Legacy

by Hannah Fielding

  ‘Of which I’m one.’

  Changing tack, she said: ‘Given your attitude to me so far, and with your reputation, I’m likely to either hit you or sue you within the month. I’m sure you’d welcome neither prospect.’

  Ruy laughed aloud, but then gave her a curious look. ‘What do you know about my reputation?’

  ‘Enough.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Your reputation has preceded you.’

  His perfect lips curled on one side. ‘You mustn’t believe everything you hear.’

  ‘I don’t need to believe; I just need to go on what I know of you. That’s the problem.’

  Ruy sighed. ‘Luna, come on. We really need to talk. I apologize for misleading you. We need to work together, and for that to be a success …’

  ‘Don’t worry about the job, Doctor. I’m quite capable of being professional when needed. I’m good at what I do.’

  Saying this out loud made Luna come back down to earth. Abandoning her assignment was not an option. Never mind her boss had turned out to be the man who’d tormented her dreams and waking hours for the past few days. The fact was this was something she needed to do for herself although, when she contemplated the stark reality of working with – and investigating – Ruy, she realized this job was going to be tougher than she’d ever thought possible. Still, she wasn’t one to run away.

  ‘I’ll take up the post,’ she declared, ‘and I can assure you that you’ll never have to complain about my work.’

  Ruy considered the grave, challenging gaze that met his.

  ‘So, where do we stand with each other now, Luna?’

  As if to mark his point, he took a step closer. At this range she could see the darker cerulean outer ring of his irises surrounding the cool myriad flecks of turquoise and bright blue. The ready flush rose to her cheeks.

  ‘Just as I said, you have nothing to worry about. I will do my job conscientiously and professionally.’

  ‘So you’ll give me a second chance?’

  Luna took a deep breath. ‘I really do need to get back to my desk now, I have a lot of notes to catch up on.’

  He inclined his head slightly before stepping back, continuing to watch her reflectively. ‘Of course.’

  As she hurried down the pathway that led to the courtyard and Casa Vistaria she felt his gaze on her. Trembling slightly, she stopped at the entrance to collect her wits. Would she ever get used to this strange turn of events? Was this going to happen every time she spoke to him? She needed to get a grip on herself.

  The door to the building was wrenched open. Charo stood on the threshold, frowning. ‘Luna, are you all right? You look rather pale.’

  ‘I’m fine, I just have a bit of a headache. Perhaps I had something for lunch that didn’t agree with me.’ She gave a small laugh, trying to sound light-hearted. ‘I’m not used to having such a big meal at this time of day. In the States, I usually eat a sandwich on the run.’

  ‘Well, next time, I’ll show you our café. You can grab a quick salad, if you prefer something lighter.’ She grinned. ‘So now you’ve met your new boss.’

  ‘It seems I have.’

  ‘And?’ Charo’s bright, bird-like eyes would miss nothing, Luna supposed.

  ‘And what?’ she replied defensively.

  Charo laughed aloud, but then gave her a curious look. ‘Are you sure this headache of yours isn’t the first symptom of flu?’

  ‘I’m immune to flu. I always have the jab every year.’

  ‘There are some viruses impossible to fight.’

  ‘Don’t worry about me,’ said Luna, pressing on towards her office. ‘I know how to take precautions to protect myself.’

  Chapter 4

  That evening, returning from the Institute, Luna was full of pent-up energy despite her long first day. She had meant to leave earlier but had not got as much reading done as she’d hoped. It was just past seven o’clock, too late for a swim, but she wanted to at least get in a long walk on the beach before dark. Changing into a loose lilac dress, she remained pensive as she let herself out of the back door of La Gaviota and made her way down through the dunes.

  If there truly was such a thing as fate, then it had a perverse sense of humour, she mused. In the last forty-eight hours, her path had repeatedly collided with a charismatic, disturbingly handsome stranger whose very presence excited her more than any man she had ever met. Secretly, she had yearned to see him again. Now her wish had come true with the cruellest of twists: he turned out to be her new boss, the man she had been assigned to expose. She no longer knew what she was doing, or even who she was any more. It was as if the whole world had gone into free fall, leaving her reeling, grasping for a foothold to anchor her spinning thoughts and emotions. Where was the order and certainty that she was used to?

  The heat had died down; the beach was deserted. Right and left, the magnificent coast stretched to oblivion, while the restless ocean swirled and eddied round the small rocks jutting above its surface, blowing spindrift off the crest of small waves. A gentle breeze rippled playfully along the tops of the sand dunes. Once again Luna was conscious of the intense silence surrounding her.

  She had been walking briskly for twenty minutes, lost in thoughts that were mostly about Ruy, when she saw a figure coming towards her in the distance. At first it was only a black smudge on the landscape, then as it approached she realized it was a jogger – a man – still some way off. He was moving in her direction with a steady, rhythmical pace.

  As he came nearer, Luna’s heart started to thud; there was a drumming sound in her ears, and her breath caught in her throat: it was Ruy.

  It was hard to believe her eyes. He was slowing down as though weighted to the sand by a strong counterforce, and Luna instinctively quickened her pace. No doubt he had also recognized her. She tried to look elsewhere as he approached, but her gaze was totally focused on him, mesmerized. He wore black compression shorts that were moulded alarmingly well to him, and a vest in the same colour, outlining those powerful shoulders. Locks of hair fell over his forehead in a sinfully touchable way as he moved, and beneath, his dark eyebrows and masculine jaw were set in concentration. It was a devastatingly handsome combination. Even at this distance, he really was Apollo reincarnated.

  A few metres away from Luna he began walking, casually pulling up the edge of his vest to wipe his face and exposing a glimpse of chiselled muscle. Luna’s eyes widened as her gaze fell helplessly to that tantalizing patch of stomach, and she had to focus hard on putting one foot in front of the other in case her knees gave way.

  She stopped, bracing herself to meet him. Instead of halting too, he carried on closing the distance between them. Strong, warm hands went straight to her shoulders and before Luna had time to register what he was doing, he had pulled her towards him and his lips were on her cheek, greeting her with a kiss. She felt a shiver of excitement, sensing the delicious proximity of his strong jaw and the heat of his skin as he moved to the other cheek and did the same. He smelled of cool wind and fresh masculine sweat and the faint aroma of pine. His breath was only slightly laboured and the warm feel of it on her neck sent jolts of electricity shooting through her, settling in a hum deep in her belly.

  When his hands slid from her shoulders, she could barely manage to say hello. Distracted by this onslaught of virility, Luna’s mind wildly sought suitable words that might break through her own stunned embarrassment. Why was she consumed by such contradictory impulses? When he wasn’t around, she thought about him all the time but when he appeared, she wanted to run in the opposite direction.

  Ruy, however, seemed totally unabashed. His sharply defined brows lifted a fraction as he regarded her closely, then he chuckled. ‘Luna, are you sure you don’t believe in fate?’ he asked, in his rich and deep voice. ‘It seems we’re destined to meet, whatever we do.’

  At that point she made the mistake of glancing down at his thighs, which were long, tanned and muscular.

  ‘Yo
u’ve been for a run,’ she finally said, nonsensically.

  ‘Yes, it appears that way.’

  Luna dragged her gaze back to his face, and was met with an amused smile. She tried to regain some composure. ‘I … What I meant was, is this where you always go jogging?’

  ‘Sometimes. This beach is one of the best in Cádiz. Do you live nearby?’

  ‘Yes,’ she replied elusively.

  When it was clear no further information was forthcoming, he gave a half-smile and began stretching his lean, powerful leg muscles, lifting one foot and holding it behind his thigh. ‘So, how was your first day at the Institute?’

  Luna blinked, trying to concentrate. ‘Fine, thank you. I caught up on some note-taking in the afternoon.’ Although the truth was she’d been so distracted by her meeting with him in the car park that her mind had frequently wandered from the page. Luckily, he had not reappeared for the rest of the day.

  ‘Your new office is to your liking?’ He bent the other leg back behind him.

  ‘Yes,’ she agreed warily. Whether or not she liked being right next door to him, she wasn’t yet sure. Then the thought of her assignment returned abruptly. At least it would make it easier for her to keep tabs on him for her article, she told herself.

  He planted his foot back down on the sand and fixed her with a knowing look. ‘Good. You’ll find Charo excellent to work with. She’s decided she likes you so, of course, you’ll have to put up with her constant interference.’

  Luna shot him a quizzical glance.

  ‘I told her that we had run into each other in Barcelona, and Charo can be like a puppy with a new toy when she makes up her mind about something.’ His mouth curved into a devilish, conspiratorial smile. ‘It now seems we are her latest matchmaking project.’

  ‘Is that so?’

  He shrugged. ‘We’ve become friends over the years. She likes to tease me about …’

  ‘Your reputation?’ she interjected, wryly.

  ‘… the reasons I’ve not settled down,’ he said simply. ‘Of course, I told her that I had no designs on you whatsoever.’ His eyes glittered. ‘That would be presumptuous, would it not?’

  So he was admitting his interest in her was frivolous and nothing serious would ever come of it. A treacherous wave of disappointment swept over Luna, leaving her adrift for a moment.

  ‘Well, yes, we’ve already agreed that our relationship is a purely professional one,’ she conceded, trying to put some conviction in her voice.

  ‘Then again, it doesn’t do to be too frank with Charo.’ He cocked his head to one side with a half-smile. ‘I’m perfectly capable of looking after my own love life.’

  Luna tamped down the hopeful stirrings, trying to replace them with caution. Certainly, that kiss he’d given her, however chaste, was not entirely innocent. The imprint of his lips on her cheek was still tingling under her skin.

  ‘Why did you kiss me just now?’ she blurted out. It appeared she had formed the habit of asking him stupid questions.

  ‘Should I not have done?’

  ‘It’s not appropriate. It’s … unprofessional.’

  He grinned and gestured nonchalantly to his state of dress. ‘We’re not in the office now,’ he pointed out. ‘Besides, that is how Spanish men greet women they know. It’s no big deal.’

  ‘It is, if we are to work together properly.’

  ‘It’s only an issue for you because you find me attractive and for some reason you don’t want to admit it.’ His eyes gleamed a daring, provocative shade of blue. ‘I, on the other hand, have no such problem.’

  His arrogance was so blatant it almost made her laugh. Yet he was right and it was almost a relief to hear him voice what she couldn’t deny.

  ‘You’re very sure of yourself, aren’t you?’

  ‘About some things, yes.’

  He looked so boyishly pleased with himself that finally she did laugh. ‘I suppose it’s that kind of staggering self-assurance that makes every woman fall at your feet.’

  His eyebrows went up. ‘Clearly, not every woman.’

  ‘It may surprise you, but some women require a little more subtlety.’

  He laughed low, and some indefinable emotion flashed in his eyes. ‘I’ve never had a use for it before.’

  Luna shook her head. ‘The flaw of many an attractive man.’ Her flirtatious response came all too easily and because she was beginning to enjoy their exchange and because that sensual mouth of his looked so devastating when it broke into a wolfish grin, she smiled back at him.

  Ruy folded his arms across his broad chest. ‘So you think I’m attractive?’ he teased.

  Ever since childhood Luna had been a terrible liar, so she decided to be direct. ‘Yes, of course. I won’t deny it. You’re also very upfront about what you think. I’m not used to it. It’s, well, very … Spanish.’

  He laughed more loudly this time, a deep throaty sound that made Luna’s toes curl and shot warmth to all her secret places. ‘Yes, we say what we think here. We are passionate, reckless, proud and sincere about all of it. It’s the Spanish way. What you call an argument we call una discusíon, what you call lack of subtlety, we call la franqueza.’ He dropped his voice in mock seriousness. ‘And let me tell you, in Cádiz we are even guiltier of all of those things.’

  Luna chuckled, unable to resist his playfulness. ‘In that case, I’ll have a crash course in Spanish culture living here.’ From that moment, she found herself softening. It was really no use trying to maintain any kind of defence with Ruy. He was determined to charm his way around it.

  ‘You know, you’re a different person when you relax,’ he said, regarding her. ‘I know you’re apparently immune to absurd compliments but did you know that those honey eyes of yours turn gold when you smile? It’s enough to bring a man to his knees.’

  She felt a warm blush rise up her chest and throat. I’m certainly different with you. No matter what I do, I don’t seem to be able to control myself. She held his gaze. ‘No wonder you have a certain reputation with women.’

  ‘I’m merely stating the truth.’ He looked mildly affronted. ‘And my reputation, as you call it, is exaggerated, largely rumours and gossip these days. Anyone who knows me well knows that.’

  ‘That’s just it, I don’t know you well at all.’

  His proximity seemed to make the air between them gently pulsate and Luna hugged herself, as if needing some kind of protection against it. She could not tear her eyes away from him.

  ‘So why not let fate do its work,’ he murmured, ‘and that will be remedied quickly enough.’

  He had moved closer and was studying her thoroughly, intent blue eyes warmly stroking, setting her heart racing with excitement. Spellbound, Luna felt a flame sweep through her and she shrugged shyly, struggling to stop its effect from surfacing.

  ‘Am I allowed to tell you that you are encantador, ravishing, in that lilac dress? Pastels suit your delicate beauty.’

  He was smiling down at her, meeting the obvious confusion in her eyes with open, uncomplicated desire. Luna’s pulse hammered in her ears.

  No other man had ever made her feel this feminine. Her whole life had been spent in wary observation of the opposite sex, never wanting too much attention. She would never have believed her whole being could revel in one man’s scrutiny. Now, the way Ruy was looking at her, she never wanted it to end.

  Luna managed to laugh, trying to lighten her own awkward emotions. ‘That’s what it is about you Spanish men. You’re so suave and engaging.’ She held her hands up in defeat. ‘I admit it. You always find just the right words to say to a woman. Back home, women are not used to this kind of treatment.’

  His eyes darkened as he gazed at her. He was serious now and for a moment she wondered if her remark had offended him in some way.

  ‘But you are not at home, Luna, you’re in Spain, the land of love and passion.’

  Indeed she was. Over the past few days her thoughts had often touched on that, but s
he did not tell him so.

  ‘Look over there.’ He gestured behind her with a nod. ‘Have you ever seen such incandescent sunsets?’

  Luna turned and was met by a festival of red, gold and blue exploding like fire in the sky. Together they stood side by side, silently watching the close of day, only half-absorbed by the sun sinking rapidly in blazing glory just above the horizon, each strongly aware of the other.

  Ruy was the first to break the silence. ‘Twilight is brief here. It gets dark very quickly. Can I walk you back to …?’ he hesitated.

  Luna answered his mute question. ‘My house is on the beach.’

  ‘Ah, yes, one of those cottages?’

  ‘No, a little further along.’

  He frowned slightly. ‘I didn’t know there were houses at the far end of this stretch.’

  ‘There’s only one house. I’ve rented it.’

  For a few moments Ruy remained where he was, contemplating her, his head on one side. Then, without a word, he held his hand out to her. She took it automatically, confidently, and was aware of a comfort in his firm clasp, which she hadn’t realized could exist between a man and a woman. It gave a new, unspoken intimacy to their friendship. As they strolled back across the sand, it was as if she were walking in a dream. All clarity of thought deserted her and she had no idea why she was letting him accompany her back to the house, possessively claiming her hand as he did so. The only sense she had as they walked back, neither of them speaking, was of that warm, strong grip that made her feel almost giddy with exhilaration.

  By the time they reached La Gaviota, the breeze blowing in from the sea had somewhat intensified. A brilliant, almost theatrical-looking full moon sailed up above the distant hills, and millions of stars were scattered like irregular diamonds on the sapphire velvet sky.

  This time it was Luna who spoke first. ‘We’re here,’ she said as the house came into view above the dunes.

  Ruy turned to face her and finally released her hand, smiling that lazy, enigmatic shadow of a smile which, in the moonlight, made him look even more dramatically handsome and mysterious.