Fascination (19 page)

‘Yes, I found you,’ he murmured, brushing her lips before placing a kiss on the tip of her nose. ‘To resume, though, I felt guilty about Arminda and also I still felt I cared deeply for her. Yet on reflection I realise that I was never totally unaware of you as a woman, and gradually I found myself wanting you.’ Faintly he smiled, kissing her cheeks because she had blushed. But Hydee sensed his deep regret at the cruel words he had used to her, saying he had taken her because
she
had wanted it. ‘As I don’t consider myself a fickle man, I suppose I had a fixation about caring for Arminda,’ Carlos went on eventually. ‘But I now realise that, from the moment you came here, I was losing interest in her, and I also know that when I told you I cared deeply, it was not the truth, although, at the time, I believed it was, or wanted to believe it. Then there was the added complication of Gasper, whom you allowed to kiss you and with whom you seemed to be falling in love, and in fact you told me you would probably marry him when—’

‘Oh, Carlos,’ she cried, straining from him, ‘don’t bring that up! It wasn’t true—really it wasn’t!’

Carlos laughed then and drew her to his heart again. ‘You’ve no need to tell me, sweetheart. I guessed you were trying to make me jealous—’

‘That was afterwards, when I said I like Gasper very much and that we’d known from the first that the-re was something rather special about our friendship.’

‘Well, it’s of no more importance now than my own equally untrue statement that I cared deeply for Arminda,’ He paused, because she had lifted her face, eyes shining, lips moistly glowing, inviting a kiss. ‘As regards my being with Arminda in London,’ continued Carlos sometime later, ‘she and her mother had suffered financial losses of great magnitude; she believed she had been robbed and wanted me to look into some investments which she had over there. I agreed to help, feeling it was the least I could do, but refused to travel with her, owing to the possibility of gossip. Well, Isobella knew Arminda was going to London, knew, too, that I was to be there as well, so she made it her business to tell you about it. Gasper also knew, so he verified Isobella’s statement, though without sharing her cruel intentions. It must have looked black against me but, believe me, dearest, I was not unfaithful to you.’

‘I know, Carlos. When you hinted as much, I believed you rather than Isobella, and it helped, but I still had the idea that you could never fall in love with me.’

His eyes were tender as he said, ‘I’ve been falling in love with you since the first day. I know that now. What finally made it hit me with some force was that night—’

‘I know which night, Carlos,’ she broke in swiftly. ‘You were so loving with me.’

‘And you with me, dearest.’ He stopped and gave a small sigh. ‘Arminda, like everyone else, knew the circumstances of our marriage, so Arminda continued to believe I loved her. Well, after that wonderful night I knew I must tell her it was my wife whom I loved, but I was reluctant to upset her before Christmas, hence my saying that you and I would talk afterwards. However, as things turned out, I was unable to hide my love from you, and Arminda tackled me, so I admitted it. She took it very well but told me that she and her mother will be leaving the district within the next few months.’

‘I feel sorry for her, Carlos.’

‘So do I, but it was fate that she and I did not marry. You, my beloved, were waiting for me.’

‘Yes, waiting for my Prince Charming….’ She smiled, offering her lips. ‘Kiss me, dear Carlos,’ she whispered huskily—and within seconds she was swept into a wild torrent of passion that left her breathless and limp in his arms, joyfully submissive, his for the taking.