A Convenient Marriage

by Maggie Cox

  ‘There, there, now. You’re all right. Mummy’s here, darling girl.’ With a kiss on the top of her head and a firm cuddle, Ellie’s practised ministrations quickly soothed the baby’s crying, and as the child pressed her face into her mother’s faded green T-shirt Sabrina once again had to hold back the tide of emotion that threatened to overwhelm her.

  ‘You’re looking a little peaky if you don’t mind me saying.’ Her brow puckering, Ellie suddenly narrowed her gaze suspiciously at Sabrina.

  ‘Oh, my God! You’re not—?’

  ‘No, I’m not.’ Kneeling down beside Henry, Sabrina coaxed the toddler into her arms, sitting him down on her lap with the baby’s rattle. ‘For goodness’ sake, you’re as bad as Mum. When are the pair of you going to get it through your thick skulls that this marriage of mine is only temporary? A business arrangement?’

  ‘Who are you trying to kid? It’s as plain as the nose on your face, Sabrina Kendricks, you’re loopy about the man! And if I’m not mistaken—and I know I’m not—he feels exactly the same about you. And if you’re telling me that you’ve spent all this time under his roof and haven’t done the deed then either your libido has ground to a halt from lack of use or you’re an even slower worker than I thought you were when it comes to men!’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘Don’t mention it. And by the way, that hurt look doesn’t wash with me either. You’re in love with him, aren’t you?’ Her voice softening, Ellie joined her sister on the carpet, carefully sitting Tallulah down in front of her to face Henry.

  ‘What do you want, a signed confession?’ Sabrina’s blue eyes looked pained.

  ‘Have you told him?’

  ‘Are you mad? Of course I haven’t told him!’ At Henry’s startled glance, Sabrina hugged the child to her, ruffling the top of his baby-fine hair with her fingers. ‘Javier doesn’t want to get involved with me that way. He’s lost his sister and his brother-in-law and Angelina is his priority, and nobody could blame him for that. The last thing he needs is an emotional entanglement with a woman eight years older than him and a workaholic to boot.’

  ‘You’re not a workaholic. You used to be, but since you’ve met Javier you’ve changed, Sabrina. Can’t you see it? We were lucky if we got to see you once a month, let alone once a week. Now you drop by fairly regularly and when you do you mainly talk about Javier and Angelina—a sure sign that work is no longer your big priority.’

  Ellie was right, Sabrina realised. Of course, East-West Travel was still important, but somehow, without her knowing, her priorities had changed. Javier and Angelina had become her family without a doubt and they did take priority in her life. So much so that it was going to be an unbearable wrench to leave them behind—as one day soon she would have to. And somehow she knew that, no matter how successful her business became, nothing would ever compensate for the awful loss of the man and child who had come to mean so much to her.

  ‘Well, it won’t do me any good. He’s not ready to get involved with me. He’s hurting too much.’

  ‘Of course he is. He’s not going to get over something like this in five minutes, that’s obvious, but with you by his side you can teach him how to trust again, Sabrina—how to love someone without fearing for their life, because that’s what’s at the root of this, isn’t it? It has to be, otherwise he would have told you he wants you to stay.’

  Expelling a softly shaky sigh, Sabrina swallowed down the lump in her throat. ‘How can you be so sure? Javier could have any woman. He’s rich, successful…God knows he’s good-looking—why would he want me?’

  ‘Honestly, Sabrina, listen to yourself! Is your opinion of yourself really that low? You are a gorgeous, successful woman in her prime—why wouldn’t he want you?’

  ‘You’ve never thought of me as successful—you or Mum.’

  ‘What utter rubbish!’ Ellie’s arms crossed her chest in exasperation. Both Tallulah and Henry looked wonderingly at their mother. ‘Mum tells all her friends how proud she is of you. She’s forever leaving your business cards about the place wherever she goes, for God’s sake! At the doctor’s, the dentist, on the bus, talking to a perfect stranger…and Dad’s the same. And how could you think I wasn’t proud of you? Whenever I glance in the mirror lately I pray I’ll look as good as you when I’m your age, and on the days when my clothes are covered in baby drool or I haven’t even had a minute to pull a comb through my hair, don’t you think I think about you and feel just a teeny bit envious? There you are with your own business, taking care of yourself, meeting new people every day and looking gorgeous while you do it and there’s me resembling something that the cat dragged in! I don’t regret motherhood for a second, you know I don’t—but I wouldn’t be human if I couldn’t see the benefits of the path you’ve chosen, Sabrina.’

  ‘Thanks, Ellie.’ She felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders by the time her sister had finished speaking. ‘We should have talked like this before. I’ve been such an idiot.’

  ‘Being an idiot isn’t exclusively your prerogative, sis. We’re all guilty of that from time to time. Now go home and talk to Javier—or is he at work with you today? Wherever he is, go and tell him how you feel. I think I can safely promise he’s not going to pack your bags and throw you out on the street!’

  She’d picked up a film she’d wanted to see for the longest time on her way home, and in her brown leather tote bag there was a very good bottle of crisp white Chardonnay along with a box of sweets for Angelina. Not knowing whether Javier had made any plans or not for the evening, she prayed he wasn’t going out, that he would want to share the film and the wine with her and afterwards talk with her a little. Whether she’d be brave enough to do as Ellie had suggested and tell him exactly how she felt, Sabrina didn’t know, but she’d promised herself to stop pretending their marriage was in name only, and prayed Javier was ready to do the same.

  But all her hopes flew out the window when she arrived home to find Javier’s exotic ex-girlfriend, Christina, in residence in the kitchen. Javier was nowhere to be seen and, apart from the radio playing softly on the counter-top, the house was unusually quiet for that time of the evening. Had Rosie taken Angelina out somewhere? And where was Javier?

  Gazing at the sultry woman seated at the kitchen table, flicking through a magazine, her long, very slender legs encased in soft black leather trousers with a silver knit halter-neck on top, Sabrina was suddenly beset by doubt and fear. ‘Hello. Where is everybody?’ Removing her coat, she automatically folded it across the back of a nearby chair, then moved across the room to fill the kettle for a drink. Anything to keep her hands busy and her brain from going crazy.

  ‘Rosie has taken Angelina to visit a friend and Javier has just popped out to the drug store to get me some headache pills. Are you making coffee?’

  Absorbing the slightly condescending glance of the other woman, Sabrina reached up to the dresser for cups and saucers, biting her lip to stop herself from asking the woman why she couldn’t have gone out to get her own pills. Who did she think Javier was—her lackey?

  ‘I can do, but is it a good idea if you have a headache?’

  ‘It is not so bad now. I have had a long talk with Javier and am feeling much better. He always knows how to make me feel better. Always.’

  ‘He’s a good man.’ Her back stiff, Sabrina switched off the kettle, spooned some coffee granules into two cups and stirred, all the while her heart thudding with indignation and hurt. Javier had told her that Christina had a boyfriend back in Argentina, that he no longer felt anything for the beautiful model who was his ex-girlfriend. If that was true, why had she shown up at the house again?

  ‘Do you take milk and sugar?’

  ‘No.’ Christina’s dark eyes flashed as if to say ‘do you need to ask?’. ‘I have to take care of my figure. It is how I make my living.’

  ‘And is that what you’re doing in the UK?’ Putting the green cup with its matching saucer down in front of her on a place-mat,
Sabrina returned to the counter-top for her own drink. ‘Modelling?’

  ‘I did a shoot for Paris Elle and decided to make a stopover for a few days in London so that I could catch up with some friends. I particularly wanted to see my darling Javier. When I heard about poor Michael I was glad to come and offer him some comfort.’

  Was that what she’d been offering Javier the night she’d stayed at the house? Comfort? Sabrina’s heart turned over. He’d sworn to her that nothing had happened between them but that clearly wasn’t what the sultry Christina was implying.

  ‘He is hot, yes?’

  ‘Hot?’ For a moment, Sabrina didn’t know what the other woman meant.

  ‘Sexy.’ Christina laughed, the sound curiously like a cat purring. ‘Good in bed.’

  At Sabrina’s flustered glance, Christina fixed her with a knowing little smile, her lipstick appearing suddenly too red next to her very white teeth, giving her a hard, almost brittle look.

  ‘Let’s not pretend, Sabrina. You have slept with him, yes? I would have been very surprised if you had not. Javier is a very attractive, virile man with Latin blood flowing in his veins. He naturally has needs…needs which only a woman can fulfil. The fact that you so readily agreed to assume the role of pretend wife doesn’t stop you from being susceptible to his very apparent charms. But I want you to know that you have not been singled out particularly. Any reasonably attractive woman would have done. I am only telling you this so you do not get your hopes up where he is concerned. When he has been here as long as he needs to be, he will return to Argentina and his family. I know them well, Sabrina, and they would not take kindly to an Englishwoman as their son’s wife. Look what happened to poor Dorothea when she married Michael…she was forced to leave everything she knew and loved behind to settle in the UK. Her mama was heartbroken. Imagine how she would feel if Javier—her only son—did the same?’

  Feeling suddenly chilled, Sabrina leant back against the counter-top and drew her fingers through her softly mussed hair. Pulling out the tortoiseshell comb, she gave it a brief shake loose, willing her chaotic thoughts to start making some sense, trying to get a grip on what Christina was saying, wondering if she ought to take it seriously or if the woman was simply suffering from a case of terminal jealousy where Javier was concerned because she was no longer the woman in his life.

  ‘As far as I understand, Javier’s sister wasn’t “forced” to stay in the UK. It was a choice she made because she was in love with Michael. As for the rest, my hopes or plans are nothing to do with you and therefore not open to speculation or gossip. What’s the matter, Christina? Does my being married to Javier pose some kind of threat to you?’

  The other woman tossed her head disparagingly. ‘Not in the least. I can get any man I wish—Javier D’Alessandro included!’

  ‘Then why did you break up?’

  ‘That is none of your business!’

  ‘Fine. I totally respect your privacy. If you would return the compliment we’ll be all square. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve been at work all day and I need to go and take a shower.’

  ‘Well, I’m just letting you know, I may ask Javier to take me out to dinner.’

  Pausing at the door, her cup of coffee in her hand, Sabrina threw the other woman a disdainful glance. ‘Go ahead. As far as I can see, I don’t have the slightest thing to worry about.’

  She left the room to a string of Spanish expletives that strangely enough didn’t hurt her in the least—even if she had known what they meant.

  Relieved to see the back of her, Javier gladly saw Christina into a taxi and waved her a final goodbye. He hoped that he’d made it perfectly clear that she’d outstayed her welcome and there was nothing more between them worth pursuing. When he’d got back to the house with her headache medicine, his heart had almost stalled when he saw Sabrina’s bag on the table and her coat over the chair. For all his frantic dash to the chemist and back, he’d been too late to get Christina out of the house before Sabrina’s arrival and, judging by the self-satisfied, smug look on Christina’s face when he’d asked her if she’d spoken to Sabrina, he knew his ex-girlfriend had probably not missed the opportunity to make mischief. Used to being the centre of attention as far as men were concerned, the beautiful Brazilian model would not like to see another woman have the limelight. Especially when that ‘other’ woman had ensnared her ex-lover’s heart where she had been unable to. Javier had enjoyed their association, as any young man would enjoy escorting a beautiful model around town, but as far as anything else went she left him cold. Especially when he’d found her in bed with Carlo Andretti—a man not known for his fastidiousness when it came to personal hygiene.

  Drumming his fingers on the table-top, he took a moment to gather his thoughts before going to seek Sabrina out. All day his body had thrummed with the memory of their lovemaking and all day he’d lusted after her in a fever of wanting. She was becoming too important to him for him to simply let her go when his British passport came through and the adoption papers were duly signed, sealed and delivered. What would she think if he told her he wanted to make this paper marriage of theirs real? As real as it could be? Would it frighten her away for good? She was so set on her business being a success, would she find marriage to him and being a stepmother to Angelina too much of a bind or a restriction?

  He was willing to recognise that there were no guarantees—the loss of both his sister and her husband had brought that fact tragically home—but he’d put off the moment of truth for long enough and would just have to trust that the outcome would be one that favoured both him and his beloved niece.

  That said, he stood outside Sabrina’s room for a good two or three minutes before raising his hand to knock on her door.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  SHE heard him walk up to her door then…nothing. Pacing the room, her chequebook in her hand, she caught sight of her reflection in the dressing-table mirror as she passed it for the third time, alarmed to see that, yes, she did look as frightened as she felt. Was he coming to tell her that he was taking Christina out to dinner—or, worse, that he and the beautiful Brazilian model were getting back together? Her stomach knotted painfully at the thought. On paper, she and Javier didn’t look like the ideal match, granted—but it hadn’t prevented her from falling head over heels in love with the man, had it? It didn’t prevent her from wondering how she was ever going to take in her next breath if he told her that he wanted nothing more from this marriage of theirs than for her to fulfil her part of the bargain then leave.

  Oh, God…what was he doing out there? Why was he taking so long? When the knock on the door finally came, Sabrina still reacted as if a bat had swooped down on her in the dark, and with her heart going crazy she took a deep breath and pulled open the door.

  ‘Hi.’

  ‘Can I come in?’ His arms were folded across the impressive span of his chest beneath a dark blue denim shirt matched with his jeans, and his dark eyes roved her face with all the intensity of a man hungry to be reacquainted with his lover. The realisation made Sabrina’s world tilt for a disconcerting few seconds.

  ‘Of course. Has your friend gone or have you come to tell me that you’re taking her out to dinner?’ Presenting him with her back, Sabrina paced across the luxurious carpet to the small padded stool in front of the dressing table, where she turned round again. With anxious blue eyes she waited for his answer.

  ‘Why would I be taking Christina out to dinner?’ His hypnotic dark gaze narrowed suspiciously. ‘What has she been saying to you?’

  ‘She’s very beautiful. I could understand if you wanted—if you wanted to get back together with her.’

  ‘You say this to me when I have already told you she means nothing to me?’

  ‘Then why was she here, Javier? And why were you rushing around getting her headache pills? Is the woman helpless or is it that she’s just used to crooking her little finger and the men fall over themselves to do what she wants?’

  �
��Nada! I do not come running when she crooks her little finger. She was complaining of a migraine. She said she had left her pills back at the hotel and asked me to go and get her some. I could not sit there knowing the woman was in pain. I would not even do that to a stranger.’ Shaking his head, Javier advanced into the room. He looked very big and very angry and Sabrina silently acknowledged that she seemed to have an unhappy knack for igniting his temper. Her legs trembling a little, she dropped down onto the padded stool, folding her hands in her lap and gripping her chequebook.

  ‘I don’t want to argue with you, Javier.’

  ‘No?’ For a moment there was a glint of humour in his eyes. ‘Forget Christina. She is history. Tomorrow morning she will be on a plane home to Argentina. She only came to tell me goodbye. But we need to talk, sí?’

  ‘Yes, we do. But first I want to give you this.’ She opened the slim grey book, tore out a page and passed it to him.

  ‘What is this?’

  ‘It’s my first instalment of our repayment plan. For the money you loaned me for the business,’ she explained reasonably.

  For a moment he said nothing, just stood staring down at it as if he couldn’t comprehend its meaning. Then, lifting his head, staring right at her, he ripped the cheque in two and let the pieces flutter soundlessly onto the floor.

  ‘Why did you do that?’ She was genuinely bewildered, her blue eyes widening to saucers.

  ‘I told you I did not want you to repay me. You have already repaid me by agreeing to be my wife so that I could stay and be with Angelina. I do not want your money, Sabrina, so do not insult me by bringing up the subject again. Do you understand?’

  ‘I insist that you take it. I don’t want to be under an obligation to anybody. That’s not the way I work.’