shirt that revealed his muscular chest, tanned and laced with dark hair. Beside him she recognized Felipe Oliveira, looking sweaty and suspicious. But she was so relieved to find Gabriel that she hurried forward, pushing her sunglasses up on her head with a relieved smile. “Oh, Gabriel. I’m so glad to find you. I—”
Then she saw the woman standing behind them in the cabana and drew back with an intake of breath. “Oh. Miss da Costa. Hello.”
The supermodel folded her arms icily. “I think we’re a little past the politeness of ‘Miss da Costa,’ don’t you? You must call me Adriana now,” she said, in the exact same tone one might say Go to hell.
Laura blinked beneath the woman’s malevolent gaze. Then she remembered Gabriel’s words. You have something Adriana does not. You have me. Looking at Adriana’s angry expression, Laura realized their plan was working. The supermodel clearly believed Laura was Gabriel’s lover—and hated her for it!
Straightening her shoulders, she looked at Gabriel with a smile. “Sorry I’m late.”
He kissed her cheek tenderly. “I waited thirty-eight years to find you, querida,” he breathed. “What are a few minutes more?”
He put his arm around her. After smiling at each other, they both turned to see the effect.
Felipe Oliveira looked skeptical. Adriana was scowling, sticking out her lower lip.
“You can’t really be moving in together!” she said.
Laura glanced at him. Moving in together?
“It’s already done,” Gabriel said. He looked down at Laura, and his dark eyes were hungry and tender as he stroked her cheek.
Adriana gave a forced laugh. “She’s no one. Nothing.”
Gabriel wrapped his arms around Laura’s bare waist. She nearly gasped at the rough feel of his hands against her naked skin.
“I am the one who is nothing.” His black eyes burned through Laura’s soul. “Nothing without you.”
It’s an act, she told herself as her heart turned over in her chest.
“All this time, you were right in front of me,” he murmured as his wide, rough hand traced softly down her cheek. “The woman of my dreams.” He cupped her face, tilting up her chin as he suddenly smiled. “I would fight them all for you.”
“Fight who?” she whispered.
Staring at her, Gabriel gave a sudden laugh. Turning, he silently pointed behind them.
Following his gaze, Laura saw all the gorgeous party guests whispering to each other around the pool, staring back at them.
Of course they would stare at Gabriel, Laura thought. He was the sexiest, most sought after bachelor on earth. But they weren’t looking just at him. Even Laura, inexperienced as she was, could see that.
And she suddenly knew, down to her bones, that they weren’t staring at her because she was ugly.
She suddenly blinked back tears. Her makeover had created the illusion that Laura was worthy to be Gabriel’s mistress. For the first time in her life, she felt beautiful. It was dizzying. Electrifying.
But the feeling hadn’t been caused by magic fairy dust. She looked up at him.
It was the magic of his dark, hungry gaze. The magic echo of his words.
All this time, you were right in front of me. The woman of my dreams.
She was dimly aware of Adriana’s angry scowl. But Laura didn’t care about her anymore. Everyone else around them faded into a blur.
She and Gabriel were the only two people on earth. His dark eyes met hers, and his gaze fell to her lips. With agonizing slowness, he started to move his head toward hers. She realized he was going to kiss her, and her heart pounded frantically in her throat.
“Am I to understand,” Felipe Oliveira said in a gruff voice behind them, “that this girl, your supposed lover, used to be your employee?”
Straightening, Gabriel turned to him, and Laura was able to breathe again. She leaned her cheek against his chest, still dizzy from how close she’d come to being kissed.
“His employee?” Adriana sneered. “She was his secretary.”