Free Catch Me in Castile by Kimberley Troutte Page A

hadn’t meant to say that at all.
    “Here? In your home?”
    His lips parted, but no sounds came out.
    I kept my answer light. “That would be imposing. Something my mother tells me not to do.”
    He pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking. What in the world was he debating in that glorious head of his? Finally he said, “The house is big. I’d appreciate it if you keep Maria company while she settles back in. It will be good for her to look after you. I’m not here often. I have a flat downtown, closer to the hospital.”
    “Oh.”
    “Please consider staying. Here.”
    “You and Maria are very kind. I’ll think about it.”
    Oh man, that devastating grin.
    We switched gears and I asked him about his career, while the candlelight shimmered in his eyes. He had a general practice, was trained in internal medicine and elected to the position of Chief Medical Doctor at the Salamanca hospital.
    I smelled modesty. “Impressive. Where’d you go to school?”
    “I graduated from UCLA. Pre-Med. My graduate work was here, in Salamanca.”
    “You must know Dr. John Stapleton at UCLA,” flew out of my mouth before I had a chance to rein it in.
    He thought a moment. “Doesn’t ring a bell. Which medical department is he in?”
    Holy crap, please tell me I did not drop my psychiatrist’s name into casual conversation with the sexiest man on the planet.
    I ran my hand up the back of my neck. “Um, not sure.” Think, Erin, think. “Hey, I almost went to UCLA too. USC has a better Economics department.” I drew lazy eights on the glass table with my fingers, trying to calm myself. “Too bad I can’t speak to you ever again.”
    “What?”
    “We’re rivals.”
    “I hope not. You make me look good on the dance floor.”
    Nope, did that all by himself . I wondered for a millisecond about Helena. Had she gone home? Could I be so lucky? “I, uh, noticed you dancing with a lovely lady over there.”
    “With beautiful red hair?”
    “That would be the one.” I resisted touching my own sandy locks. “Is she, are you two, you know?”
    “Helena is a friend of mine who volunteers at the hospital.”
    “Say no more.” I held up my hand. “Been there myself.”
    He frowned, studying my face. “Been where? The hospital?”
    I blushed. “No, I meant you don’t need to tell me about your relationship. I understand the need for—” I searched for the appropriate word, “—discretion at work.”
    He smiled and leaned a little closer. “Helena and I are friends. You had male friends at your last job, right?”
    Dry gulp. “Not friends, exactly. More like spiteful, vicious—Ow!”
    “What’s wrong?”
    I rubbed my shoulder. “Something pinched me. Do you have mosquitoes here?”
    His face was serious “What happened in your job? Did someone hurt you?”
    He seemed determined to make me tell him the gory details. I wasn’t going there. Not anymore. I looked into his sensitive eyes. “My life is…” I thought about Maria, “…littered. I’m trying to clean it up. And I will. For now, I’m seizing the day one moment at a time. Starting with this one.”
    I flattened my palms on the round table and leaned closer. He watched curiously as I moved toward him until we were face to face. Softly, I kissed his lips. Calculating career woman would never dare do such a thing. The newly developing goddess in me was feeling reckless. Alive.
    I meant for it to be a soft peck, a gentle caress. I had absolutely no intensions of flicking the tip of my tongue across his bottom lip, deepening the kiss, sucking his delicious bottom lip into my mouth, and running my fingers through his glorious black hair. None at all. But the best laid plans…

Chapter Six
    The attraction raged like a storm out of control, snapping and crackling under Santiago’s skin. He couldn’t help it. The dancing had warmed his blood and the fire roaring inside the woman threatened to consume him.
    Erin was beautiful beyond words. She was also