Authors: Barbara Delinsky
Pictures of You (6 page)
Study of the map completed, Roberto refolded it and returned it to his pocketâthe latter movement with a smirk toward Eva, as if he had been aware of her personal wanderings from the startâand excused himself to disappear into one of the rooms off the long hallway that led to the kitchen. When he re-emerged he carried a pile of large canvas and nylon knapsacks, which he unceremoniously dumped onto the center of the table for each to help himself. He then answered the few questions raised, none of which concerned Eva directly.
“If there are no other questions,” he began, looking slowly from face to face around the table, “I suggest we turn in. Remember, dawn tomorrow!”
It suddenly occurred to Eva that she had a whole list of questions, some critical to herâsuch as where her luggage was, because she hadn't seen it earlier in the living roomâwhich needed answering.
“Wait!” she burst out, looking in embarrassment at
the five faces turned toward her in surprise. “Ah ⦠I have several questions. The hotel? I need a place to sleep. And my luggage? I seem to have misplaced it.” She paused, feeling like an idiot, wishing desperately that these men would stop looking so intently at her, magnifying her feeling of incompetency.
the five faces turned toward her in surprise. “Ah ⦠I have several questions. The hotel? I need a place to sleep. And my luggage? I seem to have misplaced it.” She paused, feeling like an idiot, wishing desperately that these men would stop looking so intently at her, magnifying her feeling of incompetency.
“I think, Mrs. Jordenson,” Roberto's cool tone broke into her state of discomposure, the mocking twist of his lips at the corner of his mouth only intensifying it, “that we should let the others go now. They must be tired. I can answer any questions for you after they leave.”
Damn him! Damn him! Just what I don't want, and he knows it,
she thought, but she gave a forced smile and a terse nod of assent.
she thought, but she gave a forced smile and a terse nod of assent.
“Thank you. I'd appreciate that.”
One by one the men offered congenial “good nights” and departed, heading toward who-knows-where, thought Eva, and leaving her alone with Roberto.
Eva and Roberto stood staring at each other in silence as the last of the footsteps faded into the distance. Eva held her tongue, waiting for him to initiate the conversation as she knew he would. Not disappointing her, his coolly impersonal but polite tone broke into the stillness.
“Would you like more coffee?” To her surprise he did not wait for a reply but proceeded to clear the empty cups from the table, Maria having left unobtrusively a short time before. Eva made no effort to help him, since he had rebuffed her earlier offering of help to Maria, and she was curious to see the extent of his custodial ability. It seemed that his offer of more coffee had indeed been a formality, for he adeptly washed all of the cups, leaving them to drain dry at the side of the sink. Eva was already feeling the stimulating effect of the espresso, so she would have refused more given the chance. Now, as she watched him finish his cleanup of the kitchen, she felt her annoyance melt away, to be replaced by faint amusement at this unexpected touch of domesticity.
“Do I entertain you?” he spoke, glimpsing Eva's expression. “It seems to be becoming a habit of mine,” this last in reference to the moment earlier that evening when she had similarly smiled at his actions. Eva chose to ignore the implication.
“I enjoy seeing a man who can handle so-called woman's work. Most men I know would have broken half the dishes before they ever reached the sink, let alone gotten them clean as you have,” she replied, gaining confidence as she talked to this man whose presence vaguely intimidated her.
He gave a sideways nod, lifting one eyebrow as he did. “If that was meant to be a compliment, I thank you. But then, I'm not like most men you know, am I?” The gently teasing tone that now entered the conversation excited Eva, despite silent protestations in the back of her mind. Was it the caffeine or this other source of stimulation that was responsible for the trembling of her innards, she wondered.
“No, you're not,” she conceded. But how could he have known that? Could he have sensed the awakening flames within her at his very glance? Or had something of the surprise and even fear she had felt at her own outpouring of passion in his arms given her away? “But then, I really know nothing about you,” she went on, attempting to cover herself. As much as she wanted to protect herself from him, Eva felt herself drawn inexorably toward him like a moth to a flame.
Roberto's stance, as he leaned back against the sink, shaggy-haired forearms piggybacked on his chest, was relaxed, compatible with the conversation. He seemed to have mellowed in her presence also, to the point even of enjoying her company. The strange surge of affection she felt as she faced him thus frightened her. Determined to blanket herself in some less personal
direction, she ventured, “How did you meet the others? Are they business contacts, as was my husband?” The change of subject, and particularly the mention of Stu, had its desired effect. Roberto's expression became more serious and impersonal.
direction, she ventured, “How did you meet the others? Are they business contacts, as was my husband?” The change of subject, and particularly the mention of Stu, had its desired effect. Roberto's expression became more serious and impersonal.
“Jacques and I met last year at a conference in Paris. He was one of the keynote speakers; we spent quite a bit of time talking. Pierre is Jacques's friend. I've never met him before.”
“Pierre makes me very uncomfortable. He seems so angry and bitter. I wonder why?” she thought aloud, half regretting her forwardness, half hoping that Roberto might have some explanation to alleviate her nagging uneasiness in Pierre's presence.
“Jacques mentioned something about an unhappy marriage. Relax ⦠I doubt you have anything to fear from Pierre.” Again the smirk.
“I'm sure,” she retorted, annoyed at the transparency of her feelings. Moving to safer ground, she went on. “What about Tom and Paul. How do you know them? Certainly they're not business associates!”
“They go to school in Boston. I happen to spend a good deal of time there.” A slight evasiveness had crept into this response. “Do you like them?” His interest seemed to be genuine.
“They're terrific. Tom is quite a character. What a great sense of humor. Paul could probably become a best friend ⦠if I lived in Boston,” she responded enthusiastically. This last brought an even deeper grin to Roberto's face, altering his jaw line enough to jolt Eva by its familiarity. Impulsively she burst out, “Do you know that there is a resemblance between you and Paul? When I first saw him I knew there was something familiar in his expression. Now I see it ⦠the jaw line especially, but also the nose and the cheekbones.
His coloring is a little lighter, but you could be brothers!” The words had flowed freely, spontaneously, as Eva had herself seen the similarity.
His coloring is a little lighter, but you could be brothers!” The words had flowed freely, spontaneously, as Eva had herself seen the similarity.
“We are.” Short and simple as was his style, Roberto made his statement smugly and then awaited Eva's reaction.
Beneath its curls Eva's forehead creased where her eyebrows drew together in a look of incomprehension. Roberto's head flew back in a burst of unconstrained laughter.
“But the names ⦠he's so young ⦠he made no mention ⦔ she stammered, trying to justify her puzzlement.
“Paul is my half-brother. We have the same mother. Because of the age difference and the fact of different fathers continents apart, we don't have the intimacy that years together in a family might create. But we've become much closer recently. I like Paul. I'm glad that you do.” The genuine feeling for Paul apparent in Roberto's words and facial expression touched Eva. For whatever he was or was not worth as a ladies' man, she suspected that he had a genuine streak of warmth for his family, past and future.
The glint of humor had returned to Roberto's eyes. “So you think I'm an old man, do you?”
“By all means,” Eva gave a backward denial, even as she admired anew the touch of gray at his sideburns. Her fingertips ached to reach over and explore the silvery ends, but she restrained herself. Fearing that the conversation was again taking on too personal an overtone, she changed the subject.
“My questions. For starters, where is a hotel? I walked all over this afternoon with no luck in finding it.”
“You're here,” he grinned, appreciating her sudden attempt to lead the conversation to safer lines.
“This is no hotel,” she argued, beginning to resent the amusement he found at her expense, “and I need some place to stay tonight. I'm really tired.”
With unexpected impatience Roberto restated the fact. “This is as close as you'll come to a hotel in Terra Vermelho. It is my home. The other men are quartered in other homes. Actually, Paul was to have stayed here with me, but I rearranged things when you so conveniently, or inconveniently as the case may prove to be, fell into my lap.” A smile flittered across his lips briefly. “You'll stay in my room, as you did this afternoon. Yes, I went to my own room after a long trip, only to find my bed already occupied.”
As understanding slowly dawned, Eva felt sharp anger that he had not explained all this sooner. He went on before she could voice her objections.
“My housekeeper, Maria, rightly assumed that you were my guest when you repeatedly mentioned my name. She was not expecting a woman, though, and unfortunately jumped to the wrong conclusion.”
“I'll say!” Eva interjected defensively. “So she showed me to your bed and then very diligently ushered you up as soon as you came in. Very accommodating.” Sarcasm threw a look of disdain onto her features. “I'm sure she's used to that sort of thing!”
“If I didn't know that you were so recentlyâand tragicallyâwidowed, I'd say you were jealous,” he returned her sarcasm with his own, a wicked gleam in his eye.
Not knowing, much to her own consternation, an appropriate response, Eva chose once again to ignore his suggestion. “My luggage ⦠I had two bags. Where are they?”
“In my ⦠ah, your room. They were put away after you arrived. Paul just brought them upstairs.”
Eva felt momentary panic as her mind jumped
further on. Uncannily, Roberto remained a step ahead of her.
further on. Uncannily, Roberto remained a step ahead of her.
“No, I won't be sharing your bed this night, as much as I might wish it. You know, you do look beautiful.” His stance shifted suddenly as he straightened and approached her. “I think you must be fully recovered by now,” he smirked, reaching up to remove the eyeglasses which had served their purpose.
So he had seen through her again, Eva knew. What power did he have over her, she wondered with increasing alarm, this roguish adventurer?
His hand returned to finger the gentle curls that cascaded around her ear lobe. He now stood within inches of her, his eyes gazing down at her in gentle caress. Slowly and seductively his gaze slid from her rounded eyes across her cheekbone and around the sweep of her jaw to her moist lips. His eyes had made passionate love to her, and she gasped almost imperceptively at the excitement they evoked.
Then, the hand that had teased her hair dropped abruptly to his side as he stepped back from her, the only evidence of any emotion the slight irregularity of his breathing. The trance was broken. Eva's head jerked back as though suddenly released from a binding grip, though there had been none. Devastated by his rejection and frustrated by unfulfilled desires, Eva steeled herself against any words that might come.
Taking a deep breath, a look of anger now in his eyes, he growled under his breath, low and husky, “The widow is a siren! A damned siren! I'm stuck with a bewitching siren!”
Eva's own anger and hurt could be controlled no longer. In an instant she swung her hand up to deliver a solid slap to his face. Its impact took him by surprise, but his reflexes were sharp enough to capture her wrist in its descent, and, jerking it behind her back, he joined
it with the other, thus pinioning her stiffened body against the lean, hard contours of his. Distraught as she was, Eva couldn't miss the musky smell of him as he pressed her closer to him. Her head was tilted back to look at him as he growled slowly through gritted teeth.
it with the other, thus pinioning her stiffened body against the lean, hard contours of his. Distraught as she was, Eva couldn't miss the musky smell of him as he pressed her closer to him. Her head was tilted back to look at him as he growled slowly through gritted teeth.
“You are a nuisance and a temptation which I don't need. I won't have my expedition sabotaged by some sex-starved black widow. You can cast your web elsewhere. But, so help me, if you hurt anyone here, you'll regret having ever come to Brazil. Do you understand?” He tightened his arms sharply, as though to force her compliance. “Do you understand? And don't pull that pathetic teary-eyed routine on me again. I don't make the same mistake twice.”
The last he added at the appearance of tears brimming on Eva's eyelids. As he thrust her away from him, she fought to restrain both the tears and the knot of nausea in the pit of her stomach, brought on by his sudden violence.
But the instinct for survival was strong in Eva. She would not let herself be put down by this brute. Eyes sparkling now with anger and determination, she lashed back at him.
“I have every right to be here! My place was duly reserved and my supplies paid for. I see no difference whether a woman fills it or a man, although you seem to be hung up on that issue. Furthermore, I have no designs on anyone here. I haven't the emotional strength for that right now. But you wouldn't know what I'm talking about. And what makes you think that you or someone else here has anything I want? I find you despicable!”
Not quite sure how far to push her luck, Eva paused in time to notice a subtle softening of Roberto's expression, and the return of a light to eyes that moments before had been fathomless black pits. His faint smile
held a touch of sadness, which tore at Eva's heart in spite of what she had just said. In that instant she would have run to comfort him in her arms, as he had done earlier for her. The venom had evaporated as quickly as it had gathered, though for the life of her, Eva didn't know how.
held a touch of sadness, which tore at Eva's heart in spite of what she had just said. In that instant she would have run to comfort him in her arms, as he had done earlier for her. The venom had evaporated as quickly as it had gathered, though for the life of her, Eva didn't know how.
Roberto's voice retained a note of that sadness. “As long as we understand each other, Mrs. Jordenson. Now, it's late. I'll show you to your room.”
“I can find my own way, thank you.” Eva hurried to the door with a quick “good night” over her shoulder, and made her way down the hall to the stairway.
Once safely in her room, she leaned back against the closed door to catch her breath. What an extraordinary man, she had to admit. To have the capacity for such tenderness, such sensuality yet such extreme violence within one body. Even through the remnants of anger she had to admire his finer qualities.
If only,
she ponderedâ
if only, what?
She stopped herself. If only, what? What could she be thinking of? As she had told him so convincingly, she was here for the experience of the expedition and nothing else. She had to believe that!
If only,
she ponderedâ
if only, what?
She stopped herself. If only, what? What could she be thinking of? As she had told him so convincingly, she was here for the experience of the expedition and nothing else. She had to believe that!
Looking around the room, now lit by a simple but lovely hand-crafted ceramic lamp mounted on the wall at the head of the bed, Eva noticed her bags, which had been neatly placed beside the low table. She also saw that fresh water now filled the pitcher, and fresh towels awaited her use. The bed had been turned back and the pillows fluffed. Eva smiled; Maria had certainly been at work, angel that she was.
Quickly she undressed, washed up, and put on a simple pale blue nightgown, sleeveless, scoop-necked, and knee-length. How inappropriate it was here, she mused. The window had been lowered against the cool
night air, so Eva needed no further covering as she sorted through the clothes in her bag, making a small pile of those to pack in her knapsack. Her knapsack! She had left it downstairs! With a groan she realized that she would have to return to the kitchen to get it, preferably without alerting Roberto to her stupidity.
night air, so Eva needed no further covering as she sorted through the clothes in her bag, making a small pile of those to pack in her knapsack. Her knapsack! She had left it downstairs! With a groan she realized that she would have to return to the kitchen to get it, preferably without alerting Roberto to her stupidity.
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