Sold on You (15 page)

A missed call from Nicole.

* * *

The ride through Central Park was magnificent. Swept away by the natural beauty surrounding them, Gabriela watched the scenery unfold and resolutely put Nicole's call out of her mind. She'd worry about that tomorrow; for now she was happily tucked under Marcos' arm with her head on his chest, their laps covered by a thick wool blanket.

Her heart blossomed with joy—he had understood where she was coming from and he didn't seem to mind. He'd said she was special and he could wait. There was no sense in pretending she was a femme fatale, because she wasn't. The escalating passion she felt toward him scared her, especially since she couldn't seem to control it.

And then there was Abuelita Coqui to consider. The dear woman was expecting her to arrive wearing an engagement ring from Tiffany's, no less!

Gabriela's heart leaped as she gazed at Marcos. He looked so handsome in the wintry night air—his thick, sooty lashes shaded hazel eyes that glowed like smoky topaz. Flushed by the frigid air, his lean cheeks were etched with barely distinguishable stubble and the cleft in his firm chin was pronounced.

He reached for her hand and gently squeezed it beneath the blanket, the feel of his skin on hers a startling reminder of his warm hands cupping her breasts earlier. Everywhere he'd touched still held the imprint of his hands and she reveled in how electrifying it felt—strong, sexual and exciting.

What if she hadn't stopped him? Marcos hadn't said he loved her, only that he desired her. Gabriela knew she loved him and she couldn't bear acknowledging that everything would end when his grandma returned to Argentina.

There was no commitment between them, other than a fake one. She was getting to know the real Marcos, not the one she had imagined him to be. She admired his confident expertise and how he tempered it with care and compassion for his patients.

Before, she'd always thought of Marcos as being a bit too dominant, but his playful nature outside of work made her realize that there were many facets to his complex personality—all of which she was enjoying immensely.

* * *

The rest of the evening passed in a whirlwind as they enjoyed a cozy, romantic dinner at Landmarc overlooking sparkly Columbus Circle. They stopped at Tiffany's afterward to shop for the ring, taking advantage of the late hour holiday closing time.

Even though she felt burdened with guilt, Gabriela chose a one-carat square-cut multifaceted diamond ring in a setting called Lucida. Marcos considered it too small, but Gabriela thought it was just right, although she worried a real ring might somehow jinx things.

The city was a festival of lights and holiday smells and sounds as they walked toward Rockefeller Center to see the massive Christmas pine and brightly lit angels. Gabriela inhaled the pungent scent of chestnuts roasting on sidewalk grills, beside honey roasted nuts sold by vendors. At a distance, the brightly lit Broadway marquees rose like beacons of light in the brightly neon night, giving it a cartoonish, happy look. Gabriela sighed joyfully as she luxuriated in the final moments of their day together.

Marcos leaned down and kissed a snowflake that landed on her nose. She leaned her head against his shoulder and felt like Cinderella waiting for the carriage to turn into a pumpkin as she glanced down at the twinkling diamond on her hand. Soon they'd have to return to Naples, but for the moment, they appeared as a couple in love, walking the crowded streets of Manhattan on a starry night.

On their taxi ride to the airport, Gabriela leaned her head against Marcos' shoulder and wistfully bade the city good-bye as they passed it in a flurry. She would relish the memories for a lifetime.

* * *

Much later at her apartment door, Marcos asked, "When can I see you tomorrow?"

"Probably not till dinnertime. Remember I'm taking your Abuelita shopping and out to lunch." She paused before giving him a quick kiss on the lips. "Thank you for the most wonderful trip of my life. It was magical," she said sincerely.
And so are you.

"You're welcome. The pleasure was mine." He looked at the curbside where the taxicab waited. "Sleep well,
gatica.
You'll be in my dreams tonight," he said, caressing her cheek as he kissed her and left.

Gabriela closed the door and floated into her apartment, dizzy with happiness. So this was what it felt like to be in love and have the man return your feelings. It was more intoxicating than anything she'd ever dreamed of.

She switched on the foyer light before running to the window to watch the taxi drive away. In the privacy of her living room, she closed her eyes and relived being held in his strong arms. She wanted him to fall in love with her more than anything in the world—not just to lust for her.

She couldn't wait to let loose, to lie with him, their limbs entwined, their bodies joined in passion. It would be sheer bliss. Her heart raced as she imaged Marcos, wild and reckless with passion, making love to her all night. She wanted to be the sole woman in his life—his wife someday, not just a faux fiancée.

Gabriela stole a glance at the multifaceted diamond sparkling in the dim light. An engagement ring from Tiffany's. She'd thought she could only dream of such things. Now she had both—a man she loved and a diamond ring to seal it.

Too bad they weren't for keeps.

Chapter 9

Seated at an outdoor table at Tommy Bahama's Restaurant in the charming section of old Naples, Gabriela watched Abuelita Coqui pick up the drink menu and thought she looked quite stylish in a royal blue pantsuit, accented by amethyst earrings and a matching necklace. With cat-shaped eyeglasses perched on the tip of her nose and fuchsia lips pursed, Abuelita read the menu as she raised her eyebrows with interest.

Several shopping bags filled with resort wear from the restaurant's boutique rested on the floor between Gabriela and Abuelita Coqui. Gabriela smiled, remembering the older woman's delight when she bought everything from cute outfits for the twins to a tropical-print sundress for Marisol.

She had also purchased a fitted mauve silkscreen dress with a matching silk sweater for Gabriela, which she presently wore to please Abuelita. In her new outfit, she felt as if she were vacationing on a Caribbean island. Marcos' grandmother certainly had as much flair for fashion and elegance as he did. That was evident in the beautiful flowing caftans she had purchased for herself in vibrant jewel tones. Instead of wearing an oversize muumuu as most grannies her age would have, she had chosen lounging outfits that would be fun and flattering.

"I'm not too hungry after the pancakes Carmen practically spoon fed me," Abuelita Coqui said, glancing up from the menu as the waiter approached.

"Hello, ladies. My name is Josh. I'll be your server today. Can I start you off with some drinks or an appetizer?" he asked.

"How about it?" Gabriela asked Abuelita Coqui. "Would you like an iced tea or some fruit juice?"

"That would be lovely. Will you join me in having a piña colada, Gabrielita?"

"I'd love one." Gabriela smiled at the server. "Make that two piña coladas please."

Abuelita Coqui winked at Josh. "And tell them not to skimp on the rum."

Gabriela choked back a giggle. This was going to be an interesting lunch. "We'd also like a couple of appetizers. What's the house specialty?"

"The coconut shrimp and the mango-glazed grilled chicken skewers go well with the piña coladas."

"Perfect! I can't wait to try them." Abuelita Coqui's eyes danced with enthusiasm. When the server left, she said, "It's too bad Marcos isn't here to join us."

"Yes, that would have been wonderful."

"How is the young mother, Christy, doing?"

"She has a little post partum depression. I wish there was more I could do for her." Gabriela paused and smiled ruefully. "Marcos thinks I'm getting too involved."

"Why would Marcos think that?"

"I'm working closely with Christy because she doesn't have her parents' support. He overheard me telling her that she can always count on me. I gave her my personal number where she can reach me whenever she needs to."

"So what's wrong with that?" Abuelita blustered. "Being a teenage mother is hard enough."

"I agree. I admire Christy's guts. She chose the hardest path of all because she can't bear to give up her baby. It must be terrifying at such a young age to go it alone. When I was little, no matter how hard things got, I could always count on my mom."

"What about your father?"

"Mami raised me by herself. When she found out my dad had been unfaithful and got a teenage girl pregnant, she left him and somehow we landed in Miami."

"That must have been very difficult for her," Abuelita said thoughtfully.

"It was. Mami worked as a housekeeper and companion for an elderly woman who had Parkinson's. In exchange, she got a modest salary, along with food and board. We lived in the renovated garage of Doña Berta's house. It was hard work, but her sacrifices helped me to finish college and even got my master's degree."

"She sounds like a brave woman. I would love to meet her," Abuelita said, nodding her head.

"I wish you could, but she's on her honeymoon—on a Mediterranean cruise."

The waiter arrived with the appetizers and piña coladas.

"Good for her. Let's toast to your mamá ."

"To Mamá !" Gabriela said, lifting her glass and clinking it with Abuelita's.

Abuelita took a sip and smacked her lips in appreciation. "Marcos never mentioned anything about your childhood
.
" She squeezed Gabriela's hand. "It sounds like you had to grow up rather quickly."

"I did. I guess he can't understand how strongly I feel about Christy because he had an ideal childhood."

Abuelita squinted at her beneath a knitted brow. "I wouldn't exactly call it ideal. Did he say it was?"

"Well, not exactly," Gabriela hedged, feeling uneasy under the older woman's shrewd scrutiny.

Abuelita harrumphed. "If I hadn't gotten involved, Marcos would have been a miserable little boy sent to a strict boarding school. Didn't he tell you that I raised him and Marisol?"

Gabriela paused. Lord help her, she was treading unfamiliar territory. If she admitted that she knew little about his childhood, Abuelita would suspect something was amiss.

"Yes, he adores you. He said you saved him from going to boarding school after his parents got divorced."

"Their divorce was very traumatic for him."

"What was Marcos like as a little boy?" Gabriela asked.

Abuelita smiled fondly. "He was full of mischief and very bright, but he never spent much time with his parents. My youngest son, Dario, and his wife, Sonya were immature and selfish. Marisol was little more than a toddler, but Marcos was old enough to suffer from witnessing many of their fights."

"I didn't realize it was that bad," Gabriela said
.

Abuelita's wise, old eyes looked bleak. "Marcos craved being the center of his parents' lives, but they were always too busy. His own mother didn't want him after the divorce and neither did Dario's new wife. If I hadn't taken him and Marisol to live with me, they would have had a miserable childhood."

"I feel awful. Since Marcos is so self-assured and formidable, I just assumed that he was indulged a lot while growing up."

Abuelita Coqui nodded. "You thought he was spoiled. I can see how you would imagine that, especially since he and Marisol grew up with the ultimate luxuries. But neither one is spoiled, I made sure of that."

"How?"

"Even though I loved them very much, I was strict when it came to good manners and building character. And look how wonderful they turned out!" Abuelita Coqui's face beamed with love.

"You're very proud of your grandson, aren't you?" Gabriela asked.

"Yes, Marcos is an honorable man of strong character and integrity. Unfortunately, he doesn't trust women since his mother left him and his father and later remarried. He's never been interested in getting married—until now." Abuelita Coqui regarded Gabriela fondly. "He just needed to fall in love with the right girl."

Gabriela's stomach tightened into a miserable lump. If she only knew how her grandson had schemed up a fake fiancée, she'd probably want to disown him, instead of singing his praises.

"Which parent is he the most like, his mother or father?" Gabriela asked.

"Neither. He is the only one of my four grandsons who is like my late husband, Alberto. That's why Marcos holds a special place in my heart. I've never admitted this to anyone because I wouldn't want to hurt my other grandchildren's feelings."

"What about Marisol? Who does she favor?"

Abuelita Coqui chuckled. "Marisol is one of a kind. She's a bundle of fun and has a huge heart. She only resembles her mother in her beauty and how she naturally enchants men. Dario was very jealous of the attention Sonya got merely by entering a room."

"Is Marcos the jealous type?" Gabriela asked.

Abuelita looked surprised. "Don't you know?"

"I guess I haven't given him the opportunity to get jealous," Gabriela said quickly.