Stand-In Bride's Seduction

He reached for her, noting briefly the expression of surprise that danced across her beautiful face, and drew her into his arms. She held herself stiffly for a moment, before her body melted against his. Soft against hard. Feminine against the masculine. And it felt right. Shockingly, amazingly right. Every part of his body attuned to hers. His breathing slowed and steadied and it was almost as if his heart now beat to the same rhythm as that of the woman in his arms. For the first time in hours, he actually relaxed.

“Thank you,” he murmured against the top of her fiery head. “You have been amazing.”

“I aim to please,” she said teasingly, clearly trying to make light of the situation. “Besides, I only arranged a short-term lease on the items, but I thought your family might like to make the furnishings a permanent donation to the hospital for other families that are going through what you guys are.”

She pulled free of his arms and walked over to the coffee machine, and picked up the instruction booklet. Even though she made a show of reading it, he could tell their brief contact had unsettled her. Unsettled her? It had totally unsettled him, as well. His blood pumped with a new demand through his veins. His senses were totally in sync with her and her alone. Not even Loren and Alex’s quiet appreciation of the new furniture, as they cuddled at one end of the couch totally lost in one another, broke through the focus that was Sara’s and hers alone.

Rina felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle under Rey’s sharp regard. It had been all too easy to flow into his arms just then. She hadn’t wanted to pull away but had forced herself to do so before she became altogether too comfortable. She kept reminding herself this was only temporary and that once the crisis with Benedict had passed, and she fervently hoped it would, she’d be able to tell Reynard the truth about why she was here instead of her sister.

A part of her wished she hadn’t agreed to Sara’s plans. Or that she’d insisted on telling Reynard the truth the moment she’d met him at his office. But seeing what all the members of the family were going through, she couldn’t do that to him, as well. She knew firsthand how it felt to be rejected by the person you’d promised to marry. How much worse would it be if that happened while another person you loved fought for their life at the same time?

No, what she’d do instead was what she did best and what she made her living doing as a contract “Girl Friday” back home. Already, her knowledge and experience in publicity and problem solving was standing her in good stead in her self-appointed mission to make sure the family was taken care of as they dealt with Benedict’s crisis. She’d make certain that every aspect of the del Castillos’ time at the hospital went as smoothly as possible so they could focus on the person who needed them most. Whether it was organizing nutritious meals to be brought to their waiting room, or changes of clothes and access to a shower and bathroom, she’d make it happen.

And the truth? Well, she’d face up to that as soon as she could. As unpalatable as that would be.

The next two days passed painfully slowly. The family appeared to be trapped in a fugue of uncertainty until finally, at midday on the third day, Benedict’s doctor came to the waiting room. Rina was almost too afraid to hope for good news as the man entered, his face looked so severe. But then, to everyone’s great relief, a smile spread across his features.

“Señor del Castillo has made great progress in the past two days. He is coming out of the induced coma and all the indicators are looking strong at this stage. Of course, his full recovery will be demanding, but I am sure that with the support of his family, he will make it.”

Rey and Alex peppered the doctor with questions after that but Rina noticed that Abuelo remained in his chair, his eyes suddenly awash with tears. She dropped to her knees and took his gnarled hands in her own.

“It’s good news, Abuelo. Benedict will be all right. He’s strong, he will make it.”

Aston del Castillo lifted a hand to stroke her hair gently. “Thank you, I know he will survive. He is a del Castillo. Now we must fight the curse before it is too late.”