Redeemed By His Stolen Bride (Rival Spanish Brothers 2)

She tensed when she heard the low purr of a powerful engine and crunching gravel, not remotely ready to see the man again.

Liar.

She went to the window and peeked out, feeling like a coward. She watched him step out of a low-slung sports car—a different one from the other night. This was black.

He was dressed semi-casually, in dark trousers and a lighter toned long-sleeved top. She could imagine the material was expensive, the way it moulded to the muscles of his chest as he came around the car.

He looked stern. Austere. But then she remembered how he’d smiled wickedly. Sexily. Her insides spasmed.

She was about to go into the hall to answer the door when he rang the bell, but just then she heard quick footsteps cross the marbled hall and cursed silently. Her mother. Seizing on the opportunity to meet the man who had been Leonora’s knight in shining armour the other night.

Her mother’s disapproval of Lazaro Sanchez’s behaviour, as compared to the gallant actions of one of their own, had spoken volumes about what she’d really thought of Leonora’s first fiancé. And yet, Leonora thought cynically, her mother would have been only too happy to have Lazaro’s money paying off their debts and restoring their reputation.

The front door opened and Leonora heard voices—her mother’s too high and girlish, and Gabriel’s much lower. A light sweat broke out on her brow. She wished there was a mirror to check her reflection again.

Her black silk shirt dress with its wide belt had at one time been fashionable, with its thigh-high slit, but now she was afraid it was far too provocative and out of date. She touched the buttons again, to make sure they were done up as far as they could go—which didn’t feel high enough. And should she have put her hair up?

Footsteps approached and she realised she was clasping her hands like a schoolteacher. She unclasped them just before the door opened.

Leonora only saw Gabriel, filling the doorway as if this massive house had been built around him.

Her mother said redundantly, ‘Leo, Mr Torres is here.’

Leonora moved forward, shaky in high heels. For a ridiculous moment she wasn’t sure if she should put out her hand to shake his, but then he reached for her, taking her shoulders in his hands and bending down to kiss her on each cheek.

His scent caught her unawares, hurtling her back in time to the other evening. She put her hands up to his arms—in a bid to stay standing as much as anything else.

‘Señorita de la Vega. Thank you for agreeing to come and have dinner with me.’

There was a tone in his voice that made her look at him. Intimate. Complicit. It sent a flash of heat between her legs.

He straightened up and let her go. ‘Shall we?’

Leonora gave her mother a quick kiss and walked out ahead of Gabriel while he exchanged a few parting words with her mother. He came out and opened the passenger door of the car, waiting until she got in. She tried to gather herself as he came around the car and got in.

He sat behind the wheel. But instead of starting the car he looked at her and said, ‘Leo?’

It took her a second to understand his meaning. ‘Matías called me Leo when he was small. It kind of stuck...in spite of my father’s distaste for shortening names.’

Leonora couldn’t look away from those mesmerising gold-flecked eyes. His jaw was clean-shaven, but she could still remember the way her skin had felt so tender after kissing him. It had burned. Like she burned now...deep inside.

‘Leo...’ he said. Slowly. Testing it out. And then, ‘I like it. It suits you. Makes me think of a lioness.’

His mouth curved into a small smile and then he turned the ignition on and drove down the drive and out of the property.

Leonora was breathless. So much for trying to regain her composure. She’d never thought driving a car could be considered sexy, but watching the way Gabriel drove, with nonchalant confidence, was undeniably compelling.

She was able to study him as he drove, taking in the thick hair swept back off his forehead. The long aquiline nose, more than hinting at his exclusive lineage. The hard jaw and that sensual mouth, made for sin. And that powerful body. Hard and honed. Not an ounce of spare muscle.

A warrior’s body in the guise of a very modern man. All in all, an intoxicating package.

He glanced at her and she looked away, face burning. She realised her thigh was bared in the slit of the dress and hurriedly pulled it together, holding it with her hand.

‘I’ve seen your thigh, Leonora.’

Her face burned hotter. She didn’t know how to handle this...this flirting.

She blurted out, ‘The other night... It wasn’t... I don’t usually behave like that.’