Because of her.
He’d taken Lola as his wife. Taken her to his bed. He now had her securely under his control, and at a distance. He hadn’t answered any of her messages or calls. He got reports on her welfare, and that of his son, from his bodyguards. He’d thought that would create the emotional distance he needed.
So why did Rodrigo still feel so vulnerable?
Why did he dream of Lola every night, in sensual dreams that were even worse than before?
Why did he wake up gasping for her like a suffocating man struggling desperately for breath?
He didn’t have control of her, damn it. He didn’t even have control of himself. It was why he’d left. Why he hadn’t wanted to let himself be near her. Why he couldn’t bear to look at her or hear her voice.
Lola made him want. She made him feel.
And feeling anything for a woman always led to loss. Women were liars. Deceivers. They couldn’t be trusted, except to cause pain.
Keeping his distance was the only way this marriage would work. The only way to give his child a stable family and home.
But even being thousands of miles away hadn’t created the distance he’d wanted. He had to find another solution. Because Lola was right. He hadn’t dragged her to the altar just to abandon her and neglect his child.
Being away from his tiny son for a week had been intolerable. And Rodrigo knew Lola. She wouldn’t put up with this silent treatment forever. Honestly, he was surprised she hadn’t already tried to revolt.
Setting his jaw, he strode into his private office and tossed his briefcase carelessly on his gleaming dark wood desk. Turning, he looked out the windows overlooking the skyscrapers and haze of downtown Los Angeles.
Sleeping with Lola hadn’t gotten her out of his system. For the last week, as he’d made deals, the image of her soft and rosy in bed, the memory of her body against his own, had fogged his brain in a hum of desire. He wanted her. In bed. On his desk. Against the wall. He wanted to possess her until they were both utterly satiated, however long that took. Even if it took forever.
But how could he make love to her, without being tempted to care?
“You’re back!” Turning, he saw his executive assistant, Marnie McAdam, standing in the doorway. “Here are your messages, Mr. Cabrera.” Setting down a small pile on his desk, she cleared her throat. “The International Studio Guild wants to know if you’re bringing your wife to Madrid.”
Rodrigo had the sudden vision of appearing with Lola on his arm, in all her rapturous beauty, when he accepted the award in Madrid next week for CEO of the Year. He’d be envied for his wife, even more than the prestigious award. And afterward, he’d take her to his bed and...
He shivered inside.
“I haven’t thought about it,” he said shortly.
“You need a date. It’s a social event.” Marnie tilted her head, looking at him owlishly through her glasses. “If she can’t come, I could do it. Not as a date or anything,” she added hastily, “but, you know, just to help out.”
Rodrigo frowned at his assistant. Bring her to the ceremony? What was Marnie talking about?
Then he saw her pale, determined expression and relaxed. Marnie wasn’t flirting with him, gracias a Dios. She was merely trying to solve a logistical problem on his behalf, like any good secretary would. “Thank you,” he said smoothly, “but such a sacrifice on your part won’t be necessary.”
“It would be no problem, truly—”
“I know you don’t care to travel. I’ll deal with it.”
Yes, by bringing Lola to Madrid, his body suggested slyly.
Perhaps he was taking it all too seriously, Rodrigo thought suddenly. Perhaps the emotional reaction he’d had last week had been a one-time thing, caused by his year of wanting her.
He blinked.
Sí, it was possible. In which case, the only way to prevent it from happening again was to take Lola to bed and binge on her until he was cured, like someone who, after drinking whiskey until he’s sick, can never bear to taste it again.
Yes. The more that he thought of this—
His phone rang from his pocket. Looking down, he saw the call was from one of his bodyguards, Tobias.
“That’ll be all for now, Marnie.” He nodded at her. As she closed the door behind her, he answered his phone. “Is my wife becoming a problem?”