He turned, bending to lift a dark overcoat that she now saw was draped over the back of his chair. ‘Please—tell your aunt I cannot accept her so kind inv—’
‘Don’t go!’
Isobel moved now, catching his arm before he could push it into the sleeve of his overcoat, snatching the overcoat from him and tossing it back onto the chair.
‘Please,’ she said when he remained still, just staring at her. ‘I’m sorry. I know you would never hurt me.’ She caught her lower lip between her teeth. ‘I don’t know why I asked you that.’ She sniffed again. ‘Just—just jealous, I guess.’
‘Jealous?’ His dark brows descended.
‘Yes.’ She pressed her lips together for a moment and then went on, ‘Of Emma. Because you love her. Because you care about her in a way that you’ve never cared about me.’
Alejandro swore then. ‘How do you know that?’
‘Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it? I mean—’ She chose her words with care. ‘Even after you got out of hospital you didn’t come back to England.’ She paused, and then added painfully, ‘You married Miranda, remember?’
‘As if I could forget,’ murmured Alejandro with feeling. ‘Meu Deus, Isobella, do you really think I did not want to see you again?’
‘Then why?’
‘Need you ask?’ Alejandro scowled. ‘When I got out of hospital I thought no woman in her right mind would want to spend the rest of her life with me.’
‘But that’s crazy!’
‘Is it? Well, maybe it seems so now, but at the time I was not thinking so clearly.’ He sighed. ‘Besides, although we had been intimate, we hardly knew one another. How could I expect you to take on this burden? Particularly when we had parted on such unfriendly terms.’
‘You mean the phone call from your father?’
‘Yes. That phone call.’ Alejandro drew a deep breath. ‘I know I told you it was about the company, but it was actually about Miranda. My late wife was an addict, Isobella. She spent her life going in and out of clinics trying to kick her habit. But she never did.’
Isobel was silent for a moment. Then she said softly, ‘I didn’t know that.’
‘No. How could you? Anita did everything she could to keep it quiet. Even my own family would not accept that a cure was hopeless.’
‘And Anita was involved, even then?’
‘Oh yes.’ Alejandro nodded. ‘Our families had been friends since Miranda and I were children.’ His lips twisted. ‘It was Anita who persuaded my father to phone me that evening and beg me to come home. She was of the opinion that I might be able to help Miranda see sense when everyone else had failed.’
‘And did you?’
‘No.’ Alejandro’s tone was flat. He paused. ‘And then, after the accident…’ He lifted his shoulders in a weary gesture. ‘I had other things to worry about.’
‘But why did you marry her?’
‘Ah…’ Alejandro grimaced. ‘A question I have asked myself more times than I can remember. Because my father had had another heart attack after my accident; because it was expected. Because my father wanted grandchildren and I hadn’t given him any.’
‘But didn’t you just say…?’
‘That I could not father any more children? That is correct.’ He gave a harsh laugh. ‘Something I refrained from broadcasting until after the wedding.’
Isobel frowned. ‘Did you love Miranda?’
‘I was fond of her,’ Alejandro conceded honestly. ‘As I say, we had known one another since our schooldays.’ He paused. ‘She desperately wanted to make her mother proud of her, and it certainly stopped people from pitying me because of my scars.’
‘Oh, Alejandro…’
Alejandro’s senses swam at the sensuous sound of his name on her tongue. His hand sought her chin, tilted her face up to his, and he rubbed the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip with undisguised impatience.
But there were still things to be said between them.
‘Even so, I wonder how you would have felt if I had turned up on your doorstep looking like the gargoyle I resembled when I came out of the hospital?’ he ventured huskily. ‘Whatever you say now, you might have turned me away.’
‘No!’
‘No?’ Alejandro regarded her intently. ‘Ah, yes, you were carrying my baby. That might have made a difference.’
‘Alejandro, my being pregnant wouldn’t have made a scrap of difference.’ Isobel sighed frustratedly. ‘It’s not just the way you look that I, well, that I care about. It’s you!’
‘So, you really thought we had something special?’
‘Don’t you?’ A tremor ran through her, and he was suddenly struck by the fact that she’d lost weight in these weeks that they’d been apart. ‘I thought so then and I thought so that night at the villa,’ she continued urgently. ‘But you didn’t say anything, and when Anita asked me to leave…’
‘Indeed.’ Alejandro’s thumb invaded her lips, and her tongue met it eagerly. ‘We have wasted so much time, cara.’ His eyes darkened. ‘And now I hear there is another man in your life.’
‘No.’ Isobel misunderstood. ‘David died!’ she exclaimed, but Alejandro only shook his head.
‘Not the man who was your husband,’ he said tersely. ‘He was a fool. And, although I am sorry to hear he died, he is of no interest to me.’ His free hand cupped her neck. ‘What was the name of the man your aunt spoke of—Tony, sim? Should I be jealous?’
‘I think you know the answer to that,’ said Isobel a little breathlessly. When he was touching her, it was hard to think of anything else. ‘But you’ve taken so long to make up your mind to come here,’ she added, lifting a trembling hand and stroking dark, silky hair from his forehead. ‘Are you sure there isn’t anything you should tell me?’
Alejandro laughed. Then, capturing her hand, he brought it passionately to his mouth. ‘Believe me, querida,’ he said, ‘if I had really believed you wanted to see me again, a string of Carlos’s horses would not have kept me away.’
His mouth gently brushed hers, but when she would have prolonged the kiss he laid a finger across her lips. ‘Have some pity,’ he said a little thickly. ‘You know I want you. Very badly, acontece que. As it happens. But this is not my home. It is yours.’
‘And Emma’s,’ she reminded him softly, and Alejandro pulled her urgently into his arms.
‘Our daughter,’ he said with feeling. ‘Do you think she will forgive me? I mean, of course, for intruding into her life?’
‘Oh, I think she can cope,’ murmured Isobel lightly. ‘I’m so glad you changed your mind about meeting her.’
‘I had no choice,’ he said simply. ‘I realised I could not live without her mother.’ He cradled her face in his hands. ‘I love you, querida. Perhaps that will redeem me in her eyes.’
EPILOGUE
Six months later, Isobel walked out onto the balcony at the estancia, feeling the sun warm upon her hot skin.
The view from the balcony always enchanted her—distant mountains and sunlit highlands, plains and a river valley, and so much space.
Tipping her head back, she ran a hand from her bare throat down over the tender peaks of her breasts to the slight mound beneath her ribcage. Despite feeling a little nauseous in the mornings, she had never been healthier. Happiness did that to a person, she thought smugly. And she was happier now than she had ever been in her life.
There was a sound behind her, and she glanced over her shoulder to find Alejandro emerging through the French doors.
He grinned when he saw her, his eyes filled with satisfaction at the knowledge that she was his wife now and no one could ever part them again.
‘I missed you,’ he said, coming to nuzzle her shoulder. He drew her back against his hard body. ‘It is far too early to get up. Why do you not come back to bed?’
Isobel lifted her shoulder to accommodate his lips and then said softly, ‘Don’t you think you should put some clothes on?’
‘It would be a waste
of time,’ he retorted huskily. ‘I would only have to take them off again, querida.’
Isobel gave a soft laugh. ‘It’s just as well I don’t follow your example,’ she murmured, despite the fact that Alejandro was tipping her satin wrap off her shoulder so that he could nibble her scented flesh.
‘Ah, sim.’ His voice was muffled. ‘But you are a beautiful woman, cara. I would not want to make my male employees jealous.’
Isobel sucked in a breath of pleasure. ‘You’re shameless,’ she whispered unsteadily, and now Alejandro allowed himself a delighted laugh.
‘Shameless?’ he echoed. ‘Yes, when I am with you, I do not care who sees me. You have done that to me, cara. You and Emma both.’
Isobel sighed contentedly. ‘I hope she’s all right,’ she said thoughtfully. Emma was staying with Alejandro’s parents in Rio, quite content to be the centre of attention with her new grandparents.
‘Well, she and Caterina seem to get along well enough,’ replied Alejandro. He pulled a wry face. ‘I think the idea that they are so much alike intrigues them both.’
Isobel nodded. ‘Remember how angry I was when you showed me that picture of Caterina?’
Alejandro chuckled. ‘How could I forget?’
‘I suppose it must have been quite a shock, discovering you had a daughter,’ Isobel ventured. She slipped her arms around his neck, rising up on her toes so she could press herself against him. ‘Have you forgiven me for keeping her existence from you?’
Alejandro grimaced. ‘Ah, cara,’ he said a little roughly. ‘I would forgive you anything. Have you not realised that by now?’ He bent and captured the lobe of her ear between his lips, his teeth causing a pain that was both sharp and sensual. ‘Sometimes I find it so hard to believe I have been given a second chance with you.’
‘Oh, querido!’
Isobel used the endearment deliberately, knowing he liked it when she used his language. And she was learning. While she still wasn’t very good at conversation, she was able to understand a lot of what was said.
Alejandro kissed her then, his mouth hot and hungry, and her head swam with the mindless pleasure he aroused within her. For a moment, she was so consumed by her own body’s needs that she forgot what she had been thinking about when he’d joined her. But then, when she felt his erection throbbing urgently against her stomach, she managed to recover her senses.
‘Someone might see,’ she said breathlessly, but Alejandro only dismissed her fears.
‘Let them,’ he said, slipping his hands inside her wrap and pulling her naked body against his. ‘Deus; I did not think it was possible to love someone as much as I love you, mi amor.’
Isobel smiled, sliding her hands into the lustrous thickness of his dark hair. ‘That’s nice,’ she said teasingly. ‘Because, you know, I love you too.’ She frowned. ‘Maybe just a little bit, anyway.’
Alejandro growled a protest. ‘Just a little bit?'he protested, and she rose onto her toes again to bestow a soft kiss at the corner of his mouth.
‘Quite a lot, actually,’ she admitted. ‘But I don’t want you to get conceited.’
‘Like that would happen.’ Alejandro’s tone was dry.
‘Oh, I don’t know.’ Isobel was thoughtful. ‘I’ve seen the way Carlos’s wife looks at you. I’m sure she secretly thinks you’re hot!’
Alejandro pulled a wry face. ‘I am equally sure she does not. But, in any case, we do not have any secrets from one another, cara.’
‘Don’t we?’ Isobel arched her brows and he gave her a puzzled look.
‘No.’
‘Mmm.’ Isobel considered his answer. ‘You didn’t tell me Miranda was driving the car when you had the accident.’
Alejandro groaned. ‘Carlos did, I suppose? Does it matter?’
‘It matters to me.’ Isobel sniffed a little emotionally. ‘I think you’re far too honourable for your own good.’
‘Oh, please.’ Alejandro pulled a face. ‘I am no hero. When Miranda got into the driving seat of my car that night, what I should have done was haul her out.’
‘So why didn’t you?’
‘Ah…'He expelled a heavy sigh. Then he cupped her cheek with one hand, his finger finding the pulse beating below her ear. ‘She told me she wanted to prove that she was clean—you know, free of drugs. And I was foolish enough to let her.’
‘What happened?’
He shook his head now. ‘Well, she was not clean, of course. I realised that almost immediately. But, when I told her to stop the car, she ignored me.’
‘Oh, Alejandro…’
‘The accident happened so quickly,’ he said, his eyes darkening at the memory. ‘She was driving too fast, and I knew we were not going to make the corner. She lost control and the vehicle plunged into a ravine.’
‘My God!’ Isobel pressed her face against his chest, inhaling his scent with trembling awareness. ‘You could have been killed!’
‘Yes.’ Alejandro pulled another face. ‘There were times in the next few months when I wished I had been,’ he admitted. ‘Lying in the hospital, I honestly believed my life was over.’
‘I’m so glad you survived,’ said Isobel fervently, and he felt the hotness of her tears against his skin.
He lifted her face and wiped them away with his thumb. ‘That is why being with you is such a miracle,’ he told her softly. ‘You have totally changed my life.’
‘And you mine,’ she whispered. And when he kissed her again she gave herself up to the wanton delight of just being in his arms.
With a muffled exclamation, Alejandro caught her hand in his and tugged her back into the bedroom. Then, tumbling her onto the huge bed, he covered her body with his own.
It was a tangible act of possession that had Isobel arching beneath him, winding her legs about his hips until the open invitation she was offering brooked no denial on his part.
With a groan of pleasure, he filled her with his strength and his fire, creating an answering need inside her. It was always like this when they were together, she thought eagerly—an unleashed passion that neither of them could resist.
Afterwards when Alejandro was lying sleepily beside her, one arm lying with proprietary ownership across her midriff, successfully imprisoning her to his side, Isobel murmured softly, ‘Tell me what the doctors said about you not being able to father any more children.’
Alejandro groaned. ‘Must I?’ His eyes opened to regard her appealingly. ‘Ask me that some other time.’
‘No, I want to know now.’ She was infuriatingly insistent. ‘It doesn’t seem to have interfered with your sexual drive at all.’
‘Agradeça Deus!’ said Alejandro fervently. ‘Thank God!’ He propped himself up on one elbow to look down at her. ‘Surely you knew that?’
‘Don’t I just?’ she said mischievously, stroking a teasing finger down his chest. ‘No, I wasn’t worried. I had another reason for asking.’
‘What?’
‘Tell me what the doctors said and I’ll tell you.’
‘Ah, Deus'. ‘Alejandro flopped down onto his back, staring resignedly up at the ceiling. ‘I had some internal injuries, as I told you. The doctors were of the opinion that they might have damaged my ability to produce viable sperm.’
Faint colour had invaded his cheeks as he spoke, but now he turned to look at her with defensive eyes. ‘Does it matter? I have you. I have Emma. That is enough.’
‘Is it?’
‘It has to be,’ he said harshly. ‘Unless you are suggesting something else.’
Isobel’s tongue circled her lips. ‘Like what?’ she asked, and Alejandro swore softly under his breath.
‘There are alternatives,’ he said flatly. ‘If you want other children.’
Isobel smiled then. ‘Oh, I want other children,’ she said, and he felt as if a knife had been plunged into his stomach. Then she went on amazingly, ‘Your children, querido.’ She watched the confusion fill his face and took pity on him. ‘And, if all goes well, we’ll
have our second child in about five months from now.’
She saw his expression alter. First he looked disbelieving, then stunned, and finally an incredulous look of wonder spread over his face.
‘You mean…?’
He couldn’t get the words out, and Isobel finished the sentence for him. ‘I mean we’re going to have a baby,’ she said proudly. ‘It seems as if doctors are sometimes wrong.’
Their son was born at the house Alejandro had bought for his family in the Santa Teresa district of Rio some five months later. A sprawling mansion of over thirty rooms, it had an unrivalled view of the Baia de Guanabara, or Guanabara Bay, and Isobel loved it.
It was their home, the place where other babies might be conceived. And, although Alejandro still maintained control of the Cabral company, he had delegated a lot of his work to his brother so he could spend as much time as possible with his wife and family.
Emma had taken to life in Brazil with great enthusiasm. Although she didn’t call Alejandro ‘Daddy’ yet, she understood that he played a huge part in her life. The two of them had become close friends since Isobel’s pregnancy, and the little girl was forever asking when her baby brother or sister would be born.
Isobel had deliberately asked the doctor not to tell her the sex of the baby. She wanted it to be a complete surprise for the whole family. One of her closest friends now was Marianna, Jose’s wife and her sister-in-law. Soon after Isobel’s pregnancy had been announced, Marianna had admitted she was pregnant too.
Alejandro himself was present at the birth of his son, and it was he who put the baby into her arms for the first time. ‘See?’ he said huskily. ‘He is so handsome.’
‘Just like his father,’ said Isobel with feeling, and they shared a smile of total understanding.
‘And you,’ he said, stroking the damp hair back from her forehead. ‘How do you feel? That is the most important thing to me.’
Isobel smiled again. ‘Oh, Alejandro, I feel great—and it was so easy! I told you, you didn’t have to worry. I’m obviously stronger than I look.’
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