The Valquez Seduction

‘I’m not sure she’ll appreciate being told what to do.’

She?

His heart skipped a beat as he whipped back around. ‘Who is it?’

‘It’s me,’ Daisy said, stepping forward.

Luiz stared at her. He opened his mouth to speak but he couldn’t get his vocal cords to respond. They were jammed by emotion so thick it paralysed his throat.

She was here?

He blinked to make sure he wasn’t imagining her standing there. Like all those times as a kid, pressing his nose to the glass as he waited for his mother, only to have his heart plummet in disappointment when she didn’t show up.

His mouth was dry. His heart was pounding so hard he could feel the echo of it beating in his fingertips.

‘Aren’t you going to say something?’ Daisy said.

‘Hello.’ Hello? Is that the best you could do?

‘I liked it when you said it in Argentinian.’

Luiz cleared his throat. ‘Hola.’

‘I really like your brother.’

‘He’s married.’

‘I know. I like his wife too. She’s awfully sweet. You didn’t tell me she was Theodora Marlstone, the brilliantly talented children’s book illustrator. I’ve got all of her books. I use them in my class. My kids love them.’

Luiz swallowed again. Best not to get too ahead of himself. He wasn’t going to let her rip his heart out again. ‘Why are you here?’

‘Why do you think I’m here?’

He searched her expression but she was playing him at his own game. He thought he was good at a poker face but she took it to a whole new level. ‘I have no idea.’

For the first time a tiny crack appeared in her composure. ‘Really? No idea at all?’

‘You wanted to see a polo game?’

She let out a little breath. ‘I guess you’re still angry.’

‘What gives you that idea?’

She chewed at her lip. ‘You’re not making this easy for me…’

‘Did my brother set this up?’

‘No. I came because I wanted to see you.’

‘Why?’

Her blue eyes meshed with his. ‘I wanted to ask you something.’

‘Ask.’

She pressed her lips together for a moment, her gaze lowering slightly. ‘Do you love me?’

Luiz watched the way her throat tightened, just as his had earlier. He watched as her teeth tugged at the inside of her mouth as if trying to control the urge to cry. His heart swelled in his chest until he could feel it pushing against his lungs. ‘Yes.’

Her eyes flew back to his. ‘Yes?’

He smiled and closed the gap between them, reaching for her and hugging her close to his chest. ‘Yes, you little goose. How could you think I didn’t?’

‘But my father—’

‘Was right to warn me to keep my hands off his little princess, but do you think I could do it?’ He cupped her face in his hands. ‘I fell in love with you that first night. You put your nose in the air and gave me such a haughty look I was instantly smitten.’

‘Really? That early on?’

He laughed as relief and joy spread through him. ‘Of course it only made it worse when you did that stripper routine. What hope did I have after that?’

Her cheeks flushed in the way he adored so much. ‘I think I fell in love with you when you came to my rescue. I didn’t want to admit it, but when you stayed up all night watching over me I saw you in a completely different light. Of course, the way you kept plying me with delicious food only made it worse.’

He stroked her face. ‘I’m sorry for how I handled things back in Vegas. It was such a crass offer. Not one of my proudest moments, that’s for sure. I wanted you to stay but I didn’t think of how you would take it. I stupidly assumed you’d jump at the chance. I should’ve known you’d do the opposite.’

She looked at him earnestly. ‘It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be with you. I did. So much. But I couldn’t bear to be just another one of your girls. I wanted to be special.’

He held her by the upper arms. ‘You are, mi amor. So special I can barely find the words. I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Say you’ll marry me.’

She gave him a teasing smile. ‘Are you asking me or telling me?’

He grinned back. ‘I’m begging you.’

‘Well, that’s different.’

‘Is that a yes?’

Daisy linked her arms around his neck. ‘How could I ever say no to you?’

He kissed her for a long breathless minute before pulling back to look at her glowing face and sparkling eyes. ‘So, you’ve come all this way to see a polo game. I guess I’d better go out there and get that trophy.’