the ball.
Alex shot Maria a glance, trying not to notice the way her nipples beaded against the thin fabric of her suit. “You okay?”
“Of course.” She moved closer and lowered her voice. “And I want to win.”
He grinned, for the moment forgetting his responsibilities and his governmental role. “Then let’s do it.”
The game was fierce and quick, each side battling for supremacy. The Montoro team edged ahead by two or three only to be matched by Alex and Maria in the next few minutes.
Bella was short, but she was a master at setting up the ball. It was clear that she and her brother had teamed up before. Maria was taller and could occasionally punch a shot over the net, but mostly she fed the ball to Alex.
They had made it to game point a half-dozen times when the older Rafael appeared poolside and signaled their attention with a broad smile. “Dinner in half an hour. Don’t make me come after you.”
Alex grinned at his partner. Her cheeks were pink from the sun or from exertion or both. Her eyes sparkled amid spiky lashes. “We’ve come too far to lose,” he said.
“My feelings exactly.”
In that moment, he knew that they could have as easily been talking about their mission as the game.
Alex turned back to the net. “We’re ready.”
Bella pumped a perfect serve deep into her opponent’s watery court. Maria fielded it, set it up for Alex, and he shot it over the net. Back and forth, back and forth.
Finally, Maria began to tire. But she still made her play and got the ball to Alex. He jumped, ready to spike a point, when he lost his balance and fell into the net. Gabriel seized the moment and hammered the ball into enemy territory.
Unfortunately, the driving slam struck Maria in the face, and down she went.
“Good God.” Alex’s heart stopped. Vaguely he was aware of shouts from Bella and Gabriel, but he got to Maria first and dragged her up out of the water. Her eyes were closed, her face contorted in pain. Already a large knot had formed over her left eye.
Gabriel shoved his way close. “Let me see her.”
Alex glared at him. “You could have knocked her out.”
Gabriel touched her hair. “Damn, I’m sorry. Stupid competitive urges. I should be shot.”
Maria tried to stand up. “I’m fine. No permanent damage.”
Alex tightened his arms around her. “Don’t move. I’ve got you.” He strode toward the ladder, Gabriel at his elbow. Gabriel nudged him. “Give her to me and hop out. I’ll hand her up to you.”
Alex bristled. “No. I can handle this.” Awkwardly, he tried to reach the first step.
Bella got between him and the ladder, her expression combative. “You two boneheads are acting like Neanderthals. Back off. Maria can get up the ladder on her own.” She bit her lip. “Can’t you, honey?”
Maria nodded. “Of course.”
Reluctantly, Alex allowed Maria to wriggle out of his embrace. He steadied her when she was on her feet. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Her face was pale, but she managed the three steps and made it up onto the side of the pool.
Alex sprinted behind her and picked her up again.
Gabriel and Bella followed him. “There’s a sofa in the cabana,” Bella said.
As Alex deposited his precious cargo on the comfy couch, Gabriel frowned. “I’ll call 9-1-1.”
“No, no, no.” Maria sat up despite their protests. “It’s a bump on the head. That’s all. Give me some aspirin and I’ll be fine.”
* * *
Maria was embarrassed and mortified. Her three companions hovered like broody hens. And despite her wishes, the Montoros’ private physician was summoned. The speed at which he arrived startled her.
Everyone was sent out of the cabana while the doctor did his exam. He was kind and gentle and thorough. At last he gave her the all clear. No concussion, but plenty of headaches on the way.
When the other three were allowed to return, Maria struggled to sit up. “We have to change. Dinner is already late because of me.”
Gabriel crouched beside her. “Let Alex take you back to the villa. You’re in no shape to suffer through a formal meal. My family will understand, of course. If you feel better in the morning, you’re welcome to join us for breakfast.”
Bella nodded. “My bull-in-the-china-shop brother is right. I’ll have dinner sent down to you. Take the evening to recover.” She gathered up Maria’s things, as well as Alex’s, and tucked them in a large canvas tote.
Gabriel handed Alex a set of keys. “Take the golf cart that’s outside. Call the main house if you need anything or if she gets worse.”
“I’m sitting right here,” Maria said, exasperated. What was it about powerful men that made them feel as if they had to control the world?
Alex steadied her as she stood. “Take it slow.”
Outside, Bella gave her a hug. “I’m so sorry about this.”
Gabriel said nothing, his expression frustrated and guilty.
“It’s nothing,” Maria insisted. “I’ll be fine.”
At last she and Alex were allowed to escape. He drove the cart expertly, of course. And though she couldn’t remember for sure where all the turns were, Alex tracked the route without error.
Back at their lodging, she held him off with an upraised hand. “I can walk inside.” Still wearing a damp swimsuit, she felt distinctly at a disadvantage, even though Alex was half-naked, as well. Perhaps because Alex was half-naked. Despite her pounding headache, she wasn’t immune to his overt masculinity.
She was accustomed to seeing him dressed to the nines, sartorial perfection from head to toe. And that man was wildly attractive.
But something about all the bare skin between them sent a pulse thrumming low in her belly. Alex’s lightly hair dusted chest and powerful thighs said louder than words that he was a virile man in his prime. If she hadn’t been indisposed, she’d have been hard-pressed not to jump his bones. As it was, she had to admire him with a modicum of restraint.
Though she would die before admitting it, she was woozy by the time they made it inside and to her room. Alex allowed her to move at her own pace, but he stayed close. At last, she faced him with a wry smile. “I’m going to take a shower. I’ll be careful, I promise.”
“Is that wise?” She could see that he didn’t like her choice. But short of tying her to a chair, he had no recourse but to step back and close the bedroom door.
When he was gone, her legs gave out and
