At the Brazilian's Command(17)

Never mind what anyone thought-for the sake of these people she had to  make a go of this. Why cause problems when Tiago had worked so hard to  save the ranch?

‘Danny?'

Tiago's voice held a note of command and her eyes flashed open. How  could she live with this man, love him, and then leave him without a  backward glance?

She couldn't.

Glancing round the smiling faces, she felt like the worst kind of  confidence trickster. The only way she could get through this was by  concentrating on the fact that her marriage to Tiago would secure the  future of everyone here. Meanwhile, Brazil's most eligible bachelor-the  man she adored-was announcing their wedding to cries of excitement from  the crowd.

‘I realise that Danny will have already told some of you, and you may  think that this has all happened at the speed of light, but Danny and I  have known each other for quite some time, and recently our friendship  has turned into something more.'

Everyone cheered at this romantic interpretation of their cold-blooded  contract, and when Tiago turned to look at her she could almost believe  it too.

Putting his arm around her shoulder, he led her out of the spotlight to  a crescendo of cheers, and then his men distracted him, coming up to  shake his hand, while the women and children of the ranch clustered  around Danny.

‘And now I have a special gift for my bride,' he announced.

Taking hold of her hand, he led her through the crowd to the space beyond the dance floor.

‘Another gift?' Danny stared up into Tiago's rugged face. ‘You don't have to.'

‘But I want to.'

His sharp whistle of command caused a commotion in the crowd, and  everyone fell back at the sound of thundering hooves. Danny gasped as  the young colt galloped towards them.

‘Is there anything else you'd rather have?'

‘Nothing,' she said. ‘But-'

‘Then accept him and be gracious,' Tiago advised. ‘You have to think  like a businesswoman now, Danny. This colt will be a valuable stud one  day.'

It would have been better if she could have thought like a  businesswoman from the start, Danny reflected, stunned by Tiago's gift.  Her marriage was an advantageous merger for them both, nothing more-just  as this young colt, Firefly, was an advantageous acquisition.

‘Thank you.' She moved quickly to the young horse's head, to soothe him  and to speak to him gently, wanting him to focus on her and be calm,  rather than focus on the noisy crowd.

‘I'm glad he gives you pleasure.'

‘There's nothing you could have given me that I would treasure more.'  Nestling her face against the colt's warm neck, she breathed in the  familiar scent and wished, just for a moment, that one day she would  ride him with Tiago at her side.

The colt was led away to a round of appreciative applause. Everyone on  the ranch understood the significance of such a gift. It was a pledge  from Tiago to his people that this marriage would be good for them.

But they didn't know the ins and outs of it, Danny fretted as she  smiled to show that she couldn't have been happier with her gift. There  could be no certainties in life, she told herself firmly as Tiago spoke  to some of the men. Surely every bride-to-be felt this way-that to be so  happy must come at a cost?                       
       
           



       

‘It's official, Danny.'

She tried to close her heart to Tiago, but when he took hold of her  hands to draw her close she failed miserably. Even when he dipped his  head to kiss her she suspected it was for the sake of the crowd.

‘We've made everyone happy tonight,' he said.

‘Yes,' she agreed.

Sensing her unease, Tiago led her out of the crowd. ‘Is that all you have to say?'

He had every right to expect her to be bouncing with happiness after  his announcement of their engagement, the upcoming wedding, and now his  wonderful gift, but she couldn't fake it.

Why must she always pick holes in perfection? Why wouldn't the fairytale work for her?

* * *

He ground his jaw, seeing the tension in Danny's back as she walked  away with a group of women who were keen to help her organise their  wedding. Nothing must go wrong now. His lawyers were standing by. Full  ownership of the ranch was a matter of hours away.

He was as tense as he had ever been, Tiago realised as a group of his  fellow gauchos encouraged him to stay and spend the night celebrating  with them. His determination to build on what he'd started with these  people had never been stronger than it was today.

And Danny?

Deus! A million things could go wrong between now and their wedding day. Suddenly Friday seemed an eternity away.

* * *

This could work, Danny thought on Thursday morning as she waved goodbye  to the women who had helped her to design the menu for their wedding  banquet. She had left them late last night, after discussing plans for  the wedding, and had felt much calmer after spending time with them. She  had slept well for the first time in ages.

Maybe because there had had been no sign of Tiago, she thought now with  amusement, as he stood at her side in the middle of the courtyard,  supposedly surveying the decorations when he was clearly itching to go  on his morning ride.

‘Happy?' Tiago asked as the lively group trooped home.

‘Yes,' Danny said. ‘I am now I know that this is the type of wedding  we're having. I honestly couldn't think of anything better.'

‘Everyone wants to help because they think a lot of you.'

‘I hope that's true.'

‘Didn't I tell you everything would be all right?'

‘Yes,' she murmured, wondering if once they were married she'd even see him.

It was too late to worry about that now, Danny concluded, heading for  the house as Tiago turned for the stables-or so she thought.

She hadn't realised but he was coming after her, and she exclaimed with surprise.

‘Not long now.' He cupped her chin, and his eyes blazed into her own.  ‘Is there anything that could make this better for you, chica?'

If you loved me, she thought, that would make it better. If this  marriage of ours were not a sham, that would make it better still.

‘Your friends from Rottingdean?' he suggested.

‘Lizzie and Chico are still on honeymoon, and with Hamish and Annie in charge of the house in their absence-'

‘What about your mother?'

‘If you can find her.' Danny's mouth twisted with regret. ‘I'm afraid I  don't even know where she is. I keep trying to contact her, but-'

‘She's in the South of France,' Tiago revealed, shocking her.

‘What's she doing there?'

‘Spending the last of the money you sent her, I imagine.'

‘Did you speak to her?' she asked urgently.

Hope soared inside her. She'd always been a dream-weaver, and if there  was the slightest chance she could speak to her mother, make her  understand, reassure her about this marriage...

‘Yes. I've spoken to her,' he confirmed. ‘I wanted everything to be  perfect for you-or as perfect as it can be. You're doing so much for me,  Danny. I don't think you even realise what you're doing. I would have  flown your mother out here for the wedding, but there are some things  even I can't control.'

‘What did she say to you?' She couldn't hide her eagerness. ‘Did she get my messages?'

‘She got all of them, apparently.'

Tiago's grim look warned her to be brave.

‘What did she say?'

‘She said they were blocking up her phone, and could you please stop?'





CHAPTER NINE

‘OH.' DANNY'S VOICE was flat. The shock of what Tiago had told her cut  deep. She couldn't blame him for his candour after she'd pressed him for  an answer. She guessed he'd thought a clean cut would be the best. The  news that her mother wasn't interested in Danny was old, but it hurt all  the same. The fact that her mother didn't even care that she was  getting married was brutal.                       
       
           



       

‘You tried, Danny. At least you tried.'

Yes, she was certainly a trier, Danny reflected dryly. How stupid she  felt now, imagining her mother would want to wish her well.

‘I can't honestly say I expected her to be here for the wedding,' she admitted, pinning a smile to her face.

She glanced up to find Tiago staring down at her with concern. Maybe  she was wrong about him. Maybe he did have feelings but, having spent a  lifetime hiding them, now found them impossible to express.

‘Don't feel sorry for me, Tiago. I'm not a child.'

‘Maybe not,' he agreed, ‘but my people show you more affection than  your own mother. If she had been born with a title, and then squandered  an old man's fortune, I would say that your mother and mine must have  been twins.'