Free The Spanish Aristocrat's Woman by Katherine Garbera Page B

our joint promotions department, but I’d love to create a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry that we could sell and use the proceeds to fund a new housing development for women and children. Maybe here in Madrid.”
    “Yes, we have considered that before. But we want to be involved globally.”
    “Let me get you in touch with Malcolm and then you can figure something out. I’m thinking we could start with a series of exclusive bracelets each inspired by a different country, and then use the proceeds in that country.”
    Anika nodded and grabbed a pen to start jotting down notes. And Kara felt more like herself than she had since she’d arrived in Spain.
    Gui had been busy working at Seconds and taking care of his own obligations, and Kara had been at loose ends feeling very much the outsider in her own new life.
    But this was exactly the type of thing that she could sink her teeth into. “When I get back I’ll e-mail Malcolm.” She paused. “Thanks for inviting me to come shopping with you this afternoon.”
    “You’re welcome. We figured you needed an afternoon of relaxation before tonight.”
    “Are royal functions that trying?” Kara asked. Gui had invited her to a dinner party at his brother’s house. Gui’s sister-in-law was the Enfanta…heir to the Spanish throne.
    “They can be fun. But I suspected that Elvira will go out of her way to make you feel like an outsider.”
    Kara’s skin suddenly felt too tight. Why hadn’t Gui mentioned that the other woman would be there? Not that he had to. “I…I didn’t realize she’d be there.”
    “The dinner is for the entire family to meet you. And Juan is our cousin through marriage.”
    She shook her head and smiled. “Well, I am looking forward to meeting all of your relatives.”
    Arcelia leaned forward. “Don’t sweat it about Elvira. She’s very good at playing games with men, but she tends to leave the women alone. She thinks the rest of us are below her.”
    That wasn’t exactly reassuring. Kara knew she had to talk to Gui and find out exactly what was between him and the other woman. If she didn’t have that knowledge, Elvira was always going to be able to rattle her and Kara didn’t intend to give the older woman the ability to shake her up.
    She was going to have to be at her best tonight. As lunch ended and she left Anika and Arcelia to head back to Gui’s home, she decided that she was pulling out all the stops. She’d be the sexy woman that Gui told her she was, confident and proud to be on his arm.
    That part was fine, but what caused the knot in the pit of her stomach was the fact that she’d have to somehow convince him that he was proud to be on her arm. Proud to be her man.
    What she really wanted was to somehow make him realize that he was happy with her.

    Gui had been busy since they’d landed in Madrid. Between his family business interests, running Seconds and taking care of all his social obligations, he’d had little time for Kara. This was his life, he thought and, for the first time, regretted it. He wanted to have time to simply make love to his woman and hold her in his arms.
    “Count, I have laid out your suit for this evening. Your father has asked that you come early so that he can speak to you and Alonzo.”
    Gui nodded to Vincent as he took off the polo shirt he’d been wearing, tossing it toward the bed. “Inform my father I will be there. Will you let Kara know I’m home and if she has time I’d like to see her.”
    “I certainly will, Count. Is there anything else you need?”
    “Please have the Bugatti brought around for us to take tonight.”
    “Very well, Count.”
    Vincent left and Gui went in to take a quick shower. He had little hope that Kara would be waiting when he came out. She’d kept herself incredibly busy since they’d landed in Spain. He was beginning to think she might have second thoughts about marrying him.
    There was a knock on the door that led to Kara’s dressing room. He wrapped