“Because I cannot make Portland my permanent place of residence. While Perez Holdings is an international company, my support staff, my best acquisition groups, they are all here in Spain.”
“You want something long-term with me,” she realized, bemused.
He stared at her like she’d lost her mind. “Do you think I went to such efforts for a few more nights of sex, even incredible sex?”
“But...you said...no commitment.” Her thoughts came out in disjointed little bursts.
“No, mi amor. You said no commitment and refused to believe anything else. Has this past week felt like no commitment?” His hands pressed into her lower back, bringing their bodies together.
“I...” How could she answer that? It had felt casual, but she was beginning to realize that was because she hadn’t allowed herself to consider anything else. Because it had also felt like the beginning of a life together. “So to be clear, you’re saying you want a relationship with me?”
“With a view to marriage, sí.”
“Marriage?” she squeaked.
“What else? I will never be content to see you with another man. I hope you would be bothered by the idea of me being with another woman.”
“Um...yes.” It would gut her. Which was one of the reasons she was glad he lived in Spain.
“But what about my sister? The shelter.”
“I currently travel to the States every couple of months. I could up that schedule to once a month, or at least every six weeks.”
“You would do that?”
“I’m already looking at properties to open a Loving Sisters Shelter here in Madrid.”
“I’ve never heard of that organization.”
“That’s because it is a new name for a multinational nonprofit run by you and your sister, focused on the welfare of children and youth.”
“What? No...we didn’t... You’re looking at facilities?”
“I have found three prospects, two in the city center, and one on the outskirts of Madrid I was hoping you’d look at next week.”
“Next week? But I was supposed to fly home the day after tomorrow.”
“I was hoping to convince you to stay longer. Things have been working out, haven’t they? You like living here.”
“You’re serious about this, aren’t you?”
“I am serious about you.”
“Baz, I think you might love me.” She couldn’t believe she’d blurted it out like that.
His face closed up, pain flaring briefly in his eyes. “If I don’t?”
“Whatever you feel for me is enough.” She didn’t need perfection. She didn’t need him to give voice to feelings that he was clearly not ready to deal with yet.
And might never be.
The perfect relationship was a fantasy anyway. She knew that. Even Andreas and Kayla had their issues. All couples did. But they fit. They loved each other and that wouldn’t be any less valid without the words.
“You are sure? You’ll stay?” His smile was incandescent. “You have forgiven me for deceiving you in the beginning?”
“Yes.” To all of it.
He began moving toward the settee against the wall. “I believe we need to celebrate.”
“Champagne?”
“How about champagne sex, fizzy and delicious?”
“You’re quite the romantic.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.”
The kissing and touching that followed had a vulnerable quality to it that neither had shown the other to this point. She straddled his thighs as he sat naked on the brocade-covered sofa. “Do you have a condom?”
“In my desk drawer.”
She gave him a look.
“I put them there the day after I brought you here.”
“So you don’t have sex with women in your office.”
“I have never had sex with any other women anywhere in my home. This hacienda is my refuge.”
She kissed him for such a good answer and then climbed off him to retrieve the condom. He groaned and tried to hold on to her, making them both laugh.
They made love, her body encasing his, her hips moving in a rhythm that maximized both their pleasure. He kissed her, over and over again, his hands kneading her backside, his hips thrusting up to meet hers. They came together, her cry and his groan muffled by their kiss.
* * *
Armand Perez returned to Casa Clavel the following week, exhibiting nothing but delight at the news that his son and Randi were now an official couple.
“Will you be moving to Spain permanently, or will you try to make this work long distance?” Armand asked over dinner the first night of his return.
Randi swallowed, not sure how she wanted to answer that. She’d told Baz she would stay with her yes, but knew he hadn’t been clear she was answering all his questions with the single word. She’d realized that later by something he said.
Now Baz looked at her, waiting for her answer to his father’s question, as interested as Armand. Only Baz’s gaze held vulnerability as well as cautious expectation. It was the vulnerability and caution that helped her give her
answer, to make it official.
She smiled at Armand. “We are going to look at spots for a possible shelter tomorrow.”
“That is good. Our Madrid children can always use another advocate.”
“You are moving here?” Baz asked, looking for confirmation she was happy to give him.
“I’ll call Kayla after dinner and let her know. Last week I just told her I was staying longer.” Maybe Randi hadn’t been all that sure of her decision, but she was now. “I think she’ll like the idea of expanding Kayla’s for Kids to Loving Sisters Shelter.”
* * *
Randi was right. Her sister loved the idea of going international with the services for displaced and at-risk children. She wasn’t as keen on Randi living in Spain.
“I’m going to miss you.”
“Baz said we’ll come to America once a month, at least every six weeks. You and Andreas can visit us in Spain, as well.”
“Once a month? You promise?”
“Some visits you’ll have to meet me in California, so I can see Dad and the grandparents.”
“Of course I will. Oh, Randi. I’m so happy it’s working out between you, but don’t you think maybe you’re moving fast?”
“Yes. It is fast. Yes, it is scary, but it feels right. More than right, it feels necessary. I trust him.”
“Really? Even after?”
“Partly because of what he did. Baz is the kind of guy who will do whatever it takes to keep his family safe. That will include me.”
“You’re already talking marriage?” Kayla shrieked.
“Not every corporate shark takes six years to figure out that the best woman in the world for him is already taking up space in his life.”
Kayla laughed. “Yeah, Andreas was pretty blind. He’s not anymore, though.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed.”
* * *
When the phone rang an hour later, as Randi and Baz were preparing for bed, Kayla’s name flashed on the screen along with the picture of her gorgeous smile. Randi grabbed the phone. “Hey, sis, what’s up?”
“Have you been keeping up on the Google alert for your name?”