She tore her arm out of his grasp. ‘I only did what had to be done—’
‘And your father gave you that chance,’ Ramon insisted fiercely. ‘That’s why he refused to sell the finca…why he left it to you. He wanted you to have financial independence as well as the freedom of choice he never had. It was his way of letting you know that he cared…that he never forgot you…that he always loved you—’
‘Don’t!’ she warned, feeling his passion stoking her own raw emotions.
But he wouldn’t let her turn away. ‘Don’t run away from your feelings, Annalisa. This time it is too important. You will pass on everything you create at the finca to our child…your father’s grandchild.’
His voice was so eloquent…so full of need… At that moment Annalisa thought that if he had been asking her to take down the finca and rebuild it brick by brick she would have found it easier than confronting the savage intensity in his face.
‘Everything has come full circle, Annalisa,’ he said, more gently now. ‘Don’t let the past steal away your chance of happiness. Not now that you have everything to live for.’
But what part would Ramon play in her future…the future of their child? He had talked about everything, but not that. Annalisa’s gaze sharpened as she listened. If she was to build on the past, go forward as he suggested, she would need to arm herself with facts, not emotion. ‘I fully intend to pass on the finca to my child, as you suggest,’ she said, forcing steel into her voice. ‘And that is exactly why I don’t intend to allow my beautiful beach to form part of any hotel complex.’
He eased his grip as he stood back. ‘I can understand that.’
‘So—?’
‘We will come to an arrangement,’ he said distractedly.
‘And the water?’
His impatience showed clearly in his broad-shouldered shrug. ‘Will form part of that agreement. Must we talk business—?’
‘Oh, yes,’ she cut in coolly. ‘Now that I’m about to become a mother I have to think about the future security of my baby.’
‘Our baby,’ he reminded her quietly. And when her chin shot up he added wryly, ‘Just don’t forget to feel as well as think, Annalisa. And if you need anything…anything at all—’
‘Do I still have that job?’
He gave her a bemused look as he nodded agreement. ‘Of course you do. For as long as you want.’
She tossed him a thin smile as she walked out of the room. She had achieved her aim. But his tacit agreement that she would bring up their child alone was a pyrrhic victory that could bring nothing but sadness. His offer of a job only made things worse. She was fated to be with him now…but in the wrong role. Being the lawyer she was, her argument was strong—too strong. She had argued her way out of everything she wanted and replaced it with nothing but a hollow prize.
CHAPTER TEN
ANNALISA stared at the telephone accusingly. Since leaving Ramon’s house the previous day he had rung her four times to discuss a point in the contract his lawyers were preparing. He was prepared to let her continue using his water for a peppercorn rent if she reconsidered her position on the shoreline. A small patch of beach out of sight from her favourite spot didn’t seem a high price to pay for the success of the finca—but not once had he suggested meeting up to talk it through.
As her hand hovered over the receiver she felt her eyes fill with tears and dashed them away impatiently. Even if the survival of the finca depended on his co-operation, parenting was different. She could manage that perfectly well on her own.
Typically, the phone cut out as she picked it up, and she was reduced to pacing up and down the room as she forced herself to concentrate on the safer topic of hotel accommodation. Apart from all the standard rooms they would need a family suite, an owner’s suite…a bridal suite. Clenching her fists, she stopped and went to stare aimlessly out the window just as an unmistakable black car swept into the yard. Jolted into action, she raced around in a panic, checking and straightening. Pausing to pluck a brush out of her shoulder bag, she snatched it through her hair. But before she could finish the door flew open and Ramon walked in.
‘Are you all right?’ he demanded, striding across the room.
Her throat dried as she felt the tension in his hands. ‘Of course I’m all right.’
‘You didn’t answer the phone.’
‘That was you?’
‘Of course,’ he said impatiently.
‘Are you here to check out the shore? The water supply?’