by Maggie Cox
What was she doing in Barcelona? Had she come to look for him? The idea all but stalled his heart, even though he knew such an undertaking was fruitless. Hadn’t he made it clear enough back in Cornwall that there could be no future for them? Jenny’s unexpected enchanting presence definitely raised the spectre of a familiar old fear he hardly felt equipped to deal with again.
‘I’ll get you a glass of water. The doctor should be with us any minute now.’
‘You’re always coming to my rescue.’
‘Did you think I would leave you lying there in the middle of the floor? Perhaps you were hoping that some other man would come to your rescue instead?’
‘What are you talking about?’
Rodrigo shrugged, not liking the dizzying surge of jealousy that gripped his guts in a vice at the idea she might even look at another man, let alone hope for one to rescue her. ‘Did you come to Barcelona on your own, or do you have a companion? And how is it that you are here?’
She glanced at him with a distressed look. ‘Yes, I came to Barcelona on my own, and no, I don’t have a companion. And I’m here because I—I…’
‘Yes?’
‘I’m here because something has happened that I need to tell you about.’
‘Did your brother come back from Scotland? Has he been bothering you again?’
‘No.’ Jenny sighed. ‘It’s not that.’
‘Why did you come to the hotel instead of my apartment?’
‘I didn’t intentionally come here today to find you. The American couple I was with downstairs wanted to visit the hotel because they’d heard it was something special. Margaret wanted a massage, and they asked me to join them to have a look round. Now I wish I hadn’t.’
‘Why? Because you didn’t want to see me again?’
‘I didn’t even know you were here! How could I know when you haven’t even been in touch?’ In her agitation, Jenny restlessly moved her leg off the satin cushion, grimacing as the pain in her ankle obviously registered with a vengeance.
‘Maldita’sea! Where is that doctor?’
‘I don’t want to see your doctor, Rodrigo. I’d much rather you rang me a taxi so I can go back to my own hotel. I probably just need to pack some ice round my ankle and it’ll be fine.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
‘I’m not being ridiculous,’ she protested, huffing and folding her arms over her candy-pink shirt. ‘I’m being sensible. You don’t want me here—I know that. You’re clearly embarrassed that I’ve shown up, and to top it all off in such a stupidly dramatic way too. I’m not trying to compromise you, Rodrigo, whatever you may privately think. Our meeting up again like this at your hotel is pure coincidence. Now I just want to go.’
Profoundly disturbed by the idea that Jenny would refuse any further help from him, as well as leave on bad terms, Rodrigo dropped down onto the couch beside her. Before he knew what he intended, he’d reached for her hand and brought it up to his lips. Once again the subtle but lethal rose-tinted fragrance that clung to her invaded him. Heady desire infiltrated his blood with a vengeance, searing him hotter than any desert wind might. Inside, a quiet desperation clamored to have that desire once again fulfilled. ‘I didn’t realise until now that I’ve been suffering from a faulty memory, Jenny Wren.’ The smile he delivered to her widened blue eyes was unapologetically provocative.
‘Meaning?’
‘I thought my recollection of your beauty was unimpeachable. But now I see it was not. You’re far lovelier than even I, who has examined you closely, could recall. When I saw you standing there with your friends I honestly believed I must be dreaming.’
Someone rapped loudly on the outer door. Biting back his intense frustration, Rodrigo rose swiftly to go and greet the resident hotel doctor.
Chapter Ten
THE doctor’s verdict was that Jenny had suffered only a slight sprain. During the whole time that she was being examined by the smart-suited professional her mind was racing.
The startling evidence of Rodrigo’s wealth and status was all around her. From the chic contemporary furniture in the fabulously designed flowerfilled air-conditioned suite to the stunning art on the walls and even the timelessly elegant way he was dressed. Every tanned, whipcord-lean, hard-muscled inch of him screamed success beyond the wildest of dreams.
Even though making her mark in business had never been her main priority Jenny still felt a little insecure that she hadn’t made a better go of her own venture. But the reality was that her brother’s addiction and sometimes cruel conduct had sapped her energy and her emotions down to the marrow—especially when he’d instigated the court case to try and take the family home away from her. All that had been coupled with her distress at her marriage ending, and Jenny was amazed she’d been able to continue working and functioning normally at all.
As Rodrigo politely thanked the urbane doctor and then showed him out, she determinedly swung her legs to the floor. Her injured ankle had a very neat professional bandage applied round it now, but it still throbbed like merry hell. Gingerly she slid her bare foot into her flat, brown-strapped leather sandal. It didn’t exactly help her confidence to feel so physically vulnerable in front of Rodrigo once more. Especially knowing she still had to tell him about her pregnancy.
‘What do you think you’re doing?’
The rich-accented voice at the door made her jump.
‘I’m putting my sandal back on. Thanks very much for getting the doctor to see me, but I’m not intending on taking up much more of your time.’
‘You said earlier that you had something to tell me?’
‘I do.’
‘And that is?’
As he stood there in front of Jenny, with his arms folded across the front of that elegant suit, Rodrigo’s sable eyes were admonishing and yet somehow wickedly teasing too. His black hair had a burnished shine on it fierce enough to dazzle an Alps skier. Frankly, he looked like the drop-dead gorgeous cover model of an haute couture fashion magazine for men, and just as intimidating. When he’d helped her throw the tarpaulin over Lily’s storm-threatened greenhouse he had somehow seemed far more approachable and a little less out of her league.
‘I’m pregnant.’
‘What?’
Jenny was glad she was sitting down. Rodrigo’s stunned expression was already making her anxious. ‘I did a pregnancy test when my period was late and it was positive.’
‘My God.’ He crossed the room to the couch where she sat. ‘Why didn’t you ring me straight away?’
‘It’s not really the kind of news you should convey over the phone, is it?’ It was hard to hear herself across the sound of her galloping heart. ‘I thought it was best if I came out here to see you and tell you to your face. I know you never wanted children, and the fact is we’re no longer married either…but I hoped that when you heard you were going to be a father you might—you might consider the possibility of us trying again.’
Did she really have the temerity to risk suggesting such a thing? Jenny thought in disbelief. And suddenly she found herself more vulnerable in front of Rodrigo than any illness or injury could ever render her.
When he dropped down onto the end of the couch she longed to know what thoughts were dwelling behind that serious dark gaze, but she feared hearing them revealed too.
‘Jenny, querida, I—’
She laid her hand across his. ‘Don’t say no straight away…Please just think about it for a while. Do you think you could do that?’
To her surprise, he moved her hand and tucked it possessively inside his.
‘Sí…I can do that. But you have to understand what a great shock this news is to me.’
Hearing doubt and apprehension in his voice, instead of the elation she imagined most soon-to-be fathers might express, Jenny felt the hurt ebb through her, making her want to tug her hand free. However, sheer hope made her keep it where it was, resting in the delicious warmth of Rodrigo’s palm.
‘But not
a terrible one, I hope? To have a child is the most wonderful thing, Rodrigo…I know you’ve always resisted the idea, but given time you might come round to seeing that it can be the most amazing blessing.’
‘One thing I do know is that we cannot have you remaining at your hotel. Clearly you should stay at the apartment. I’ll drive you back there myself. You can stay there with me at least until you need to go back home. That will give us plenty of time to discuss things. We can pick up your luggage on the way.’
Now she did tug her hand free. He was talking about her going home, and that wasn’t what she wanted to hear at all. Telling herself that he needed time to fully absorb her news before he reached a decision about renewing their relationship, Jenny realised she had no choice but to be patient. As much as her heart ached to have Rodrigo genuinely care for her, just as she cared for him, as well as yearning for him to embrace the idea of them having a child, she would simply have to bide her time.
But it was hard when she was so in love that the depth of her feelings was like a gnawing physical ache inside her.
Her breathing hitched. Staring back into Rodrigo’s sculpted handsome face, it was as though she was looking at him for the very first time. The echo of her thudding heart reverberated round her brain. ‘Do you really want me to come back with you now to the apartment?’ she questioned quietly. ‘What about your work?’
‘Did you hear me say that work was my priority today, querida?’ His lips formed a surprisingly tender smile, the charismatic gesture charging the space and making it thrillingly intimate. Looping his arm round her shoulders, he tipped up Jenny’s chin so that she was forced to meet his disturbing gaze head-on. ‘Whatever else is going on, Jenny Wren…it is good to have you here.’
His warm lips brushed gently and beguilingly against hers. Jenny heard her last defence crash to the ground in a pile of rubble and smoke. Her senses were so intoxicated by him, her heart so full, how could it do anything else?
But a kiss that had started out as an affectionate caress quickly flared into something more urgent and primal as his tongue dived commandingly inside her mouth and his strong arms circled her waist to crush her to him. His hand palmed her breast. The exquisite pressure against the already throbbing sensitive tip made Jenny emit a softly ragged sigh.
Tensing, Rodrigo immediately removed his lips to stare down at her with a rueful smile. ‘My apologies for taking advantage of you yet again, querida…especially when you’re injured and hurting. But it’s clear I have a tendency to temporarily lose my mind whenever I’m around you.’
She wanted to tell him it didn’t matter…that he could lose his mind around her whenever he liked. But the nausea that had gripped her downstairs suddenly returned in a debilitating wave.
‘Jenny?’ There was definitely alarm in Rodrigo’s examining ebony gaze. ‘What’s the matter?’
When she didn’t immediately answer, because she was concentrating all her attention on not disgracing herself, he jumped to his feet and swore.
‘Maldita sea! Clearly you are in shock after your accident. The doctor should have foreseen this…How could he have been so remiss? What was he thinking of? Let me get you some water.’
He was back in a trice, proffering a tall crystal glass. Jenny gulped down the cool, clear mineral water it contained as though it were a lifeline. A few seconds later the sickness that had so uncomfortably invaded her thankfully abated.
‘It’s all right. It’s not shock, Rodrigo. It’s just a touch of morning sickness. I’m getting used to it.’
‘Oh.’ He appeared to mull this over. ‘The sooner I get you back to the apartment in La Ribera the better,’ he announced decisively. ‘Then you can rest as much as you like until you feel better.’ Delving into his inside jacket pocket for his mobile, he reeled off some urgent-sounding instructions in Spanish to the person he’d called. ‘My car will be at the front entrance in five minutes,’ he informed her.
* * *
He’d left Jenny relaxing on the terrace beneath an umbrella, her injured ankle elevated on a chair, a fresh glass of juice and a light snack at her elbow, and returned to work. Rodrigo’s plan was to finish as early as he could to rejoin her. She’d been worryingly quiet when they’d left the hotel to drive to the apartment in La Ribera—the apartment they’d once shared. Something told him it was because he hadn’t acted as if he welcomed her surprising and unexpected news about the baby.
He truly regretted that, but truth to tell he’d been knocked sideways by it—as well as by Jenny showing up at his hotel as she had. The idea of becoming a father still reverberated through him like the aftershocks of a quake. Understandably, he was feeling a little dazed. Yet after their passionate night together in Cornwall he had worried about the possibility of such an event happening after so thoughtlessly making love to Jenny without protection. There was no question he wouldn’t do the right thing by her. Their child would have everything an infant could need and more. But the impact of a child on his up-until-now independent lifestyle certainly gave him pause.
And if he’d been a bit heavy-handed about insisting Jenny stay with him at the apartment while they thrashed things out he made no apology for it. How else could he keep an eye on her and make sure all was well? Her complexion was still far too pale for his total peace of mind. Was the pregnancy already taking its toll on her?
Not for the first time Rodrigo found himself regretting that he’d left her that day, when she’d only just started to recover from the fever that had afflicted her. Thoughts and memories of their time together had relentlessly assailed him ever since. And sometimes during business meetings at work Rodrigo had found his attention wandering from the agenda with worrying frequency. His father would roll over in his grave!
Each time it had happened it had been without a doubt because he was thinking about Jenny…He was usually recalling her enchanting blonde looks, the way she always smelled so good, the way she moved her hands so gracefully to illustrate what she was saying, and most of all the way her enticingly beautiful body had felt under his again…sublime.
That particular stirring memory had disrupted many a good night’s sleep. And the next day Rodrigo was inevitably grouchy and ill-tempered due to lack of rest.
* * *
The Barcelona apartment was situated in an impressive eighteenth century building in an area that had formerly been the preserve of the traditional fishing industry. Now it was an ultra-modern destination, packed with boutiques, chic restaurants and bars. Rodrigo himself had had a large say in the innovative interiors that occupied the building, and a couple of prestigious awards had come his way because of it. But right now all that seemed irrelevant somehow. The only thing that really concerned him was Jenny.
She wasn’t out on the terrace where he’d left her. Cursing his inability to leave work when he’d said he would in order to be with her, he quickened his stride, thinking maybe she’d got fed up with waiting and phoned for a cab to go back to her hotel.
As he flung open all the doors in the apartment his anxiety grew. But when at last he peered into the stylish contemporary living room it was to discover Jenny, dozing lightly on one of the sumptuous white couches.
‘You’re back,’ she said huskily, opening her eyes.
The strangest sensation seized Rodrigo…It was a heartfelt impulse to know what it might be like to come home to Jenny every day when he finished work…to have her say ‘You’re back’ and not be able to hide her pleasure or joy. For a second his throat was too dry to speak.
‘Did you see the sunset?’ she added softly, when he remained mute. She briefly glanced out through the opened French windows that led onto another pretty balcony. ‘It’s so beautiful. I can even see the spires of Gaudi’s cathedral. I’d forgotten just how incredible it is.’
The dazzling amber and gold rays that flooded onto the room’s burnished wood floor were nothing compared to the incandescent loveliness of the girl in front of him, Rodrigo thought hungrily.
‘A lot less painful since I took one of the painkillers your doctor left.’
‘Perhaps you shouldn’t take any more. You’re pregnant, remember?’
‘I did check with the doctor when you briefly left the room to answer the phone.’ Jenny frowned. ‘But of course I would be sensible about things like that.’
‘I’m glad to hear it. And it’s good to see that you have some colour back in your cheeks too,’ he observed, unbuttoning his jacket as he moved towards her.
‘Did you have another long meeting?’ Drawing her legs up to the side, Jenny curved her mouth into a sympathetic smile as he sat down beside her.
‘There are always long meetings and equally long unsocial hours when you run a business. I’m sure you remember that, since it was one of the reasons I knew it wasn’t fair to you to carry on with our marriage.’ He shrugged, impatiently tugging his royal blue silk tie free from his shirt collar. ‘But just the same I’m sorry I didn’t get back as early as I promised.’
‘There’s no need to apologise…I do understand.’
‘You do?’
Rodrigo couldn’t quite believe she meant that. He’d always been acutely aware of just how much time he spent away from home when he was working, and had been uneasy about it when he’d been married to Jenny.
‘Yes, I do. You must be hungry,’ she commented lightly, her summer-blue gaze dipping for a moment when he glanced steadily back at her.
