Free Plain Return (The Plain Fame Series Book 4) by Sarah Price Page A

chuckle, not unkindly but in a bemused sort of way. “Such emotions, Princesa,” he whispered. “Are you feeling all right?”
    And there it was. The truth.
    Did he know her so well, she wondered, that he sensed what was really bothering her? Burrowing her head against his shoulder, she continued sobbing, not caring whether her tears stained his shirt. She clung to him. “Yes . . . no . . . oh, I don’t know anymore,” she said.
    He let her cry, rubbing her back and soothing her with a soft “Shh.” When she finally calmed down, he released his hold on her and leaned over to pull a tissue from the container on the vanity. Leaning down again, he dabbed at her eyes. “Your emotions, Princesa,” he said slowly. “Do you think . . . ?”
    When he didn’t finish the sentence, she blinked at him. “Think what, Alejandro?”
    He smiled at her and gave a last dab at a final tear. “Perhaps something is bothering you? Perhaps there’s a chance . . . ?”
    A chance of what? she wondered. And then, all of a sudden, it dawned on her. Was he insinuating that she might be pregnant? Were her emotions caused by changes in her body? “I . . . I don’t know,” she answered. She hadn’t considered such a possibility. “It has been a while.” She felt herself blush when she said that and averted her eyes.
    “Hmm.” The way that he said it, a mischievous undertone to that single sound, made her dip her head and hide it against his arm as he embraced her again. He laughed and gently rocked her from side to side. “We’ll have to find out, sí ?”
    A baby? Was it possible? She tried to remember when she’d last had her monthly course. And her emotions had seemed all over the place lately, especially since they had returned to Miami. A warm glow spread throughout her body at the thought that, mayhaps, she was carrying Alejandro’s baby. Oh, she thought, how wunderbar that would be! To give him such a gift, and to share the miracle of life together! She laughed with him, suddenly feeling as if the weight of the day’s emotional burdens had lifted from her shoulders.

Chapter Six
    Wearing black slacks and a high-collared white shirt with black onyx cuff links at the wrists, Alejandro stood in the doorway, watching Amanda. She was leaning slightly over the bathroom counter and peering into the mirror, putting on the final touches of her makeup. She could feel the heat of his stare, and as she applied a clear lip gloss, she looked at his reflection beside hers.
    “You’re staring,” she said, her eyes holding his gaze in the mirror.
    “Sí.” His eyes never moved, and the corner of his mouth lifted, just a touch, as if he was trying to repress a smile. “ Sí , Amanda, I am staring.” His voice was soft, almost like a gentle purr. “I am staring at the most beautiful woman in my world.”
    His compliment caused her a moment of discomfort, and she looked away. Growing up, beauty was something to be seen in God’s gifts to the world: nature, not people. Personal beauty was not something that was discussed among family, friends, or community. Doing so was a sign of one of the worst sins: vanity. Even though Alejandro knew this, he often made flattering remarks about her. She wasn’t certain that she would ever get used to them.
    As always, he chuckled at her reaction and she felt the heat rise to her cheeks.
    She didn’t know if she would ever get used to his compliments or the look in his eyes when he watched her with a mixture of mild curiosity and barely veiled longing. There were moments when she caught him staring and wondered how long she had been unaware of his silent observation. But always he wore that look, the same one he wore now as he watched her getting ready for an evening out in Miami.
    “Is that a new dress, Princesa?” He crossed the room, the thick heels of his glossy black shoes clicking on the marble tile. “Did Jeremy pick that out?”
    Amanda turned so that her back faced the