Master of El Corazon

But she would not let him see her fright. She was done letting him push her around, letting him twist her life to suit his own distorted view of who she was.

She stepped forward, her head up, a smile of disdain on her lips for him and everything he represented.

‘You’re damned right we’re not in the States, Señor Martinez. If we were, you wouldn’t dare behave this way!

Women have rights in my part of the world.’

‘Women such as you have never had any rights but those men choose to give them.’ Conor’s gaze swept over her again, his blazing eyes all but stripping the clothing from her body. ‘You have five minutes to pack your things and get out. If you don’t—’

‘If I don’t?’ she said brazenly.

‘The decision to call the police won’t be yours this time, it will be mine. And don’t, for a moment, doubt that I will do it.’

Arden laughed. ‘The police! Really! What will you charge me with? Failure to be humble enough to suit the Master of El Corazon?’

‘My nephew is not the master of this finca! The little group swung around. The library doors had been flung open; as they watched, Felix Romero propelled his wheelchair into the hall. His cane lay at an angle across his lap. ‘Not yet, at any rate!’ The old man scowled as he wheeled himself forward. ‘What is going on here?’

CHAPTER FIVE

CONOR stepped forward, shouldering past Arden as he made his way towards Felix. He smiled pleasantly, as if neither his voice nor anyone else’s had only seconds before been raised in anger.

‘Uncle Felix,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry we disturbed you. How are you feeling?’

The old man’s white eyebrows drew together. ‘You needn’t bother putting on this performance for Miss Miller’s sake, Conor. I’ve told her how things really are between us.’

Conor’s smile didn’t waver. ‘I see your spirits are as good as ever.’

‘And what a disappointment that must be, nephew. I’m sure you’d prefer to find me less capable of defying you each time you visit El Corazon.’

Conor sighed. ‘You know that I come here as often as possible. If you’d agree to let me move you to my home in Caracas—’

‘Yes, that’s just what you want, isn’t it, that I leave El Corazon so you can snatch it from me!’ Felix rolled his chair forward. ‘That’s never going to happen, Conor, I promise you!’

‘That’s nonsense and you know it.’

‘It is not nonsense.’

‘There’s no reason to argue,’ Conor said softly, ‘and surely not in front of a stranger.’

‘If you mean Miss Miller—’ Felix reached out and took Arden’s hand. ‘This young woman is no stranger to me. She is more like a daughter.’

Linda made a little sound of protest and Conor put his arm around her shoulders.

‘How delightful,’ he said, giving Arden a cold look. ‘And after so short a time. Miss Miller is a very fast worker.’

‘She is more concerned for my welfare than either of you have ever been,’ Felix snapped. His fingers tightened on Arden’s. ‘Do you see what it is I must put up with, under my own roof?’

Arden looked from Felix’s angry face to Conor’s stony one. She, of all people, knew that it was wrong to make quick judgements, but where Conor Martinez was concerned there was little room for doubt. Each run-in with him only did more to convince her that he was an impossibly arrogant bastard who expected the world to dance to his tune.

Still, she was uncomfortable being witness to this family war, especially since both men seemed determined to draw her into it. She withdrew her hand from Felix’s and smiled uncertainly.

‘Perhaps I should leave you alone to talk,’ she said softly.

‘Talk? Talk?’ Felix banged his cane against the floor. ‘There is nothing to talk about, Miss Miller. Despite my nephew’s best efforts, I am still in charge of this house.’ He swung his chair towards Conor, who was leaning back against the door-jamb, his feet crossed at the ankle, his arms folded over his chest, looking as insolent as he had the first time Arden had laid eyes on him in San José. ‘Did I hear you correctly, Conor? Did you tell this young woman to leave?’

‘I did.’

Felix’s face darkened. ‘On whose authority?’