The Disobedient Virgin

Jake smiled pleasantly. “Good morning. My car is the black—”

“Sim. I know. Um momento, por favor.”

Oh, yeah. The word had definitely spread. The kid trotted off and Jake bent his head and put his lips to Catarina’s ear.

“Very good,” he said quietly. “Just keep it up and we’ll get along fine.”

She jerked back and glared at him. “That’s probably what the bandeirantes told the Indians.”

The words might have been formed in ice. Jake didn’t delude himself into thinking he’d just been given a compliment.

“Raiders,” she said venomously. “Portuguese barbarians who stormed the interior of Brazil and forced the natives into slavery.”

“And that’s me?” He nodded. “Nice. Really nice.”

“Accurate, you mean.”

“I don’t suppose it would do any good to point out that I’m not Portuguese and you’re not Indian.”

“The principle’s the same.” She gave him a smile that matched her tone. “I notice you didn’t try and argue about what they did.”

“I don’t know what they did,” he said politely, “aside from what you’ve told me. I believe your point is that I have a lot in common with a bunch of stormtroopers.”

“Exactly. And I’d appreciate it if you’d take your hands off me.”

Jake sighed. Yesterday had seemed endless, and if he’d had an hour of solid sleep last night it was a lot. He couldn’t let Catarina bait him. He was liable to end up slinging her over his shoulder and carrying her onto the plane—or taking her in his arms and kissing her until she turned soft and sweet and clinging again.

He knew damned well that neither method was a very good idea.

The valet roared up in the car, stopped on a dime and bounded out from behind the wheel. Jake handed him a couple of bills. The kid dumped the two bags in the back, hurried around to the passenger side and yanked open the door.

Jake slid his hand to Catarina’s wrist and marched her around the vehicle.

“You seem to be a smart girl,” he said softly. “So here’s what I’d appreciate. You get in the car, behave yourself, keep your mouth shut until we land in New York. Then we can have a long talk about raiders, stormtroopers and Indians. How’s that sound?”

“It sounds as if I have no choice in the matter.”

“A brilliant conclusion.”

“Just understand that my acquiescence is based on expediency, not obedience.”

Jake’s eyebrows shot toward his hairline. “I’ll bet you got straight As in English.”

“I got straight As in everything,” she said smugly. “Would you like to know what the words mean?”

“Thanks for the offer, but I can manage. You want me to know that you’re going along with this because I’m bigger, stronger and nastier than you are. Right?”

Color flooded her face. “It’s not that simple.”

“I think it is.”

“You’re an awful man, Ramirez.”

“‘You’re an awful man, Jake,”’ he said. “Now, get in the damned car.”

“There’s no need for obscenities.”

“You think that’s an obscenity?” he said through his teeth. “Trust me, Catarina. You haven’t heard anything yet. Now, move!”