‘What makes you say that?’
‘He may seem like a smooth charmer on the outside but, deep down, he’s anything but superficial.’
‘Well, I’ve noticed that he’s passionate and thoughtful about his work,’ said Luna. His passion was something she knew rather a lot about and it still made her shiver with awareness, just as she was doing now, conscious that he was just across the room.
‘Yes, but there’s something deeper that I can’t put my finger on,’ continued Charo. ‘A look that comes over him every now and again.’ She leaned in closer and whispered theatrically. ‘Perhaps he has a dark and thrilling secret, and just needs the right woman to discover it.’
Dark and thrilling certainly described him well, Luna admitted to herself. Secrets? Yes, a man like that with gypsy blood in his veins would very possibly have those too.
‘If he does, then I’m sure you would be the first to get to the bottom of it, Charo. He wouldn’t stand a chance against your interrogation skills. You know everything about everyone,’ she smiled.
Charo chuckled. ‘You make me sound dreadful! But, yes, it’s true. Miguel is always telling me it’ll get me into trouble one day. Curiosity killed the cat, and all that.’
‘Don’t worry, Charo. It’s what we all love about you. Don’t change a thing,’ laughed Luna. Then, as an afterthought: ‘And I’m sure the good doctor needs a friend like you.’
‘Like a hole in the head,’ Charo said wryly. ‘Actually, I didn’t realize he’d be here tonight. Mind you, Vaina never misses an opportunity to cling to him like a leech to make everyone think they’re a couple.’ She nudged Luna’s arm. ‘Ah, but look, he appears to have escaped her again.’
Ruy had left Vaina’s side and was now making his way towards them. He strode purposefully across the room, his gaze focused only on Luna. It moved up and down her, slow and unhurried, as if he was unaware of doing it. Excitement coursed through Luna. She ran her fingers jerkily through her hair and glanced around the room, wanting to find a place where she would be safe from his dark and broodingly handsome figure.
‘I’ve never seen him that way before,’ murmured Charo, thoughtfully.
‘Like what?’
‘The way he keeps looking at you.’
Luna turned her gaze back to Ruy, who was cutting through the crowd in an unwavering line. She wondered if it was too late to slip away to the cloakroom, but he knew she had seen him.
Charo leaned over and whispered in Luna’s ear. ‘Something tells me, this is going to be an interesting evening.’
He came to a halt in front of them. ‘Buenas noches, señoritas, I didn’t know you’d be here tonight.’ His gaze settled on Luna.
‘Hola, Ruy,’ Charo said brightly. ‘I was just saying the same about you. I can’t believe I forgot to mention it, we could have all come together.’ She gave them both an innocent look, though the twinkle in her eyes was lit with laughter.
Ruy flashed a grin. ‘I can’t believe it either, Charo. You must be slipping!’
Charo was unperturbed by his teasing. ‘We were just saying how many attractive men there were in the room, Ruy.’
‘Were you now?’ His gaze flicked back to Luna.
‘I think it was you who made that observation, Charo,’ she said, sipping her champagne a little too quickly as her cheeks warmed.
The young woman sighed dramatically and smiled up at Ruy. ‘She’s no fun.’
He gave a short laugh. ‘Charo, did I ever tell you that you’re a bad influence?’
‘All the time,’ she grinned. ‘And now I’m going to take my influence elsewhere. Particularly as I’ve just spotted someone I should go and say hello to.’ She beamed. ‘See you both later.’
With that, looking very pleased with herself, she swanned off into the crowd, leaving the two of them standing together.
‘So you decided not to have an early night after all?’ Ruy plucked a mini chorizo off the tray of a passing waiter and nodded his thanks.
Luna stared at him, grappling for an excuse. ‘I’d forgotten Charo had asked me here tonight.’
‘Must be the jet lag,’ he said mildly. ‘It can confuse a person. Though I just assumed you’d found out I was coming after we had lunch and decided you couldn’t bear to miss an evening in my company.’ He waved the chorizo vaguely and popped it in his mouth, the corner of his lips quirking into a grin as he munched cheerfully.
Luna was caught between laughter and embarrassment. Gazing up at the devilishly handsome man before her, she was relieved to see that rather than being annoyed by her evasiveness, he was amused. Now that he was here, she no longer wanted to avoid him but felt that familiar excitement tingling up her spine as she was drawn to his charismatic presence.
‘Charo threatened to drag me here herself if I didn’t turn up,’ said Luna truthfully.
‘Dear Charo, subtle as ever. She was right to get you out for the evening after you’ve been working so hard, though. Especially to an exhibition of this quality.’
Luna watched him lick his thumb and flicked her gaze back up. ‘Have you seen the paintings? I’ve not had a chance yet.’
‘Yes, they’re wonderful. Bold, exciting, surprising …’ His blue eyes sparkled as he stared at her. ‘Beautiful … You should have a look round.’
Luna read the mischief in his eyes and her pulse skittered. She glanced across to one of the paintings, of a naked couple embracing, each part of their bodies fractured into an exploding schema of geometric shapes, yet it was clearly visible that they were wrapped around each other. ‘Yes, they manage to be deconstructed but sensual at the same time. Surprising, as you say.’
‘It’s the complexity beneath the picture that reveals its sensuality.’
She turned back to him to see his dark blue irises gleam with intensity.
‘Ruy, there you are,’ came a familiar voice behind, making them both turn round.
Vaina had appeared, her white teeth making a contrast with her figure-hugging black dress. She was smiling at Ruy, and making a point of not including Luna in that smile. Finally, she deigned to cast a brief, condescending glance at her.
‘Dr Ward, I had no idea you had an interest in art.’
‘Why would you, Doña Vaina?’ said Luna mildly, draining the last of her champagne. She watched with mounting annoyance as Vaina proceeded to ignore her and turned to Ruy again, smiling up at him in an alluring manner.
‘You disappeared as I was about to introduce you to an interesting art collector I’ve just met.’ Her dark eyes darted between Ruy and Luna edgily. ‘No doubt you have plenty of time to talk about work in the office, so I’m sure that Dr Ward can spare you for a while.’
‘Actually Luna and I were just discussing Vargas’s work, not our own,’ Ruy replied.
Vaina laid a possessive, perfectly manicured hand on his arm. ‘Well, I really must steal you away. Truly, this collector is someone you should meet. Knowing you as I do,’ she said, a little too pointedly for Luna’s liking, ‘I’m sure you’ll find him fascinating.’
‘Perhaps you ought to go then, Ruy, if you’re being summoned,’ said Luna, enjoying the effect of her little swipe on Vaina’s selfsatisfied expression.
Ruy was inscrutable, though Luna was pretty sure he was enjoying watching her pointed interaction with Vaina. ‘Oh, I think he can wait a few more minutes, don’t you? I promise I’ll come in a moment. In the meantime, he can enjoy a few more minutes of your charming company.’
Vaina hesitated, then smiled tightly and stalked back the way she had come.
Ruy observed Luna’s cool features with a glint of knowing amusement. ‘Something tells me you’re not Vaina’s biggest fan,’ he remarked.
‘She hasn’t been the most welcoming person since I arrived.’
‘I expect she feels threatened by you.’
Luna fixed her interrogative, amber gaze on him. ‘Threatened?’ It would give her great satisfaction, she realized, to have him confess the nature of his relat
ionship with Doña Vaina.
‘You mean Charo hasn’t taken great pains to enlighten you about my past relationships?’ he said, watching carefully for her reaction.
‘Your past relationships are really none of my concern.’
At this he grinned shamelessly and took the empty glass she was still holding. ‘Let me get you a drink and I can show you round some of the paintings.’
She was about to tell him that she could manage quite well on her own, but he had already turned away and was heading for the bar.
Perhaps this was her chance to escape. She didn’t know how long she could put up with seeing Vaina drape herself around Ruy for the entire evening. Worse still, he didn’t seem to discourage it, even if he had sent her back to her cronies for a while. Maybe he was playing the two of them off against each other. Was that something that amused him? The thought made her simmer with anger.
She began to move as swiftly as the crush permitted towards the cloakroom, the only place she could think of to get away for a few minutes and master those intense feelings he always aroused in her.
Luna had nearly reached it when she felt a hand on her arm. She turned sharply.
Diego Montez greeted her with a wide smile. ‘When I woke up this morning I knew it was going to be a great day, but I didn’t realize how great,’ he said smoothly.
‘Señor Montez!’ she said, startled.
‘Diego, please. It’s delightful to see you again, Luna. May I call you Luna?’
She stared at him. ‘Yes, of course, please do.’
‘I saw you from across the room and had to come and say hello. What a happy coincidence that we should bump into each other again,’ he said, a brilliant smile lighting his face.
‘Yes, it is,’ said Luna, caught off guard. She looked over to the bar and saw Ruy collecting two glasses of wine. He glanced up and their eyes locked. An obscure emotion flitted across his face before he caught sight of Diego, and then a frown creased his brow.
Good, she thought, and though it was petty, inside she felt a surge of satisfaction to know that, for a moment, the tables were turned. He wasn’t the only one with admirers.
‘How is the house? Are you comfortable at La Gaviota? Do you need anything?’
‘Mmm?’ Luna tore her gaze from Ruy and smiled politely back at Diego, her focus returning. ‘Yes, La Gaviota is wonderful, thank you. I’ve never slept so well. The sea air suits me, as does the solitude. It’s a wonderful place.’ She smiled flirtatiously, knowing that it would only inflame Ruy further if his eyes were still on them. ‘I found the covered market. I’ve been doing most of my food shopping there,’ she added.
‘I’m glad you did. It’s by far the best place to shop in Cádiz and the oyster stall sells glasses of Albariño that can make you lose a whole afternoon. I’ll take you there one day, if you like.’
‘I might well take you up on that, when I’m not so busy,’ she said with an impish smile. Luna knew she shouldn’t offer any encouragement but the desire to see Ruy piqued overcame any qualms.
He inclined his head in a debonair gesture. ‘I’m glad you’ve settled in. If any of the furnishings are not to your taste, I’m sure I can persuade the owner, Señor Alvarez, to change them to something more acceptable.’
She noticed how his eyes creased attractively at the corners when he smiled, and also how little effect they had on her. ‘No, everything is perfect, thank you. It’s all very tasteful.’
‘Anyhow, you’ve got my telephone number,’ Montez carried on. ‘Please don’t hesitate to ring me if you need anything … really, anything at all.’ He looked pointedly at Luna, whose gaze slid past him to Ruy, who was now heading their way, his expression dark.
She nodded, distracted. ‘Thank you, Diego. I promise to let you know.’
Montez hesitated as though he wanted to say something and then smiled suavely. ‘I hope I didn’t offend you the other day by asking you to dinner.’ His green eyes glittered with quiet admiration, and Luna noted with surprise and detached curiosity that she found him not in the least bit threatening, as she might have done only a few weeks ago.
‘You must trust me when I tell you I meant no disrespect,’ he continued. ‘I was just paying homage to a very beautiful woman, and the invitation is still open if you change your mind.’
Luna smiled vaguely. ‘That’s very kind.’
‘Ah, good evening, Dr Rueda de Calderón. A pleasure to see you again.’ Diego held out a hand as Ruy approached them.
‘Señor Montez,’ came Ruy’s icy-polite reply. He ignored Diego’s hand, and gave Luna her drink, immediately putting his hand in the small of her back, subtly implying that they were together. ‘If you’ll excuse us, I promised to show Luna the paintings before I have to go. Luna?’
Before she could object, Luna felt his hand slip to the side of her waist, giving it a gentle pull, and she almost gasped.
‘It was nice to see you again, Diego.’
Luna had no time to wait for the estate agent’s reply before finding herself gently, but firmly, propelled back through the crowds by Ruy’s strong fingers. His touch sent an involuntary rush of heat between her thighs.
‘Charming, if a little obvious,’ he murmured, as he guided her down one of the side aisles of the church, past a series of small alcoves constructed temporarily for the exhibition from large white screens.
‘What are you doing?’ she demanded, ignoring his remark. ‘I was in the middle of a conversation.’
‘I thought you needed rescuing.’
‘Well, I didn’t.’
‘Too late.’ His voice was almost curt.
In each alcove were housed different selections of paintings. Ruy took her to the one furthest from the crowds, behind a row of stone pillars in the transept. The hubbub was fainter here, and only a handful of people were milling around, peering at the colourful artworks adorning each screen.
‘These are Vargas’s earliest works, I believe.’ He was still standing close behind her, his voice dangerously quiet. Luna knew that he was simmering with jealous fury, but his heavy-handed possessiveness was stoking her own anger now.
She was still holding her glass of champagne and took a large sip to steady her nerves, before putting it down on a nearby table spread with leaflets and postcards. She’d already drunk one glass rather rapidly and this was no time to lose control.
They were at the edge of the space near the row of eroded sandstone pillars. Her gaze moved along the paintings. There were four or five of them, each rendered in contrasting luminous cool blues, coppery oranges and fiery reds and yellows, less abstract than the painting of the couple Luna had glimpsed earlier but still a series of broken, overlapping shapes and lines that formed the central image.
She paused in front of a nude reclining on a couch, her blazing yellow hair cascading down to the floor. The model’s face was upturned, one arm held languidly and provocatively above her head. One knee was open, brazenly.
‘Complex yet arousing, wouldn’t you say?’ Ruy’s voice was low, every word carefully enunciated.
He had moved behind Luna and a hot, sensual awareness of him gushed over her. She could feel his warm breath on her hair. An ache grew in her breasts and her nipples tightened against her chiffon dress. As her heart beat faster, a corresponding pulse throbbed at the apex of her thighs.
A couple of people left, heading back down the side corridor towards the main reception.
‘I know what you’re doing,’ she whispered, lifting her chin. ‘You’re trying to intimidate me.’
‘Is it working?’ His voice had an intense, brooding quality.
Luna turned and saw the burning heat in his eyes. Ruy was standing so close that his mouth was only inches away. He dropped his gaze, raking it up and down her body.
‘So you would have preferred that I left you with that lightweight, Montez?’ he murmured, his mouth curling into an accusing smile.
Luna glared at him angrily. ‘Since when is it up to you
who I talk to?’ she hissed, glancing around, fearful of causing a scene.
The remaining few people walked on.
Ruy glanced around to check they really were alone, then suddenly swept Luna into the corner. She felt the cold stone of the pillar against her shoulders as his hand went behind her head.
‘You need a good ravaging, do you know that?’
He stared at her lips.
‘You,’ she said hoarsely, ‘need to learn some manners.’
Then he held her still while his mouth swooped down on hers hungrily. He kissed her almost savagely, his tongue pushing into her mouth in angry thrusts.
Desire exploded in Luna. She could have made him stop but she didn’t – she wanted it too. Whatever contest this was for supremacy, she was not going to let him win. She kissed him back, matching his aggression with a fervour that she didn’t know she possessed. The hot friction of their bodies through the gauzy fabric of her dress made her feel his hard arousal against her easily, and a liquid heat coursed down to her centre.
His hand travelled over her body and found her breast, sliding his fingers into the flimsy fabric of her dress. His thumb grazed her nipple, the hard peak now straining against her bra, and circled around it. She gasped against his mouth, feeling his own hot breath against her lips as he groaned deep in his throat.
All the frustration and heartache between them poured into their kiss, crashing down like an angry, relentless tidal wave. Luna felt his helplessness the way she felt her own.
He broke off, panting, his gaze blazing hot with desire, and stepped away from her as if the heat of it was too much.
‘Dios mio, Luna! What are you doing to me?’ Ruy leaned both his hands on the adjacent column and looked down as if recovering from a ten-kilometre run. Still breathing heavily, he glanced sideways at her. ‘That’s a very short dress you’re wearing. I’m not sure it should be allowed in public.’
Luna tilted her head back against the stone, her chest rising and falling rapidly too. She glanced around her, afraid someone might have seen them. After swiftly adjusting her clothing she smoothed her hair, trying to control the riotous responses of her emotions as well as her body.
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