His Temporary Wife (20 page)

She frowned. “None of your business, and fine.” Not true, but she didn’t want to discuss
it with Rafael, when he seemed to be such a central part of everything to do with
her aunt, good or bad.

The lights of Laredo receded and darkness prevailed, although Esmeralda knew they’d
run into the always daylight-bright Border Patrol checkpoint any time. She preferred
the darkness, liked the peace it provided. And the intimacy with Rafael.

“What do you have against my aunt? I mean, you said that she helped destroy Cody,
but your sister was a grown woman.” She saw his face tighten, and the corners of his
mouth turn down. “I don’t want to hurt you, but it involves Tía as well as Cody. How
did they meet? I saw a picture of you, Cody, and my aunt. You could swear Cody was
her daughter.”

“They did seem to have some strange bond. I never understood what Cody saw in her.
She had the best mom in the world.”

“Was Cody adopted?”

“I suppose you need to know some of the story,” he admitted unhappily. “Wouldn’t seem
real that we could be together and not talk about her. Mom and Dad tried for years
to have children and couldn’t. They adopted me, but as all the procedures to aid in
conception improved, somehow they had Cody.”

“Were you jealous? You were—”

“Twelve. And no, surprisingly, I wasn’t. Maybe a little afraid when I misbehaved that
I might get sent away somewhere, even though Mom and Dad never threatened me or said
that I would. I think maybe I wasn’t jealous because I already had so much more than
I’d ever had that I didn’t mind sharing. And even though I’d never had parents, really,
I’d never been alone before I was adopted. I’d been used to having kids around, so
I was overjoyed when Cody came along.”

“Was she always into music?”

“Not the way you are, no. But she could always sing. I thought when some friends heard
her in middle school and she got a lot of attention, it really changed her. She suddenly
wanted to sing.” After a moment’s silence, he said, “Let’s stop at Cotulla, just there
at the Big Wells exit. I need to stretch and get gas.”

“Would you like me to drive? I can.”

“If you hauled a horse trailer through the hills, you sure can.” He shot her a grin
as he slowed to exit. “Cody wouldn’t let me move her horses. She paid a guy who used
to drive the Clydesdales to do it.”

“Wow. She had horses?”

“Still does. Well … they’re Justin’s now, I guess.” He pulled up to a pump and turned
off the truck, stretching and smothering a yawn with his arm. “Long day. Do you need
anything?”

“Well, we’re here, so …” She slipped out of the cab and went inside, immediately spotting
the restroom sign. When she came out, Rafael was walking up and down selecting junk
food. “Chips, chocolate—what’s your vice?” he asked. “They also have chicken legs,
but they looked a little overcooked.”

“You have room to eat again?” she asked immediately.

“Maybe not eat, eat. But snack, probably.”

She got a bottle of water, which he promptly took away and paid for, then smiled and
handed her the bag. “Make yourself useful.”

She smacked him on the arm with the bag. “Careful. I might still change my mind about
wanting to work for you if all I’m going to do is carry bags. It insults my intelligence.”

When they were on the road again, she asked about the information he’d tossed out.
“Where are her horses?”

“They’re both at Witches Haven. I never thought to show you the stable. That rock
fence that sits back from the house? The stable’s behind that.”

“One more question about Cody?” she pressed.

He sighed but didn’t refuse. “Last one.”

“Why do you say you’re responsible?”

“Because I was just like Mom and Dad, but worse—I could never say no to her, either,
and I kept thinking I could get through to her. I let them think I was controlling
the situation. And I introduced her to the bastard who hurt her the most. He worked
for me. I hired him in spite of the fact our human resources manager said not to.”

She tilted her head. “Why?”

Lights flashing by from the oncoming traffic across the median showed the anguish
in his face. “I liked him. I knew he’d been in trouble, but I wanted him to have another
chance.”

“Like you got?”

“Yes.”

She stretched and shifted. There was so much more she’d like to know, but she’d told
him she wouldn’t ask.
Tonight
. She closed her eyes, thinking she’d just relax and forget the stress of the trip
and the emotional turmoil of the past several days. The music from the CD faded away
and then was gone.

• • •

She was asleep, her face in profile, almost angelic when light fared momentarily over
her face and then dissipated in the darkness. Damn, she was beautiful. He wondered
again how he thought marrying her was a good idea. For Justin, undoubtedly, and she
might have as good a chance as anyone of seeming to be the perfect wife in front of
his parents. She was smart and tough, and they’d like that. But he wasn’t ready to
risk commitment yet. He’d promised himself—and her—a safe, non-physical relationship.
No sex. No making love. Right now, tempted as he was to pull into the next rest area
and wake her with kisses, he couldn’t imagine having her in and out of his bedroom
without breaking all the rules. She’d suggested that might happen.

He swerved at the thought, without meaning to, and the tires thumped along the lane
dividers meant to wake up sleepy drivers. He glanced at her, but she hadn’t been startled
into awareness. He sighed with relief. A few more miles and he could say goodnight.
There were no residents to impress tonight, so he could skip the kiss. Definitely
safer that way. She hadn’t minded, though.

What had he let himself in for? He was especially glad that her family would be gone
by the time his parents arrived. They’d be hurt he hadn’t waited to marry, but he
could explain that away. How did you explain Esme’s family to two adults who regularly
gave the shirts off their backs and the cash in their pockets to anyone who needed
a hand up? Esme’s stories of her youth and her lost love made him hurt for her, and
he could see the lack of warmth her parents showed to her, to each other. Sad.

And the brother. Anger bubbled through him as he thought about Beto, clearly his parents’
pride and joy. How could they show her so clearly that she didn’t exist on the same
plane he did? He found it hard to believe it was all about Toby. Hadn’t they changed
at all? He’d almost ended the evening by smashing his fist in Beto’s ugly mouth. As
he’d been going around the truck to get in, Beto had inched in closer. “Be sure you
get her good tonight, Bro. She owes you.”

He’d turned enough that he hoped his back and shoulders shielded him, and pressed
a finger into Beto’s throat. “Don’t you ever insult Esmeralda again,” he warned, pushing
the finger in until Beto coughed. “I grew up on the streets,” he added, and while
that wasn’t entirely true, Beto seemed to accept him at face value.

It was already Saturday—
12:02 AM
—when he turned into the drive up to Witches Haven. A week and hours from now he and
Esmeralda would legally be married. He drew in a deep breath and wondered how he’d
make it through next Saturday, let alone survive his parents arriving.

The dogs were outside on the porch when he pulled up and stopped. He frowned. Marie
knew she was supposed to get them in before dark when he wasn’t there. They liked
to run and they were big. He knew they’d never hurt anyone, but goat ranchers in the
area had been known to shoot large dogs that were running loose.

Esme stirred, then suddenly sat up, startled and disoriented. “What … oh, we’re here?”
He noticed she didn’t say “home.” She’d probably need to practice that one, in case
she ever found herself alone with his parents. He’d planned a number of diversions,
but he couldn’t fill every minute of her time. She opened her door and slid out, and
the Danes raced toward them, barking joyfully. Good thing there were no immediate
neighbors, or he’d probably be reported by annoyed neighbors.

“Sorry I fell asleep,” Esme apologized. “I’d better get home.”

“You can’t leave this late,” he argued. “Shouldn’t drive the curves when you’re not
wide awake.”

She yawned so widely and suddenly she only partially covered her mouth. “Oops. Maybe
I’m not wide awake. But I’m perfectly able to drive. And I can’t stay.”

“Why?”

“Tía will be upset. She’ll think that we … that I …”

“Spent the night together?” he volunteered. “Isn’t she the one who sent you here?”

“She wanted me to apply for the job. I’d never forgive her if I thought she assumed
that meant I’d sleep with you, Rafael Benton.”

He frowned. “You might as well get used to being here,” he said after a minute. “We
don’t have a lot of time. And if you’re here in the morning, I’ll have time to show
you the stable and Cody’s horses.”

“I haven’t even seen my horse in what seems like weeks,” she reminded him. “I’d stay
to see the horses, but I don’t have clothes to stay overnight.”

“Maybe Marie—”

“Don’t you dare suggest I borrow something from that woman!” Esme hissed. “She hates
me! And I don’t like her much, either.”

“Maybe if you gave each other a chance,” Rafael suggested. “I really need the two
of you to get along.”

“We’ll get along. We won’t wear each other’s clothing.”

She glared at him and he glared back. Finally she shrugged. “I’m wide awake. I’m going
home. What time do I have to be here to see Cody’s horses?”

“Try to come before eight. I need to drive in to San Antonio. I’m flying to Houston,
but I’ll be back Monday.”

“So is this wedding you say we’re holding a week from today going to plan itself,
Rafael?”

“Good night, Esme. Be careful.” He collared the Danes and led them toward the house,
not looking back.

Cody Benton hadn’t minded spending money. She’d been born into money, she’d made money,
and at least where her horses were concerned, she’d gone all out. The stable was low
and sturdy, with six stalls along a wide aisle. Thermostats along the wall provided
temperature control and decorator lights dotted the ceiling, banishing any shadows
or gloominess. The stalls were spacious, and only two of them were occupied. The occupants
were beauties, too, and probably cost a fortune themselves. A palomino quarter horse
looked up and nickered at them. In the other stall, a tall gray gelding watched them,
ears up, expression alert but not friendly.

“The palomino’s name is Treasure, and she’s an AQHA champion,” Rafael told Esme. “Cody
didn’t show her, but she bought her after she got the points she needed. The gelding
is a Dutch Warmblood. I understand that he comes from a line that has competed very
successfully in Olympic events.”

“Impressive. They’re beautiful. Do you ride?”

“Not often. I rode occasionally with Cody if she asked me to, but the time just wasn’t
there. She had an agent who booked her tours and appearances, but my parents had asked
me to monitor arrangements and try to keep her away from certain people and places—like
trying to stop a tidal wave with one hand.” He shrugged. “I usually lost when we disagreed,
and toward the end … she didn’t make time for her horses either.”

“Are you planning on keeping them?”

He reached in the open door to pat the mare, but the gelding moved back in his stall,
clearly suspicious of them. “Probably. I couldn’t stand letting something happen to
them.” He smiled. “I’m trying to find a pony for Justin. Cody talked about very little
else when she first found out she was pregnant. How cute ponies were and how every
kid should have one.”

“This is such a beautiful place, and you even have riding trails. I wish I’d found
a little better place for Domatrix.”

“Bring her here,” he offered. “Seriously, why not? We have the room. ”

“It’s tempting. But then I’d have to move her again in a few weeks. And anyway, I
can’t do that to the Petersons. I’m not sure they have an income other than what they’re
getting from boarding her.”

“Hmmm.” He took a couple of steps down the corridor, considering. “But think of how
perfectly it would work into the plan.”

“Now you want my horse involved in this scheme?”

“We both agree that this has to be a platonic relationship, right? I mean, everyone
knows the worst thing you can do is have an affair with an employee, right?”

She didn’t answer. She’d seen a couple of affairs at schools that had turned out with
happily ever afters. Besides, he was too close to her, close enough that she could
smell his cologne. Close enough that she wanted to reach out and trail a finger across
his lips, silencing all his talk about not making love to each other for the next
two months.

“Uh … sure,” she said, when he looked confused over the lack of an answer.

“So if you have Domatrix here, you can ride every day. For hours. Less time together,
less temptation.”

“And wouldn’t your parents find that a little odd, us avoiding each other?”

“Maybe. But Cody was horse crazy as a kid. Mom might just think you were like her
about horses, only longer. Although since I haven’t seen them or Justin that much
lately, I guess it would defeat the purpose. But I still think you should bring her.
No offense to the Petersons, who seem very nice, but she’d be safer here.”

Esme couldn’t argue with that. She just couldn’t bring herself to tell the Petersons.

“Rafael!” Marie called from the far end of the stable. “You told me to be sure you
left by nine! You’ll be late.” Belatedly, she added, “Good morning, Esmeralda.”

“Good morning.”

“Knew I’d be late, and I’ve been up since five.” Rafael sighed. “Listen, don’t worry.
My flight is early Monday. We’ll get the marriage license and a ring then, okay? Unless
you want me to bring one from Houston.”

Talking about rings so early in the morning seemed a little surreal. She couldn’t
tell him she didn’t want a ring in front of Marie, who supposedly didn’t know their
engagement wasn’t real, so she just nodded. “Have a good trip,” she said, then smiled.
“Tell Justin I look forward to meeting him.” That was true. She hadn’t had a personal
conversation with a child since school ended.