RAMIREZ'S WOMAN

by Beverly Barton

  Miguel rushed to her, dropped on his knees and looked at her, relief in his eyes. Without saying a word, he untied her hands and then her feet.

  "How—how did you find me?" she asked as Miguel lifted her into his arms and carried her toward the door.

  "Diego Fernandez led us to you," Miguel told her.

  She caught a glimpse of Dom Shea, Vic Noble and Will Pierce as Miguel carried her through the door and out onto the wharf. Several other men stood around watching over the two bodies lying at their feet. The two guards who had held her prisoner were also dead.

  "Why would Diego help you?" she asked.

  "Hush, querida," Miguel said. "Stop asking me questions. I was half out of my mind, thinking I might have already lost you. Then I find you alive and I am forced to kill Roberto, a man who had been my friend … a man I thought had been my friend."

  Miguel kept walking as he talked, carrying her down a long, shadowy alley, while the others followed. "Roberto was a traitor. He would have murdered you. And the brother who has hated me, who has plotted and worked against me, helped me. I owe him your life.

  "I was prepared to go before the people this afternoon to withdraw from the presidential race—for you. To save you because I would rather die myself, would rather see the whole world destroyed than to lose you. What kind of president would be willing to sacrifice a nation to save one woman?"

  J.J. winced as pain shot through her side when she lifted her arm and draped it around Miguel's neck. She laid her head on his shoulder and said softly, "You wanted to sacrifice Mocorito to save me, possibly even believed you would do it, but when the moment came, you would have made the right decision. You would have done what you knew I wanted you to do, what I would have expected from the man I admire and respect … and love."

  "Damn you, Jennifer." He marched out into the street and straight to Dom's rental car. "I am taking you back to the hospital and I am not leaving your side until you are well enough for me to put you on a plane back to America."

  "Whatever you say, Miguel." She closed her eyes and smiled. If he thought he was going to pack her off back to Atlanta, then he had another thought coming. Surely he didn't believe that after she had come this close to death and now knew beyond a shadow of a doubt how he truly felt about her, that she would ever leave him. When she recovered and was released from the hospital, she had no intention of going anywhere, except straight to the presidential palace with Miguel when he won the election.

  * * *

  Chapter 18

  « ^ »

  True to his word, Miguel had stayed at the hospital day and night for the next seventy-two hours—except for some sort of secret mission that had taken him away for an hour yesterday. Then this morning, Juan Esteban had arranged for a private-duty nurse for J.J. so that she could be sent home. Home to Miguel's house, not home to Atlanta. She suspected that the hospital staff had begged Juan to find a way to remove Miguel from the premises because not only had he guarded J.J. like a hawk, questioning everyone about everything they did, even tasting her food to make sure it wasn't poisoned, but he also told the nurses that he would check J.J.'s vital signs himself.

  So, here she was wearing a yellow silk nightgown, lying in the middle of Miguel's king-size bed and propped into a sitting position with six feather pillows. Her gunshot wound was healing nicely and although it would leave an ugly scar, Juan had assured her the scar could be all but erased with plastic surgery. Ramona had been fussing over her like a mother hen, bringing her more food than she could eat in two days, let alone at one meal. Aunt Josephina and Seina had sent Nurse Orlando downstairs and told her to take a long break. They chatted away with J.J. while they arranged the three dozen floral arrangements that had been brought upstairs, placing half in the sitting room and the other half in the bedroom so that J.J. could see and enjoy them from her bed. She was told that another three dozen decorated every room in the house and Miguel had ordered that any others that arrived today be sent to St. Augustine's.

  The three women had shooed Miguel downstairs, where "the men" were waiting for him. He had gone, if somewhat reluctantly. J.J. suspected that "the men" consisted of two Dundee agents, one CIA agent and Emilio Lopez. And perhaps even Diego Fernandez. She had tried to bring up Diego's name several times while she'd been in the hospital and every time, Miguel had told her that they would discuss his half-brother later.

  "Will you two stop fussing," J.J. said. "Come over and sit and tell me what's going on." She patted the bed.

  Aunt Josephina and Seina glanced at each other.

  "Perhaps we should go," Seina said. "You need to rest. Miguel cautioned us not to let you overtire yourself."

  "You two are not going anywhere. Something is going on and I want to know exactly what it is."

  Aunt Josephina smiled guilelessly. "Whatever do you think we could possibly know, my dear Jennifer? We are only women. You do not think the men would share any information with us."

  "Cut the bull, Aunt Josephina." J.J. couldn't help laughing when the old woman's mouth fell open. "Come on. Woman-to-woman. Miguel won't tell me anything. He just keeps saying that everything is fine, that I should not worry. And Dom and Vic haven't even been allowed to do more than say hi and bye to me in the past three days."

  Seina sighed. Aunt Josephina glanced at the closed door.

  "Hector Padilla has been arrested," Seina said, practically whispering. "Only this morning. He was caught trying to escape from Nava."

  "What?" Of all the things she had expected to hear, this wasn't one of them.

  "My brother, Diego, went on television with Miguel yesterday and told the people what President Padilla had been doing and that he planned, when he was reelected, to overthrow the government and form a new dictatorship." Seina sat down on the edge of the bed. "As soon as they knew that President Padilla had lost Diego's support and the support of all the other important families in Nava, his own cabinet members turned against him and agreed to testify in court about what they knew."

  "Holy sh—" Why hadn't Miguel shared all this incredible news with her? "So this means that Miguel will become president by default, right?"

  Aunt Josephina shook her head. "No, no. Our Miguel insists that the Federalist Party choose another candidate. He says it is the only fair thing to do."

  J.J. smiled. "Our Miguel would say that wouldn't he? That man has to be the most honorable, most noble man on God's green earth."

  "Today I am proud of both my brothers," Seina said, but she had a bittersweet expression on her face. "Diego is not a bad man and in the end, he did what was right."

  "He saved my life," J.J. told her. "You know that don't you?"

  "Yes, I know, but he—he bargained with Miguel for your life."

  "What do you mean?" J.J. asked.

  "Miguel does not want her upset," Aunt Josephina said.

  "I'm not upset." J.J. reached out for Seina's hand.

  Miguel's young half-sister grasped her hand and looked at her pleadingly. "Diego did many bad things for Hector Padilla and he did them because he hated Miguel."

  "That's not exactly a surprise to me."

  "When Diego learned where you were being held, he used that information to force Miguel to agree to pardon him for all of his crimes once Miguel is elected president."

  "Oh, I see. So, Diego won't be punished for anything he did, is that it?"

  "Yes, that is correct. Of course, he did not have to agree to testify against President Padilla nor did he have to contact all his friends and associates, many fellow Federalists, and tell them the truth about the president, but he did. And he went on television with Miguel and—"

  J.J. squeezed Seina's hand. "It's all right. You don't have to keep defending Diego. He's not exactly my favorite person, but regardless of why he did it, his actions did save my life."

  "You are very generous," Seina said, her eyes misty with tears.

  "So, what is the meeting downstairs all about and why all the secrecy?"


  Seina looked to Aunt Josephina, as if asking for permission to speak. But before the old woman could approve or disapprove, a female voice called out from the sitting room.

  "Where is everyone?" Dolores Lopez came waddling into the bedroom, Lucie Evans directly behind her. "So here you all are." Dolores came straight over to the bed, sat on the opposite side from Seina and leaned over enough so that she could wrap her arms around J.J. "You look well for a lady who was shot less than a week ago. How good it is to see you recovering so nicely."

  Surprised—no shocked—by Dolores's conciliatory manner, J.J. hugged Miguel's cousin and said, "It's good to see you, too."

  Nailing Seina with her sharp gaze, Dolores said, "And you must be Miguel's half-sister. I hear you are going to marry Juan. He is a good man. You are very lucky."

  "Yes, I know," Seina said shyly.

  "Thank God this nightmare is over and we can return to our normal lives." Dolores waved her hand at Lucie, who rolled her eyes and came over to help Dolores to her feet. "Thank you. I am so fat I cannot get up out of a chair on my own these days."

  Lucie looked down at J.J. "How are you … really?"

  "I'm fine. Really."

  "Perhaps we should all go into the sitting room and leave these old friends alone," Dolores said. "Come, Aunt Josephina. You must tell me about the plans for Juan and Seina's wedding."

  As soon as they were alone, Lucie sat on the side of the bed. "Sawyer is sending the Dundee jet to Nava tomorrow to pick us all up. When he called to tell me to bring Señora Lopez home today, he asked me to find out if you'll need for him to send either a doctor or a nurse for you. I told him I'd call him back once I spoke to you."

  "I will not require a doctor or a nurse."

  "Are you sure?"

  "I'm very sure. You see, Lucie, I'm not going back to America with the rest of you."

  Lucie widened her eyes. "You're not? Mind telling me why?"

  "I'm going to stay in Mocorito with Miguel."

  Lucie frowned. "Has he asked you to stay?"

  "No, not yet, but he will."

  "Oh, honey, he may not. I mean, after all, it's not as if you were his real fiancée. You came here on an assignment and under a tropical moon, with a handsome Latin lover charming your pants off, you could easily have misinterpreted passion for love."

  "I didn't misinterpret anything." J.J. studied Lucie's expression. "Spill the beans. What are you not telling me?"

  "You don't know that yesterday when Miguel and Diego Fernandez appeared on television together that Miguel confessed that you were not really his fiancée, that you came to Mocorito to work as his bodyguard. He said something to the effect that you had gone above and beyond your duty as his protector."

  J.J. couldn't speak, couldn't think. God, she could barely breathe. Finally she managed one word. "Oh."

  "Damn, J.J., I'm sorry."

  J.J. waved her hand in an it's-all-right gesture. Tears lodged in her throat, threatening to choke her. Why would Miguel have confessed to everyone that their engagement wasn't real if he planned to marry her?

  He doesn't plan to marry you, that pesky inner voice told her.

  "Men can be such pigs," Lucie said. "They screw you one night and the next morning, they can't remember your name."

  "Miguel isn't like that. He's not."

  Lucie reached over and hugged J.J. "You're really in love with the guy, aren't you?"

  "You have no idea," J.J. said as she laid her head on Lucie's shoulder and cried. Damn it, she didn't cry. Not ever. Crying was for sissies. Well, hell, she was a woman, wasn't she? Couldn't a woman cry and not be seen as weak? Especially a woman with a broken heart.

  "I better get downstairs and let the men know they can't make all the decisions without me." Lucie took hold of J.J.'s shoulders and helped her sit back against the pillows. "Dom and Vic and Will Pierce are helping Señor Ramirez and his people tie up all the loose ends. You know, cross all the t's and dot all the i's. When President Padilla and his cohorts go on trial, nobody wants them getting away with anything. Our country wants Padilla and his friends to spend the rest of their lives locked up."

  "So that's what the big powwow is all about, huh?"

  "That's it."

  "Would you tell Aunt Josephina and Seina that I'm taking a nap and I do not wish to be disturbed."

  "Sure thing," Lucie said as she headed for the door. "I'll catch you later."

  * * *

  J.J. hadn't realized that she had actually fallen asleep until something woke her. What was that tickling her cheek? It felt like her hair was being blown against her face. She opened her eyes, but the room lay in semidarkness. How long had she been asleep? She rolled over from her uninjured side to her back and looked up into a pair of golden-brown eyes. Miguel! He was lying beside her, propped up on his elbow, gazing down at her and blowing softly against her ear.

  "Miguel?"

  "Yes, querida."

  How dare he call her querida! "What time is it?"

  "It is past seven in the evening. You have missed dinner. I can have Ramona bring up a tray—"

  "No, that won't be necessary. I'm not hungry."

  "Are you thirsty?" he asked. "Would you like some water or tea or a cola or—"

  "No, nothing, thank you." She couldn't bring herself to break eye contact, but damn it, looking at him was tearing her apart inside. "Are Lucie and the others still here?"

  "No, they have all gone to their hotel."

  "Even Dom?"

  "Yes, even Dom."

  "Lucie told me that Sawyer McNamara is sending the Dundee jet in the morning to pick everyone up," she said.

  "Yes, I know."

  "He offered to send along a doctor or a nurse for me."

  "That was very kind of him."

  J.J. nodded.

  "But of course you told Señorita Evans to tell Señor McNamara that you did not require the services of either a doctor or a nurse, did you not?"

  "Yes, I did, but—"

  "Juan tells me that you should be fully recovered by election day," Miguel said.

  And where would she be on election day, the day Miguel became the president of Mocorito? In her apartment in Atlanta? Visiting her mother in Mobile?

  "You are very quiet, querida. Are you all right?"

  "Stop calling me querida."

  He looked at her questioningly. "Jennifer … J.J., what is wrong? You seem upset. If someone has said or done anything to upset you, please tell me and I will deal with them."

  "Stop pretending with me," J.J. told him. "I know. Do you hear me—I know. Lucie told me."

  "Señorita Evans told you what?"

  "That when you and Diego made your eventful TV appearance yesterday, you confessed to the people of Mocorito that I am not really your fiancée, that I'm nothing but your bodyguard."

  Miguel laughed. Damn him, he laughed.

  "Yes, I told the people the truth. There was no longer any reason to keep up the pretense, no reason to continue living a lie."

  "Of course not."

  "Querida, I want—"

  J.J. shoved on his chest trying to push him away from her. "Stop calling me querida. I'm not your darling. I'm not anything to you."

  He grasped her shoulders and held her gently but forcefully. "Jennifer Joy Blair, you are my darling, my querida. You are everything to me. How could you not know this? I love you. I love you more than anything, even more than Mocorito."

  J.J. didn't know if she was more stunned by Miguel's confession or by her own stupidity. "I am an idiot, aren't I?"

  "No, you are the woman I love, the woman I want to be my wife, the mother of my children, the first lady of Mocorito." He reached in his pocket and pulled out her engagement ring. "They had to take off all your jewelry when you were in the hospital. If you would prefer to choose a different ring, I will understand."

  She grabbed the ring and put it on the third finger of her left hand. "This ring is perfect. And this time it really is my engagement ring."
She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him, then kissed him on both cheeks, on his forehead and finally his mouth. "You confessed the truth to your people because you didn't want to start our marriage with a lie."

  "You know me so well."

  He kissed her and within minutes passion flared between them. When she accidentally grazed her bandaged side against his belt, she whimpered. Miguel pulled away from her.

  "I hurt you. Forgive me. I should go now and—"

  She grabbed him by the front of his shirt. "You aren't going anywhere. Take off your clothes and get in bed with me right now."

  "Jennifer, you are still recovering from being shot. I will sleep in another bedroom."

  "I don't want you sleeping in another bedroom. I want you to sleep here with me and hold me in your arms all night."

  "You wish to torture me?"

  She laughed. "Well, actually, I want you to make love to me."

  "No, querida, you are not well enough for lovemaking."

  "I'm not strong enough for anything vigorous, but if you do all the work and I just lie here and enjoy it…"

  He pressed her gently back against the pillows, then leaned over her, bracing himself with his elbows on either side of her. "You are a wicked, wicked woman tempting me this way."

  "For goodness sakes, shut up, and kiss me again, will you?"

  He did as she requested. He kissed her. And kissed her again. And soon there was not one inch of body that he had not kissed—except the small, thick square of gauze covering her healing wound, which he circled lovingly with his fingertip.

  She lay there, naked and aroused, allowing him to worship her body, to touch and kiss and lick and soothe until she was half out of her mind with desire. He spread her legs and ran his tongue up and down and then back up each inner thigh. He nuzzled her mound, then separated her intimate lips and made love to her with his mouth. When she came, she cried out his name, telling him how much she loved him.