Free A Spanish Seduction by Alyssa J. Montgomery Page A

wonderful job,’ was all he volunteered.
    ‘I didn’t think this was possible.’ Emotion clogged Jessica’s throat. The ugly duckling had emerged as a swan and now all sorts of possibilities opened up for her, giving her confidence and new determination.
    ‘No tears, Miss Harris,’ Pablo instructed. ‘I will not have puffy eyes spoil my masterpiece!’
    Ricardo moved to stand behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and his eyes met hers in the mirror. ‘All you required was a little help.’
    A little help? It was the understatement of the century!
    Still, excitement bubbled inside her. Her lips stretched again into a wondrous smile of pure elation.
    Ricardo’s hands firmed on her shoulders and he spun her around to face him. ‘You are incredibly beautiful,’ he said, his voice slightly rough.
    Then, he slanted his head toward hers, his hands cradled her head tenderly and he captured her lips in a gentle, exploratory kiss which was pure reverence.
    Jessica trembled against him, her arms pinned between the softness of her breasts and the hardness of his chest. Sensation streaked through her and made her want more of the divine madness his all-too brief kiss delivered.
    There was amazement and hunger in the depths of Ricardo’s brown eyes. ‘Now, everyone will believe,’ he said in a voice pitched for her ears only as he drew away from her.
    Bereft at the loss of his touch, Jessica looked up at him.
    Pablo’s staff burst into applause.
    Oh gosh, everyone had been watching.
    Despite her embarrassment, her heart beat wildly and her senses still swam from the need Ricardo had awakened within her with his one brief kiss. It was all too much, yet nowhere near enough.
    The staff bustled away, Pablo shook Ricardo’s hand and then left them alone.
    Looking back to Ricardo, Jessica grew confused. The desire she thought she’d seen in his eyes was gone.
    Disappointment struck hard.
    Had his expression been fabricated?
    Her heart grew weighty with disenchantment. Of course it had been a pretence. The looks he’d sent her way had been part of the act. He’d begun the charade to convince everyone he cared for her. Now they were alone, there was no reason for an act. She had better get a firm handle on herself in case she lost sight of reality.
    Now he’d increased the distance between them, she felt awkward. ‘This is all simply amazing,’ she said searching for the right words. ‘Thank you.’
    It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t want me , she told herself fiercely. I am desirable. I really do look extraordinarily good and I don’t have to hide away anymore .
    ‘I’m glad you’re happy,’ he said, handing her the pearl earrings to match her necklace.
    Taking a step closer to the mirror, she put on the earrings and knew they were the final touch. There was no question of her happiness with her transformation, but she was also horribly uncertain as to how she should proceed with Ricardo.
    Her plain appearance had enabled her to put a little shield around her heart. Every time she’d looked in the mirror she’d remembered she couldn’t hope for happiness in a relationship. The radical improvement changed things. She now had the looks to capture a man’s interest — the man, however, was not going to be Ricardo.
    She acknowledged Ricardo’s accusation of the night before had been partly true. While she honestly hadn’t realised how great she could look, and she hadn’t wanted to risk failure in case she couldn’t look any better, clinging to her dowdy image had also made certain she didn’t attract men. It may have been a subconscious way to ensure she hadn’t been hurt again.
    The counsellor had made similar observations, but it had taken Ricardo to make her see the truth.
    She surveyed her reflection again and gave a slight shake of her head. ‘I actually did try once to make myself look better,’ she told him. ‘Jett just laughed when I came home after a department store