The Spaniard's Baby Bargain

In the darkness her thought-train remained with Manolo del Guardo and the possible scenarios the next day would bring.

It was impossible not to dwell on the man himself…the sheer physicality of his height and breadth of shoulder, raw-boned facial features, a strong jawline and a sensual mouth.

As to her electrifying reaction to his presence…what the hell was that?

CHAPTER TWO

ARIANE woke bathed in sweat, still caught up in a disturbing dream so hauntingly vivid it left her on the brink of fear. There had been the distant cry of a baby, and she wasn’t able to distinguish whether it belonged in the dream or was seated in reality.

She lay still for a few minutes, checked the time, and opted to shower and dress. It was early, but it would give her an opportunity to go over Manolo del Guardo’s personal profile, check details she’d highlighted in order to delve more deeply into his past, then she’d appear downstairs at the appointed time for breakfast.

Alone, she determined as she entered the dining room an hour and a half later. The table was set for one, and an elegant chiffonier held a covered dish, a carafe of steaming coffee, and a jug of orange juice.

The morning newspaper lay folded within reach, and she scanned the newsprint as she ate, then when she was done she returned to her suite to freshen up and gather her notes.

Five minutes to showtime, she determined as she entered the informal lounge, and found Tony checking the audio equipment. The video recorder was set up in readiness.

‘Hi.’ He glanced up from the task in hand. ‘Sleep well?’

‘OK.’ There was no point in admitting to a restless night. ‘You?’

‘Fine. Woke early, did a few warm-ups in the gym, then swam a few lengths of the indoor lap pool.’ He offered a grin. ‘Santos granted permission.’

A gym? It figured. As to an indoor lap pool…she might need to avail herself of it in order to cool off after a day parrying words with Manolo del Guardo!

‘I’m impressed.’

Tony raised a quizzical eyebrow. ‘With my early-morning zest for exercise?’

‘That, too.’

His soft laugh brought an answering smile, only to have it die as the soft burr of her cellphone signalled an incoming text message. Business…had to be. Yet it didn’t stop her stomach muscles clenching with nervous tension as she read the script.

Is he good in bed, darling?

Roger. Stepping up his ongoing campaign to stalk and harass. Didn’t he have anything better to do?

Stupid question. She was his obsession, the focus of his delusion. And he was clever…sufficiently so to fool the legal system.

He intruded into her everyday life. Appearing wherever she happened to be, silent but there…among the occupants of a café where she happened to meet a friend for coffee; a restaurant where she chose to dine; in a supermarket; the cinema. On the fringes, never making direct contact, but ensuring she was aware of his presence.

It was irritating, maddening…as he meant it to be.

‘Problems?’

Ariane deleted the message. ‘Nothing I can’t handle.’

Tony didn’t appear convinced, and she sent him a reassuring smile. ‘Really.’ She spared her watch a glance. ‘We did say nine, didn’t we?’

‘Indeed.’ The faintly accented drawl held a degree of cynical humour. ‘Although I was unaware of the need for a strict timetable.’

Their host and the subject of the interview stood just inside the doorway, looking totally at ease in black tailored trousers and white chambray shirt with the top few buttons left undone and cuffs turned back.

He moved with the lithe grace of a jungle cat, for she hadn’t heard a sound.

Lean-hipped, broad-framed and tall, Manolo del Guardo cut a dynamic figure. Raw-boned facial features, a sensuous mouth and eyes that didn’t miss a thing. Aware of his background, she had to concede a compelling ruthlessness lurked beneath the surface of his control.

‘Good morning.’ He included Tony in the greeting. ‘I trust you both slept well?’

Ariane met his gaze with level coolness. ‘Thank you.’ Nerves were something she’d learnt to disguise, and it irked her that this man unsettled her more than most.

Recognition of sexual chemistry, that’s all it is, she rationalised, and did her best to dismiss it.

She was here to do a job. What was more, she had no interest in men. Especially someone of Manolo del Guardo’s calibre.

‘Tony is about through checking the sound equipment.’ Professionalism was everything. ‘Is there anything in the questionnaire you’d like to discuss at this point?’

One eyebrow rose. ‘I’m familiar with the interview process.’

‘Yes, of course.’ A conciliatory smile offered a soothing salve. ‘As you’re aware, we intend to focus on three key elements: your background; business success; your nominated charity interest. With sufficient personal details to give the interview an individual touch and tie it all together.’

Doing that would be a challenge. Perhaps more than she bargained for. This man was no pushover, and far too warily astute to be led into any indiscriminate revelations.

She’d suggested ‘smart casual wear’ for the morning session. Trousers by Armani, shirt by Versace. She was willing to swear both styles had been worn by male models in a fashion show she’d compèred recently.

A deliberate choice on Manolo del Guardo’s part?

‘Perhaps we could make a start?’

Ariane studied his features with analytical appraisal, and steadfastly ignored the tension coiling inside her stomach as he held her gaze.

‘Something bothers you?’

You do. In spades. ‘I’d like to apply a light make-up.’ She turned towards a small cosmetic box she always carried for just this purpose. ‘Just the merest touch.’

‘No.’

The drawling voice held a silky softness that caused her to momentarily freeze before swinging back to face him. ‘We’re talking a faint coverage of translucent powder, nothing more.’

‘No.’

It wasn’t much after nine in the morning, and they’d already encountered a hiccup. She sought to appease. ‘It’s standard procedure.’

‘But not one I choose to observe.’

OK, so make-up was a no-go. She could handle that.

‘Would you care to take a seat?’ It wasn’t so much a suggestion as a directive, and it earned her a contemplative look.

‘And if I prefer to stand?’

He was toying with her. ‘Mr del Guardo—’

‘I thought we agreed on informality?’

This was going to be one hell of a weekend. ‘Manolo,’ she conceded, and he inclined his head.

‘Gracias.’

‘Let’s get you wired.’ Tony moved forward with two remote microphones, handed one to Ariane and fixed the other to the V of Manolo del Guardo’s shirt.

The ball is in your court, you’re in charge, you have control.

Sure, Ariane conceded with silent cynicism. And cows jump over the moon!

Dealing with an ego was part of the job, and she’d dealt with a few in her time. ‘I’d like to keep this as relaxed and informal as possible.’ She deliberately held his gaze. ‘Visual and audio will be edited, and you’ll have control over final content.’

His eyes held a dark intensity that could sear the soul. Could they also soothe?

Oh, hell, where had that come from?

‘I’ll remind you, any attempt at clever journalistic tactics on your part will be met with silence.’

Oh, my. Ariane drew herself up to her full height and took a slow, steady breath. ‘Point taken.’ She even managed a faint smile. ‘Shall we begin?’

An hour later she had nothing more on Manolo del Guardo than what was already available in previous Press releases. Which meant she had to work a little harder.

‘Tell me what it was like growing up in the ’hood.’

The faint smile didn’t reach his eyes. ‘You want I should draw a picture?’ Street gangs, poverty, where survival meant being one step ahead of the law in alleyways where one false move could bring a knife in the ribs…or worse?

‘I imagine it was tough.’

He doubted her imagination stretched as far as the reality. Except he’d managed to get out and move on. Lean years when he’d worked his butt off twenty by seven, taking risks only the brave or a fool would touch.

‘The prime motivation was to survive.’

His voice held an edge of mockery, and a wealth of living lurked in the depths of those dark eyes. Elements she could only guess at.

‘Perhaps you’d care to elaborate?’

‘I don’t see the need to provide a vicarious insight into the days of my youth.’

OK, so he was going to play hardball. ‘Self-protection, or a need to bury your past?’

He didn’t move, yet she had the sensation his powerful body suddenly went on full alert.

The silence in the room became a palpable entity, and she held her breath, waiting for a display of temperament.

It didn’t happen, and there was little she could detect beneath his obsidian gaze.

Supreme control, she registered, and wondered what it would take to break it. A faint shivery sensation threatened to slither the length of her spine at the thought of what direction his anger might take…certain in her mind it would be laser-swift and deadly.

Ariane’s attention was so focused on the man that at first she didn’t register the faint sound of a baby’s cry.

‘You’ll have to excuse me.’ Manolo rose to his feet in one fluid movement and crossed to the door.

It was then she heard the angry wail of a distressed babe, a sound that rose to a crescendo in seconds.

Ariane signalled for Tony to cut, and followed Manolo del Guardo into the foyer.

The sight of him cradling a baby in the curve of his arm caused the breath to catch in her throat.

At that moment he turned, and she stood locked into immobility at the ruthless intensity of his gaze. ‘Your intrusion is not welcome.’ His voice was dangerously soft, and the infant’s wailing increased.

She had the unbearable urge to take the child and attempt to soothe its pain. ‘The camera isn’t on, nor is the sound.’

The fate of Manolo del Guardo’s late wife was common knowledge; so too was the existence of their daughter. Except no photos of the child had reached the media.

‘Ensure it remains that way.’

The infant’s wailing intensified, then subsided into a series of cross, hiccuping cries.

Ariane couldn’t help herself. ‘She has colic.’

‘And you know this…because?’

She wanted to hit him. Instead she held her breath and counted to three before releasing it. She even managed a negligible shrug. ‘We can take up where we left off when you’ve settled your daughter into the nanny’s care.’

‘Difficult, when the girl walked out yesterday, and a replacement isn’t due until mid-week.’

‘I’m sorry.’

Was that genuine concern? Or a polite act? Manolo opted for the latter. ‘We’ll reconvene after lunch.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘At two.’

He headed towards the stairs, and Ariane retraced her steps to find Tony running a review of the morning’s taping.

‘We’re taking a break?’

‘Dismissed until two.’ She crossed to where he stood. ‘What do you think?’

‘So far so good. He’s ice.’

‘And won’t crack?’

He shot her a direct look as the tape went into rewind. ‘Waste of time to even try.’

Ariane viewed the morning’s session with an analytical eye, then retrieved her notebook, made a few notations and returned it to her briefcase.

There was half an hour until lunch, and she felt the pressing need for some fresh air. ‘I’m going to take a walk in the grounds.’

‘And examine the plant life?’

‘You have a better suggestion?’

Tony offered a wicked smile. ‘You could go pound the punching bag in the gym.’

‘Talk to me at day’s end. Although kickboxing is more my style. You could join me.’

‘Sorry, sweetheart. I’m not into masochism.’

She wrinkled her nose at him. ‘I might let you win.’

He lifted both hands in mock-capitulation. ‘Do me a favour, and go smell the roses.’

‘While you do…what?’

His slow grin held a teasing quality. ‘Kick back and anticipate this afternoon’s verbal interaction.’

Ariane rolled her eyes. ‘How come you get to have all the fun?’

He waited a beat, then offered quietly, ‘Watch out for yourself.’

A friend, as well as an associate, he saw too much. ‘Always.’

The automatic assurance didn’t fool either of them, and Ariane collected her cellphone before making her way to the rear of the house.

French doors led onto a large terrace, and she crossed it, then descended a set of stone steps to a paved courtyard.

The grounds were larger than she’d expected, with an expanse of immaculate lawn. Garden beds abounded with an array of flora in bloom, a riot of colour and green foliage, exquisite topiary. There was a gazebo, painted white with a peaked roof and decorative scrolls. A water fountain stood nearby, and she sighted a marble birdbath.

Shrubbery, garden seats—it was close to picture perfect, and she wondered if Manolo del Guardo surrounded himself with beautiful objects because he genuinely enjoyed them, or whether they were merely the possessions expected of a wealthy man. Suggested, supplied and maintained to create an image.

The house…mansion, she corrected mentally. Had he employed a team of interior decorators and given them carte blanche?

Her cellphone beeped and promptly went to mes sage-bank, providing a reminder she should check the morning’s incoming calls.

Three, she determined a few minutes later, two of which were from Roger. A sick feeling twisted her stomach at the brief, crude words.

Ignore him, she counselled silently, hating the wiliness of his psychosis. He rarely rang from the same number twice, switching SIM cards, using numerous pay-phones in a game devised to fool her so she’d engage each call or message. Even in the few seconds it took to hit the erase button, he managed to achieve his objective.

Roger was the reason she’d taken up martial arts. For the discipline and control…as a form of protection and a means of channelling her anger against his intrusive harassment.

Ariane pocketed the cellphone and deliberately focused her attention on her surroundings. It was a beautiful summer’s day, with only a few drifts of cloud in the sky. The warmth of the sun caressed her skin, and the air held the sweetness of flowers in bloom, their colours, some muted, many bright, a visual delight.

A short while later she returned indoors, freshened up, then she joined Tony in the dining room for lunch. Thin slices of veal, Parma ham, salads and fresh bread, followed by a delectable fruit salad.

There was time to retouch her make-up and smooth her hair before joining Tony in the designated interview room, where she went over her notes and the questions she wanted to pose during the afternoon taping.

Manolo del Guardo appeared shortly after two, in, unless she was mistaken, a change of shirt. White, top few buttons undone, with cuffs rolled back, the difference in style was minimal, and probably unnoticeable to the untrained eye.

She attempted to qualify it as an integral part of the job, and knew she lied. Everything about this man caught and held her interest.

The animalistic sense of power combined with a dramatic mesh of elemental ruthlessness and latent sensuality. Add leashed savagery, and it became a lethal mix.

Be professional, think interview quality, and ignore the exigent magnetism, Ariane advised silently. A derisive laugh rose and died in her throat. Sure, as if that was likely to happen.

‘This afternoon I’d like to concentrate on your entry into the business arena,’ she began. ‘A few early breaks, your motivation to succeed, risks.’ She met his gaze and held it. ‘Highlights charting your career.’

Manolo took in her slender frame, ash-blonde hair in its sleek style, hazel green-flecked eyes, the small but determined chin, her lush mouth.

Had anyone told her those eyes became dark green when she was angry? An emotion she hid well, and one he found intriguing.

She’d done her research, he conceded as he answered her questions and offered information already known to the media.

‘No dabbling in illegals in a quest to build your empire?’

For years he’d walked on the right side of the law, but there were some deals done in his early teens of which he was not particularly proud.

‘Perhaps you’d care to define “illegals”?’

His drawling tone was silk-smooth and dangerous beneath the dispassionate imperturbability.

‘Does it need defining?’

‘The implication covers a broad spectrum.’

‘Could one assume your evasion of the question supplies its own answer?’

‘Are you levelling an accusation?’

Oh, lord, he could have a team of top-flight lawyers breathing down her neck in an instant. ‘No.’ Her tone was steady, and she effected a polite smile. ‘Merely voicing admiration for the extent of your wealth in relation to the time in which you’ve achieved it.’

‘I’ll accept that as a compliment.’

He wanted to strangle her. She could sense it beneath the surface of his control.

A few more questions and she was done for the afternoon. She watched as Manolo del Guardo rose from his chair, inclined his head and walked from the room.

‘He let you get away unscathed.’

Tony’s comment should have brought her some satisfaction. Instead she could only wonder at the ease with which Manolo del Guardo had allowed her to dance so close to the line between the provocative and the sensational.

‘Yes.’ She gathered paperwork and slid it into her briefcase.

‘It’s a shame we can’t wrap it up tonight.’

Ariane slung the leather strap over one shoulder. ‘I understand our host has a pressing engagement for the evening.’

Tony placed the camera in its case and locked it. ‘We could go grab a pizza, take in a movie.’

‘Count me out.’ She moved towards the door. ‘I’m going to try out the lap pool, have dinner here, then catch an early night.’

‘Maybe that’s not such a bad idea. We were given permission to avail ourselves of the entertainment room. Maybe Santos will let us microwave popcorn?’

‘In your dreams.’ She offered him a musing grin. ‘Does this look like a home that has popcorn in the pantry?’

With that parting salvo she crossed the foyer and ascended the stairs, choosing to check her cellphone messages as she made her way to her room.

Roger…again. Twice, she determined, and stifled a pithy oath. Would the man ever cease with his harassment? Catching his first few words before she hit erase was almost as bad as listening to the entire message, for the damage was done. He’d succeeded in reaching her, and in his book that was enough.

Let it go. They were only words. Take a deep breath.

Ariane repeated the silent mantra as she slipped out of her clothes and donned the swimsuit she’d tossed into her bag on the off-chance she might use it. Then she pulled on jogging-bottoms and top, caught up a towel and made her way down to the lower level.

The gym was impressive, the equipment expensive, and she crossed to the indoor lap pool, slid into the water and began a punishing series of laps, back and forth until she could feel the pull of muscles.

It felt good to expend pent-up energy, and she emerged, crossed to the shower, then donned sweats and returned to her room to change for dinner.

After a pleasant meal, they took coffee into the entertainment room and watched a movie on DVD.

When it finished Ariane rose to her feet. ‘Goodnight.’

Tony slotted in another movie, then sank back into a comfortable chair. ‘See you at breakfast.’

CHAPTER THREE

ARIANE was unsure what woke her. Only that something had, and she lay still, listening to the silence, wondering if she’d slipped into consciousness from a dream.

Then she heard it, the distant cry of a fractious babe. Manolo del Guardo’s daughter. Awake and, from the sound of it, in pain.

What time was it? She checked her watch…almost midnight. Any second now Manolo or, if he hadn’t returned home, Santos would tend to Christina.

The cries continued, and Ariane didn’t pause for thought as she slid out of bed, snagged her robe and shrugged into it, then made her way along the gallery.

Electric wall sconces turned low provided a dim light, and she moved quickly past a few closed doors, then paused outside the room where the sound seemed the loudest. A slight qualm caused a momentary hesitation, then at a further wail she discarded it and opened the door.

Ariane barely registered the room with its soft lighting as she crossed to the cot. Her attention was focused on the distressed babe.

‘Poor little petite, hmm?’ She scooped the child up and held her against one shoulder, instinctively soothing the small back. ‘Let’s guess, shall we? You’re hungry? Wet? In pain?’ She touched her cheek to the small head. ‘Or all three?’

At almost six months of age, was she still having a late-night bottle? There had to be a feeding schedule around somewhere. But not in plain sight, she registered.

‘OK, little one, let’s do a nappy change and see if that helps any.’

Ariane heard a sound and turned towards the door to discover Santos framed in the aperture. ‘I heard her crying via the monitor, and came as quickly as I could.’

She laid the babe on the bed nestled against one wall and deftly effected a nappy change, speaking softly as she did so. ‘There we go, angel. Now, if only you could talk, we’d know if it’s a tooth ready to come through, or a tummy pain.’

‘I’ll take over.’

She spared Santos a measured look. ‘Because you feel you should, or you doubt my ability to cope?’

‘On the contrary. You seem to be doing just fine. Christina has stopped crying.’

A very satisfactory burp issued forth, and Ariane smiled. ‘Any more, sweetheart?’ Almost on command there was another. ‘Does she usually have a bottle? I couldn’t see a feeding schedule.’ She stroked a soothing finger over the babe’s cheek.

‘Probably because the last nanny didn’t keep one,’ Santos offered drily.

Obviously nannies, plural, were a sensitive subject.

‘I gave Christina a bottle at eight, and she has, I understand, been sleeping through until around five in the morning.’

But not tonight. Poor wee mite. No mother to cuddle her, a father who left her in the care of professionals and was too busy adding millions to his incredible fortune…

‘Problems, Santos?’

Think of the devil, and he appeared.

‘Christina is finding it difficult to settle.’

Manolo shrugged out of his dinner jacket and tossed it over a chair, then he loosened his tie and turned back the cuffs of his shirt.

Even to Ariane’s jaded eye he was too ruggedly attractive for his own good. The height, breadth of shoulder, his stance, and compelling facial features.

‘My apologies. I was unexpectedly delayed.’

Was it her imagination, or did she catch a telling glance pass between Manolo del Guardo and Santos?

‘Ariane heard Christina’s cry and reached her ahead of me.’ The explanation came from Santos, and Manolo inclined his head in her direction.

‘Thank you for your concern.’

But you can go now? The implication was apparent. It was totally weird, but she wanted to delay the inevitable a little longer. Holding the babe felt so…good. Almost in silent unison the babe nuzzled a little, and Ariane eased the knuckle of her little finger close to the babe’s mouth. Almost at once the babe began suckling as Ariane continued to stroke the tiny cheek.

Manolo’s gaze narrowed fractionally. ‘I’ll take Christina.’ He checked his watch. ‘I guess it won’t hurt to give her another bottle.’

‘She might settle back to sleep without one.’ She could hardly hold the babe any longer, and she gently eased her towards her father.