He glanced at his Sleeping Beauty again—remembering the softness of her lips, the stirring in her muscles...the spark. He couldn’t regret that—no matter the complication that now arose.
But now he was stuck with the story that she and he were engaged. He’d smiled his way through the shocked shouts of congratulations from every one of his guests as he’d ushered them out. He’d explained that Catriona had been overwhelmed by the attention and that they’d have another party soon. It was ridiculous but he hadn’t been able to find it within himself to reveal the truth. He’d seen that vulnerability when she’d looked at him. He’d seen that hurt. It echoed within him. Didn’t he know what it was like to be that isolated? And afraid.
She was a contrary mix of assertiveness and insecurity, a bit broken but bluffing anyway. He liked that spirit. And he wanted her.
Well, if he was going to have her, he was going to have to play it carefully. She obviously wasn’t someone who went from affair to affair.
He felt the vibration again and quietly extracted her phone from his pocket. He didn’t want to wake her yet, not when she was so obviously wiped out, but it seemed someone was concerned for her welfare. The name ‘Teddy’ was written across the screen and the photo beneath the lettering was of the two of them. The resemblance was impossible to miss. The man was blond rather than red-haired, but he shared the same smile, the same shaped eyes. He had to be her brother.
Alejandro didn’t answer the call; rather he put the phone on the wide arm of the chair he was sitting in and picked up his own phone. A simple Internet search was all it took to remind himself of the family details. Teddy—Edward—and Kitty—Catriona—Parkes-Wilson were the twin children of the man he’d bought this house from. He entered another search and soon enough came up with a photo of an elderly woman—Margot Parkes—wearing the diamond choker Kitty had come here to collect.
And then there were the pictures of Kitty herself. It seemed she was something of an artist—a sculptor. She’d had a few mentions in the society pages; there was the announcement of an engagement to some man named James that hadn’t lasted. Another reason to take care with her. But Alejandro was confident; his affairs always ended easily and well and maybe something light and sexual was exactly what the woman needed. Something fun—he did fun really well.
There were more mentions of her brother. And then there was the item about Alejandro’s purchase of Parkes House. Apparently it had been in her family for generations. He didn’t feel bad about the transaction. He’d paid more than a fair price and if businesses failed, they failed. He’d needed a London base and he’d got one.
When her phone rang for the tenth time he finally relented, feeling only the smallest sympathy for the man who’d allowed his sister to put herself at such risk for his sake.
He touched the screen to take the call. Teddy spoke before Alejandro had the chance to say hello.
‘Kitty? For God’s sake, are you okay? Did you get the diamonds?’
‘I’m sorry, Teddy,’ Alejandro replied calmly. ‘Both your sister and the diamonds are with me.’
CHAPTER FOUR
KITTY OPENED HER EYES, blinking at the bright light streaming in through the gap in the heavy brocade curtains. She frowned as she took in the familiar surroundings. She was in the second floor library on her father’s sofa—
She froze as it all came flooding back. Alejandro Martinez now owned Parkes House. He’d coerced her into being his date. He’d kissed her. He’d said they’d have a reckoning and here she was, waking the next day—
‘Good morning.’
She sat up quickly, clutching the soft woollen blanket to her, taking a split second to realise she was still fully clothed. Then she looked up, gaping as he took a seat in the armchair opposite. For a moment all she could do was stare. He looked even more striking in the daylight. So gorgeously striking.
Then she snapped herself together.
‘What happened?’ Warily she brushed her hair back from her face and shifted so she was sitting up properly, her feet on the floor ready to run.
‘You fell asleep while I was getting rid of the other guests,’ he said easily. ‘You’ve been out for hours; I was starting to get concerned.’
Kitty’s skipping pulse didn’t settle. He must’ve showered not that long ago because his hair was still damp and now he wore jeans and a white tee, but he looked no less wolfish than he had the night before. No less to-die-for.
Half her innards melted. She loathed her reaction to him. How superficial could she get? Wowed by chiselled cheekbones, a fit body and a cockier-than-hell attitude.
In that instant he smiled at her as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.
‘I have a proposition for you,’ he said.
‘I already said no thank you,’ she said primly. Determinedly.
He gestured to a mug of coffee on the low table beside her. Steam curled in the light. ‘I’m guessing you like it strong and unsweetened.’
Clearly she was that predictable after all. ‘Why do you think that?’
‘You’re a starving artist who needs to make the most of every drop she gets.’
Silently she reached out for the coffee. He’d been doing some research.
‘I made your father an offer he couldn’t refuse,’ he said. ‘I’ll make you one too.’
‘My father didn’t much care for this place anyway,’ Kitty muttered and drank the coffee. She needed to kick-start her grey matter. ‘He thought it was cold.’
‘It is cold,’ Alejandro said dryly. ‘I’ve ordered a new heating system.’
Because he had the bajillions required to maintain and upgrade a heritage building like this one. She knew it was petty, but she hated him for that. He had no idea of the history of this house.
‘But you like this building.’ He smiled when she didn’t answer. ‘I can tell by the way you look around it. Listen to my offer.’
‘I’ll refuse anything you offer me,’ she said fiercely. She wouldn’t be bought as easily as her father had been. She’d never say yes to this man.
Now she remembered the humiliation of Sarah being here last night and seeing her. And the story she’d spun—that they were engaged? Oh, hell, the sooner she ran back to Cornwall the better.
‘Maybe.’ He smiled. ‘But you might not want to. Why not hear me out first and then decide?’
He stood and walked over to the desk and returned with a large platter. Kitty looked at the freshly sliced fruit and pastries and swallowed to stop herself drooling. She was starving.
‘Go ahead and eat,’ Alejandro commented lazily. ‘It’ll make you feel better.’
She restrained herself from sending him a stabbing glance. He might be right, but he didn’t need to sound so patronising.
‘What’s your ever so fabulous offer?’ she asked, reaching for the fruit.
He watched as she bit into the pineapple before replying and for a moment Kitty wouldn’t have heard or understood a word he said anyway. She was famished—and this fruit was so fresh it was all she could do to stop herself devouring it all in two seconds flat.
She heard his low chuckle and he sat back in the chair and pulled the diamond choker from his pocket.
‘Tell me about this,’ he said.
She gazed sadly at the coil of glittering stones in his hand but shook her head.
‘You think you’re protecting someone?’ His eyebrows lifted. ‘I know it belongs to your brother.’
He had been doing his research. ‘Yes.’
‘But you’re the one who loves it.’
She bristled at the hint of censure. Did he think she was a materialistic, do-anything-for-diamonds kind of girl? ‘I loved the woman it originally belonged to,’ she said haughtily. ‘I love what the diamonds symbolise, not what they’re worth. The
y have irreplaceable sentimental value.’
His frown hadn’t lessened. ‘So why do they belong to your brother?’
She sighed. ‘Because he’s the firstborn and the boy.’
Now a baffled look crossed his face. ‘Are we still in the Middle Ages?’
‘You’re the one who forced me to be your date last night, so I’d say I’m currently living in the Neanderthal era. Barbaric caveman,’ she muttered beneath her breath.
‘Poor baby.’ His smile flashed and he leaned back in his seat, oozing sensual confidence. ‘So what are you willing to do to get your necklace back?’
‘Not that.’ She picked up a pain au chocolat and chomped on it.
‘I’m not that crass. We’ll sleep together only when you’ve grown up enough to admit how much you want to.’
He laughed at her expression. His arrogance knew no bounds.
But then he sobered. ‘You didn’t think that you could have just contacted my lawyer? Or perhaps knocked on the front door and asked me politely? Explained there was a mix-up?’
Was that a glimpse of hurt in his eyes? Surely not.
‘Am I such a monster you had to resort to breaking the law to get what belonged to your family?’
Kitty finally managed to swallow the lump of concrete masquerading as pastry in her mouth. ‘You’re the one who admitted to doing whatever necessary to get what you want. At the time I thought this was necessary.’
‘Fair enough, but you know there are consequences to your actions. All your actions.’
‘You’re calling the police?’