Free Alejandro's Revenge by Anne Mather

unhappily aware that she had probably gone too far. Edward expected her to be polite to this man, to persuade him to leave Lauren alone, if that was at all credible. Instead of which she was going out of her way to make an enemy of him.
    Alejandro took a deep breath now. ‘It seems you are determined to believe the worst of me,’ he said, flicking back the cuff of his sleeve and glancing at his watch. ‘It is almost one-fifteen.’ He looked up. ‘I suggest you allow me to seat you at my table until your—companion—shows up.’
    Abby pressed her lips together, thinking it was a surprisingly conservative watch for someone like him. Slim and gold, perhaps, but it wasn’t flashy. Unlike the one Ross wore on his wrist.
    â€˜Why should you want to do that?’ she asked, unhappy at the turn of her thoughts. Aware, too, of a trickle of moisture sliding down between her breasts. Her nipples felt tight and sensitive and she was sure he must have noticed. Her bra was damp and she might as well have left it at home.
    â€˜It is not wise for a woman like you to stand alone in a public shopping mall,’ he said now, his dark eyes enigmatic. ‘If you were my sister I would not be happy that you are alone. Call it courtesy, if you will. I am merely trying to help you. I would expect your brother to do the same for me.’
    Abby made a helpless gesture. ‘I’m not waiting for Edward,’ she protested.
    â€˜No. So you said.’ Alejandro’s eyes lingered almost palpably on her mouth before moving away. ‘ No obstante, my invitation still stands.’
    Abby hesitated. Then she said quickly, ‘I’m waiting for Mrs Esquival—Dolores. She should be here any minute.’
    Alejandro’s lean mouth took on a sardonic slant. ‘What isit they say? You should not hold your breath, no ?’ He glanced towards the entrance of the restaurant as the doors opened and a dark-clad man hovered on the threshold. ‘Ah, here is Miguel de Brazos. He is the maître d’ of La Terraza. Allow me to introduce you to your host.’
    Abby blew out a breath. ‘I don’t think—’ she began awkwardly, but Alejandro’s fingers had slipped about her upper arm, just above her elbow. They were cool against her warm flesh, and unbearably sensual, and she couldn’t pull away. In her condition any contact between them would have been sensual, she acknowledged, feeling a little dizzy when Alejandro drew her towards the other man.
    He and de Brazos evidently knew one another well, and their rapid exchange in their own language was too swift for Abby to comprehend. Her grasp of Spanish was very limited and Alejandro knew that. She was very relieved when the man stepped forward to greet her in English.
    â€˜Señora,’ he said, with a polite bow. ‘You are most welcome. Come.’ He gestured eloquently. ‘You are waiting for Señora Esquival, are you not? I will have a member of my staff look out for her. It is much more pleasant to wait inside.’
    Abby’s eyes turned to Alejandro’s, but this time he was not looking at her and she was obliged to speak for herself. ‘I—that’s very kind of you—’ she started, grateful for his understanding. But she felt an unwilling pang when Alejandro’s hand dropped away from her arm.
    â€˜The pleasure is all mine,’ de Brazos insisted, taking her answer to mean that she accepted his invitation. Without further ado, he led the way into the restaurant.
    Abby glanced back once, but there was still no sign of Dolores. Only Alejandro was behind her, and his expression was inscrutable once more. What was he thinking? she wondered, as the smoky glass doors enclosed them in the cool environs of a palm-shaded lobby. That de Brazos had succeeded where he had failed? Or had this been his intention all along?
    The maître d’ led them to a table at the far side of