At the Brazilian's Command(6)

‘Are you serious about getting me out of here?'

‘Absolutely,' Tiago said, steering her towards the door.

The other couples on the dance floor quickly closed over the gap they'd  left and it was as if they'd never been there, Danny thought as she  glanced over her shoulder.

‘Don't look round,' Tiago advised. ‘Keep on walking. No one will notice  we're leaving-I'm thinking of Lizzie now-unless you draw attention to  yourself.'

They wove their way through the tables with Tiago's hand resting  lightly in the small of her back. His touch was like a lightning  transmitter and the force field didn't let up-not even when he drew to a  halt in the shadows beneath the staircase in the hall.

‘I'll see you to your room,' he said.

She shook her head decisively. ‘There's no need for that.'

‘But I insist.'

The only explanation she could give for not putting up a better fight  was that she was still in a state of shock. Why else hadn't she resisted  his suggestion?

When they reached her bedroom door and Tiago opened it for her, he stood back.

‘Goodnight, Danny.'

She held her breath as he ran one fingertip lightly down her cheek.

Why had he done that?

‘Try to get some sleep,' he suggested gently before she could process that thought. ‘This has been quite a night for you.'

In every way, she thought, still tingling from his touch as Tiago turned away.

‘Goodnight, Tiago. And thank you...'

She watched him go, and only when his footsteps had faded and disappeared did she realise she was still holding her breath.





CHAPTER THREE

HE NEEDED A WIFE. Danny needed money. He had a plan. Danny was an  intelligent, gutsy woman, and time was running out for the ranch. He  would make her an offer. Every marriage was a bargain of some sort.  People said they got married for love, but did they never sit back to  think about the benefits to both parties? Not even when the occasional  doubt crept in? Love might make the world go round, but without money  the world and everyone in it would go to hell in a bucket.

He could offer Danny a shortcut to her dream, while marriage to her  would secure the ranch for him. Getting the amount of money Danny needed  for her venture must seem like a pipe dream to her-but for him...?  Money was the least of his problems.

He'd ask her tomorrow. He'd lay everything out so she knew exactly  where she stood. Their deal would be secured by a legal contract. And,  as a bonus, he wanted her. He'd wanted her since Brazil.                       
       
           



       

He only had to think about the families who depended on him back in  Brazil to know this was the right thing to do. When Danny met them she  would agree too.

‘Chico?' He had just spotted his friend in a rare moment away from his bride. It was time to put his plan into action.

‘Yes, my friend...'

Chico Fernandez was another powerful polo player, with the dark flashing looks of South America.

Chico placed his arm around Tiago's shoulders. ‘What can I do for you?'

‘Danny works for you, doesn't she?'

‘Danny?' Chico raised a brow. ‘You're interested in Danny? She's a  pretty little thing. I don't blame you. I'm glad you were able to help  her today and, yes, she works here. Why do you ask?'

‘I'd like to take Danny back to Brazil with me-if that's okay with you?' he asked dryly.

‘Do I have any option?'

‘No,' he said flatly, ignoring Chico's black look.

‘So you want Danny to come work for you.' Chico's eyes narrowed. ‘She's  a great rider, and a promising trainer, but you don't need any more  staff. What's going on, Tiago?'

‘Danny wants her own place, and I think I can help her with that plan.'

‘Really?' Chico stared at him suspiciously. ‘Danny's had her problems-as you know. Are you going to add to them?'

‘That is not my intention.'

‘Don't hurt her, Tiago. Please remember that Danny Cameron is my wife's best friend.'

‘I want to give her a hand up-that's all. I feel bad for her after what happened today.'

Chico frowned. ‘I'll have a word with Lizzie-smooth the way for you.'

‘That's all I ask, my friend.'

* * *

Danny collapsed with relief on the bed. It was one thing holding it together in public, but now she was here on her own...

Putting her arms over her head, she tried to pretend she didn't want to  feel Tiago's arms around her-and a lot more besides. Could she really  go through all that heartbreak again, with another polo player? Hadn't  she learned her lesson?

Not that Tiago was anything like Carlos Pintos, but he was well out of  her league. And how was she supposed to forget how it had felt to be in  Tiago's arms on the dance floor? Or how she'd thrilled with pleasure  when they'd moved together so effortlessly? How was she supposed to  forget that?

She had to forget. She had to file it away with all the other good  memories to pull out and reflect on whenever she needed a boost. Tiago  was going back to Brazil soon. He would probably be gone by the time she  got up in the morning.

While she'd stay here and nothing would change. She would still be  working at Rottingdean when she was an old woman-still sending what  money she could to her mother. It was never enough. Her mother had no  idea about saving, or making do, or even working for a living. But if  Danny stayed here she would never have the chance to build a nest egg.  She would never own her own place-

So it was time to get moving-get on with life and make as much of a  success of it as she could. She had more sense than to waste her time  daydreaming about Tiago Santos.

* * *

She woke to a chilly grey dawn. Grimacing, she pulled the covers up to  her chin. Chico and Lizzie had started improvements on the house Lizzie  had inherited from her grandmother, but nothing had been spent on  Rottingdean for years, and replacing the entire central heating system  in the big old house was still a work in progress. The ancient radiators  clanked noisily but gave off little heat-though Danny suspected she was  shivering because she was tired as well as cold, having only dozed on  and off through the night.

The reason for that was Tiago Santos.

So much for banishing the man from her thoughts! Tiago's touch on her  body was as vivid now as it had been when he'd held her on the dance  floor. She'd been warm in his arms.

She was a hopeless case, Danny concluded, swinging out of bed. Her only  excuse was that Tiago Santos was the type of distraction that could  make an arrow swerve from its course.

She showered, and grabbed a towel to rub herself down until her skin  glowed red. Clearing a space on the steamed-up mirror, she examined her  face. The bruise under her eye had turned an ugly yellow-green.  Attractive! But at least the swelling had gone down, thanks to Tiago's  horse liniment.

She laughed, remembering the look on his face when she had mentioned  the stink. She knew that ointment well. They all used it. It had been a  kind thought, but the sort of thing any man would do, she concluded  wryly, throwing on as many layers of clothing as she had brought with  her. She would have to put on everything she possessed to keep the  bitter cold at bay.                       
       
           



       

It would be warm in Brazil.

‘Oh, for goodness' sake!' she exclaimed out loud.

Glancing out of the window, she jumped back fast, seeing Tiago in the yard. So he hadn't gone back to Brazil yet...

With her heart beating like a drum, she took a second look. Tiago had  stopped on his way across the yard to speak to a fellow guest, and was  being his usual charming self. He made time for everyone, and even from  this distance his smile made her smile.

It was such an attractive flash of strong white teeth in that stern,  swarthy face. It was a smile that made her stomach clench and her limbs  melt as she wondered, for the umpteenth time, what it would feel like to  have a man like Tiago Santos do more than just hold her in his arms.  She had experienced his concern and his friendship, and now she wanted  more-she couldn't help herself.

Safe in the knowledge that he couldn't see her looking, she surveyed  the well-packed jeans, the calf-gripping riding boots and the heavy  sweater he was wearing today-which she found sexy, for some reason-under  a jacket that moulded his powerful shoulders to perfection. The collar  was turned up against the wind, and with his thick, wavy black hair  blowing about he was an arresting sight.

And she should be arrested for what she was thinking.

She stood back quickly when he stared up, as if he could sense her looking at him.

Leaning back against the wall-out of sight, she hoped-she swallowed  convulsively and closed her eyes, wondering if she had been too late and  he had seen her.