A Spanish Engagement (8 page)

As the door closed behind him Carrie leaned back against it.

Since her divorce she had prided herself on being in control of her life. Having everything orderly and controllable, be it work or relationships… Now suddenly her life seemed to be pulling her along in the weirdest of directions and she felt as if she were losing the reins of power over her own destiny. It was scary, but even more frightening was the memory of that kiss a few minutes ago and the effect it had had.

W
HAT
did a woman wear for a fake date with a fake fiancé? Carrie wondered as she riffled through her wardrobe for what seemed like the millionth time.

She took out a long white dress and held it up against herself. It had a plunging neckline. Too revealing. She discarded it and reached for a floral dress—somehow that seemed too frothy and feminine.

Decisively she took out the black dress again. That would have to do. It was smart, yet attractive, could pass for business or pleasure. Yes, the black dress was the safest option.

Her mind made up, she sat down at the dressing table and dried her hair. From the lounge she could hear the TV. Carmel and Bob had arrived early to look after Molly.

They were really very kind people, Carrie thought. Molly was still a bit wary around them, but she seemed happy in the familiar surroundings of the flat. She had eaten her tea happily with them earlier, and then Carmel had helped get her ready for bed. Although Molly was now fast asleep Carrie was glad that Max had suggested a restaurant nearby, just in case Carmel and Bob had any problems.

Carrie reached for her make-up and applied a very light cyclamen-pink lipstick. Then slipped into the black dress. The effect was pleasing; the dress emphasised her slender figure and the light golden colour of her hair. Picking up her black beaded handbag, she made her way out into the living room.

‘You look lovely, Carrie,’ Carmel said immediately.

‘Thank you.’ Carrie smiled at her and then looked over at Bob, who was fast asleep in the chair.

‘That long flight has taken a lot out of him,’ Carmel said as she followed Carrie’s gaze. ‘And his health isn’t one hundred per cent.’

‘If he wants to go to bed the spare room is made up.’ Carrie sat down on the settee. ‘That goes for you too, Carmel. You both need to take things easy,’ she said. ‘Tony’s death has taken its toll on us all.’

‘You’re right, and worrying about Molly hasn’t helped.’ Carmel turned down the volume of the TV. ‘I think we will have an early night. I’m so relieved that you have met such a nice man, Carrie. We both thought Max was wonderful. I can’t tell you the peace of mind it has brought us, just knowing that Molly is settled and happy with you both. Because I suppose, if I’m being honest, Bob was right yesterday when he said we were worried about how we would have coped with her—not that we wouldn’t have managed, of course,’ she finished, with a return of her old spirited determination.

‘Of course,’ Carrie said gently. ‘And I do understand that you only want the best for your granddaughter.’

The doorbell rang. ‘That will be Max.’ Carrie glanced at her watch and noticed he was exactly on time. ‘Now, you’ve got my mobile number—if you need anything don’t hesitate to ring me.’

‘I won’t. You just have a lovely romantic time with that handsome man of yours.’

Carrie went to answer the door. A lovely romantic time was not what she needed or wanted, she reminded herself stiffly. That kiss yesterday had meant nothing, and the fact that she kept remembering it at the oddest moments was really irritating her. First thing on her agenda this evening
was to make sure that this arrangement with Max wasn’t going to mess things up business-wise between them. José would be expecting her to have things with the Santos vineyard pretty much wrapped up next week.

And her job was important; she was going to be relying on it now more than ever to support Molly.

Her mind rationalised and her confidence high, she opened the door.

Max was wearing a dark blue suit with a pale blue shirt. As always he had that continental flair, looking effortlessly stylish. But it was the way he looked at her that made her heart stand still, that made her sensible thoughts melt away. His dark eyes held hers in a way that was all male—and extremely compelling. It made her remember the way he had kissed her, the way she had craved to be closer to him. It set a thunderous, clamorous need racing inside her.

‘Hello, Max.’ With determination she made her voice extremely cool.

He smiled at her. ‘You look lovely, Carrie.’

Even the way he said her name made tingles of awareness shoot through her. Furious with herself after all her wise words of counsel, she looked away. ‘Thank you; step inside for a moment.’ Politely she stood back to allow him in. ‘I just want to have a quick check on Molly before we go.’

‘How is she today?’ he asked.

‘Fine. Carmel and Bob came round early and they all got on very well.’ As she was speaking she was moving away from him towards Molly’s bedroom door.

She crept quietly in. Molly was still fast asleep, her toy dog tightly tucked under one arm, her lips slightly curved in a small smile.

Looking down at her, Carrie tried to assure herself that
her pretence with Max was worthwhile. Everything was going to work out.

But when she returned to the hallway and Max put a light hand against her back to guide her out of the door the same feelings of panic reared up inside her again. The feeling that she wasn’t in control here. He was.

The night air was warm and slightly humid, and Max’s car was parked just outside the front door. He opened the passenger door for her before going around to the driver’s side.

For a moment there was silence as he started the engine and pulled out into the road.

‘Have they released your father from hospital yet?’ Carrie asked.

‘No, but they will tomorrow afternoon hopefully.’

‘That’s good. Your mother must be relieved.’

‘Yes, she is.’

‘And have you mentioned anything about me?’

‘No.’

She glanced across at him, wondering if he had changed his mind about the agreement. His face was in darkness, only lit from time to time by the passing headlights of cars. It was hard to gauge what he was thinking. ‘Are you going to mention me?’ she asked tentatively. ‘Or have you changed your mind?’ It was strange—one part of her was vehemently against lies of any kind, and yet thinking he might be pulling out of the agreement gave her an equally cold feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Max didn’t answer her straight away; instead he pulled the car around the corner and into a car-parking space. Only when he had switched off the engine and the lights did he turn to look at her. ‘I think we should be seen out together a lot more before I mention you,’ he said decisively. ‘That’s why I have chosen this restaurant for din
ner tonight. Apart from it being close to your apartment it is frequented by people I know; family members and friends alike tend to congregate here. It will make our affair more realistic if other people report it back to my parents. That way they might ask me about you…’ he shrugged ‘…and then, when I “own up,” they will feel delighted. It will make everything much more believable.’

‘I see.’ Carrie was quiet for a moment. ‘You are very good at this deception caper,’ she said thoughtfully.

‘It’s important we get it right,’ Max said, reaching for the door handle. ‘And if we have a few dates at the right places it will help to set the scene. My father is a shrewd man; he knows me too well to be taken in lightly.’

Carrie followed him out of the car. She wondered if by knowing him well Max meant his father knew he was a man who only liked to play the field. The thought sat uneasily inside her. She wanted to cast it aside and think of him as the charmingly tender man who had comforted Molly at the hotel yesterday and had been so playful and fun with his sister’s children at lunch the other day.

And if she were being honest there was also a part of her that wanted to believe that the way he had kissed her yesterday might have meant something. But she knew that was naive in the extreme. Max had gone out of his way to emphasise the point that this was only a business arrangement. And the kiss had only been intended as a test to make sure that they could convincingly play the part of lovers. She couldn’t afford to forget that and get fact and fantasy mixed in her mind. This was business.

Although it was almost eight the streets of Barcelona were crowded with shoppers. The lights that spilled from the windows were welcoming and golden, and the buzz of conversation reassuringly normal. This was the way it always was in the city. People had a siesta in the heat of
the day and then worked late, shopped late, and seemed to live life at a busy, more energetic pace when the sun went down. Carrie loved the buzz of this city, loved the ornate architecture, the galleries and shops and parks. Life here seemed so civilised somehow.

It was also a city of excellent cuisine, and the restaurant that Max led her towards had one of the best reputations in town.

‘How did you get a reservation here at such short notice?’ she asked as he pushed the door open and stood back for her to precede him.

‘I come quite often. Plus I know the owner.’

‘Is he a family member?’ Carrie asked with a smile.

‘Ambrosio is my cousin.’ He grinned. ‘His father works up at the vineyard.’

The restaurant had low lighting and candles flickered in the individual private booths. The ambience was one of intimate relaxation, yet it was stylishly trendy, making it the kind of place that people liked to be seen.

The receptionist, an attractive brunette in her early thirties, greeted Max warmly. She came around the desk and stood on the tiptoes of red stiletto heels to kiss him on both cheeks, enquiring after his father’s health and listening to his reply with a look of deep attentiveness in her dark eyes. They talked for a moment about his father, and then Max quickly switched to speaking English as he turned to introduce Carrie. ‘Carrie, this is my cousin’s wife, Estelle.’

Carrie was conscious of the way the other woman quickly weighed her up, with a look that was boldly, almost brutally assessing. But her voice when she spoke was perfectly polite. ‘I’m pleased to meet you, Carrie. I have a good memory for faces and I’m sure we have seen you in here before.’

‘Yes, a few times,’ Carrie murmured. ‘Your food is always excellent.’

‘Thank you; my husband Ambrosio is the chef as well as the owner of the establishment. He is very talented. Let me take you to your table.’ As they walked down the wide aisle towards the side of the restaurant Carrie noticed how the other woman linked her arm through Max’s. She had a very beautiful figure and she seemed to sway her hips as she walked, the red dress she wore emphasising her perfect curves. Before they reached their table she reached up and said something close to Max’s ear.

Carrie tried to ignore it, tried to pretend she wasn’t even curious about what she might have said. The woman was Max’s cousin’s wife, so it couldn’t have been anything too personal, surely? Probably just a bit of family repartee. Even so, Carrie couldn’t help feeling pleased when Max pulled away from her and instead turned to wait, so that he could allow Carrie to settle into the small private booth before taking his seat opposite.

Estelle handed them both a menu and then lingered beside them for a moment. Carrie had the impression that she was waiting for Max to ask her to join them; the atmosphere seemed a bit odd.

‘Thank you, Estelle.’ Max’s voice was pleasant, but dismissive.

She smiled a bright, almost brittle smile and left them.

‘What was that all about?’ Carrie asked curiously.

‘Just Estelle being nosy. She’s a terrible gossip and will want all the details about you so she can pass them on to the rest of the family.’

‘Oh, I see.’ Carrie smiled, a flickering light of amusement in her blue eyes. ‘Which I suppose is why you brought me here. So, tell me, do you think I’ve passed the first test?’

‘Absolutely.’ Something about the serious way he answered her light-hearted remark made her stomach dip as if she were on a fairground ride. For a moment his eyes held with hers.

Then Max picked up the wine menu. ‘So what would you like to drink?’ he asked.

‘Santos wine, of course,’ Carrie said lightly.

‘Hey, we are leaving work behind tonight,’ he admonished with a grin. ‘So I suggest we try some of the opposition’s offerings.’

‘Then I’ll leave the wine selection to you,’ she said.

As Max perused the wine list Carrie tried to concentrate on the menu, but she kept glancing over at him, distracted by his presence. The candlelight threw flickering shadows over his ruggedly handsome face. She wondered what it would be like to really date Max, for him to be genuinely interested in her. Her eyes moved towards his lips, remembering how compelling and demanding they had felt against hers. No one had ever stirred such fervid hunger inside her with just one kiss before.

He glanced up and caught her watching him. ‘Have you made your decision already?’ he asked.

Rather than say she had been too busy thinking about him, she nodded.

He signalled the waiter to take their order and hurriedly she selected the first things that caught her eye on the printed lists.

Carrie noticed how easily Max switched from speaking Spanish to English as they were left alone again.

‘Your English is perfect,’ she remarked. ‘I’ve noticed a few times how you never seem to struggle searching for a word, which I sometimes do when speaking Spanish.’

‘I think your Spanish is excellent,’ Max said. ‘And your accent is extremely sensual.’

Usually Carrie would have had no problem laughing a remark like that off, but something about the way Max spoke, the way he looked her directly in the eye, made it hard to keep herself from blushing. ‘I get by at work and that’s the main thing,’ she managed to say matter-of-factly, then swiftly turned the conversation back to him. ‘Where did you learn to speak English?’

‘My mother is English. She met my father when she came over for a holiday to visit friends. Apparently the day they met was the day she should have been flying home, but her flight was cancelled so her friends took her to a party that evening instead. She always says that it was destiny. They were meant to meet. And my father says that as soon as he saw her he knew instantly that she was the woman he wanted to marry.’

Carrie smiled, charmed by the story. ‘It was love at first sight. A little like Carmel and Bob. I’ve often wondered about that. I can understand attraction at first sight, yes. But how do you know someone is right for you…I mean
really
right for you just by looking at them—when you don’t even know them?’ She shrugged, ‘I can’t imagine ever feeling that sure of anything.’