by Lily Harlem
“We should get up,” she said.
“Si, it is the big day, much for me to do, and I wanted an early start.”
“Yes, you jump through the shower first, I’ll make us a drink.”
Raul showered, then dressed in his new smart clothes.
When Olivia walked past wearing his robe and munching on a slice of buttered toast, she stopped and stared.
“Nice, no?” He held out his arms.
“Very.” She nodded. “Are you planning on cooking, though?”
“Perhaps some.”
“Then wear an apron. Or you’ll be a mess on the photographs.”
He glanced down at his pristine dark outfit. “You are a wise woman.”
“I have my moments.” She giggled. “You look great. You’ll knock ’em out. I’ll see you down there. I’m going to take my time as there’s no school run or animals to worry about.”
“Si, you do that.”
He headed down to the restaurant. It was already a hive of activity.
A table holding the shiny new cook books had been set up against the wall, helium balloons in bright green, yellow, and red—to signify peppers, lemons, and tomatoes—filled the restaurant, and the chairs all had huge matching green bows around the backs of them.
The large table, at the rear, was set up with bottles of champagne and ice buckets, and another stack of books with a pen placed on the top.
He grinned, excitement sparking. It was a day he’d been counting the hours to.
“Raul.” Jose burst from the kitchen carrying a plate stacked with delicate blinis topped with salmon. “You’re here.”
“Of course.”
Jose was dressed in jeans and a red-striped, short-sleeved shirt. He’d sensibly put an apron on. He set down the tray on a table spread with a white linen cloth then held out his hands. “What do you think of the setup?”
“It looks great.” Raul paused. “I hope people turn up.”
“Of course they will.” Jose slapped him on the shoulder. He wore a peppery aftershave, and his dark eyes sparkled with excitement. “This is the talk of the town. The great Raul Santiago back after such a long sabbatical, no one really knowing where you are.”
“Well, that’s not quite—”
“You are a man of mystery, mi amigo.”
Raul chuckled. “Well, if that helps sell the book, we should go with it.”
“I agree.” Jose walked to the table of books and picked one up. He held it high. “Though this will sell itself. It is perfecto.”
“I agree.” Raul nodded at the kitchen. “Can I help?”
“We could always do with your help.”
Two hours later, the kitchen was a frenzy of activity. The last of the hot plate samples were going out, and Jose was flapping his arms and barking orders.
Raul held back, happy to let the head chef take the reins. This was all but in name, his kitchen now.
“Raul.”
He turned at the sound of his mother’s voice. But it wasn’t her his attention fell on. It was Olivia who stood at her side.
She’d opted for a body-hugging red dress, black heels, and her hair was piled high. Her lips matched her dress, and long, glittering diamond earrings—a birthday present from Harry—dangled beside the delicate curve of her neck.
His breath quickened, and a rush of love and pride went through him. His woman was beautiful. She didn’t dress up often, not like this, but when she did, she could grace red carpets, magazines, and catwalks.
He set down a culinary torch. “Wow,” he said, taking her hands in his and not hiding his continuing admiration. “You look beautiful.”
“You like the dress?”
“Si, I like the dress.” He turned to his mother. “And you are beautiful, too, madre.”
She laughed softly. “Thank you. But you must be careful your wife doesn’t steal the show today. The book is amazing, but this creature you keep hidden away in Australia is a show-stopper.”
“She is.” He kissed Olivia’s cheek, breathing in the flowery scent of her perfume. “In fact, I might stop this show and keep you to myself for the day.”
She giggled and pushed his chest. “Don’t be silly, there’s people arriving.”
“There are?” He turned to the door.
“Yes, and photographers,” his mother said. “You and Jose need to take off your aprons and get out there.”
The sound of corks popping rattled around the kitchen.
“Si, it is time.” Raul nodded and released the strings on his apron. “Jose, we are on.”
“Break a leg,” Olivia said.
“What?” He turned to her. “Why would you say a mean thing like that?”
Maria frowned.
Olivia laughed and squeezed his hand. “It means good luck, silly.”
“You have some strange things to say in your language.” He shrugged. “But thank you, luck I will take.”
The moment he stepped into the restaurant, Jose at his side, Raul felt like he was in a dream. There were so many pats on the back, hugs of congratulations, the champagne was flowing, and before he knew it, he was signing books.
“One for Travel and Eat Magazine?” a reporter asked, holding up a camera.
“Of course.” Raul smiled.
Jose held up a book between them.
The picture was taken.
“And can you tell us a little about the inspiration for the book,” the reporter asked.
“I’ll take this.” Raul smiled at Jose then started on how the idea had come about.
Jose wandered off, in the direction of Olivia who was sipping champagne and chatting to Riley.
“And will you be taking the book to London and New York for signings?”
“Er no, I don’t think so.” Raul smiled. “Just here. The book is about Regalo del Mar after all.”
“This is true.”
“Raul, so sorry to interrupt.” A woman with dark hair piled high, a low white top, and sprayed-on tight black trousers appeared in front of him. “Sienna, from the Food Spain website. I wanted to talk to you about a mutually beneficial promotion.”
“Okay.” Raul nodded. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“Of course.” The journalist smiled.
“Do sample the food.” He gestured to the spread of samples.
“I will, Señor Santiago, gracias.”
Jose was topping up Olivia’s champagne glass. She was giggling at something he’d just said.
“What promotion are you suggesting?” Raul asked, directing his attention back to Sienna.
“If I can just show you.” She pulled out her phone and stood close, her bare arm brushing his. “This is our website, and we have endorsement banners.”
“I see.”
She scrolled to another screen. “And this is our traffic. I was thinking about us sharing readership. The more the merrier to the site, and your book is going to be a wild success, I just know it.” She smiled, her dark glossy lips spreading wide.
“Thank you, I hope so.”
“Do you have a favorite recipe from the book?” she asked.
“I like them all.”
“But if you had to choose?” She tipped her head and raised her eyebrows.
“Perhaps the tortilla, nice and simple but with a chorizo twist.”
“Sounds delicious.” She pointed at the table of food. “Which one is it?”
“Here.” He walked over and picked it up. The eggy tart had been diced, and tiny silver sticks poked into each cube. “It’s this.” He picked one up.
“Oh, that looks amazing.” She opened her mouth and tipped forward, like a little bird waiting to be fed.
He frowned then presented the tortilla.
She wrapped her lips around the stick, her eye contact unwavering, pulled back, then chewed. “Mmm, perfect.”
“Hey,” Jose said, appearing at his side. “All okay?”
“Si. You?”
“Your wife wants to try the go
at cheese melt.” He reached for one.
“Oh, shall I—?” Raul said.
“No, you carry on here, I can take it.” Jose was gone.
“Your wife?” Sienna raised her eyebrows. “You don’t wear a wedding ring.”
“No, I don’t.” He found himself stroking his necklace.
“And we never see pictures of her.” She leaned close, closer still. Her breasts touched his arm. “Do you keep her hidden away? Locked up?”
“No.” He frowned.
“Locked up. Tied up,” she said in a low murmur. “Would be fun, si?”
“I am married,” Raul said, “even if I don’t wear a ring.” He tapped the phone she was holding. “How about you take my mother’s email address, she does all the marketing for me.”
“How about I take yours?” She licked her lips.
Raul glanced over at Olivia.
She had her hand on Jose’s arm and appeared to use him to balance as she adjusted her shoe. But she was staring straight at Raul.
A flush of discomfort went through him. This Sienna woman was being too friendly. He didn’t like it.
Actually, Jose was also being too friendly.
“Sienna,” he said with a shrug. “I’m sorry. I don’t check emails nearly as much as I should. My wife and I are busy with our family in Australia.”
“So how did you find the time to create this book with Jose?” She nodded at Jose.
Raul followed her line of sight.
Now Olivia was standing close to Jose who had his arm around her, his hand huge on her small waist. She was holding up a book, and Riley was taking a photograph. Both had big smiles on their faces, acting like they were best buddies.
His blood heated. He was sure his cheeks went the same color as Olivia’s dress.
“I’d love to interview you properly,” Sienna was saying, “find out all the juicy details about the Raul Santiago.”
Olivia took the phone from Riley and smiled as she examined the picture. She then handed it back.
Why does Riley need a picture of Jose and Olivia?
“Raul.” Ezra appeared in front of Raul. “Would you care to speak to Manilo Beck? He’s a food reviewer from Madrid.”
What Raul really wanted to do was snatch his wife away from Jose’s grip, but he couldn’t think about that now. A food reviewer could make or break the success of the book.
“Of course.” He smiled stiffly at Sienna. “Please excuse me.”
“Later, baby.” She winked.
“A fan?” Ezra asked quietly.
“A little too enthusiastic.” Raul huffed.
The next few hours went by in a blur. The champagne was drunk, all the books signed, and Raul’s cheeks ached from smiling for photographs so much.
But inside, beneath the smile, he was simmering. Jose had been overly attentive to Olivia all day. And what was worse was she hadn’t seemed to mind.
Finally, the guests drifted away, so did the staff, and Maria and Riley bid everyone goodbye and left.
Jose turned the music off and gestured to the table, now cleared of all but crumbs and used crockery. “I will make a start on this.”
“No,” Raul said, sharper than he’d intended. “It is time for you to go, Jose.”
Chapter Four
“But—” Jose frowned.
“I can take care of this mess,” Raul said, slipping his hand around Olivia’s waist. “And my wife.”
A flash of surprise went over Jose’s face, then he shrugged. “That is fine with me. I am tired.” He suppressed a yawn. “But a good day, si?”
“Very good.” Olivia stepped up and kissed his cheek. “Goodnight, Jose, and congratulations again on the book.”
Raul’s belly tightened. Surely she’d said that enough already. Did she want to get one last kiss from him?
“Adiós.” Raul stalked to the door and held it open.
“You okay, Raul?” Jose asked, ambling over and scooping up a motorbike helmet on the way.
“Si.”
Jose shrugged. “Okay, mañana.”
Raul shut and locked the door.
“Raul,” Olivia said, shaking her head. “Did something happen?”
He clenched his jaw, not trusting himself to speak, and reached for a plate. He began to stack.
“What is it?” Olivia asked, copying him, the crockery clattering.
“Nada.”
“Well, it is something.”
“You,” he said, unable to stop the words that had built up on his tongue. “You and Jose.”
“Me and Jose?” Her eyes widened.
“Si, you two, together, all day.”
“We’ve been in the same room all day, yes, but I don’t know what you’re saying.”
“I am saying he was flirting with you.”
“Flirting with me.” Her eyes narrowed. “Are you saying I flirted back?” Her voice was low and dangerous.
He knew when not to push too far.
“No.” He hesitated. “I’m saying you didn’t stop him.”
“I encouraged him then?”
He paused. “No.”
“You’re not saying what you think, Raul. You forget how well I know you.” She picked up the stack of plates. “And I will not be accused of flirting with your head chef and coauthor.”
She turned and stalked to the kitchen, ass wiggling and chin tilted.
“Olivia.” He tutted. “Come back.”
Of course she didn’t, and the kitchen door swung as she pushed through it and disappeared.
He followed, carrying the plates and ignoring the juice that smeared on his shirt.
“And I’ll tell you something else,” she said, throwing the plates into a sink. A crack came from the bottom of the pile. “If you’re going to accuse me of flirting, perhaps you should explain yourself.”
“What?” He set the plates down, wishing he hadn’t said anything.
“What?” She rammed her hands on her hips. “That woman earlier, the one with her tits falling out of her top. Tight pants. Couldn’t get close enough to you.”
“I don’t know who you are talking about.”
Sienna
“Don’t play innocent with me.” She scowled.
“Me, play innocent? I saw you hanging on to Jose while you fiddled with your shoe, laughing at all his jokes, sipping champagne with him, posing for photographs—”
“I was being polite. Apart from Maria and Riley, he is the only other person in the room I knew, and you were busy.”
“Busy, si, Jose was busy where he shouldn’t have been—you’re not going to buy a book. You can have as many as you want, I will give them to you.”
“Go and discuss this with Jose, because I’m not prepared to have this conversation with you, Raul.” She folded her arms.
“I intend to discuss it with him. Mañana.” He hardened his tone. “The others wouldn’t have liked to see what I had to see today.”
“The others wouldn’t be overreacting the way you are.”
“I have to speak for Harry, Evan, Mason, and Lucas when they’re not here.” He leaned back on the stainless steel counter. “And I think they would feel the same as me. Exactly the same.”
“That I’m a flirt? That because I wore a nice dress for your book launch and was polite to people, I’m a flirt?” She tugged her hair from the clip holding it up. It cascaded around her shoulders in soft curls. “I’m going to bed.”
He frowned as she walked past him.
“And you,” she threw over her shoulder, “can go and find Sienna.”
“Why the fuck would I do that?” He reached out and grabbed her arm.
She spun to him, clearly surprised at the firm grip.
“Well?” he asked. “Why would I?”
“It’s clear you liked her. All that leaning close, whispering, feeding her damn food.”
“It was not like that.”
“I know what I saw.” Pain flashed in her eyes, and her bottom lip trembled
. “And it was sickening.”
“Olivia.”
“And,” she said, pushing at his arm, “what’s even worse was you swapped numbers.”
His mouth hung open. “We did not.”
“Get off me.”
“No.” He stood and clasped her shoulders, turned her so her butt was against the counter and he had her trapped. “We did not. I told her to contact my mother about a joint online marketing venture.”
She was breathing fast, her breasts pushing at her dress.
He squeezed in close, his groin squashed to hers, and stared into her eyes. “The woman made a play for me, I’ll admit that, but I didn’t bite, I never would.” He ran his hands up to her face and held it. “I love you, Olivia.”
She didn’t speak.
“It wasn’t really me Sienna wanted, it was the celebrity of the day, the chef in the news. Some women get off on that.” He paused and lowered his face. “Look at all of Harry’s hanger-ins.”
“Hanger-ons, and he doesn’t have them anymore.”
“So today was my turn to have one.” He gritted his teeth, his jaw tense. “And I didn’t like it. I didn’t like her invading my personal space, batting her eyelashes, not taking the fact I’m married as a no.”
“You told her?”
“Of course I did.”
She reached up and touched his necklace. Her voice softened. “I want to go home.”
“Olivia.” His heart lurched. He wasn’t ready to go back to Australia just yet.
“I’m sorry, I just do.”
“Si, okay. I’ll get us on a flight in the morning.”
She glanced away, her lashes casting shadows on her face.
“We’ll be back on the station before you know it.” He forced her to look up at him. “Just us again, no one else. The way we all like it.” He paused. “And for the record, thank you for coming here with me. To share my special day.”
“Raul.” Her eyes misted. “I don’t really want to go home, not yet. I just don’t want to argue with you, especially as it’s an important day, one you’ve worked so hard for.”