a white shirt with the sleeves pushed up to the elbows, his pronounced five o’clock shadow lent him an earthy sensuality that took her by surprise. It had to be the anesthetic still in her system playing tricks with her mind.
“Are you my guardian angel?”
“If I were, you would never have had that accident.” He gave her hand a small squeeze before relinquishing it.
“You were the driver of the other car?”
“Sí. I’m Remi.”
The memory of their near miss flashed through her mind. “I—I could have killed you.” She half moaned the words.
“It wouldn’t have come to that. In any case, you were such an excellent driver, you turned aside in time.”
She bit her lip. “I remember swerving and the sound of the helicopter, but little else.”
“You’re at the Holy Cross Hospital in Madrid.”
“Madrid? I thought I was in Toledo.”
“I had them fly you here so Dr. Filartigua could operate. He’s an expert eye surgeon.”
She tried to swallow but her mouth was too dry. “Thank you. The nurse told me the operation was a success.”
He studied her intently. “The doctor told me the same thing. Would you like some juice? Then we’ll get your brother on the phone. He’s anxious to talk to you.”
She let out a small cry of surprise. “How did David find out about this?”
“I made inquiries through your work. When I told them what happened, they said to tell you not to worry about anything. All they cared about was your getting better. They gave me your brother’s name and phone number so I could get hold of him.”
“I see.”
He handed her a paper cup from her breakfast tray. The chilled apple juice tasted good. She drank all of it and handed the empty container back to him. “Gracias, Senor.”
“De nada, Senora.”
She had a feeling he was laughing at her. “I know my Spanish needs a lot of work.”
“You made yourself perfectly clear at the accident scene. I was impressed. If I sounded amused just now, it’s because you seem totally recovered from your operation. I wasn’t expecting it quite this fast.”
Even if he was lying about her Spanish, she was glad to feel this good already. She raised the head of the bed with the remote so she could sit up. That’s when she saw an arrangement of yellow and white roses interspersed with daisies placed on the table.
“Did you bring me those beautiful flowers?”
“Sí, Senora.”
“They’re gorgeous! Would you move the table closer so I can smell them?”
“I’ll do better than that.” He picked up the vase and carried it over to her. She buried her nose in one of the roses.
“They smell so sweet.”
“I’m glad you like them.”
“Who wouldn’t?” she cried softly. “Thank you!”
After he’d put them back, she spotted an unmade cot in front of the closet door. Her gaze darted to his. “You slept with me?”
His lips twitched. “Guilty as charged.” The man’s masculine charisma was lethal.
Her words had come out the wrong way. Heat rushed to her face like a swarm of bees. “What about your family waiting at home for you?”
A subtle change in his expression hardened his features. “What family would that be?” His acerbic question stopped her cold. “No doubt my staff was delighted by my absence,” he added in a mocking voice, but she saw no levity in his piercing black eyes.
“Why would you stay here with me?”
He stood there with his legs slightly apart, his hands on his hips. She’d never known a man so ultimately male. “I promised your brother I’d look after you. Would you like to call him now, or after you’ve eaten your breakfast?”
“I’d better phone him first. He took care of me after our parents died. Even after I was married he never got over the habit.”
“He told me you lost your husband a year ago. I’m sorry. Naturally he’s concerned.”
Jillian wished her brother hadn’t said anything. She sucked in her breath. “He worries too much about me.”
He cocked his head. “Where his sister is concerned, that’s a brother’s prerogative surely?”
“Do you have sisters?”
“No.” In an instant his eyes darkened, making her wish she hadn’t said anything. “Use my phone.” He handed her his cell. “I programmed his number. Press eight.”
As she took the phone from him, their fingers brushed. His touch sent little trickles of awareness up her arm.
He was a take-charge kind of male with a daunting, innate authority others wouldn’t dare to challenge. In Jillian’s case he’d left nothing to chance. Because of him she’d been given the finest care possible in the shortest amount of time. If that wasn’t enough, he’d watched over her all night.
She owed him a great deal, possibly her life. By the time her brother answered the phone, she was feeling rather emotional.
“Dave?”
“Thank heaven, Jilly. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine. How are Angela and the children?”
“They’re great. You sound too well for someone who’s just survived an accident and an operation.”
“The seat belt kept me from being hurt, and the Senor was right there to get me to the hospital. It’s just my eye. I’ve been told the operation went without problem.” She fought to keep the wobble out of her voice.
“Are you in bad pain?”
“No. Not at all.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not.” That horrific pain had gone.
“Let me speak to Senor Goyo.”
“Goyo?”
“I don’t think you’re fully awake yet, Jilly. Remi Goyo’s the man who’s been taking care of you.”
She almost dropped the phone. Her gaze darted to the window where he stood looking out through the slats, his expression remote.
Before
