Free Valaquez Bride by Donna Vitek Page A

awkward to travel
with an ex-lover and his wife?"
    Juliet's shoulders sagged and her grim laugh was more a
soft moan. "You idiot, Benny is a friend. That's…"
    "You American girls have such a casual regard for intimate
relationships," Raul scoffed, shaking his head. "Friends can change to
lovers then back again to friends the next day, without anybody ever
feeling deeply involved."
    Realizing it was useless to try to convince him that Benny
had never been her lover, Juliet moved away from him, then sighed when
he followed. She was too utterly weary of arguing with him to even
resist when amazingly gentle fingertips brushed away the crystalline
teardrop that fell from the thick fringe of long, dark brown lashes
onto her cheek.
    "Come with me; we'll walk in the garden," he insisted
softly, cupping her elbow in one large hand to guide her toward a door
beyond a keyhole archway. "There are too many people in here."
    Though Juliet considered protesting, one glance at his
finely carved features changed her mind. There was a determination in
his eyes that squelched any opposition.
    Glaring sunlight struck them and the heat of the day
enveloped them as they entered a terraced inner garden bordered by
cypress and myrtle trees. Though Juliet began to drag her feet
balkingly as she was directed past a splashing fountain with waters
cascading coolly into a rippling pool, Raul only smiled down at her and
pulled her closer to his side. His muscular arm encircled her waist as
he took her up the mosaic tiled terraces into the dark, private copse
of bordering cypress trees. In the shaded seclusion, Raul tossed the
suit coat he carried onto the ground, dropped down to his knees on it,
and pulled her down to him. He produced a freshly laundered white
monogrammed handkerchief. "I really hope your friend Holly will be all
right. And the baby too," he murmured gently, then proceeded to dry
Juliet's cheeks with the soft square of fine cloth. As she pensively
chewed her lower lip, he pressed the handkerchief into her left hand,
then with an incomprehensible whisper, caught her chin between his
thumb and forefinger, tugging slightly, tenderly coaxing her lips to
part as she took a quick breath.
    Suddenly, everything was different. The swaying branches
whispered above them and, with the occasional singing of the birds and
the tinkling music of the cascading fountain, provided the only sounds
in the abrupt intense silence that surrounded them. Juliet's senses
awakened to a new, keener awareness. The red of the roses and the white
of the delicate jasmine in the garden became, in an instant, much more
vibrant. Their fragrance mingled with the slightly piney scent of
rosemary and perfumed the air. Her heart seemed to stop beating as she
saw the warming gleam of desire that flamed in the dark green depths of
Raul's eyes. It was as if nothing else existed except this garden
paradise and them but her common sense wouldn't let her become totally
lulled into submission by the exotic surroundings. As Raul's hands
suddenly spanned her waist, drawing her to him so that she was half
reclining across hard thighs and he lowered his head, she was prepared
to fight him tooth and nail if he tried to kiss her. But it didn't
quite work out that way. Once again, his mouth moved over hers with
such gentle teasing persuasion that common sense had no chance to
prevail. Her soft lips clung to his, parting as his teeth nibbled and
tugged slightly on the full lower curve and the kiss became a powerful
sensual force she had no strength to resist.
    It was insane but his mere touch seemed to have some
hypnotizing effect on her. She relaxed against him involuntarily, her
heart leaping as he gathered her closer, his powerful arms enfolding
her in warmth. Her trembling hands pressed against his chest but he was
undaunted by such ineffectual resistance. One caressing hand moved
along the incurving contour of her waist, his fingertips stroking into
the tantalizing arch of the small of