A Spanish Seduction (11 page)

Ricardo’s response was to brush a kiss at her temple. ‘Of course. You don’t like the opera?’

‘I can’t concentrate on it, tonight. I think I’ve got too much going through my head now I’ve signed up for the on-line course.’

Or, maybe I’m just increasingly edgy sitting next to you and having you treat me and touch me like a lover when we aren’t lovers. Maybe I’m tired of warring with myself and I’m realising I badly want you to satisfy my body’s needs.

They left the booth and were making their way toward the exit of the theatre when Ricardo swore under his breath. ‘The man heading our way with the woman in red is Aberto Lorezzi, the banker.’

‘Oh, hell. Is that his wife with him?’

‘Yes.’

Carla Lorezzi. The woman who’d started this charade with her lies.

Heart pounding, Jessica ran her eyes critically over the Italian woman. It was true they shared the same colouring and were of similar height and stature, but that was where the similarities ended. Once again, Jess had an insight into the type of woman Ricardo was attracted to — sophisticated and cold as ice. Jessica was glad she didn’t fit the mould.

Aberto’s track toward them appeared deliberate, his eyes fixed on Ricardo with contempt.

‘Garcia,’ he said harshly as they drew near.

Ricardo inclined his head. ‘Aberto. Señora Lorezzi. It is my honour to introduce, Señorita Jessica Harris.’

Aberto’s lips pinched. The look he shot Jessica was one of pure disdain. ‘I’m a banker, Garcia. I know the value of the Euro and all it can buy. It seems some things are more easily bought than others.’

Jessica’s head snapped back at the deliberate insult.

Beside her, Ricardo stiffened. His fist clenched and his rage was palpable.

Adrenaline coursed through Jess. Sensing Aberto’s deliberate provocation she guessed the reason for it. The vote for CEO was approaching. It would be hugely detrimental to Ricardo’s chances for CEO if he were embroiled in a public slanging match.

‘It’s good you know the value of money and all it can buy,’ she slotted in quickly. ‘In your pursuit of it, I hope you don’t miss out on the things it
can’t
buy.’ Aberto’s eyes narrowed. Jess continued with a politeness that was entirely false. ‘Perhaps we’ll talk more another time. Ricardo and I are on our way home now, aren’t we darling?’

‘Have you decided to race the Garcia car in Monaco, Ricardo?’ Carla asked, ignoring Jessica’s attempt to leave.

It was the first time Jessica had heard mention of the race. She searched Ricardo’s face and waited for his answer.

‘My racing days are over,’ he replied firmly.

‘A pity,’ Aberto chimed in. ‘Fast cars and fast women were so your thing. It’s a pity to have lost your taste for one of the things that featured as such a priority in your life.’

The man was deliberately goading him.

Applying a little pressure on Ricardo’s arm, she sent him a loving smile and urged him toward the exit.

‘You looked better in a racing suit than you do in a corporate suit, Ricardo,’ Aberto taunted.

‘You’d do well not to challenge me on either track, Lorezzi,’ Ricardo replied.

Hoping her expression was pleasant and gave no sign of her inner turmoil, Jessica left the theatre on shaking legs. She believed she’d done the right thing intervening, but didn’t dare cast a look in Ricardo’s direction. Underneath the cool, superficial smile he wore, she felt anger continue to pulse from him.

When she reached the sanctuary of the limousine, Jessica sank thankfully into the plush leather seats. Ricardo didn’t join her immediately. Instead, he stood on the pavement and spoke to the chauffeur and head of security for a short time.

When he did join her, Ricardo reached forward wordlessly and pushed a button so the privacy partition slid up into place. The unusual action surprised her. She steeled herself, thinking she may be about to be admonished for her outspokenness.

‘You’re incredible!’ he voiced at last, but he sounded more amazed than angry.

She bit down on her lip for a second before she ventured, ‘Good incredible or bad incredible?’

He shook his head. ‘Good incredible. Unbelievably good for me.’

‘Oh.’ A great whooshing breath was expelled from her lungs. ‘That’s a relief.’

‘I’ve never felt so violent. Tonight I entertained the idea of throwing Juan over the balcony of our opera booth and giving Aberto the hard punch he deserved.’

She covered his hands with hers in a gesture meant to calm him.

‘Jessica,
querida
, you just prevented me from scenes which may have harmed my chances of becoming CEO.’

‘That was surely Aberto’s intention. He tried to goad you into an angry exchange, if not actual fisticuffs. I’ll bet he knows about the board vote.’

‘You don’t know how furious he made me by insulting you.’

‘Well, I’m glad you didn’t give him what he deserved!’

‘You believe karma will punish him.’ He raised her hands to his lips. The action reminded her of her earlier encounter with Juan. The difference in her responses to each man underlined the depth of her attraction for Ricardo. His lips sent delicious waves of pleasure all the way up her arm and through to her chest.

‘You’re one of a kind, Jessica. Exquisite to look at, intelligent, caring and honest.’

The all-too familiar physical consciousness hummed between them. Trying to diffuse it, Jess looked away from him and out through the window of the limousine. ‘This isn’t the usual route home,’ she observed.

‘We’re about to play tourist,’ he told her. ‘You’ve been sightseeing through the day, but I’ve monopolised your time each evening. You haven’t seen Barcelona’s Magic Fountains by night, so we’re heading there now.’

‘Thank you!’ His simple gesture of consideration touched her profoundly. ‘I’ve really wanted to see the display!’

It didn’t disappoint. From a spectacular vantage point of a walking overpass, they had an unobstructed view of the ever-changing display of colour and water patterns that were co-ordinated to music. The backdrop of the National Art Museum added to the grandeur.

‘Two thousand, six hundred litres of water are pumped through these fountains per second,’ Ricardo told her. He stood closely behind her. His arms looped around her waist and his breath tickled her ear as he spoke.

‘The colour and motion are mesmerizing.’

‘It isn’t the fountains that hold me mesmerized,
querida
,’ he husked.

Jess turned her head a little so she could look up at him. ‘Thank you for bringing me here.’

‘I’m very glad I did.’ His arms tightened around her.

‘Even though you were initially besieged by fans who wanted your autograph the second they recognised you?’

His shrug was one of resignation. ‘It doesn’t happen often.’

‘You probably don’t venture out publicly like this very often. I can understand why you have a security team to keep everyone at bay.’ If it hadn’t been for the security men, she suspected she would’ve been crushed in the rush of enthusiasm Ricardo’s fans displayed as they jostled to get close to Barcelona’s favourite son.

‘I don’t, and despite the lack of privacy, I’m enjoying being here with you.’ The short stubble on his jaw grazed her ear. ‘Have you visited the old town?’

‘Yes. On my first day here. I loved walking around the labyrinth of medieval streets and I discovered loads of interesting little shops down the hidden alleyways.’ There’d been oodles of atmosphere. The ancient Roman wall and gothic architecture blended with shows of patriotism as Catalan flags hung from many windows.

‘It comes alive even more at night with its cafes and Tapas bars. Would you like to go there next?’

Her heart surged. ‘Absolutely!’ She loved Barcelona, but she’d appreciate it even more with Ricardo at her side. ‘I know it’s getting late, but could we walk?’

His hands on her hips, he turned her in the circle of his arms so she faced him. The kiss he gave her was perfection in such a romantic, magical setting. It didn’t matter that they were amid thousands of tourists. Jess was only aware of Ricardo and the crescendo of classical music in the background as the water from the fountains shot high into the air.

‘We’ll walk,’ he agreed.

Walking wasn’t really what happened. On such a cloud of happiness, Jess felt more like she floated through the streets of Barcelona. Ricardo’s firm hold on her hand was surely the only thing that kept her from lifting off the earth. They passed by many sculptures and statues. Ricardo pointed out various buildings to her. Some of the things he told her, she’d already heard on her bus tour. She soaked up the information again, loving listening to Ricardo’s voice.

The Tapas bar was busy, but the owner greeted Ricardo warmly and ushered them to a relatively private table which overlooked a busy square. Jess left the ordering to Ricardo.

‘Tonight has been wonderful,’ she told him.

It didn’t matter how many times she looked at him, she was always struck by his stunningly handsome features.

‘I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it, and now you’re about to enjoy some authentic flavours of my country.’ He reached across the small table and took her hands in his. The small caressing movement of his thumb against her skin was tantalising.

‘I’ve loved the food I’ve tried so far. Perhaps it’s my Spanish heritage,’ she told him. The instant furrowing between Ricardo’s brows reminded her she hadn’t told him that part of her background. ‘I told you my father wasn’t named on my birth certificate, but my mother did tell me once he was Spanish. I guess there’s no way your investigator could’ve known that.’

One eyebrow lifted as he asked, ‘Is that why you chose to study Spanish?’

‘It was probably my initial reason,’ she admitted, ‘but I do love the language and found I had an aptitude for it. Subconsciously, it’s likely it provided me with a link to the father I didn’t know. At one stage I even thought that if he ever came to claim me, he’d be surprised and proud that I could speak Spanish.’

He shifted in his chair. ‘Would you like me to ask the investigator to try to trace your father?’

‘No.’ She shook her head resolutely. Knowing he’d do that for her made tears gather in her eyes. ‘I really appreciate it, but I don’t care now who my father was. For years I let myself believe there must’ve been some kind of mistake and he hadn’t knowingly abandoned us.’ She shrugged. ‘It was a childish fantasy that he’d come looking for me and mum. I’ve grown up and it isn’t important to me. In fact, I’d rather not meet him.’

He gave her hand a squeeze, but said nothing more on the subject as their drinks arrived, followed quickly after by their food.

They spent a couple of blissful hours at the Tapas bar. Mostly, they conversed easily, although there were a few quiet moments which were heavy with the strain of the ever-present sexual pull between them.

Jess thought she’d burst into flames when Ricardo fed her the
banderilla
. He removed pieces of food from the skewer. The feel of his fingers against her lips as he placed each morsel in her mouth, was electrifyingly erotic.

‘We’ll be travelling to Monte Carlo for the Grand Prix,’ he said.

‘I’ve always wanted to visit the Riviera!’ It was such exciting news. ‘This is the car race Aberto mentioned?’

‘Yes.’

‘Is the Garcia car racing?’

He nodded. ‘The new sports car is ready. The few problems we encountered have been ironed out and I plan to launch it back here in Barcelona the day after the race.’

‘That’s great!’

‘I’m not sure our driver, Eduardo, will achieve victory at Monte Carlo, but I think he’ll achieve the podium. If he can pull that off, our orders should pour in and Lorezzi’s loan will be paid off quickly.’

Obviously there was a lot riding on the outcome of the race.

A group of busking flamenco dancers caught their attention. Jess found herself captivated by the swirl of colourful skirts as the dance began in the square outside the bar. The fervour of the dance, with its rhythmic foot movements and clapping of hands, struck a chord within Jessica. The focus of the couples on their partners, and to the exclusion of all else around them, was the same intense awareness she had for Ricardo.

Swallowing hard, she turned to him, sensing he watched her rather than the dancers. When she met his eyes, she saw the question in them and understood it.

Oh, she so badly wanted to say yes to that question.

‘Shall we go?’ he asked more blatantly.

‘Let’s stay just a little longer.’ She was a coward. She turned back toward the dancers, buying time to build up her defences and her resolve.

But, she couldn’t stall him forever. When they were back in the limousine and making their way home, Ricardo kept the privacy partition up.

‘I’m off-balance when I’m with you.’ He moved his hands expressively as he spoke. ‘I’ve never had this mix of feelings before — this mix of desire and respect...A need to make you mine, yet the conflict of not wanting to hurt you.’

She was unprepared for his admission. Enthralled by the expression in his eyes, she offered no resistance when he leaned toward her. He kissed her with a carnal expertise which overwhelmed her. His kisses had so much urgency her breasts tingled and all her reason went into meltdown.