Surrender to Her Spanish Husband (17 page)

A sight suddenly transfixed him. The car had purred to a stop to let a small family cross the road in front of them. There was an older woman, with a red tint in her hair, and a pretty young couple with a baby. All three of them were fussing and cooing over the infant, until Rodrigo’s driver beeped on his horn to indicate to them that they could safely cross, and suddenly Rodrigo was deluged by his need to hold Jenny close and confess his adoration and love for her—to make her see how sorry he was for being such an idiot.

Why on earth had it taken him so long to realise what a precious jewel he had in his grasp? Had he been blind? What if after this new disappointment she completely gave up on him and left him for good? Although it was totally his own fault, he didn’t think he could bear it. She was carrying his baby, and—given the chance—he
would
be the supportive father she yearned for him to be. Never again would he put some damn board meeting before
her.
Somewhere along the line he’d lost perspective. Being a success in business had become like a runaway train.

Rapping on the glass partition, he spoke rapidly to his driver, opened the passenger door and leapt out. With his heart pounding and the sweat sticking his shirt like glue to his back in the sultry afternoon sun he sprinted hard all the way back to the apartment.

She was gone.
With mounting shock Rodrigo found the bedroom empty of all her baggage and belongings. The luxurious apartment had never felt so lonely or so empty—apart from the first time Jenny had left, that was.

With a despairing oath he prowled the rooms, searching for clues that might tell him where she’d gone. There wasn’t even a note. However, he did find a scrap of paper with her address and telephone number back in the UK written hastily on it, left poignantly on his pillow.

Hardly daring even to mentally articulate the conclusion that was rapidly forming in his mind, he rang the concierge to have his worst fears confirmed: Jenny had indeed ordered a cab to take her to the airport…

Thankfully the airport manager had been a fantastic help. He’d had to waive quite a few airport regulations to get Rodrigo as far as the passenger lounge where customers waited before boarding their flights. Now, with his impatient gaze scanning the sea of heads, he felt his heartbeat almost careen to a standstill when he spied Jenny on a seat at the back, in deep conversation with a young, curly-haired youth dressed very casually in baggy denims and an equally baggy sweatshirt.

Rodrigo straightened his silk tie and stole a couple of moments in which to compose himself. His heart was still pounding. Suddenly, as if she’d sensed his presence, Jenny glanced up, her gaze colliding in astonishment with his.

Moving to stand in front of her, he felt the words he so desperately wanted to say die on his lips as he glanced avidly into her stunning summer-blue eyes.

‘Forgive me,’ he finally breathed. ‘I’ve been such an idiot! I should never have gone to that meeting instead of staying and talking to you.’

‘What are you—what are you doing here, Rodrigo?’

He grimaced. ‘More to the point,
mi angel
…what are
you
doing here?’

She dipped her head. ‘I’m flying home. I would willingly walk through fire for you, Rodrigo, but I won’t stay around where I’m not wanted. When I saw that you were quite willing to leave me alone at lunch and go to a meeting, I realised that it was no different from the first time we were together. It’s your business that means the world to you…not me or our baby. I’m afraid that Barcelona suddenly lost its charm.’ She swallowed hard. ‘When I get home we can discuss things on the phone. I left my number on your pillow.’

‘You would walk through fire for me, you said?’

‘I love you. Didn’t you know that?’

With a racing heart, Rodrigo dropped down into the shiny hard chair next to her. When the curly-haired young man Jenny had been talking to openly stared at him he pierced him with a steely gaze and said, ‘Do you mind? I’m having a private conversation with my fiancée.’

Jenny gulped, pressing her hand against her heart. ‘What did you say?’

‘Wait a moment. I want to do this properly, Jenny Wren.’

To her utter amazement, Rodrigo dropped down onto his bended knee in front of her. Several heads in the lounge’s vicinity swivelled interestedly. Reaching for her hand, he raised it to his lips. The warmth of his mouth made her insides dissolve as surely as ice cream beneath a blazing sun. ‘Will you marry me Jenny—and this time for good? Marry me and make me happier than I’m sure I deserve.’ Removing the solid gold signet ring from the little finger on his left hand, he slid it onto Jenny’s wedding finger.

‘Are you serious, Rodrigo?’ She couldn’t help the husky catch in her voice. The whole scenario was overwhelming…
surreal
, even.

‘More serious than I’ve ever been about anything in my life,’ he answered, grinning. ‘The business has always meant a lot to me…I don’t deny that. My father drummed it into me from a young age that I should strive to make a name for myself in business…that I should work hard and not be distracted from my focus. Not even if I fell in love. But the dream of success he sold to me was
his
, not mine. My mother was the wise one, but it took me until today to realize just
how
wise. She wanted me to have a family, Jenny. She told me it was the most important thing and she was right. And even though her relationship with my father was not exactly made in heaven she believed in the legacy of a loving family with all her heart. Now my own feelings echo that. You and our baby mean the world to me and I will always endeavour to put you both first…I swear it.’

‘Do you mean that?’ As she bent down to whisper the question, Jenny found her lips captured eagerly and hungrily, and for long moments she forgot everything but the sensation of the delicious pressure of Rodrigo’s passionate mouth on hers.

Drawing away from him after a while, she was shocked to hear the steady resounding echo of applause in her ears. Several people were on their feet in support, and when Rodrigo also got to his feet he winked at Jenny, then turned to give their audience a highly theatrical bow.

As he pulled her back into his arms she gazed up eagerly into his loving dark eyes and smiled. ‘I reckon that wild storm
did
bring you to me that night, Rodrigo. It took me a while to believe that fate had brought you back…given us a second chance…but now I don’t doubt it. I’m just so grateful, my love.’

‘And I echo the words I told you then…My body, my heart and my soul are yours for ever, my bewitching Jenny Wren. I pray you never have cause to doubt it, but I swear I will spend the rest of my life showing you how ardent I am!’

All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

^®
and TM are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with
^®
are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.

First published in Great Britain 2010

Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited,

Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

© Maggie Cox 2010

ISBN: 978-1-408-91928-6