Valaquez Bride

by Donna Vitek

  "Will would be much happier if you stayed in Spain," he almost whispered, his voice appealingly rough. "But I suppose you wouldn't want to do that?"

  Responding to his serious tone, Juliet answered seriously. "I don't think I could just loaf around forever, letting Uncle Will support me. Besides, everyone expects young women to take up careers these days. I wouldn't want to be a misfit."

  A muscle in Raul's strong jaw ticked with fascinating regularity. "But do you want a career?"

  I want you, she longed to say but knowing she couldn't, she simply forced a smile. "I think I'd like to do something to help disadvantaged people, so there are a great many careers to choose from. I just have to decide exactly what I want to do."

  "You don't have to have a college degree to help other people," Raul said. "Truly caring about them is far more important than formal schooling. Abuela has no degrees but that hasn't stopped her from helping others. Many of the children around here would be suffering from malnourishment if she hadn't instructed their mothers in the basics of good nutrition and then seen that the families received the food they needed."

  "I'm sure her caring has made many lives much better," Juliet said sincerely. "And I envy her the resources that allow her to do it. But I'm afraid I'll have to get a job that pays and allows me to be of service to others. And to get one of those, you almost have to have a college diploma so I have little choice except to go back to school."

  Raul's eyes darkened to a deep forest green and for a moment he seemed on the verge of saying something, but apparently changed his mind. Instead he glanced down at the gold Piaget watch on his wrist. "I must get back to the casa. I'm expecting a call from Madrid," he told her, cupping her elbow to direct her toward the lazily grazing horses. "You'll go back with me. I think you've spent enough time in the sun for one afternoon."

  Juliet didn't argue with him. By now, all desire for a longer ride had dissipated. As their horses picked their way over the rocky trail then broke into a canter on the road through the olive grove, she and Raul said little to each other but there was nothing really tense about the silence between them. Yet, Juliet did feel a vague sense of unfulfillment, as if something one of them needed to say had been left unsaid. The feeling persisted even as they rode into the stable but when Raul lithely dismounted, then reached up to lift her from the saddle, everything changed. The sense of unfulfillment altered to sweet anticipation as he brought her down close to him, allowing only the tips of her toes to touch ground before his arms enfolded her.

  "Mi amada," he whispered, burrowing his face in her hair. "You're so beautiful."

  Another time, it might have hurt to hear him call her his love when he didn't love her, but at this moment she let herself luxuriate in the endearment. It was enough to be near him, to experience both his strength and tenderness. Detecting the evocatively familiar lime scent of his after shave, she relaxed against him, her arms encircling his neck. As she whispered his name, his lips found the racing pulse in her throat, then moved up to cover her own. The kiss teased, heightening the anticipation, then surged to a passionate taking of her mouth. A desire born of love quickened deep within her and keenly awakened every nerve in her body. Never had she felt so totally alive, so sensuously receptive that the lean hand curving into the small of her back and the other that gently cupped her nape seemed to sear her skin. The tip of his tongue tasted the sweetness of her mouth and she felt as if she were melting into him as dizzying pleasure swirled her senses.

  "Juliet, I…" he began, then groaned softly as her lips eagerly sought his again.

  Lost in the marauding power of his kiss, Juliet barely heard the footsteps on the concrete stable floor. But she was brought back to reality by a familiar feminine voice's furiously exclaimed, "Dios!" Raul reluctantly lifted his mouth from Juliet's. As her eyes opened, they met the hot glimmer in his. As he slowly released her and an appealing rosiness tinted her cheeks, he smiled slightly before turning to face Jimena Ruiz.

  Juliet also turned, biting back a groan as she found not only Jimena glaring at her but Pablo and an unknown Spanish girl as well. Pablo's face was tight with anger. He took a step toward his brother. Then, without warning, he swung a fist.

  "Pablo, no!" Juliet cried. But before she could move, Raul had already swiftly raised his arm to deflect the attempted blow. His green eyes raked over Pablo who stepped back, intimidated by a will far stronger than his. Yet, he didn't concede defeat gracefully. A string of strident Spanish pierced the silence until Raul interrupted with a curt command.

  "Speak English. You're embarrassing Margarita with your indelicate language."

  "Damn you," Pablo whispered violently, clenching and unclenching his fists. "What right do you have to be kissing Juliet?"

  "You're acting like a spoiled child," Raul replied coolly. "There's no reason for you to be so upset."

  Juliet felt rather ill, hardly able to believe Raul could so carelessly dismiss as nothing the few moments they had just shared together. And when Jimena Ruiz gave her a mocking triumphant smile, it was the final straw.

  Juliet turned and fled the stable. She half ran across the pebbled drive in her haste to escape all of them, even the obviously confused Margarita. Desperate to reach the sanctuary of her room, she rushed between two of the cypresses that bordered the courtyard but she hadn't even passed the swimming pool before Jimena caught up with her.

  "I will talk to you, señorita," the older girl said venomously. Her sharp fingertips dug into Juliet's arm. "Since the first time I saw you, I suspected you were the little fool. Now you have proven me correct. Do you believe Raul is seriously interested in you? Idiota. You are only a diversion for him, a silly little thing with whom he can dally."

  "Thank you for your analysis of his feelings," Juliet answered sarcastically. As she tried to free her arm, Jimena's fingernails dug deeper into her flesh, but she refused to wince. "Let me go."

  "In a moment. I am not yet finished." Jimena sneered. "You make me sick. You are one of those girls who can look so innocent even though you are not innocent at all. Perhaps that is what intrigues Raul. He knows you are experienced but you look so young and dewy-eyed." She snorted. "But he will not stay intrigued very long. So you would be wise to stay away from him. I tell you this for your own good."

  "I just bet," Juliet retorted. And as fingernails clawed her arm before it was released, the remnants of her composure vanished. "Why don't you go jump in the pool, Jimena? Or better yet, I think I'll push you in," she threatened with incredible calm, stepping menacingly toward the older woman. "I'd like to see what chlorine would do to that designer silk dress of yours. And I imagine your perfect coiffure wouldn't look so perfect after a dunking, would it?"

  Jimena's almond eyes widened with surprise and some fear. Holding up one hand, she backed up, glanced over her shoulder, and, after seeing how near she was to the pool, she sidestepped hastily. Then she turned and scurried away, as if the hounds of hell were after her silk dress.

  Juliet smiled grimly but soon delayed reaction set in, creating a heaviness in the center of her chest as she wandered aimlessly into the house. She didn't really know why she suddenly felt so terribly depressed. Jimena hadn't told her anything she hadn't known already. Yet, somehow, the truth hurt more when another person told it, even if that person was a shrew like Jimena Ruiz.

  Wandering across the main hall, Juliet decided to hide herself in the library. No one except Raul ever seemed to use the room and he usually did so only in the evenings.

  After opening the ornately carved double doors quietly, Juliet slipped into the vast book-lined room. She had always liked it here. The comfortable leather furniture and sturdy tables and desks added a homey touch of stability and security, which was exactly what she needed at the moment.

  Though the majority of leather bound volumes were naturally written in Spanish, there was an entire section devoted to English and American literature. After perusing the titles, she reached for a novel by Thomas Hardy
, feeling his brooding view of life would certainly suit her present mood. But before she could take the book to a chair and sit down with it, Pablo threw open the library doors then shut them with a resounding bang after entering the room.

  "You owe me an explanation," he muttered as he approached Juliet. "And I want you to answer this question for me: Were you not interested in me last year because you were in love with Raul?"

  Hugging her book to her breasts, Juliet sighed tiredly. "I told you last year I simply wasn't romantically interested in you. Raul had nothing to do with it. So no, I wasn't in love with him last year."

  "But now you are," Pablo snapped. "Aren't you?"

  "Yes," Juliet admitted candidly. "I guess I am in love with him."

  "And is he in love with you too?"

  "He certainly doesn't act like it," she retorted ruefully. Then her expression sobered. "No, he isn't."

  "But you love him anyway. Is that it?" When she nodded, Pablo smote his forehead with the heel of his hand. "I should have known it. So there is no chance for me, is there?"

  "Pablo, please stop this game," Juliet said beseechingly. "You only think you want me because I'm not interested. That makes me a challenge, that's all. You know you don't really love me."

  "I know there's no use in loving you now, if Raul is my competition. But I could have loved you eternally."

  Juliet smiled indulgently. "We're not even compatible. We never would be. Accept that. And try to be content with someone like Margarita. She is a lovely girl and she would certainly fit into your life more comfortably than I ever could."

  "What good is there in talking about us?" he muttered. "If you're in love with Raul, I know you couldn't love me. He's much more dynamic than I am, more mature and stronger. Women flock to him; I can't compete."

  "You're younger," Juliet reminded him gently. "Give yourself time and you'll be as—as magnetic as he is, I'm sure."

  "But not for you?" Pablo asked softly. "I'll never have a chance with you?"

  "No," Juliet whispered. "And I told you that last year."

  "And now I must accept it," Pablo conceded with a slight smile. "All right, I accept it. Or at least I understand. So I will leave you alone from now on. Adios, Juliet."

  Smiling slightly at his dramatic exit line, she allowed him to kiss her cheek. She watched him leave the room and shook her head indulgently. He was such a little boy; she couldn't stay mad at him. Drawing a deep breath, she sank down on a worn black leather chair but before she could open the book she held, the library doors opened again.

  This time it was Raul who came in. Juliet's hands began to shake violently as he strode across the room to stand towering above her. "I saw Pablo follow you in here," he announced flatly. "What did he say to you? Was he abusive?"

  "N-not really," she answered, her voice embarrassingly shaky. "And I think I finally managed to convince him he's only been interested in me because I've never thrown myself at him as many other girls do."

  "And why is that, Juliet?" Raul questioned seriously, his steady gaze enigmatic. "My brother can be a charming young man so why doesn't he appeal to you? Is it because he is Spanish?"

  "Because he is Spanish?" Juliet repeated blankly, then felt an incongruous desire to laugh. If only Raul knew that his being Spanish certainly hadn't prevented her from falling hopelessly in love with him… But he didn't know that and she couldn't tell him, so she shook her head instead. "What would his being Spanish have to do with anything? I'm just not interested in him because—because, well, he just seems so young, I guess."

  Raul's tense expression altered slightly. He almost smiled. "Pablo is older than you, Juliet."

  "But he seems younger. He's very flighty and I just take life more seriously, I guess."

  With a swiftness that set her pulses pounding, Raul leaned down, his lean brown hands gripping the armrests of her chair. A sudden warmth in his green eyes seemed to envelop her. "Do you take life seriously, pequeña? Really?"

  "Yes, I think I do," she breathed nervously. "Don't you believe that?"

  "I'm trying, Juliet," he answered cryptically. One hand came out to press gently against her cheek, then he straightened with something like a sigh of regret. "We'll talk about this again soon," he promised softly. "But right now, I must catch that phone call from Madrid. You understand?"

  Juliet understood nothing and could only gaze up at him with wide bewildered eyes. But when he murmured, "Until later, mi amada," and started to stride away, she called after him.

  "Raul, I—I'm sorry if I've caused trouble between Pablo and you. I feel very bad about what happened—in the stable."

  Raul's gaze, dark and intense, roved over her. He shook his head. "That wasn't your fault. Pablo simply has a hot temper but he rarely stays angry for long."

  "But he tried to hit you."

  "That wasn't the first time, I assure you," Raul responded wryly. "Even when brothers love each other, they don't always agree. So you are not to worry about what happened in the stable. Understood?"

  "I don't know," she murmured weakly. "I still feel guilty."

  With an incomprehensible murmur, Raul took a step in her direction, then stopped and shook his head. "You shouldn't feel guilty but I'll have to convince you of that later. The call from Madrid…" As she nodded and forced a wan smile, he hesitated again, then turned and quickly strode from the room.

  With a soft heartfelt moan, Juliet closed her eyes but they flew open again as a voice spoke her name. Though Señora Valaquez was rising from the high-backed chair that faced the desk, in which she had been hidden from view, Juliet couldn't really be surprised. This quiet library had become as busy as Grand Central Station this afternoon.

  "I did not intentionally eavesdrop," Señora Valaquez said, as she walked toward Juliet. "I confess I had fallen asleep in the chair and did not hear you come in. But Pablo entered so noisily and began talking before I could make my presence known. So I remained silent. I did not want to embarrass him or you."

  "I understand," Juliet murmured, steeling herself for the disapproving sermon she feared would follow now. So she was astonished when Alicia Valaquez suddenly gave her an apparently genuine smile.

  "I am rather glad I overheard you talk with Pablo," the señora said quietly. "I had assumed you deliberately played the tease with him last year, but when he did not deny that you had always tried to discourage him, I realized I had been wrong. I apologize for thinking badly of you."

  "It's all right, really," Juliet said. "I understand why you were so concerned about Pablo. He's your grandson and I can't blame you for being upset with me, if you felt I had deliberately hurt him."

  "Which I now know you did not do." The señora smiled gratefully. "You were firm with him today but also kind."

  "I've never wanted to hurt his feelings," Juliet offered. "I like Pablo but…"

  "It is Raul you love." Señora Valaquez finished for her with a gentle smile. "Yes, of course, I heard you tell Pablo that too."

  Imagining she detected sympathy in the woman's dark eyes, Juliet bent her head. "I hope you won't tell Raul what I said?"

  "Why should I? That is for you to do."

  Juliet smiled sadly. "I can't tell him that. He'd be horrified."

  The señora's fine dark brows arched speculatively. "Why are you so certain of that, niña? I suspect you do not know my grandson very well. Or you would not be so frightened of him that I could hear the fear in your voice when you spoke to him. He was being very nice to you, yet your voice trembled. Why? What is it about Raul that makes you afraid?"

  Juliet spread her hands in a resigned gesture. "Oh, you know."

  "I suspect I do. Now," Alicia said softly. "I was as innocent as you when I met Raul's grandfather so I too was afraid of him, though I loved him very much. So I understand what you are feeling."

  "Thank you for being so nice," Juliet said sincerely. "It's a relief to know you no longer dislike me, señora."

  Amazingly, the woman put out her
hand and gently stroked Juliet's shimmering auburn hair. "You may call me Dona Alicia if you wish, niña," she offered. "Now that we understand each other better, we can be friends. Si?"

  "Si, I'd like that," Juliet replied, finding some solace in the fact that at least Raul's grandmother's unflattering opinion of her had changed, even if his hadn't, and probably never would.

  Chapter Nine

  Almost two weeks later, Holly's baby was born. In the hospital waiting room a little past midnight, Juliet looked up from the pages of the glossy magazine she was merely staring at. She shook her head as Benny paced in front of her for the millionth time, it seemed. "Will you please sit down before you wear a hole in the carpet," she said with a wry grin. "You've been doing that since I got here at nine o'clock. Stop please; you're making me dizzy."

  "I can't stop," Benny lamented, continuing his pacing as he raked his fingers through his untidy hair. "When they called to tell me Holly had gone into labor, I was pretty calm—until I got here. Then when they told me it might take all night for the baby to be born, I just couldn't sit down and act like nothing was happening. How can I sit when Holly's all alone suffering all sorts of agonies."

  Sighing, Juliet closed the magazine she held. "I don't imagine Holly's having a terrific time right now but don't blow everything all out of proportion. She's having a baby; women do that all the time. And the doctors won't let her suffer agonies and she's certainly not alone. She's being well taken care of and is probably a lot more relaxed than you are at the moment. So try to calm down, Benny. Look at Señor Perez. His wife's having a baby right now too, but he's not pacing the floor like a caged lion."