
Dios, please let her say yes. He couldn’t stand to be away longer than that.
Her mouth twisted. ‘More than enough.’
With those two words his wife turned on her spiky heels and walked away.
