The Spaniard's Woman - Contemporary Romance by Kat Davidson

loomed like a delicious threat, his words striking a responsive chord deep within. She knew he was right. Their lovemaking three and a half years ago had been intense and wonderful and she had honestly believed that it was all that it could be. But his kiss had triggered a font of desire within her she had never suspected was there. Perhaps she had always unconsciously stepped back from the intensity of her feelings, scared that she’d be overcome by them. Right now, she had no desire to examine the possibilities. All she knew was that it couldn’t have happened at a worse time.
    And running away wasn’t an option.
    ‘I’ll get my coat,’ she said slowly.
    He nodded, his eyes never leaving her face. ‘An excellent idea. Get your coat.’
    Rhianna’s hands were trembling as she seized a woolen jacket from the rack in the hall cupboard. She collected her bag from the table in the hallway and, glancing anxiously over her shoulder, put her head in the kitchen. Enid was standing at the bench, slicing onions. ‘I’ll be back soon.’
    The older woman looked up, her face inquisitive. ‘Not to worry Rhianna love. I’ll take care of Dylan.’
    Rhianna swallowed heavily. Dylan... Turning, she gave a start of surprise to find Gabriel in the hallway. Had he heard what Enid had said? Nervously, she moved towards him. ‘I’m ready.’
    ‘So I see.’ He held his hand out. It took a moment before she realized that he intended to help her on with her jacket. Rhianna didn’t waste time protesting. Gabriel always helped women with their coats, just as he opened doors for them. It was an integral part of who he was. He slid the jacket over her arms, his hands lingering her shoulders, fingers brushing the nape of her neck and Rhianna shivered.
    She cleared her throat. ‘Let’s go. I don’t want to be gone too long. Grady will wonder where I am.’ He said nothing, but his fingers tightened abruptly on her shoulders.
    Outside it was so cold that the air frosted in front of her face. Gabriel automatically took her arm, guiding her towards the black Mercedes parked at the curb. Rhianna walked towards it reluctantly, regretting the necessity for this journey. Every instinct was warning her that she was making a big mistake. Her very survival depended on eluding this man, on convincing him that she was not the woman he had known in Spain. So far she was failing miserably. No matter what words came out of her mouth, her behavior seemed designed to convince him that she was more than willing to fall into his bed.
    The interior of the car was far too intimate for comfort. As soon as Gabriel slid behind the driver’s seat the space seemed to contract alarmingly. Rhianna fumbled with the seatbelt, then turned to stare directly ahead of her, desperate to do anything but look at the man beside her.
    ‘Relax, Rhianna,’ he urged softly. ‘Do you expect me to seduce you in the car?’
    Rhianna winced, his words setting off a chain of unwelcome images. She could imagine him doing exactly that and her body quickened with anticipation, wanting things that it should have long since forgotten. She could not make love to Gabriel Ortega! Somehow, she needed to stay focused on the future, her future, hers and Dylan’s.
    The traffic wasn’t too heavy at three o’clock in the afternoon and Gabriel drove with skillful precision, cutting through the streets of the inner city suburbs of Sydney. Time and again, Rhianna’s eyes were drawn to the hands that held the steering wheel, relaxed and confident, tanned from the Spanish sun. It took nothing at all to remember what those hands had been able to do to her body, the skill and precision with which he had brought her to the peak of pleasure, over and over again. Doggedly, Rhianna forced her thoughts back to the reality of her situation. She wondered about his wife, left back home, probably taking care of their child.
    ‘What are you thinking about?’ Gabriel asked abruptly.
    ‘Your wife,’