The Spaniard's Woman - Contemporary Romance (15 page)

Even so, her mind wanted to travel the familiar routes it had three years before when she had tortured herself with images of the kind of woman Gabriel had chosen; was she beautiful, talented, amusing... more sexually experience that Rhianna? No matter how many times she had told herself that such thoughts were pointless, she had been unable to rid herself of the idea that Gabriel had broken off their relationship because she had failed to be the kind of woman he wanted. Her head had continued to run in endless circles, going nowhere fast. It had taken the birth of Dylan to really put an end to that destructive way of thinking.

This trip was proving far worse than she had ever imagined it would be. Gabriel’s mother considered her to be so unsuitable for her son that she was prepared to pay to have Rhianna ‘disappear’ for awhile. And that would just be the beginning. Undoubtedly the woman intended to make it worth Rhianna’s while to stay away. A hundred and fifty thousand dollars?

Once again, angry tears spilled over but Rhianna dashed them away furiously. She wished - oh how she wished! - that she had never come to Spain. Why had she ever allowed herself to be placed in this position?

‘Too hell with them all,’ she whispered. The Ortega family were poison but she wasn’t prepared to take their venom any more.

She and Dylan were leaving.

Today.

Chapter Eleven

When Gabriel walked in, Rhianna was repacking all the things that somebody - Ofelia, probably - had unpacked only a short time earlier. He stared at her frowningly for a moment, standing in the doorway.

‘What are you doing?’

‘What does it look like I’m doing? I’m leaving.’

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. ‘Yes? And may I ask why when I have already said that we are staying here?’

‘I am
not
staying here. And neither is Dylan.’ Rhianna said, voice tight. ‘I would like somebody to take us both to a hotel as soon as possible.’ She refused to look at him. Fury and hurt continued to bubble inside her in a maelstrom of emotions. ‘You don’t have to take me. I’m sure there’s somebody else who can drive us.’

‘Nobody is driving you anywhere.’ He closed the door and stood regarding her, arms folded. ‘Tell me what has happened.’

‘I don’t wish to discuss it right now.’ She really didn’t. She knew she would start to cry and she suspected that, once she started, she would not stop. Rhianna stuffed a pair of pants into the suitcase with shaking hands. She had known that Gabriel wouldn’t take her decision to leave well, but this time he wouldn’t get his own way. She needed to get out of here, away from Senora Ortega and her poisonous suggestions and far away from the reminder that, in the near future, Gabriel would be selecting another Spanish bride. If he refused to take her, she would simply demand that Liani did, or the gardener she had seen outside among the flowerbeds. ‘But I mean what I say. I have absolutely no intention of remaining here.’

Gabriel frowned. ‘What has happened?’ he demanded sharply. ‘Half an hour ago you were fine but now you have decided to go? Tell me what has upset you.’

‘I should never have come here in the first place! This is your
home
, Gabriel. It isn’t the place that you bring your ex-mistress.’ Rhianna bit her lip sharply. It occurred to her that Gabriel might have known about his mother’s intention to have a little ‘talk’ with her and she swung around to face him. Would he have done that to her?
Could
he have done it? ‘And if you think I intend to leave Dylan here, you can think again. At the moment I am seriously considering returning to Australia.’

Gabriel let out a long breath. ‘What did my mother say to you Rhianna?’ he asked heavily.

Rhianna turned back to her packing. ‘Why don’t you ask her?’ she suggested angrily, trying to zip up the suitcase. As she’d virtually thrown everything in, it wouldn’t close and she tried to force it shut, leaning on it as she tugged at the zip. ‘Damn it!’

‘Leave it.’ Gabriel said impatiently. ‘You are not going anywhere. Come and sit with me. Talk to me. Why do you think I would wish you to leave Dylan here?’

Rhianna turned to look at him. The very last thing she wanted was to sit down and talk to Gabriel. For a start, she would be near him and his nearness always created chaos out of her emotions, no matter how much she might want to remain detached. It was as if her body had been imprinted by him; being with him again had reawakened feelings she hadn’t even realized she’d suppressed. She had never believed that she was the type of woman who could be seduced with something as basic as sex. And yet there was no other explanation for her lack of control around Gabriel Ortega. He was like a drug, an addiction that simply defied logic. ‘I don’t want to stay here, Gabriel.’

Gabriel arched an eyebrow at her. ‘So you say continue to say. But if you are not willing to discuss this with me then what am I to do? I must know what is going on and I have every intention of finding out; one way or another.’

Rhianna should have known from the note in his voice what he intended. Gabriel closed the distance between them in a heartbeat, scooping her up in his arms and carrying her across to the bed where he sat with her, his arms trapping her firmly on his lap. ‘Now tell me what my mother said.’

Rhianna stared at him, green eyes full of tears. There was no way she could fight his superior strength and her own helplessness was infuriating. ‘Let me go…’

His smile was dry. ‘I do not think that is very likely, do you? Come,’ he shook her gently, ‘you know I will discover what has been going on so it is pointless to continue with this. Tell me now. Did you and my mother fight?’

Rhianna shook her head. She could almost find it within herself to hate him at that moment, hate the way he took away her choices. ‘Your mother suggested that I might like a little holiday somewhere by myself.’ Suddenly, she was exhausted. Waking up with Gabriel, the drive and Senora Ortega; each was a battle and she was sick to death of fighting. Raising her chin, she stared at Gabriel angrily. ‘Of course I can leave Dylan here. And she was kind enough to offer to
pay
for my vacation.’

Gabriel had grown very still beneath her, his face an expressionless mask. ‘Go on. Was there more?’

‘Isn’t that enough?’ Rhianna had no intention of mentioning Senora Ortega’s plans for her son’s nuptials. It was simply too painful to discuss.

After a moment, he stirred. Pushing her chin up, he stared into her eyes. ‘Did she actually offer you money?’

Rhianna nodded drearily. ‘A hundred and fifty thousand dollars.’

‘And what did you say?’ he demanded softly.

It took a moment before Rhianna realized what he was asking but then it hit her and her tears spilled over, a wave of pain almost engulfing her. That he could even
think
that she would have considered exchanging her son for Ortega money left a foul taste in her mouth. ‘Damn you to hell, Gabriel Ortega!’ she whispered.

Gabriel sighed and pulled her a little closer so that his lips were against her hair. ‘I am sorry,
mi dulce,
that was an unpardonable question. I have seen you with Dylan. Never would I believe that you would leave him, not even if you were offered the stars themselves. My mother is a fool and she will regret doing anything so ill considered.’ He slid Rhianna onto the bed and stood up. ‘Tomorrow we will leave. It is growing late now and Dylan should go to bed early tonight. For a suitable hotel we would have to travel to Girona and he is already tired. We will leave in the morning.’

Rhianna stared up at him. She really didn’t think she could face even one night under the same roof as Senora Ortega. ‘I want to leave today.’

‘I know,’ his face softened for a moment as he looked down at her. ‘And I can understand why. But you do not have to worry about my mother. She will leave you alone, I can promise you. You have hardly had the welcome I had expected for you and for that, I am sorry. But you must consider Dylan’s welfare before your own feelings.’

Something she had been doing for the past three years... ‘I’m aware of that.’ Rhianna said, a little shortly. Despite the fact that Gabriel had a point about taking Dylan on yet another journey, she resented the assumption that her son would be anything other than her main concern. ‘If there’s nowhere close by that we can stay then I suppose it’ll have to be the morning.’

Gabriel touched her cheek lightly. ‘Be at ease,
mi querido
. My mother is not a battle you must fight. Come,’ he held out a hand to her, ‘come and spend some time with Dylan. I would like him to enjoy his brief visit. Then he will be eager to return again next time.’

If there was a next time, Rhianna reflected grimly but she said nothing. ‘I don’t want to see your mother again before I leave.’

He shook his head. ‘I have told you, I will deal with my mother.’

Despite the fact that he appeared calm, Rhianna knew Gabriel was furious and she hesitated. Even though Senora Ortega had behaved appallingly, Rhianna didn’t want to be the one who precipitated a crisis between mother and son. ‘What are you going to say to her?’

‘That she should mind her own business,’ he glanced at her pale, anxious face and gave a grim smile. ‘She is my mother, Rhianna. Rest assured, both of us will survive the coming encounter but it will take place. It is time she learnt that I will not tolerate her interference in my affairs.’

Rhianna wondered if that included selecting a list of potential brides but she remained silent. Perhaps in Spain it was the duty of the mother to hand their son a list of suitable candidates for the position of wife.

Following Gabriel downstairs, she went out the front door and began searching for her son. She found Dylan down on the green lawns that overlooked the Mediterranean, playing on an aged swing set. Liani was with him, helping him climb up the ladder that led to a slide, which had rusted with the salty air. Rhianna paused to watch the two of them for a moment. Liani obviously enjoyed being an aunt. It was a pity that their visit was to end so soon.

When she walked forward to join them, Dylan caught sight of her and his face lit up. ‘Mommy, it a slide, just like at pre-school.’ And he gave himself a push, slipping down, his progress bumpy as he hit the rusted patches. As soon as his feet touched the ground he was up again, running across to the swing and climbing up. Sitting himself down, he stretched out his legs to get a little momentum happening.

‘Now that’s one happy little boy.’ Rhianna smiled at Liani. ‘Thank you for entertaining him. You two seem to be getting on like a house on fire.’

Liani gave a rueful laugh. ‘It is me that should be thanking you, Rhianna. I enjoy children very much. It has been such a... a nice surprise, discovering I have a nephew. This is the playground Tierra, Gabriel and I used to play in but I am sure it will be no time at all before a new one arrives for Dylan.’

Her obvious pleasure at having a young nephew to spoil made Rhianna feel even worse about announcing that they were leaving in the morning but it couldn’t be helped. ‘That would be lovely but unfortunately Dylan and I will only be staying tonight. We’re leaving in the morning.’

The young woman stared at her, astonished. ‘But are you not here for a long visit? Gabriel said that you would be living here.’

Did he indeed? She and Gabriel obviously needed to discuss their plans for the future. Until she’d had that unpleasant conversation with Senora Ortega Rhianna had been happy to stay for several days, but living here? They’d certainly never agreed to that. ‘Unfortunately there’s been a change of plans. We’ve decided that it might be better if I stay somewhere else. But you know you’re welcome to visit at any time -’

Liana’s face had taken on an expression of irritation. ‘It was my
madre, si
?’ she cut in bleakly, ‘she has said something that has offended you.’ Rhianna hesitated, unwilling to say anything against the woman to her daughter even if Liani had hit the nail on the head. Liani didn’t seem to feel any such reservations however for she let out an exasperated breath and scowled. ‘Pay her no attention, Rhianna. My mother is old fashioned. She thinks only of the Ortega pride; what people will think, what they will say. But believe me when I tell you, she is very happy to have a grandson.’

‘But not very happy with her grandson’s mother.’ Rhianna said wryly. ‘Perhaps she will change her mind in time.’

The girl made a face. ‘She will have to. Gabriel is adamant that you and Dylan live here with him.’

‘For awhile, perhaps.’ Rhianna shook her head, ‘It’s only a matter of time before Gabriel marries again, however, and I have no intention exposing Dylan to his father’s new family. Not until he’s a little bit older, anyway.’

‘But Gabriel would not dream of doing such a thing,’ Liani said, astonished, ‘I know my mother has been trying to find another bride for him ever since Ana died, but his first marriage was not a good one. I cannot believe that he would rush into another marriage so there is no reason why you should not stay here. And perhaps,’ the girl added slyly, ‘the next marriage will be your own and soon I will be calling you
hermana
, yes?’

Calling her sister? Rhianna flushed. ‘I don’t think I’m Ortega material, Liani. But believe me, I appreciate the sentiment.’

Liani gave an inelegant snort. ‘Not Ortega material? Does that mean that you are too good for us?’

‘Quite the opposite!’ Rhianna assured her, startled. ‘I think that your mother and your brother are looking for a Spanish bride... somebody with the right kind of background.’

Liani rolled bright blue eyes. ‘The right kind of background. And of course, that worked out so well with Ana whose background was so very perfect. Ana and Gabriel did nothing but fight from the day of the wedding. No, it is not a Spanish bride that my brother should be looking for. It is somebody who will make him happy.’ Liani touched Rhianna’s arm earnestly. ‘I truly believe you are such a woman.’

Rhianna looked at her skeptically. ‘I’m flattered, but you hardly know me.’

‘But I know my brother,’ Liani said firmly, ‘He looks at you in a way that he never looked at Ana, with his heart in his eyes. Whatever my brother’s demons, you must ignore them. And you must not listen to my mother. They are both proud and foolish. My mother, because she wants to live in another time and Gabriel, because...’ When Liani hesitated, Rhianna looked at her sharply. The girl paused, then shrugged, obviously deciding that she had said more than enough. ‘Trust me when I say that my brother did not have a happy marriage. He deserves something more now.’

Rhianna wondered what it was that Liani had been going to say. They both stared at Dylan, who had bounded across to the next thing, a small climbing frame with a little playhouse attached to it. He was chattering away to himself, making up a game that seemed to involve leaves and a small plastic cup he had found.