Free Legacy of the Highlands by Harriet Schultz Page B

you anyway?”
    “I flew back to Abu Dhabi. We’re in the final
stages of negotiations for a complicated project here and my guess
is that I won’t be able to get away for another few weeks at least.
Will you still be there when I get back? Do you need anything?”
    “I need clothes, but I’m going to take care
of that today and as for your question, I don’t expect to leave for
a while. The house and staff are wonderful, but can you please tell
Luisa that I’m not an invalid? She wouldn’t even let me drive
myself to the mall today. I’m sitting in the back of your
chauffer-driven Mercedes as if I’m too far gone to be trusted with
one of your cars.”
    “I’m afraid that’s my fault. I may be halfway
around the world, but I feel responsible for you. And before you
start to argue, I know damn well it’s not politically correct to be
chivalrous, but it’s how I am. You’ve always known that, so indulge
me a little.”
    Alex groaned, but she was also grinning. “I
know that you mean well even if you are an alpha-male control
freak.”
    “I disagree, but we can talk about that when
I get back. Meanwhile rest, get some sun, and let Luisa take care
of you until you’re strong again. I’ll be there as soon as I can.
Take care of yourself…please.”
    “Nothing’s going to happen to me. And you be
careful too.”
    Diego’s face was grim as he ended the call and ran
his hands through his hair. The hotel’s luxurious suite was fit for
a sultan, but it felt like a cage to him. He’d stretched out on the
bed in the middle of their conversation and wasn’t surprised that
just the sound of Alex’s voice had made him hard. He needed a woman
badly, but he only desired one, and he couldn’t have her. Alex was
right; he was a control freak. He should have asked his father to
take over their company’s negotiations to build a resort in the oil
rich country, but oh, no. He’d stubbornly insisted that he had to
see it through.
    Witnessing Alex’s grief made him ache and he
was determined to shield her from anything else that could hurt
her, including himself. He wanted his hands on her, but that was
the last thing she needed to deal with while she was so vulnerable.
He promised himself that he wouldn’t seduce her, only he wasn’t
absolutely sure that he could trust himself. If it ever happened,
it would have to be her decision. He was powerless and he didn’t
like it. He didn’t like it one bit.
    Alex had no heart for shopping — as clear an
indicator of her mental state as any since shopping always had the
same therapeutic effect on her as meditation did for others. It
took just an hour in Saks to buy everything she’d need for an
indefinite stay. She had another two hours to kill before Miguel
would return for her, so she wandered into the mall.
    As she passed a hair salon, she impulsively
decided to get her shoulder-length hair cut. One of the shop’s top
stylists had a cancellation and fifteen minutes later as she
fidgeted in his chair she declared, “cut it,” then covered her face
so she wouldn’t have to watch the dance of scissors and razor. An
hour later, she couldn’t wipe the grin off her face when she saw
the result. “I love it. Thanks.” she said with relief, then headed
toward the mall’s exit to meet Diego’s driver.
    “Are there more shops you would like to
visit?” Miguel inquired as he stowed her shopping bags in the
trunk.
    “No, thanks, I’m exhausted.” She might fool
herself into thinking she was emerging from the cavernous pit of
grief, but the few hours at the mall made her feel like she’d run a
marathon. She needed a nap and was anxious to get back to the
villa.
    “ Your hair, Señora! ¡Qué bonita!” Luisa said
approvingly as Alex pirouetted in front of her, delighted that a
change she’d feared had turned out so well.
    “I’m happy you like it. I do too,” she said
as she bit into one of the gooey chocolate chip cookies the cook
had baked especially for