At the Brazilian's Command(7)

What if he had? There was no law against looking out of the window.

She stole another look. Tiago had quite a crowd around him by this  time. Even Lizzie's sophisticated wedding guests were thrilled to chat  to a polo player of Tiago's standing, and particularly one whose success  on the field of play was almost as legendary as his success with women.

To be fair to him, though, Tiago was also famous for turning his  grandfather's failing ranch into a world-class concern. And his  relationship with women was none of her business. Which, unfortunately,  wasn't enough to stop her thinking about Tiago's women-all wearing  outfits composed of cobweb-fine lace, or nothing at all, and smelling of  anything other than horse liniment...

She should be going down to breakfast-not staring at one of the wedding  guests, Danny reminded herself firmly. She was a home bird-not an  adventuress on the hunt for a barbarian mate. She should be outside by  now, exercising Lizzie's horse as she had promised Lizzie she would.  There was nothing like a ride across the heather to blow the cobwebs  from her mind.

* * *

Where was Danny? He was waiting to speak to her about his plan. Why hadn't she come down to breakfast?

He glanced at his watch impatiently. Had she made other arrangements?  Had he missed her? Had she slipped away without him noticing?

Pushing his chair back, Tiago began to pace the room. Was he wasting  his time in Scotland? His manager at the ranch had reported a group of  trustees sniffing around Fazenda Santos. In its current condition the  ranch was worth a fortune, but if men who didn't know what they were  doing took it over it was doomed to fail. He wouldn't risk it-couldn't  risk it.

Danny was his best hope if he was to comply with the terms of his  grandfather's will, and she had mentioned her frustration at still being  here at Rottingdean, where she had worked all her life. Surely she  would accept his offer of a scholarship to train in Brazil? But what  about the other part of his deal?

‘Good morning, Tiago.'

He swung round with relief. ‘So, there you are,' he said as she walked into the room

She seemed surprised. ‘Were you waiting for me?'

‘Yes, I was.'

‘Well, here I am,' she said brightly.

A freshly showered Danny, with tendrils of honey-soft hair still damp  around her temples, was an arousing sight that forced him to remember  that what he needed was a short-term wife. His freedom meant too much to  him to consider anything else.

‘You seem recovered.'

‘I am,' she said, frowning. ‘Why wouldn't I be?'

‘Good.' That suited him perfectly. ‘I trust you slept well?'

Wrong question. His groin tightened immediately at the thought of Danny  naked, stretched out in bed. It was important to keep this confined to  business. He didn't have much time. But it wasn't easy when she leaned  over him to scan the delicious-looking breakfast the housekeeper had  laid out.

‘I just came to say goodbye to you,' she said, grabbing a piece of  toast. ‘Annie said you had to get back today. I thought you might have  left for Brazil last night.'                       
       
           



       

She was fishing. He took that as a good sign. ‘Sit down?' he suggested.  ‘Eat breakfast with me. Why are you in such a hurry to get away?'

‘Because I'm going riding in a minute. I don't have time to sit down and eat.'

‘You'll need something to keep the cold out.'

Her glance flashed over his warm sweater. ‘Don't worry about me. I'm wearing Arctic layers,' she explained.

She wasn't joking. She wore a thick-knit sweater with a fancy pattern,  heavy winter breeches, and soft tan leather riding boots, which clung  tenaciously to her shapely legs, hiding almost all the outline he had  delighted in when he had danced with her last night. The thought of  unpeeling her ‘Arctic layers', as she'd called them, occupied all his  thoughts for a moment.

‘Why don't we ride out together?'

She stilled, with the toast hovering close to her parted lips. ‘Do you have time?'

‘I'll make time.'

‘In that case...'

He caught her frowning as she headed for the door, as if she suspected  there was more to this than a morning ride, but he didn't care what she  thought now he had what he wanted.

His spirits lifted. He felt like a hunter with his prey in sight. And  why feel guilty when he was about to make Danny an offer she'd be crazy  to refuse? There was just one problem. Trying to appeal to Danny  Cameron's calculating business brain might be difficult if she didn't  have one.

She was quite likely to dismiss his plan out of hand. She would almost  certainly consider a marriage of convenience to be selling out, as well  as a serious betrayal of the marriage vows-and she'd have no hesitation  in telling him. Unfortunately he didn't have the luxury of time to  indulge in finer feelings. The thought of trying to do this deal with  one of the women he customarily dated frankly appalled him. Even a night  in their company could be too long. And where would he find another  potential wife at such short notice?

‘Riding out will give us chance to chat about your future plans,' he said casually as he held the door for her.

‘Advice always welcome,' she said blandly, smiling up. ‘But ride first, chat later,' she insisted.

Nothing about this was going to be straightforward, he deduced.

* * *

She hadn't planned on riding with Tiago. When Annie had told her he was  eating breakfast she had considered going straight out, and then  decided that would look cowardly. In keeping with her decision to  toughen up, she had decided to face the hard man of the pampas to show  him she was over yesterday, and not susceptible in any way to his  undeniable charm.

‘You're riding Lizzie's horse this morning?' he commented when they reached the stable yard.

‘That's right,' she confirmed as they crossed the yard.

The horses were in adjoining stalls. She couldn't pretend that riding  out with Tiago Santos wasn't a thrill. And it would look amazing on her  CV, she conceded wryly. As if she needed an excuse to ride out with him!

They tacked up together. She tried not to notice how deftly Tiago's  lean fingers worked, or how soothing and gentle he was with his horse.

‘Are you ready?' he said, turning around.

Her heart-rate soared, and all she could think about was being held in  those arms, how it had felt to be pressed up close against his body.

‘Ready,' she confirmed, lifting her chin.

She had barely led Lizzie's horse out of the stable when her phone  rang. She looked down at the screen and shook her head. ‘Sorry, but I've  got to take this.'

‘Go right ahead.'

She walked quickly away from Tiago, concerned that her mother's torrent  of words would alert him to her problem. It was always the same  problem. Her mother was short of money again. It was the only time she  ever called.

Taking a deep breath, she launched in. ‘Did you get my messages? I was  worried about you. It seems so long since I've heard from you. Are you  sure you're okay? You're not okay?' Danny frowned with concern. ‘Why?  What's happened?'

She dreaded what her mother would say. It was never good news. The type  of men Danny's mother liked to go out with generally needed a loan. She  held the phone tight to her ear as her mother repeated the familiar  plea.

‘It's just to tide him over, Danny. I told him you'd understand...'

Told whom? Oh, never mind. She wouldn't know the man, anyway.

‘I knew I could rely on you. Thank you...thank you,' her mother was exclaiming.

‘But I don't have that kind of money,' Danny said, horrified when her mother mentioned a figure.                       
       
           



       

Her mother ignored this comment entirely. ‘Just do what you can,' she  said. ‘You're so generous, Danny. I knew we could rely on you.'

I'm such a mug, don't you mean? Danny thought.

‘It's only a short-term loan. He's got money coming in soon.'

How often had she heard that? Danny wondered. ‘I'll send you what I can,' she promised.

‘I hear there's going to be a lot of money sloshing around Rottingdean now Chico Fernandez has taken control?'

She recognised her mother's wheedling voice and immediately sprang to  her friend's defence. ‘Chico hasn't taken control,' she argued, feeling  affronted on Lizzie's behalf. ‘Lizzie and Chico work in partnership, and  their money has got nothing whatsoever to do with me. I'll send you  what money I can when I've earned it.'

‘Make sure you get your hands on some of their money,' her mother  insisted, as if she hadn't spoken, and as if Danny were entitled to a  share. ‘You've got it good now, Danny. It's only fair to share your good  fortune with others-with me-when things can only get better for you.'