Surrender to Her Spanish Husband (16 page)

He lifted a shoulder. ‘What about it? There are infinite ways we can accommodate whatever is needed, my angel.’ His expression glazed with passion, he cupped Jenny’s hips to rock her even harder against him. ‘You can lean against me the whole time…’ His breath was ragged again as he watched her move over him, her blonde hair an enticing tousled mass of corn-gold against her pale slim shoulders. ‘And I can wash your hair for you, just like I did once before. I’m an expert now, remember? Then you can wash mine. Afterwards, I will redo the dressing for you.’

‘Rodrigo?’

‘What is it, beautiful?’

‘Didn’t you—?’ Another helpless moan left Jenny’s lips as he pushed upwards and high inside her. ‘Didn’t you say something about not talking?’

‘
Sí.
I did. I guess you’ll just have to kiss me passionately to make me stop.’

His black silk pyjama bottoms riding low on his hips, his chest bare, Rodrigo returned to the bedroom with the two cups of coffee he’d made. Last night they had agreed to give going out to dinner a miss. Instead he had ordered some food from a favourite local restaurant to be delivered, and they’d enjoyed it sitting in their robes at the huge glass table in the dining room.

Now, the sun-kissed morning light was drifting in through the large plate-glass windows, and the undrawn coffee-coloured silk curtains were moving gently either side of the frames in the breeze.

The delicate light outlined Jenny’s still sleeping form. Her slim pale arms were down by her sides as she slept on her stomach in the middle of the huge canopied bed, her golden hair a riot of silk over her shoulders and her exquisitely shaped back bare to the waist.

Leaving the coffee on a bedside cabinet, Rodrigo simply stood at the side of the bed to gaze at her. Just the sight of her made the blood pound hard in his veins. And last night…last night he had been so close to confessing that he loved and adored her.
What had held him back?
She was carrying his baby, for goodness’ sake!

The thought was like a small explosion inside him. Prevalent in his emotions was pride, possessiveness and joy…ecstasy, even. It hardly made sense that he couldn’t voice his feelings to Jenny. But unfortunately, given his past, it
did
make sense.

Even now Rodrigo sensed his father’s austere ghost looming over him—his disapproving gaze and the countless warnings he’d drummed into him about the dangers of losing his focus making him shudder. Then he thought about how his dedication to the business and his long hours away from home had doubtless contributed the unhappiness he’d seen in Jenny when they were together. Could he risk hurting her a second time? He was crazy about her. It would hurt so much more this time if things between them didn’t work out…all the more because they would have a child together.

In the bed, Jenny drew her knees up under the covers, rolling over onto her side, facing Rodrigo. Her dazzling eyes opened like precious sapphires winking back at him. His blood heated as if molten honey were being siphoned through his veins.

‘
Buenos días
, beautiful…I’ve brought you some coffee.’

Grabbing the silk counterpane in front of her as she sat up against her pillow, she made a face. ‘Not coffee. I can’t stomach it at the moment, I’m afraid. But you go ahead.’

‘This is because you are pregnant?’ Again the immense enormity of the situation facing him hit Rodrigo.

‘Yes. I haven’t visited my doctor yet to confirm it, but when I return to the UK I will.’

‘There’s no need to wait until you return to the UK to do that. I can arrange an appointment for you to see a top obstetrician at any time, Jenny. In fact I’ll get onto it as soon as we’ve had breakfast.’

‘But don’t get an appointment for today, will you?’

‘Why not?’ Rodrigo frowned.
Was she hiding the fact that something might be wrong?

‘Because you promised we’d visit the cathedral together today, remember? When I was here last I visited it on my own, but it wasn’t the same without you.’

Her sweet dimpled smile eased his fears, and he climbed across the bed so he could join her. ‘Then a promise is a promise, is it not? So we’ll get ready soon and go to the cathedral. The earlier the better, as the lines of tourists form quickly. And afterwards we’ll have lunch at a great restaurant I know that does fine dining.’

‘We could have cheese sandwiches and a bottle of squash in the park…I really wouldn’t care, Rodrigo. You don’t have to impress me with fine dining.’

‘I’ve never met another woman who was so easily satisfied.’

‘Did I say anything about being easily satisfied, Señor Martinez?’

Rodrigo’s stomach muscles clenched hard as iron when Jenny tugged at the drawstring on his pyjamas and then, with a warm, seductive glint in her summer-blue eyes, deliberately loosened them.

‘So, you want me to show you how good I am in bed, Jenny Wren?’

She met his lowering mouth with a hungry little groan. ‘Yes, please!’

Chapter Twelve

I
T WAS
like a fairytale castle, and quite wonderful to have the chance to see it again—even more so because Rodrigo accompanied her.

As she leaned on the walking stick he’d provided Jenny gazed up at the collection of imbedded seashells in the cathedral walls, squinting in the warm early-morning sunshine to marvel at the tapering spires and curved walls, as well as the astonishing un-cathedral-like mounds of fruit that looked as if they were fashioned out of wax.

Gaudi had been a lover of nature, Rodrigo explained to her—he’d wanted to incorporate as much of nature as he could into his cathedral. Everywhere Jenny glanced was a quirky little gem, like a waterspout coming out of the mouth of a salamander or frog, and delight and awe were prevalent as she looked avidly around her. Inside, the cavernous interior was like a huge carcass that had been abandoned. But as they gazed from the walkway down at the tall cranes that were still very much part of the construction they saw that work on the Cathedral was still undoubtedly in progress. Even though the building would not be finished until around 2030 Jenny could easily imagine it filled with tall flickering pillar candles and a stunning altarpiece that the great and the good could marvel at and pay their respects.

Beside her on the walkway, Rodrigo stayed protectively close. A warm little buzz of pleasure assailed her every time she realised it. He might have experienced the cathedral many times before, but he clearly didn’t take its beauty and magnificence for granted, and Jenny was certain she spent just as much time stealing furtive glances at his wonderful strong-boned profile as she did examining the stunning construction.

Leaning towards her, he whispered, ‘I think it’s time you took the weight off that ankle for a while. Come…we’ll go back down and find a seat somewhere.’

Eschewing Jenny’s idea of a simple picnic in the park, Rodrigo took her to a fabulous restaurant for lunch, which had a fleet of gleaming and expensive cars parked outside. It seemed he knew the manager well, because he was enthusiastically greeted like a longlost friend and attention was danced upon him from the moment he and Jenny walked through the door.

Awed by the elaborate crystal chandelier twinkling above them, and the generous-sized table laid immaculately with sparkling silver cutlery overlooking a stunning white terrace, Jenny glanced down at her simple white short-sleeved blouse and auberginecoloured skirt, praying she wasn’t underdressed.

If Rodrigo’s teasing sensual smile was anything to go by, she needn’t have worried. Every glance he sent her way touched her like an intimate caress—as if to remind her of the passionate loving they had shared and
would
share again. And, although there were several amazing-looking women close by, having lunch with their partners or friends, it seemed he had eyes only for Jenny.

Yet as she tackled her deliciously light starter she began to feel queasy again.
This time it wasn’t due to her hormones.
Why did he seem to be deliberately avoiding the topic of her pregnancy? He had asked her to give him time, but was that fair? What if he decided that he still didn’t want to be with her, despite the fact they were going to have a child together? Now she didn’t know if she
could
wait to have his verdict. It seemed that she’d already waited a long time for what she wanted in life.

Somewhere outside, the sound of a child’s distressed crying highlighted her apprehension about the fact that her own baby’s father had still not made a decision about their future.

‘Rodrigo?’

‘Yes,
querida
?’

‘I need to talk about our situation…about what’s going to happen?’

His fingers twirled the stem of his wine glass. With a brooding expression, he lifted his gaze. ‘I asked you to give me some time, did I not?’

‘We don’t have to get married again, if that’s what you’re worried about. We can still raise a child together unwed.’

But even as the words left her lips Jenny’s acute sense of distress pressed in on her, like a claustrophobic bubble about to swallow her up. More than anything she’d always yearned for a family of her own. She’d waited so long to have her dream come true—had endured enough disappointment and hurt to last a lifetime. From across the table she observed Rodrigo’s shuttered expression, and she couldn’t help wondering if she was about to endure
more.

‘This is not easy for me,’ he breathed.

‘I can see that.’

His mobile phone rang. Reaching into his jacket pocket, he didn’t ignore it, as Jenny had hoped he might. He spoke entirely in Spanish to the caller. She was completely excluded from the animated conversation.

When it came to an end Rodrigo leaned towards her, his air definitely distracted. ‘I apologise for interrupting our meal with that call, but something has come up at the hotel that needs my attention. In fact…’ he glanced down at the solid gold diver’s watch that so expensively circled his tanned wrist ‘…I’m going to have to leave you for a while, I’m afraid. Would you mind very much if I arranged for my driver to take you back to the apartment when you’ve finished eating? All your needs will be catered for—you only have to ask. It’s vital that I get back to the hotel for a meeting as quickly as possible.’

‘You mean you’re not even going to have lunch with me?’

‘I’m sorry, Jenny. But this is very important.’

‘And what we were just discussing
isn’t
?’ Crushed that he was proposing to abandon her in the restaurant to finish her lunch alone, Jenny picked up her linen napkin and threw it onto her side-plate. Searing colour scorched her cheeks as she faced him.

‘Of course it’s important.’ Scowling in frustration, Rodrigo drummed his fingers on the table. ‘But I have responsibilities—’

‘Don’t we all? I understand you’re committed and dedicated to your job, Rodrigo—you wouldn’t be such a resounding success at it if you weren’t. But sometimes we have to balance our priorities, don’t you think? Sometimes there are other forms of success besides work. And if the fact that in a few months’ time you’re going to be a father isn’t a priority, then I honestly don’t know what is!’

She pushed to her feet, forgetting about her still bandaged ankle, and almost lost her footing. Immediately Rodrigo came round to her side. But when he circled Jenny’s waist with his arm she angrily threw him off. Right then she didn’t even care if they had an audience.

‘If you’re leaving to go back to the hotel then I’ll leave now too,’ she told him, mentally garnering every bit of resolve not to cry. ‘To tell you the truth, Rodrigo, I don’t think I’m so keen to stay with a man who’ll always put work before his personal life anyway—especially when he has a child to consider. What if our baby was ill and I needed you with me as his father, to be supportive? Would you say
Sorry, but I’ve got to get back to work?
Don’t bother with a reply…Going by past experience I think I already know your answer.’

The Black Mercedes drew up in the private car park of the spectacular glass and chrome hotel. In the elegant, luxurious confines that separated them from the driver, Rodrigo tugged Jenny’s pale slim hand onto his lap. His expression was racked and conflicted, she saw.

‘Do you know how bad I feel about leaving you like this?’

‘If you feel so bad then you’ll postpone your meeting…at least for a couple of hours…so we can talk,’ Jenny returned reasonably.

Scraping his fingers through his ebony mane, Rodrigo emitted a long frustrated sigh. ‘I’m afraid that’s impossible.’

‘Impossible meaning you can’t postpone it, or you
won’t
?’

‘
Dios mio!
An extraordinary meeting has been urgently called, with half a dozen shareholders waiting on my decision about a considerable financial undertaking for the hotel, and I absolutely
cannot
postpone it. Initially I instructed my second-in-command to stand in for me, but when I spoke to him at lunch I realised he was not as fully informed about the deal as I am. I’m genuinely sorry about this,
querida
, but we will talk as long as you want when I return. I promise you.’

With a quick kiss on her cheek, and the drift of his tantalising cologne lingering in the space he’d left behind, Rodrigo knocked on the glass partition to give some instructions to his driver and in a flash…was gone.

Never before had he endured such hard-to-bear impatience. It was like torture. As his driver weaved the car through the converging traffic, with furious horns being honked loudly and drivers gesticulating wildly, Rodrigo almost…
almost
wanted to get out and walk back to the apartment.

For about the hundredth time he checked the time on his watch. Leaving his delighted shareholders toasting him with champagne after the mutually satisfying outcome of the meeting—as well as the extremely healthy financial report his accountant had given them—he’d all but knocked them over to get out of the boardroom.

Dragging his tie away from his shirt collar, he glanced out of the tinted car windows and gritted his teeth.
All he wanted to do now was get back to Jenny.
He should have postponed the meeting. His portfolio and kudos were such that he could have easily put it off until it was more convenient. Now, remembering Jenny’s disbelieving face and angry declaration that she wasn’t so keen any more to be with a man who put his work first, Rodrigo wished he
had.
Oh, why had he messed up again when he’d been given an incredible second chance to make things right?