‘Did anyone ever tell you what a chauvinistic bully you are?’ she asked dreamily as he frowningly tugged at her jacket to make it hang straight, and he lifted his arms and his shoulders in a typically arrogant shrug.
‘I wouldn’t listen to them if they did, querida. How can it be bullying to make the woman I love supremely happy?’ Then his eyes glinted warily. ‘You want me to make you happy? To be my wife, to live in my land and share my home, my estates? You do love me?’
‘Oh, Francisco—deeply, forever—of course I do!’ She twined loving arms around his neck and he grinned, nuzzling into her hair, whispering wickednesses, and she shuddered with melting abandonment.
Finally he unwound her arms and said gruffly, ‘Why are we waiting? We have our life to begin. Come.’ Imperious hands pushed her bag at her as he hustled her out of the room. His arm was firmly around her as they paused in the outer office and he told the grinning Jenny, ‘You are now in control here. My future wife—’ his smouldering eyes were full of pride as they lingered on Sarah’s enraptured face ‘—will be finding a suitable buyer for the agency, and will increase your salary to compensate for your extra responsibility.’
And before anyone could say anything they were out on the street and into a waiting cab, the meter merrily ticking over. Francisco gave the address of her flat then drew her firmly into his arms, kissing her until her face was hectic with desire. His voice sounded fractured as he whispered, ‘We will be on our way to Spain tomorrow, querida, where we will be married. Encarnación is waiting eagerly for our arrival, and I have seen Piers and asked him to be on hand to give you away. My sister will be leaving for California after the ceremony. I want only the two of us until our babies arrive.’
‘Francisco!’ She tipped her head, trying, and failing, to look annoyed. But she was worried. ‘You’re not actually sending the poor girl away? How could you?’
‘You know I’m not such a brute, don’t you?’ he growled, his eyes dancing. ‘No, it is something she wants. After Piers convinced her that her artistic talent was negligible, she decided she would like to become a flying doctor in Australia! When I pointed out the impracticalities of such a thing she agreed to think again.
‘And then heaven intervened in the shape of the parents of her best friend at convent school. Ana had been invited to spend twelve months with cousins in California and wanted Encarnación to go with her. Naturally, my little sister jumped at the opportunity and I agreed. It will broaden her life experience and—who knows?—she might find something sensible she wants to do with her life. There were many arrangements to be made; that is why I did not come for you sooner.
‘And perhaps,’ he suggested almost diffidently, ‘before our wedding, you would like Encarnación to take you shopping? Madrid, Seville—even Paris or Rome if you like. She is very good at it.’
Sarah shook her head, revelling in the way he was running his hands through her long bright hair. ‘I will need new things,’ she agreed huskily, ‘but I want you to choose them for me. I want you with me.’ Gladly, she resigned herself to a future of being clothed in silk and satin and lace and cottons so delicate and fine you could see your hands through them, her eyes brimming with love as his glowed with satisfaction.
‘I am glad. We are as one in all things. My heart dies a little every moment we are apart.’
‘Then we will never be apart again, my darling,’ she promised, snuggling more deeply into his strong arms, adoration for her gorgeous, arrogant, impossible Spaniard coursing through her veins as he whispered against her mouth,
‘Never!’