by Janet Dailey
Rafael’s face was a study of implacability during her impassioned speech. When she drew a breath to continue, he raised a hand to silence her.
‘I am aware that you don’t come to me willingly, that I have coerced your agreement. I know you do not love me. There is no need to keep repeating these things. You would do well to direct your energies to convincing your father of your interest in me. I am certain you will share my wish not to maintain the pretence of starry-eyed romance any longer than is necessary.’ His clipped statement brought her abruptly back from the satisfying heat of her anger. Colour receded sharply from her face.
‘Must we do that?’ she murmured, inwardly shivering at the thought of spending endless evenings in his company gazing rapturously in his face, enduring his touch, the incredible warmth his smile could convey. ‘Isn’t there some other way?’
‘So you still wish to run away from that which is unpleasant?’ There was no mockery in his indulgently gentle voice. ‘Running only delays that moment when you must face the thing you find so difficult.’
‘I have already made the decision,’ Erica reminded him coldly. ‘I have agreed to become your wife.’
‘But you wish to avoid these weeks we must spend in each other’s company for the sake of your family and friends. You would prefer to elope with me and stay away until the furor of your actions subsided rather than face the awkward moment when you reject Forest for me.’
Erica looked into the placid mask, wondering at his easy perception of her innermost thoughts. As much as she disliked Rafael, she had to admit that she felt the pull of his dark attraction, the leanly muscled body, the strikingly handsome face.
‘I’m not a very good liar. I doubt that Forest will believe me if I tell him I’m in love with you and not him,’ she replied.
‘When we are remarried, he will have no choice but to accept it,’ Rafael stated. ‘He has asked you to marry him, has he not?’
‘How did you know?’ Erica frowned, knowing she had never mentioned that.
‘Your attorney Jules Blackwell told me, but I would have guessed it anyway. Had Forest suggested an affair instead of marriage, I don’t believe you would have made such an instant demand for a divorce.’ He studied the glowing tip of the thin cigar.
‘Forest knows I love him. I told him so.’ There was a defiant tilt of her head to remind Rafael how unwillingly she was agreeing to his demands.
‘People fall out of love,’ he shrugged dismissively. ‘Many times the attraction to a member of the opposite sex is mistaken for love. You will need to convince him of that.’
Rafael always had an answer, Erica thought dejectedly as she turned away from his unnervingly penetrating regard. At the same moment she counted herself lucky for recognising that she only found Rafael sexually attractive and had not foolishly believed herself to be in love with him. A heavy sigh vibrated her shoulders. Now she wished she had been blind to the difference, since she was about to commit the rest of her life to him. A pair of rose-coloured glasses would be welcome, however inaccurate their view.
‘You have my decision. Can’t we leave now?’ she demanded tightly. ‘Or do you want to gloat a little longer over your triumph?’
An angry ejaculation was muttered behind her as Rafael spun her around to face him. Lightning currents emanated from the touch of his hands.
‘At the moment, I feel no triumph!’ he flashed. ‘If I did not believe that — ’ As suddenly as he had gripped her shoulders, he released her. ‘I think you derive satisfaction from igniting my temper.’ A muscle twitched convulsively in his jaw to indicate that his temper was not fully under control despite the evenness of his voice. ‘Come, I will take you back to your home.’
His brooding silence during the return journey had Erica shifting uncomfortably in her seat. She tried unsuccessfully to block him out of her thoughts, to ignore him as completely as he was ignoring her, but his dark looks and primitive magnetism made that impossible. He was sleek and regally elegant like a jungle cat, and like a jungle cat, there was a strain of savageness that years of civilisation hadn’t entirely erased.
This man was her husband. She had just committed herself to spending the rest of her life with him — the full enormity of that decision didn’t strike her until that moment. A sense of unease crowded around her at the thought of sharing all those intimate moments between a husband and wife with Rafael.
When the car stopped, it took Erica a full second to realise that they were in the private drive of her home. Her colour fluctuated alarmingly as she accepted Rafael’s hand out of the car. It troubled her considerably to discover how susceptible she was to his touch. Instead of starting towards the house, he tightened his hand on hers to keep her beside the car. Erica glanced curiously at his slightly narrowed eyes.
‘Fate has offered you an easy solution to let Forest know of your change of feelings. He is driving in now — no, don’t look around,’ Rafael commanded as she started to turn in the direction of the approaching car. ‘All you have to do is kiss me, Erica. He will put his own construction on the rest.’
She breathed in sharply, wanting to resist yet knowing that she doubted if she could convince Forest in words that it was Rafael she preferred. Her eyes pleaded with Rafael not to make her do this thing when she was still regretting her decision.
’decide quickly, Erica,’ he murmured.
Slowly she moved nearer, drawn more by the seductive sound of his voice than a desire to show Forest her change of heart. The steady rhythm of Rafael’s heartbeat was felt by the hands she rested against his chest as she tilted her head to receive his kiss. The gentle insistence of his mouth disarmed her and a pleasant warmth relaxed her tense muscles. A hunger that she had long denied parted her lips so that she was pliant to his touch.
The slam of the car door was unexpected. She sprang guiltily away from Rafael, forgetting completely that the scene had been staged for Forest’s benefit. She coloured profusely at her shameful lapse, hating that strange power that Rafael held for her physically.
‘I couldn’t believe it when Lawrence told me you were out with him!’ Forest muttered hoarsely. His face was unnaturally pale with controlled rage.
The fierce pain in her heart throttled any words of denial she wanted to say as she gazed hopelessly at him.
‘Erica is free to see whom she pleases. There is no understanding between you, is there?’ Rafael’s arrogantly confident voice inquired.
‘I was stupid to believe there was,’ Forest growled, flicking a maligning glance at Erica. ‘You’ve given me your answer, haven’t you? I never realised you were so cold-blooded. That must have been what they were talking about when the others called you an ice maiden.’
When that last contemptuous sneer had been driven into her midsection, Forest pivoted sharply and stalked back to his car. Her hand raised in a feeble attempt to call him back and explain.
‘Forest — ’ her shaky voice murmured as she took a hesitant step towards his retreating form.
But Rafael reached out and stopped her. ‘Let him go, Erica,’ he said firmly. ’don’t drag out his agony. Let the killing blow be swift and sure.’
A tear glimmered in the corner of her eye, but the fiery light that blazed in the violet blue depths glittered only with resentment.
‘You ask that I be merciful,’ she jeered, ‘when there isn’t any mercy in your heart!’
‘I do feel mercy,’ Rafael stated. ‘Although I spoke of it for Forest, I meant it for you. I do not want to torture your heart with a love you can never have with this man. Break cleanly from him now so he will not lie between us in the many nights of our lives that are ahead of us.’
‘How can you speak of such things?’ Erica cried, drawing free of his hand in distaste.
‘We are married, mia esposa. It is not as if we had never known each other in the Biblical way.’ A lazy smile of complacency curved his mouth. ‘And I know that Forest has never held you in his arms in the middle of the night,
or he would know there is no ice in your veins, huh, querida?’
Her cheeks were scorched by the memory his words recalled. She spun angrily on her heel and raced for the house, wondering how many times in the future she would flee from him when she was left with no weapons to attack.
Eight
* * *
There was many an eyebrow raised over Erica’s sudden break with Forest, and several more when she was seen repeatedly in Rafael’s company during the next two weeks.
Their evenings together were always spent attending a concert, theatre production or a similar function where there was little need for small talk between them. The distraction of having something to occupy her attention was welcome, although she was never able to completely ignore Rafael. He was much too masculine, and charming when he chose, for any woman to ignore. Yet Erica still refused to like him. How could she when he had blackmailed her into this charade?
All of her friends and acquaintances thought she was extremely lucky to have a man as devastatingly handsome as Rafael paying such marked attention to her. When her replies were less than enthusiastic, they laughed them off as a sign that she wasn’t sure she could hold him. Considering the number of her female friends who wandered over during intervals on the pretence of saying hello to her, she tended to marvel at Rafael’s seeming indifference to them.
The tinkling of the bell on the shop door announced the arrival of another customer. Donna was in the back room, freshening up after her lunch-break. Pushing a welcoming smile on her reluctant mouth, Erica stopped straightening the rack of new dresses to greet the customer. Only it wasn’t a customer. It was Rafael.
His dark glance slid past her surprised expression to the back of the boutique and the wide smile he gave her indicated that Donna must have stepped into view. She was always surprised at the way that smile could take her breath away.
There was only a slight hint of false happiness in her voice when she greeted him. ‘Rafael — I didn’t expect to see you today.’
‘It is always the unexpected that gives the most pleasure.’ The caressing tone of his voice reached out to her. ‘I found myself with the afternoon free and only one person that I wanted to spend it with.’
Those black eyes were regarding her with such sincerity that Erica almost believed him until she remembered Donna was listening. The corners of her mouth were tugged downward.
‘I hope by that you mean me,’ she answered in a halfhearted tease.
The intensity of his gaze increased, his brows drawing together in a questioning frown. ‘Have you not learned that I have eyes for none other but you?’ he asked softly. So softly that Erica doubted Donna had heard.
‘I think you will have to convince me of that,’ she whispered, an unknown pain clouding her eyes.
‘Erica.’ The use of her name was an impatient sound that was quickly replaced by his low, cajoling voice. ‘First I will take you to lunch. You have not eaten, have you?’ At the negative shake of her head, Rafael continued, ‘Then I have something I want to show you.’
The last statement astounded her. In all their previous outings, there had been witnesses, crowds of people to insulate her. But Rafael was indicating something entirely different. Erica balked visibly at the prospect of being alone with him.
‘Can’t it wait for another time?’ she rushed. ‘I really don’t have time for more than a lunch-break today.’
‘We’re seldom busy on Tuesday,’ Donna spoke up. ‘I’m sure I can cope by myself for a few hours, Erica.’
Erica pressed her lips tightly together to keep from crying out for Donna to be still. Rafael didn’t make it any easier by looking at her with open mockery in his eyes.
‘If that is all settled,’ he murmured complacently, ‘there can be no more objections, no?’
‘No.’ She shot him a furious look. ‘I have to get my bag. I’ll only be a moment.’
A few minutes later they were walking out of the boutique with Donna smiling her goodbye with the enthusiasm of one who has done a good deed. Erica had become accustomed to the possessive touch of Rafael’s hand on the back of her waist, but today she took exception to it.
‘There isn’t anyone watching us,’ she told him icily, ‘so there’s no need for you to touch me.’
‘What is it that has made you angry? I do not believe it is my touch?’ He raised his dark eyebrows.
‘I’ve never stopped being angry,’ Erica retorted, swinging her head defiantly in his direction. ‘I’ve never stopped resenting that you’ve forced me into this agreement.’
They had reached a staircase leading from the riverwalk to street level. Erica was on the first step when Rafael made her turn around to face him. The one step advantage brought her eye level with the ebony blackness of his.
‘I wonder which it is that you resent so much. The agreement? Or that I forced your acceptance?’ he mused. His hands closed over her hipbones to keep her in place when she would have pulled away.
Her palms were moist and Erica found it difficult to speak clearly. ‘O-one is th-the same as the other.’ She was much too conscious of how very near those masculine hard lips were.
‘If you say so,’ he shrugged, laughing silently at her refusal to differentiate. ‘Why do you hold yourself so rigidly, Erica?’
‘I don’t see any need to keep up this pretence of devotion in private,’ she replied quickly.
‘How else will you learn to be natural with me?’ he mocked.
‘I could never react naturally to you,’ she declared.
An exasperated sigh accompanied the release of his hold. ‘Let us go and eat before my appetite is completely robbed by your stubbornness.’
What little appetite Erica had was gone. Rafael too ate very little of his food, as the electrical currents charged the air between them.
‘I would prefer to go back to the boutique now,’ Erica said crisply the minute they were outside the small restaurant.
‘This side trip will only take a few minutes of your precious time,’ was his caustic response.
Often he mocked her, but rarely was he sarcastic. Erica discovered that his acid voice had the power to hurt. There was a sickening knot in the pit of her stomach that she didn’t quite understand.
‘Where are we going?’ she asked hesitantly as he opened the car door for her.
He didn’t bother to reply until he was seated behind the wheel and he had manoeuvred the car into the traffic. Even then his response was indifferent, as though he regretted insisting on this trip.
‘A friend of mine bought a house here in San Antonio. It is in need of considerable repair.’ A sardonic light was in the brief glance he gave her. ‘Since neither my friend nor his wife is able to be here at this time, he asked if I knew of anyone — any woman who possessed good taste — who would look at the house from a woman’s point of view and recommend any changes that might be necessary.’
‘That’s why you’re taking me to see it,’ Erica murmured.
‘What did you think?’ Rafael jeered softly. ‘That perhaps I was luring you off to some isolated place to demand my rights as a husband?’
‘I didn’t know what you had in mind,’ she coloured, ‘but I doubt that you would be so desperate as to take a woman you know would be unwilling.’
‘That cloak of another man’s love that you wrap yourself in will not always protect you, Erica. Do not depend on it too greatly.’
To that half-threatening statement, Erica chose not to reply, fearing that she might incite him to prove his point. And she had never had any doubt about his superior strength. She had felt the muscles in his arms and legs and knew they could be steel bands.
The large Mediterranean-style home Rafael parked in front of was bustling with activity. Three gardeners were clearing the months of neglect in the abundant foliage around the front of the house. Towering oaks gracefully arched over the cream yellow facade with its tile roof of chimney red. Other workmen were repairing the loosened mortar of th
e courtyard walls and replacing broken tiles on the roof.
Rafael led her through the ornate wrought iron gate into the courtyard with its overgrown walkways and the nearly vine-covered gazebo and from there into the house. Again there were workmen, painters covering the walls with a fresh coat of oyster white and stripping the old varnish from the woodwork. New floors were being laid in other rooms.
In spite of all the commotion, Erica was drawn by the undefinably proud character of the old home. The enormous living room with its high ceilings and mammoth fireplace captured her imagination. She could visualise its elegant grandeur furnished with heavy carved sofas and tables of Spanish design. The breakfast area was surrounded by glass, the individual panes stacked from floor to ceiling.
‘Are there any changes, additions that should be made?’ Rafael asked her opinion for the first time since the tour had begun.
‘I wouldn’t change a thing,’ vowed Erica. In her mind’s eye, she was picturing the glassed-in breakfast area abundantly dotted with greenhouse plants to increase the outdoor effect. ‘Not if you’re referring to knocking out walls and altering the basic layout of the rooms,’ she hastened to add.
‘Then you like it?’
‘Yes.’ She looked to him, making no attempt to mask the glow that radiated from her smile. ‘Your friend is very lucky. This house is a treasure.’
‘I have told you a small lie, Erica.’ Rafael turned his enigmatic gaze to the garden beyond the stacked windows. ‘My friend does not own this house. It belongs to me — to us.’
Erica stiffened indignantly. ‘You tricked me! Why?’
His head was tilted at an arrogant angle so that the impenetrable depths of his black eyes could look down on her. ‘I believe that if I had told you before we came that it was ours you would have been prejudiced against the house.’
She shifted uncomfortably away from his pinning gaze, unwilling to admit there might be any truth to his observation.
‘You live in Mexico. Why did you bother to buy this?’ she asked with cold scorn.
