His Suitable Bride(96)

He shook his head, negating her words. ‘No. As I told you before, I won’t have him become so attached to you that it will cause him undue pain when you’re not around on a permanent basis. And I’m going to need another nanny more or less immediately, because you’re not going to be on hand all the time.’

Rowan sat down heavily. He was sending her away. She quickly did some mental arithmetic. Perhaps she could rent a small apartment in Osuna, stay close by.

‘Rowan?’

Her head jerked up. ‘I’m sorry—what?’ She hadn’t heard a word of what he’d just said.

‘I said that we’re going to have to go into Seville to get you some clothes and do something with your hair.’

She stood again, feeling totally confused. ‘What are you talking about?’

He frowned at her. ‘What I just said. The Feria de Abril annual ball is next week, and I need you to come with me.’

Rowan shook her head again and translated out loud. ‘The Festival of April ball?’

‘Yes. It’s one of the biggest dates in the Seville calendar.’ He started pacing again. ‘Last year you weren’t here—that’s when people started to speculate. As one of the patrons of the festival, I have to make a speech every year, and naturally there is a lot of media attention.’ A flash of cynicism crossed his face. ‘As we have the good fortune of your presence this year, you will accompany me and help to put wagging tongues to rest.’

Rowan automatically started to protest for many reasons—not least of which that it would be a total sham. But he silenced her, taking a hand out of his pocket and coming to stand close. Too close.

‘Don’t you think it’s the least you could do?’

She was feeling dizzy, looking up at him. ‘Well, I … of course … But won’t people think it weird? And what about when it becomes apparent that we’re divorcing? Won’t it be obvious that something was up?’

He dismissed her words with a hand. ‘I’m not concerned about that. I’m only concerned with the here and now. I’m involved in an important deal with a bank in Madrid, and their CEO has been invited. It will look good for me to show that my marriage exists.’

A week later, as Rowan got ready for the ball, she reflected on Isandro’s words and shivered again. That coolness, that level of ambition, was something that had been all too familiar. Somehow, seeing him be such a good father to Zac, she’d been seduced into believing in a side of him she’d thought existed when she’d first got to know him, when she’d fallen in love with him. But that was dangerous. He’d just reminded her with his actions that he was in fact a cold-hearted businessman with no room for love or emotion in his life. Unless it was directed towards his son. She had to remember that, or she’d be the biggest fool.

The past week had flown. Isandro had taken her into Seville three days ago, on a whirlwind tour of the shops. He’d bought her a veritable wardrobe full of clothes. She’d protested, but to no avail. And when they’d come home he’d personally overseen her own tatty clothes being thrown away. She’d bristled at his high-handed behaviour but he’d ignored her again. In truth, being back in a bustling, vibrant city had been almost too much for her. She’d found the sounds, the traffic, everything a little overwhelming. She knew she’d get used to it again in time, but hadn’t missed the funny looks Isandro had given her. She would have to be more careful.

She twisted in the mirror now, trying to reach the zip of the silk dress she’d chosen to wear, when she heard a voice.

‘Do you need me to do that up?’

She jumped around, her heart thumping crazily, and held the gaping front of her dress in her hands. ‘Excuse me!’ She hid her surprise and panic behind affront.

He strolled easily towards her and she couldn’t breathe. In a black tuxedo, white shirt, white bow tie dangling undone, he was a virile picture of masculine perfection. And even though she’d seen him like this … it had been before. She’d been pregnant then, and later she’d had other concerns. But now every sense seemed indecently heightened. On full alert.

He took her shoulders and turned her stricken body around. She felt his hands come to the zip, pulling it up slowly, his fingers grazing her back. The hairdresser Isandro had taken her to had cut her hair into a more defined bob, and now it fell in soft waves to just below her jaw. The back of her neck was exposed, and there was something about that that made her feel intensely vulnerable …

She hadn’t been able to wear a bra with the dress, and as the zip ascended now she could feel the dress being pulled up, tightening around her breasts, chafing against nipples that felt sensitive. She felt so tense that she feared she might snap in two. His hands stopped somewhere around the middle of her shoulderblades, and was it her imagination or did his fingers linger there for a second?