Maid for a Magnate(4)

Inwardly she groaned. She hated that term. Yes, she was a maid, but she  was damn good at her job. She took pride in what she did. No, cleaning  toilets and washing sheets wasn't the most glam of jobs, but she knew  what she did was important. Besides, the structure and discipline of her  work was only training her for the dream job she hoped to have someday.

The rumble of male voices blended in with the female's weeping.  Whatever was going on, it was something major. Catalina approached the  circular table in the middle of the wide hall. As she plucked out wilted  buds here and there, the door to the library creaked open. Catalina  focused on the task at hand, though she was dying to turn to see who  came from the room.

"Cat."

She cringed at the familiar voice. Well, part of her curiosity was  answered, but suddenly she didn't care what was going on in that room.  She didn't care who Will had in there, though Catalina already felt  sorry for the poor woman. She herself had shed many tears over Will when  he'd played her for a fool, getting her to think they could ignore  their class differences and have a relationship. "I need to see you for a  minute."

Of course he hadn't asked. Will Rowling didn't ask...he demanded.

Stiffening her back, she expected to see him standing close, but when  she turned to face him, she noted he was holding onto the library door,  with only the top half of his body peeking out of the room.

"I'm working," she informed him, making no move to go see whatever lover's spat he was having with the unknown woman.                       
       
           



       

"You need to talk to Bella."

Bella? Suddenly Catalina found herself moving down the hall, but Will  stepped out, blocking her entry into the library. Catalina glanced down  to his hand gripping her bicep.

"Her aunt Isabella passed away in the middle of the night," he whispered.

Isabella Montoro was the grand matriarch of the entire Montoro clan.  The woman had been around forever. Between Juan Carlos being named the  true heir to the throne and now Isabella's death, the poor family was  being dealt one blow after another.

Will rubbed his thumb back and forth over Catalina's arm. "You know  Bella enough through James and I figured she'd want another woman to  talk to. Plus, I thought she could relate to you because..."

Swallowing, she nodded. When she and Will had dated briefly, Catalina  had just lost her grandmother, a woman who had been like a second mother  to her. Will had seen her struggle with the loss...maybe the timing of  the loss explained why she'd been so naïve to think she and Will could  have a future together. For that moment in time, Catalina had clung to  any hope of happiness and Will had shown her so much...but it had all  been built on lies.

Catalina started to move by him, but his grip tightened. "I don't want  to bring up bad memories for you." Those aqua eyes held her in place.  "As much as Bella is hurting, I won't sacrifice you, so tell me if you  can't go in there."

Catalina swallowed as she looked back into those eyes that held  something other than lust. For once he wasn't staring at her as if he  wanted to rip her clothes off. He genuinely cared or at least he was  playing the part rather well. Then again, he'd played a rather  impressive role four years ago pretending to be the doting boyfriend.

Catalina couldn't afford to let her guard down. Not again with this man  who still had the power to cripple her. That kiss weeks ago only proved  the control he still had and she'd never, ever let him in on that fact.  She could never allow Will to know just how much she still ached for  his touch.

"I'll be fine," she replied, pulling her arm back. "I'd like to be alone with her, though."

Will opened his mouth as if to argue, but finally closed it and nodded.

As soon as Catalina stepped inside, her heart broke. Bella sat in a  wingback chair. James rested his hip on the arm and Bella was curled  into his side sobbing.

"James." Will motioned for his twin to follow him out.

Leaning down, James muttered something to Bella. Dabbing her eyes with a tissue, Bella looked up and saw she had company.

Catalina crossed to the beautiful woman who had always been known for  her wild side. Right now she was hurting over losing a woman who was as  close as a mother to her.

The fact that Will thought Catalina could offer comfort, the fact that  he cared enough to seek her out, shouldn't warm her heart. She couldn't  let his moment of sweetness hinder her judgment of the man. Bella was  the woman he'd been in a relationship with only a month ago. How could  Catalina forget that? No matter the reasons behind the relationship,  Catalina couldn't let go of the fact that Will would've said I do to  Bella had James not come along.

Will had an agenda, he always did. Catalina had no clue what he was up  to now, but she had a feeling his newfound plans included her. After all  this time, was he seriously going to pursue her? Did he honestly think  they'd start over or pick up where they'd left off?

Catalina knew deep down he was only after one thing...and she truly feared if she wasn't careful, she'd end up giving in.





      Three

Will lifted the bottle of scotch from the bar in the living room,  waving it back and forth slightly in a silent invitation to his brother.

James blew out a breath. "Yeah. I could use a drink."

Neither mentioned the early time. Sometimes life's crises called for an  emergency drink to take the edge off. And since they'd recently started  building their relationship back up, Will wanted to be here for his  brother because even though Bella was the one who'd suffered the loss,  James was no doubt feeling helpless.

"Smart thinking asking Catalina to help." James took the tumbler with  the amber liquid and eased back on the leather sofa. "Something going on  there you want to talk about?"

Will remained standing, leaning an elbow back against the bar. "Nothing going on at all."

Not to say there wouldn't be something going on very soon if he had his  way about it. Those heated kisses only motivated him even more...not to  mention the fact that his father would hate knowing "the good twin" had  gone after what he wanted, which was the total opposite of Patrick's  wishes.                       
       
           



       

James swirled the drink as he stared down into the glass. "I know  Isabella has been sick for a while, but still, her death came as a  shock. Knowing how strong-willed she was, I'd say she hung on until Juan  Carlos was announced the rightful heir to the throne."

Will nodded, thankful they were off the topic of Cat. She was his and  he wasn't willing to share her with anyone right now. Only a month ago,  Bella had caught Will and Cat kissing, but at the time she'd thought it  was James locking lips with the maid. The slight misunderstanding had  nearly cost James the love of his life. "How is Bella dealing with the  fact her brother was knocked off the throne before he could fully take  control?"

The Montoro family was being restored to the Alma monarchy after  decades of harsh dictatorship. First Rafael Montoro IV and then, when he  abdicated, his brother Gabriel were thought to be the rightful heirs.  However, their sister, Bella, had then uncovered damning letters in an  old family farmhouse, indicating that because of a paternity secret  going back to before World War II, Juan Carlos's line of the family were  the only legitimate heirs.

"I don't think that title ever appealed to Gabriel or Bella, to be  honest." James crossed his ankle over his knee and held onto his glass  as he rested it on the arm of the sofa. "Personally, I'm glad the focus  is on Juan Carlos right now. Bella and I have enough media attention as  it is."

In addition to the fact that James had married a member of Alma's royal  family, he was also a star football player who drew a lot of scrutiny  from the tabloids. The newlyweds no doubt wanted some privacy to start  building their life together, especially since James had also recently  taken custody of his infant baby, Maisey-a child from a previous  relationship.

"Isabella's passing will have the media all over the Montoros and Juan  Carlos. I'm probably going to take Bella and Maisey back to the  farmhouse to avoid the spotlight. The renovations aren't done yet, but  we need the break."

"What can I do to help?" Will asked.

James tipped back the last of the scotch, and then leaned forward and  set the empty tumbler on the coffee table. "Give me back that watch," he  said with a half smile and a nod toward Will's wrist.

"Nah, I won this fair and square," Will joked. "I told you that you  wouldn't be able to resist putting a ring on Bella's finger."