said nothing. The shadows across his face accented the strong planes and fascinating hollows. Just looking at him made her ache to touch him. ‘You think that proves anything?’ she challenged.
‘It proved that we’d be pretty sensational in bed.’
She gave a scared little gasp and just ran.
When Ramon returned she was waiting in the car. He was terribly apologetic about the wait and didn’t seem to notice anything unusual about her silence.
‘RELAX,’ Ramon recommended as Lucy looked nervously over her shoulder. ‘You won’t see him.’
That assurance was the only reason she was here—that and Ramon’s promise of a ride on a pure-bred Arab, which she had been unable to resist.
Though she’d managed to do so until Ramon, correctly interpreting her reluctance, had promised his brother would not be there. ‘So there’s no need to be nervous.’
Her pride stung, she had retorted hotly, ‘Your brother does not make me nervous. I simply find him …’ At a loss to explain even to herself the way the man made her feel, she finished lamely, ‘He won’t be there.’
‘No chance,’ Ramon had promised, coaxing, ‘Come on, the least I can do is give you the ride I promised. You’ve fulfilled your side of the bargain and, yes, don’t worry,’ he soothed, predicting her interruption, ‘I know you don’t want to carry on with our plan … You are sure about that?’
‘Quite sure.’
‘Pity, I was having fun. Oh, well.’ Ramon gave a philosophical shrug. ‘It’s not all bad—you really got to Santiago.’
Not nearly as much as he got to me.
‘Did I?’ she said, getting hot as she thought of his hard, lean, ardent body pressing her … his warm breath … She sucked in a steadying breath and thought, Keep it together, Lucy. The man kissed you—big deal!
‘Well, he was as rude as hell to you.’
‘I assumed that was normal for him.’
Ramon shook his head. ‘Big brother is always polite even when he’s mad as hell. He has this way of letting you know you’ve messed up without raising his voice.’
‘I feel so special.’
‘You still sure you don’t want to carry it on?’
‘I don’t. Sorry, Ramon, but I’m here to help Harriet and that doesn’t leave much time to make myself a sitting target for your delightful brother’s insults.’
Actually she did have time, as Harriet had pointed out when she had heard Lucy knock back Ramon’s offer to go out.
‘I appreciate what you’re doing, Lucy, but even convicted prisoners are allowed time off for good behaviour and, besides, you’re giving me an inferiority complex. The place has never looked so immaculate.’
Lucy had allowed herself to be persuaded … perhaps a little too easily?
‘Ah, well … but it’s all good. You made such an impression that no matter who I date is going to seem an improvement, so it’s win-win for me.’
Lucy’s lips quivered. ‘I’m so glad to have been of help.’ The sarcasm passed over Ramon’s head. ‘You are sure your brother won’t be around?’ She wasn’t scared of bumping into him, it was simply a matter of common sense. She hated spiders so she wasn’t going to wander into a room where she might encounter one.
‘I told you Santiago rides before anyone is up. He’s already done half a day’s work before breakfast. The man’s a machine, not human—he might not even sleep at all.’
Lucy did not share the admiration in Ramon’s voice. ‘Or maybe he can’t sleep because he has a guilty conscience?’
The spiky comment drew a laugh from Ramon. ‘Most people think Santiago is one of the good guys.’
Lucy snorted.
‘That’s Santiago’s horse, Santana,’ Ramon said as she walked to the stall containing the massive magnificent black stallion she remembered from her first meeting with Santiago … Was that really only four days ago?
It seemed like a lifetime ago.
The animal rolled his eyes, showing the whites as Ramon caught the hand she had extended to the animal and pulled her back. ‘Not a good idea. He’s a bit unpredictable.’ Like his master, Lucy thought, remembering that kiss again and shivering. Jaw clenched with the effort, she pushed the memory away.
A few sleepless nights ago she had finally decided to cut herself some slack, realising that the only reason she had kissed him back like some sort of sex-starved bimbo was because she was—the sex-starved bit anyhow. She had been living the life of a nun and that was not normal or healthy.
When you thought about it, their kiss had been inevitable. It had certainly not been some life-changing experience, just the result of bad timing and hormones.
It had made her realise that what she needed was some balance in her life, and while she was not about to sign on with a dating agency or start attending speed-dating evenings—both suggestions from helpful family members—she was not going to actively avoid the possibility of a relationship. Rather, as her mum poetically phrased it, she was going to put herself out there.
If Friday night had proved anything it had proved she did after all have a libido. Her full lips twisted into a bitter smile—it was just a pity that she didn’t have good taste!
She shook her head and tuned back in time to hear Ramon say, ‘… and not very fond of anyone but his master. Now how about Sapphire?’ He drew Lucy towards a chestnut pure-bred Arab filly several stalls away from the black stallion. ‘She’s a lovely girl with very good manners.’ Ramon held out his hand to offer a treat to the horse.
‘She’s lovely,’ Lucy agreed, patting the animal. She placed a hand to her stomach as another of the cramps that had started an hour or so earlier made her catch her breath. The pain passed and she forgot about it as her attention strayed to the animal in the stall. ‘Have you ever ridden Santana?’
Ramon laughed and shook his head. ‘Santiago would have my skin if I tried. He doesn’t share. You really have a way with horses.’
‘My father bred racehorses as a hobby—we all ride. He put me on the back of my first horse when I was two and led me on a thoroughbred when I was six.’ She broke off as Ramon lifted a hand to his head. ‘Are you all right?’
Ramon shook his head. ‘Fine, fine … I just need …’ He flashed her a tight half smile and said, ‘I’ll be back in a minute. Tomas here will look after you.’
The groom Ramon hailed smiled and saddled up both horses, and when he realised that she knew what she was doing, left her alone.
‘Abandoned,’ she said, burying her face
