At the Brazilian's Command(8)

Her mother's voice had grown petulant and childlike. An all too  familiar feeling swept over Danny as she was tugged this way and that by  a sense of duty to her mother and a longing to get on with her own  life.

‘Just one more thing before I go,' her mother said. ‘I heard in the  village that the repair work at Rottingdean is going to mean evacuating  the house soon?'

‘That's right,' Danny confirmed. ‘It's great news that the old house is going to be given new life, isn't it?'

‘I suppose so,' her mother agreed. ‘But-and it's really hard for me to  say this, Danny-I'm afraid you can't come back here to the cottage while  the renovation work is being carried out.'

‘Oh?'

‘My new fella wouldn't like it, you see. You do understand, don't you?'

‘Of course,' she said faintly, taking this in.

‘I really think he's the one, Danny.'

Another one who was ‘the one', Danny mused wearily. ‘Just take care of  yourself, Mum,' she said softly. She would pick up the pieces of her  mother's life when it all fell apart again, somehow. And as for her own-

‘You won't forget to send that money, will you?' her mother pressed.

‘I promise,' Danny said.

‘You're such a good girl.'

Danny shook her head at the irony of her penniless self, bailing out  some unknown man, and then the sound of horses' hooves clattering across  the cobblestones distracted her. ‘Mum-I've got to go. I promised to  exercise Lizzie's horse.'

‘Just don't forget to send that money, will you, Danny?'

‘I won't,' she said again as Tiago rode round the corner, leading her horse.

She cut the line and focused on him. He took her breath away. He looked  so good on a horse. He was so at home, so at ease in the saddle, that  just watching him was a treat. But she felt anything but at ease, and  was already beginning to doubt her sanity at agreeing to ride out with  him.

‘Important call?' he asked.

‘My mother.'

‘Nothing more important than that.'

She murmured in agreement, thinking that Tiago looked like a visitor  from another, more vigorous planet, with his deep tan, thick black  stubble and his wild jet-black hair secured by a bandana for riding. And  that gold earring was glittering in the grudging light of the  early-morning sun. More marauding pirate, than wealthy and respectable  rampaging barbarian...

‘Something has amused you?' he asked as he handed over the reins of her horse.

‘Just happy at the thought of riding out.' She concentrated on mounting up and curbed her smile.

Just riding out with Tiago would be an adventure-but he didn't need to  know that. He made her feel things she had never felt before. Maybe she  was a little bit in love with him? Ha! Much good that would do her.

He gave her an assessing look, but made no further comment as he led the way out of the courtyard.

* * *

He was feeling confident as they rode out together. He always felt  confident, but Chico had filled him in on Danny's family background,  which had led Tiago to believe that if Danny thought she could keep her  mother secure and have a real chance of starting her own training centre  one day her answer to his proposition would be yes.

Urging his horse forward, he headed for the open countryside.

He raised the issue a short time later, when they'd reined in. ‘Would  you be prepared to leave the country for a good job? Would you be able  to leave your mother, for instance?'                       
       
           



       

‘Oh, yes,' she said at once. ‘I think she'd be relieved if I left her alone for a while.'

And just sent her money, he thought, remembering what Chico had told him about Danny's mother's constant demands for cash.

‘And you? What would you like to do-ideally?'

‘Me? I'm still considering my options.'

He ground his jaw as Danny turned her horse, shifted her weight, and  took off again. What options was she talking about? Had someone else  offered her a job?

He would not pursue her like some desperate adolescent.

Reining in again, he watched her ride. She rode like a gaucho with one  hand on the reins, leaning back in the saddle, working her hips, looking  as relaxed as if she were sitting in an armchair. She'd learned that in  Brazil. She was fearless, he thought as she sped across the brow of a  hill. He liked that. He liked Danny. A lot.

He couldn't believe how fate was smiling on him. If he played this  right he could have a very enjoyable year with Danny Cameron. Once that  year was over she would be free to do as she liked, with all the money  she could possibly need, and in the meantime he would enjoy her in his  bed.

The only fly in this almost perfect ointment was Danny Cameron herself.  He couldn't imagine Danny following meekly where he led. Getting her to  agree to a contract of marriage might be tricky, and would certainly  require the utmost diplomacy on his part. She might not agree to marry  him for cash, but she would agree to marry him. He would find a way.

Collecting his reins, he rode after her. The prospect of catching her  heated his blood. He needed a result fast. He needed a wife fast. And  here she was, perfect in every way: great with horses, and useful on a  ranch. What more could he ask of a woman?





CHAPTER FOUR

‘YOU'RE QUITE A RIDER,' Tiago commented as they jogged to a halt.

‘You mean you couldn't catch me?' she fired back dryly.

‘I caught you.'

Her body thrilled at Tiago's warrior glance. She was on a high. If  there was anything better than riding out with Tiago Santos she was  eager to try it. The fact that she'd given him a run for his money was  an added bonus-though she could do without her body purring with  approval every time he looked at her. She had to keep her head cool and  her thoughts confined solely to horses.

‘Have you ever thought of going back to Brazil, Danny?'

Well, that good intention had lasted all of one second. Why did he have  to remind her about Brazil, when seeing him had been the highlight of  each day? Her thoughts had instantly slipped to the dark side and that  fantasy world she inhabited, where she spent nights with Tiago too.

‘Maybe,' she admitted. ‘It's hard to forget my time in Brazil. All  those top-class horses and state-of-the-art training facilities-I can't  say I'd turn down an opportunity to go back. Why? Are you offering me a  job?'

Tiago remained silent, his considering stare on her face. Maybe she'd  overdone it. She was supposed to be exercising Lizzie's horse, not  touting for work.

‘Shall we get back?' she suggested, wondering if he'd had enough of her company.

‘I'm in no hurry.'

And then she understood. He was staring out at the silver river rushing  to the sea, beyond which lay a dense and mysterious forest that seemed  to beckon them into its hidden interior. There were standing stones that  held secrets from ancient times to one side of them, while purple  heather spread out like a carpet, leading them home. It was so magical.  Who in their right mind would leave?

For a while they sat on their horses in companionable silence. She had  loved this vantage spot since she was a little girl. She was at her most  relaxed here-until she became aware of Tiago staring at her. What was  he thinking? she wondered.

Closing her eyes, she turned her face to the sky and inhaled deeply.  Just here, just now, in this one perfect moment, she felt strong and  sure-as if things were changing for the better and anything was  possible.

‘Are you ready to go back now?' Tiago asked.

She was ready for anything. But then she remembered he was heading home to Brazil. That was life. Up one moment; down the next.

‘Last one back to the house makes the coffee?' she suggested.

The last sound she heard as she galloped away from him was Tiago's laughter, carried on the wind.

* * *

‘You're shivering.' he commented when they dismounted in the yard.

‘You must be made of iron,' she countered. ‘Aren't you aware that it's a  million degrees below freezing today?' She blew on her hands to make  her point.

‘Here-let me warm you.'                       
       
           



       

Before she had a chance to object Tiago had opened his arms and drawn  her inside his jacket. She tensed, and then reminded herself that Latin  men were demonstrative, that she shouldn't make anything of it. All he  was doing was preventing a mild case of hypothermia setting in.

‘Mmm...much better.' Her cheeks were burning as she pulled away-which  she had to do before she grew used to the addictive feeling of hard, hot  man.

‘Go inside and warm up in front of the fire,' Tiago suggested. ‘I'll take care of the horses.'

‘I'm not leaving it all to you,' she protested. ‘We'll do it together.  It will take half the time, and then we can both take a shower,' she  insisted when Tiago seemed about to refuse. ‘You're wet through too,'  she reasoned.