A Taste of the Forbidden

by Carole Mortimer

  ‘She could not pronounce Cesar properly and so she called me—’

  ‘Zar,’ Beth provided softly.

  ‘Yes,’ Cesar confirmed in a hushed voice.

  Her creamy brow creased in concentration for several seconds before she came back tartly, ‘Must have been a lucky guess.’

  ‘Was it?’ he prompted softly.

  ‘Well, it had to be, didn’t it?’ Beth dismissed impatiently. ‘As I said, no one—apart from Cesar Navarro, obviously!—remembers things from when they were two years old!’

  ‘You—’

  ‘Are you aware that the two of you are doing it again?’ Grace couldn’t help but smile ruefully as two pairs of identical brown eyes turned to glare at her. ‘You’re squabbling like a couple of children,’ she explained patiently. ‘Or siblings,’ she added pensively.

  Beth looked positively mutinous. ‘Esther and Carlos are really nice people, but I’m not sure I could cope with learning I have someone this overbearing as an older brother.’

  ‘Beth!’ Grace gasped in dismay, only to turn and look at Cesar in alarm as he began to laugh. And kept on laughing.

  Which was something of a miracle in itself. Cesar laughing—brown eyes glowing with that humour, all harshness wiped from his expression, even white teeth gleaming between his parted lips—was even more disturbing, more sexy, than when the two of them had danced the tango together.

  ‘I don’t see what’s so funny,’ Beth muttered bad-temperedly when it seemed Cesar wasn’t going to stop laughing.

  He sobered enough to speak. ‘You are just as outspoken about the faults you perceive in my character as your sister is!’ He continued to chuckle.

  ‘That’s probably because—’

  ‘And just as cranky when you don’t get enough sleep.’ Grace spoke firmly as she stood up and took a determined hold of her sister’s arm. ‘Time for bed, Beth. Before you insult our host any further.’ She shot Cesar an apologetic glance; if he and Beth should turn out to be brother and sister, then it promised to be a very stormy relationship.

  ‘He set the tone for our conversations when he was so rude to you when we arrived—’

  ‘Beth, please.’

  ‘Okay, okay, I’ll go to bed,’ her sister huffed. ‘Just keep your hands off my sister.’ She shot Cesar a warning glance as she picked up her coffee mug before striding out of the kitchen.

  Grace had intended accompanying Beth, rather than being left alone in the kitchen with Cesar when her sister—their sister?—stomped off.

  Instead Grace turned to give Cesar an apologetic grimace. ‘I really do apologise for Beth’s behaviour. She—she’s actually more upset about all of this than she wants people to know.’

  Cesar nodded. ‘And you? How will you feel if it should turn out that Beth is really Brela?’

  Her brow creased into a frown. ‘It was really odd the way she seemed to recognise that name, don’t you think?’

  ‘How will you feel about it, Grace?’ he persisted. ‘About me?’

  Grace was pretty sure that Cesar hadn’t been standing this close to her a few seconds ago. So close that she could smell his aftershave, and feel the heat of his body, seducing her, enticing her—

  She shook off her sudden feeling of lethargy as she straightened determinedly. ‘It’s a little soon to ask that, don’t you think? After all—’

  ‘I have missed you this past three days, Grace,’ Cesar cut in huskily as he smoothed a wisp of dark hair back from her cheek. ‘More than I would ever have believed it possible to miss anyone,’ he added gruffly.

  Grace gave him a quick glance, and then wished she hadn’t as she saw that the warmth of his gaze was fixed on her parted lips. Lips she nervously moistened with the tip of her tongue before answering him. ‘No one to challenge you or answer you back, hmm?’ she attempted to lighten the sudden tension in the room.

  ‘No one to challenge me or answer me back,’ he confirmed softly. ‘Or to dance the tango with me. Or to take me from my ivory tower to smell the roses. Grace—’

  ‘Cesar, no matter how this might look, I really didn’t come back here to have our conversation,’ she interrupted quickly as she began edging away from him. ‘Emotions are running high, uncertainty mixed in with a certain amount of hope—’

  ‘You believe I am only saying these things to you because you may—and that is still a very big may—have returned Gabriela to us?’

  ‘Why else?’ she dismissed lightly. ‘And quite frankly, I don’t—’

  ‘Do you honestly believe that it is gratitude for returning that hellion to us—if indeed Beth should turn out to be Gabriela—that makes me speak to you in this way?’ he continued dryly.

  Grace gave a wince. ‘I told you, Beth is as tense about all of this as you obviously are. She isn’t usually as acerbic as she’s been to you since she arrived.’

  ‘Or perhaps she sensed just now that, once she had left us alone together, it was my intention to seduce her big sister into sharing my bed tonight rather than occupying the second single bed in her own bedroom?’

  Grace’s eyes widened as Cesar’s arms moved about her waist and he tugged her close against his lean and muscled length, the hard outline of his arousal pressing against her softness. ‘It was?’

  Cesar lowered his head until his lips could taste the sweet length of her throat. ‘It still is,’ he corrected softly.

  ‘I— This isn’t a good idea, Cesar.’ Even as she protested Grace’s back arched in pleasure.

  He looked down at her searchingly as he slowly released her before stepping back. ‘Did you not listen just now when I said that I have missed you, Grace?’ he finally murmured softly.

  She blinked. ‘You sent me back to England.’

  ‘I thought it was for the best at the time. That the circumstances merited we spend some time apart in order to see where, or if, our relationship progressed any further.’ His nostrils flared as he breathed in deeply. ‘It was a decision I regretted almost as soon as I had made it.’

  ‘Because our lovemaking was interrupted the other day.’ She nodded in understanding. ‘But that—that behaviour really isn’t me, Cesar. We had just spent an enjoyable day together, and dancing the tango together was—’

  ‘Erotic,’ he provided huskily.

  ‘To say the least.’ Grace became slightly flustered at the admission. ‘But I’m really not the sort of woman who wants to become the mistress of a powerful entrepreneur businessman who’s worth billions, if not zillions.’ Even one she now knew she was very in love with!

  One look at Cesar earlier, being with him again, close to him, and Grace knew that was exactly what had happened to her. She was in love with Cesar Navarro. A love that could only lead to despair, if not complete heartbreak! The same love that had brought her to Buenos Aires on what she now suspected was a wild goose chase...

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CESAR’S BROWS ARCHED up into his hairline. ‘Is that what you think of me?’ he said slowly. ‘That after all you have done—tried to do—for both my family and me—that I now wish to make you my mistress?’

  ‘What else?’ she said again.

  ‘You do not think that perhaps I could have feelings for you?’

  Grace’s heart leapt in her chest, and then as quickly fell. Of course Cesar didn’t have feelings for her. Well, not beyond desire, at least. He hadn’t even been pleased to see her again when she had arrived earlier!

  ‘No, I don’t,’ she said dryly. ‘And, despite what you might think to the contrary, I don’t do affairs.’

  She might have been carried away the other day, might have let things go further between herself and Cesar than they ever had with any other man, but she really couldn’t become his mistress for the short time it would take for him to tire of her. Cesar might never be photographed escorting beautiful women but Grace had no doubts, after their lovemaking four days ago, that he was a very experienced lover, and that he hadn’t become that way by remaining celibate. Wherea
s Grace— Her lovemaking with Cesar had been with his encouragement and instruction, and otherwise completely instinctive rather than experienced, and she seriously doubted that Cesar would appreciate having a complete innocent in his bed, even for a short time.

  Or that he would ever grow to love her in the way that she now knew she loved him. Wholeheartedly, and completely.

  She drew herself up determinedly. ‘I really think it’s for the best if I go to bed now. And no matter what happens tomorrow—’

  ‘Yes?’ Cesar prompted as Grace broke off abruptly.

  She drew in a deep breath. ‘No matter what happens tomorrow, what the blood tests prove or disprove, the intimacies we’ve shared, does not mean we ever had a relationship.’

  Cesar gave a tight smile. ‘Beth appears to have other ideas.’

  ‘Not because of anything I’ve told her, I assure you.’

  ‘You do not need to reassure me of anything, Grace,’ he said softly. ‘Nor would it be unacceptable for you to have discussed with your sister our...having been together, before you returned to England.’

  ‘Well, I didn’t. And I haven’t. She just seems to have added two and two together.’

  ‘And come to the correct conclusion that the two of us are involved,’ Cesar finished softly.

  Grace shook her head. ‘Beth, despite the appearances to the contrary, is a romantic.’

  ‘And you are not?’

  ‘A believer in happy-ever-after?’ She quirked dark brows. ‘Of course,’ she conceded ruefully. ‘But not to the point of believing in fairy tales.’

  ‘And, in your opinion, a relationship between the two of us would be a fairy tale?’ Cesar watched her closely.

  ‘A meaningful relationship between billionaire Cesar Navarro and his temporary cook/housekeeper would most definitely be a fairy tale!’ she drawled dryly.

  Cesar frowned his irritation. ‘And what if they were to fall in love with each other?’

  She gave a tense start. ‘That isn’t going to happen.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘For all the reasons I’ve previously stated!’

  ‘The only reason I recall of any significance—to you, that is—is that I am a billionaire, you are currently my cook/housekeeper.’ Cesar eyed her questioningly.

  ‘And you have affairs and I don’t.’ Her cheeks became flushed.

  He raised dark brows. ‘Says who?’

  ‘Well— I— You...’ Grace gave an impatient shake of her head. ‘This is a ridiculous conversation, Cesar.’

  ‘I agree,’ he drawled. ‘It is beyond ridiculous.’ He scowled. ‘Grace, you will not always be my cook/housekeeper.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘And we talked once of the possibility of you owning and running your own restaurant. I could help you achieve your dream.’

  ‘Please stop,’ Grace cut in warningly, her eyes flashing the colour of turquoise. ‘I’m not for sale.’

  ‘I am not offering to buy you, Grace.’ Cesar’s voice was a low growl, his eyes narrowed slits.

  Her chin rose stubbornly. ‘Then what are you offering?’

  ‘I am suggesting that you might consider marrying me first, and then opening your own restaurant.’

  ‘Marrying you!’ Grace repeated incredulously. ‘How did we go from “I’m not for sale” to “marry me”?’

  Cesar’s mouth firmed. ‘We did not. You are the one who talked of affairs and mistresses,’ he corrected. ‘I never, at any time in our conversation, so much as implied I wished for either of those things with you.’

  ‘Maybe not, but...’ Grace’s cheeks were very pale. ‘Cesar, you can’t be serious about wanting to marry me!’

  His jaw tightened. ‘I am very serious.’

  ‘Because Beth might be your sister and it might prove awkward if we were to decide to continue—’

  ‘No one else has any relevance to this conversation but the two of us!’ His eyes glittered darkly in his impatience. ‘Grace, I—I realised after you had left Buenos Aires that I—I have fallen in love with you. I intended talking to you, telling you how much I love you, as soon as I returned to England, and hoped that you might feel something for me in return.’ He frowned as she stumbled back a step to place her hand on the breakfast bar for support. ‘Is that so impossible, Grace?’

  ‘I— No, of course it isn’t.’

  He looked relieved. ‘It was not my intention to propose to you in the kitchen, dressed only in my nightclothes, but—’ Humour now lightened his expression. ‘As you said earlier, it is the place you feel most comfortable, so perhaps it is not so ridiculous, after all.’

  Grace moistened the dryness of her lips. ‘Proposing to me?’

  Cesar went down on one knee on the tiled floor before reaching out to take her free hand in both of his. ‘Grace Blake, will you consider marrying me?’

  ‘I—I...’

  ‘Will you please marry me, Grace?’ Cesar continued determinedly. ‘Please love me? Will you be at my side for the rest of our lives? Will you have babies with me?’ His eyes glowed darkly. ‘Beautiful sable-haired babies with green-blue eyes? I love you so much, Grace! Please marry me and I promise that you will never regret it.’

  Grace could barely breathe as she stared down at him in wide-eyed wonder. ‘I— You don’t know anything about me...’

  He smiled up at her. ‘I know everything about you that is important. You have a beauty which is not skin deep but flows into your heart and your mind, and encompasses everyone around you. I also know that you are totally loyal, to your family, friends, and even to billionaire Argentinian businessmen, who have done nothing to deserve that loyalty!’ He smiled slightly. ‘I also know that you are adopted, that you loved your adoptive parents but wish to also know who your birth parents were—and we will find them, Grace, I promise you that,’ he assured her gruffly. ‘I also know that you are an innocent.’

  ‘How can you possibly know that?’ Grace gasped, the rest of what Cesar was saying to her too fantastic—too unexpected—for her to completely take it in. Yet... ‘Was I so awful the other day?’

  ‘You were exquisite, Grace,’ Cesar assured her gruffly. ‘Absolutely exquisite. So much so that I cannot wait to make love with you again.’ He reached up to touch the curve of her cheek. ‘But you are an innocent, Grace. And I love you for it.’ He smiled gently. ‘I, too, am a virgin of sorts— But I am, Grace,’ he continued softly as she gave a disbelieving snort. ‘I do not deny that I have had physical relationships—how could I?—but I had never made love with a woman before you.’

  Love. Cesar really was telling her that he loved her. That he wanted to marry her.

  Grace swallowed hard. ‘Are you absolutely sure this is what you want, Cesar? I’m not from your world. I have no idea how to be the wife of a billionaire businessman.’

  ‘An Argentinian billionaire businessman, specifically Cesar Navarro,’ he corrected huskily. ‘And we will make our own world in whatever way you are comfortable. You are all that I want, Grace,’ he assured her softly. ‘All I will ever want. The woman I wish to dance the tango with for the rest of my life. The woman with whom I wish to “smell the roses”. If you do not love me yet—’

  ‘How could I not love you—?’ She broke off, her cheeks flushing with colour. ‘Of course I love you, Cesar,’ she assured him huskily. ‘I love you very much. So much...’ Her voice broke emotionally as she looked down at him with that love shining in her eyes. ‘I’m just afraid...’

  ‘Of what?’ His hand tightened on hers. ‘Tell me what you are afraid of, Grace, and I will do everything in my power to take away that fear.’

  ‘I’m afraid I’ll let you down! That I won’t fit in. I don’t belong in this world, Cesar.’ She looked around at the opulence of the room. ‘I don’t belong in your world!’

  ‘A world of security cameras and security guards.’ He nodded gravely. ‘You know the reason for them now, but if you really cannot live with them then they will all go.’

&nbs
p; ‘All of them?’

  Cesar smiled ruefully at her dazed expression. ‘All. If you agree to marry me, then I will have my fierce and loyal wife by my side. And, as I have told you, Raphael and I are agreed that no one would dare challenge her.’

  Grace gave a shake of her head. ‘You’re teasing me now, Cesar.’

  ‘Because I am nervous.’ He looked up at her intently. ‘And because I am still on my knees on the kitchen floor waiting for you to answer my proposal of marriage!’

  ‘Beth—’

  ‘Has absolutely nothing to do with us, here and now,’ Cesar assured her firmly. ‘Yes, I searched for Gabriela for years, before I gave that search up as futile. Yes, I have missed her every day since she was taken. And yes, I would welcome even your hellion of a sister if it is really Gabriela returned to us at last. But you are the only thing that is important to me now, Grace. You, and only you.’

  Grace looked down at him searchingly, unable to deny the love she saw shining in those dark, expressive eyes as they met hers unblinkingly. Love for her. Only her. ‘Oh, Cesar.’

  ‘Grace?’

  She breathed shakily. ‘I do love you, Cesar. I believe I started to fall in love with you before we left England, but I definitely fell fully in love with you the day we spent walking around Buenos Aires together.’

  ‘And?’

  She winced. ‘Marriage, Cesar?’

  ‘I will settle for nothing less.’

  She could see that he meant what he said, by the determined glitter in his eyes, and the stubborn set of his jaw. ‘Where would we live?’

  ‘Wherever we are together we will call home.’

  ‘Oh, Cesar, that was exactly the right answer!’ She reached up to touch that stubbornly set jaw even as the tears of happiness blurred her vision. ‘I feel the same way, my love,’ she assured him emotionally. ‘And my answer is yes. Yes, I’ll marry you, Cesar. Yes, I’ll be your wife. Yes, I’ll spend the rest of my life with you, and yes, I’ll give you sable-haired green-eyed babies. Yes, yes, yes!’

  She launched herself into his waiting arms.

  * * *