Redeemed By His Stolen Bride (Rival Spanish Brothers 2)

‘How are you feeling?’

Gabriel’s question seemed innocuous enough and Leonora risked a glance at him, relieved to see him buttering some toast and not looking at her.

‘Fine, thank you.’

Tired. She fought not to let the blush inside her rise to the surface when she thought of why she was so tired.

After a moment Gabriel said, ‘I thought we’d spend a lazy day just wandering around the city. If you like?’

Leonora’s heart thumped. She swallowed her food. ‘You don’t have to work?’

He shook his head. ‘My meetings are tomorrow and everything is set up for them. It’s Sunday—who works on Sundays?’

She’d used to. It had usually been quite a busy day for tourists visiting the castillo.

Gabriel said, ‘You look surprised?’

Leonora felt self-conscious. ‘I think I’d just assumed you’d be more of a workaholic.’

Something fleeting crossed his face, but it was gone before she could decipher what it was.

He said, ‘I probably would have found an excuse to work today, but now I have a reason not to.’

It was ridiculous that she felt so excited and yet so trepidatious at the prospect of a day in Gabriel’s company. Hadn’t she spent a honeymoon alone with him for the best part of a week? But that had felt different—out of reality. It had all been so new. All-consuming. She hadn’t been in love with him then.

She hid her trepidation and said lightly, ‘Then I’d like that.’ She thought of something, ‘What if the paparazzi spot us?’

Gabriel was one of their favourite subjects to follow as he was usually so elusive. But there had been plenty of paparazzi outside the hotel yesterday evening so they knew they were there.

Gabriel wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up. He said with a wicked smile, ‘I thought of that and I have a plan...’

CHAPTER NINE

GABRIEL’S PLAN HAD been to order up some casual clothes from the hotel’s boutique, and now he and Leonora, dressed in jeans, shirts, light jackets and baseball hats, were ducking out of the hotel via a back entrance.

Leonora’s hand was in Gabriel’s as he led her around the side of the hotel. She could see the paparazzi waiting at the front, looking bored, checking their watches, and she couldn’t help the small giggle rising as they made their escape. She felt as if she was playing truant from school. Giddy. And even giddier at this unexpected side of Gabriel.

To her surprise, he took her to the nearest Métro station saying, ‘It’s quicker than a taxi—do you mind?’

Leonora grinned up at him. ‘Not at all.’

And that was the start of a magical and totally spontaneous day. They travelled around the city totally unnoticed, blending in with the crowds. Well, as discreetly as a six-foot-plus man could blend in with the crowds. Gabriel drew plenty of looks, but not necessarily looks of recognition. And if someone did do a double-take Gabriel and Leonora were usually gone before they realised who it was, having slipped down a side street.

Gabriel had left it to her to decide where to go, so they’d sta

rted at the Eiffel Tower and then wandered to the museums, going into the Rodin Museum, where his famous sculpture The Kiss had suddenly taken on a whole new significance for Leonora.

They’d stopped for delicious coffee and pastries on the Île de la Cité, near Notre-Dame, and now they were wandering through the leafy Jardin du Luxembourg, chatting easily about inconsequential things.

For the first time Leonora was acutely aware of families. Men carrying toddlers on their shoulders. Babies in prams. Her insides clenched. This could be them some day. And she appreciated more than ever Gabriel’s desire for their children to have a different kind of upbringing.

On impulse, when they were standing by the lake in the park, Leonora turned to Gabriel and blurted out, ‘I want to have a baby with you.’

He looked at her, a slightly nonplussed expression on his face, his firm mouth twitching. ‘Well...that’s...good...’

Leonora cursed her impetuosity. ‘I mean, I know we have to have children, for so many reasons, but I actually...want to have a child with you.’

Her heart was pounding so fast. She tried to blame it on the coffee they’d just had. But she knew it wasn’t the coffee.