Illegitimate Tycoon (26 page)

 
          
She
told how she’d like to decorate the nursery, hoping to get his feedback as
well. His reply was that she could buy whatever she needed and hire as many as
it took to get the work done. As if she didn’t have the funds to do what she
wished.

 
          
At
night they slept in each other’s arms, holding on tight as if afraid this would
suddenly end. The doctor had even told them that lovemaking was fine as long as
they didn’t do anything too physical. But Rafael still hadn’t made a move to
seduce her, and she’d been so afraid he’d rebuff her that she’d not attempted
any seduction.

 
          
It
was those little things that needled her more and more, making her feel as if
she were just another of his possessions. As if all she’d said to him that day
was for naught.

 
          
She
almost looked forward to the hours he was called in to his office in Rio on
urgent business, an event that was occurring much more often.

 
          
Leila
knew that before long Rafael would be consumed with his company again, that she’d
be alone here in this beautiful hacienda, growing fat with her babies and more
uncertain of what the future would hold for her career, and her marriage. And
with her state of mind, for as her body began to distort, she found herself
growing more and more restless.

 
          
One
month after her return to Brazil, Rafael excused himself to attend to business
after lunch, leaving her to enjoy the serenity of the beautifully tended garden
alone. But this time one hour turned into three.

 
          
While
she knew that he was indeed worried about a glitch in his new hardware that his
techs had yet to perfect, a tiny voice in her head used this solitude to feed
her deepest fears.

 
          
He
had to have noticed the drastic changes in her body just this week. Breasts
that were fuller, the nipples supersensitized to his lightest touch.

 
          
The
baby bump had altered her perfectly toned body into something she’d never dreamed
she’d see.

 
          
Her
hands slid over the sun-warmed dress covering her belly, the increased
roundness a shock that sometimes threatened to erupt into panic. She had to
focus on the fact she was pregnant with twins. That the changes were normal and
were to be cherished.

 
          
But
it was hard to toss off the old neurosis of an eating disorder. If she had
something to do besides read or watch the TV.

 
          
Frustrated
and far too emotional of late, Leila swung her long tanned legs off the chaise
longue and cradled her face in her hands. She’d been able to cope with having
nothing to do as long as Rafael was around. Now that his company was tugging
him from her, the isolation was driving her crazy.

 
          
She
loosed a perturbed groan and surged to her feet. Perhaps a walk in the garden
would expend some of the restless energy building inside her.

 
          
Before
she’d taken two steps toward the pebbled path, her mobile rang. She stared at
the phone, the sound almost foreign to her ears as her agent hadn’t called
since she’d taken a maternity hiatus.

 
          
“Hello,”
Leila said in greeting, giddily delighted that she hadn’t been totally
forgotten.

 
          
“How
are you feeling now?” her agent inquired.

 
          
“Wonderful.”
Unless she counted anxious and worried about far too many things that were out of
her control. “The morning sickness is a thing of the past,” she added, along
with her formerly honed figure.

 
          
“Good!
Are you ready to work, then?”

 
          
Leila
blinked, not sure she heard her right. “I thought—God, yes!”

 
          
Her
agent laughed, and in an instant a good deal of Leila’s anxiety fell away. “First
off, how much are you showing?”

 
          
“It’s
very obvious I’m pregnant.”

 
          
“Excellent,”
her agent said, stunning her. “You’ve been offered a fabulous opportunity.
Fit Pregnancy
wants you to grace their
cover, and I have another publication on the verge of offering for you as well.
Interested?”

 
          
She
danced around in a circle, literally giddy with relief. “Of course I am!
Please, tell me more.”

 
          
Her
agent explained the allure of celebrity pregnancies in exacting detail. The
first magazine wanted her to grant an interview and they wanted it right now.
The second was a small spread for a major designer of maternity wear that
likely wouldn’t occur until next month or later.

 
          
“When
word got out that you’d taken maternity leave, the offers started coming in,”
her agent explained. “These two are the most lucrative and will not be
intrusive on your privacy. Both will do wonders at keeping your name out there.”

 
          
Leila
wiped the tears of joy from her eyes and laughed, feeling more energized than
she had in weeks. “When do I start?”

 
          
“Tomorrow,
if possible. I’ll send the contract to you via courier today.”

 
          
“Great!
I’ll sign and return them to you immediately.”

 
          
She
clutched the phone, eyes pinched shut and smiling like a fool.

 
          
“Good
news?” Rafael asked in a tight voice that set off alarms in her head.

 
          
She
whirled to face him, wondering how much he’d overheard. His expression gave
nothing away, but the deep creases fanning from his dark unreadable eyes didn’t
imbue confidence either.

 
          
Considering
his earlier stance regarding her career, he’d not see this as good fortune. In
fact, he’d likely see it as traitorous since she’d been sure that the shoot in
L.A. was the last she’d do until well after she’d given birth.

 
          
“It’s
fabulous news,” she said, willing her former assurance to assert itself in the
face of the anger sure to come. “I’ve been offered a contract for a leading
magazine with another in the offing.”

 
          
“I
trust you refused.”

 
          
“I
accepted.”

 
          
His
handsome features pulled into a fierce expression that made a chill slip down
her spine. “I forbid it!”

 
          
She
shoved caution aside and hiked her chin up in a show of defiance. “You can’t
order me around! This is my career and my decision to make.”

 
          
He
crossed to her in an economy of fierce steps and splayed both large hands over
her baby mound, his touch far hotter than the winter sun that bore down on
them. “These are my children and I’ll not allow you to jeopardize their health
so you can feed your own ego and continue working.”

 
          
Heat
blazed in her cheeks and burned holes in her indignation. If she thought she
was putting her babies in danger, she’d never agree to this. But her doctor had
assured her that she was healthy.

 
          
And
she was bored. So very bored just sitting here day by day.

 
          
“You’re
being unreasonable.”

 
          
“I
am being sane,” he said.

 
          
No,
he was being a bully. “I wouldn’t put it past you to post guards to ensure that
I don’t leave here.”

 
          
“I
would if I thought it necessary.”

 
          
She
stamped a foot, so angry she could scream.

 
          
“I
hate you!”

 
          
He
had the audacity to smile, a raptor’s grin that only spiked her temper. “No,
you don’t,
querida
. You are angry and
behaving petulantly. Once you calm down you will agree that a woman in your
delicate condition should not be flying here and there, working long hours.”

 
          
She
curled her fingers into fists so hard her nails bit into her palms. She
absolutely abhorred that he expected her to concede defeat, but taking in the
rigid set of his broad shoulders clad in a suit jacket clearly tailor-made to
his impressive physique, and noting the resolute line of his arrogant jaw, told
her that arguing would resolve nothing.

 
          
“Our
children’s safety comes first,” he said.

 
          
Her
shoulders slumped, for while she felt fine and able to work, he was right about
one thing. A flight could be very taxing.

 
          
He
cupped her chin, his touch gentle. “Ring your agent and tell her that you won’t
be flying to any shoots.”

 
          
“Fine.
You win.”

 
          
“Good.”
He dropped a kiss on her mouth, lingering longer than usual, tempting her with
how good they’d been in bed, how much she ached for his possession. How she
longed to feel desirable in his arms again.

 
          
But
he’d taken that from them too, and depriving her of that fed her other fear—he
no longer found her attractive now she was gaining weight.

 
          
He
ended the kiss too soon and stepped back, seeming unruffled when her blood was
surging with anger and desire.

 
          
“I
must be going.” He lifted his arm to check his wristwatch.

 
          
She
froze, really looking at her husband this time.

 
          
The
impeccably tailored suit. The dress shoes. That brusque attitude he wore
whenever he was about to embark on a business trip.

 
          
“You’re
leaving,” she said, annoyed with herself for being too mad at him to notice
what he was wearing earlier.

 
          
“I
must fly to London today and see to this dispute myself. I shouldn’t be gone
more than a few days.” One shoulder hiked in a careless shrug, a charming
gesture she was sure he was unaware he even did. “A week at the most.”

 
          
He
must have reached this decision this morning. It was clear that he’d never
intended for her to accompany him, even if it was only to the penthouse in Rio
so she would have a change of scenery.

 
          
No,
he was making it quite clear that her place was here.

 
          
“Have
a safe trip,” she managed to get out, feeling suddenly abandoned. Again he
nodded. “You’ll phone your agent?” Her smile was so tight her face ached, the
pain nearly as great as the emptiness yawning in her heart. “Of course.”

 
          
She
pressed the auto dial and seethed with anger that he wasn’t going to budge
until she caved in to his demand. But when her agent answered with a cheery
greeting, she swallowed her anger and got right to the point.

 
          
“My
husband and I have decided that it’s too risky for me to leave Brazil right now
and endure a day’s session,” she said.

 
          
“Are
you joking?” her agent quipped and not pleasantly.

 
          
“I’m
serious. My pregnancy is high-risk, and I can’t take the chance of flying
anywhere,” she said.

 
          
Rafael
bent to place a quick kiss on her forehead before he strode away, clearly smug
in the belief that all was well now that she wouldn’t leave Brazil.