At the Brazilian's Command

Danny was his best hope if he was to comply with the terms of his grandfather’s will, and she had mentioned her frustration at still being here at Rottingdean, where she had worked all her life. Surely she would accept his offer of a scholarship to train in Brazil? But what about the other part of his deal?

‘Good morning, Tiago.’

He swung round with relief. ‘So, there you are,’ he said as she walked into the room

She seemed surprised. ‘Were you waiting for me?’

‘Yes, I was.’

‘Well, here I am,’ she said brightly.

A freshly showered Danny, with tendrils of honey-soft hair still damp around her temples, was an arousing sight that forced him to remember that what he needed was a short-term wife. His freedom meant too much to him to consider anything else.

‘You seem recovered.’

‘I am,’ she said, frowning. ‘Why wouldn’t I be?’

‘Good.’ That suited him perfectly. ‘I trust you slept well?’

Wrong question. His groin tightened immediately at the thought of Danny naked, stretched out in bed. It was important to keep this confined to business. He didn’t have much time. But it wasn’t easy when she leaned over him to scan the delicious-looking breakfast the housekeeper had laid out.

‘I just came to say goodbye to you,’ she said, grabbing a piece of toast. ‘Annie said you had to get back today. I thought you might have left for Brazil last night.’

She was fishing. He took that as a good sign. ‘Sit down?’ he suggested. ‘Eat breakfast with me. Why are you in such a hurry to get away?’

‘Because I’m going riding in a minute. I don’t have time to sit down and eat.’

‘You’ll need something to keep the cold out.’

Her glance flashed over his warm sweater. ‘Don’t worry about me. I’m wearing Arctic layers,’ she explained.

She wasn’t joking. She wore a thick-knit sweater with a fancy pattern, heavy winter breeches, and soft tan leather riding boots, which clung tenaciously to her shapely legs, hiding almost all the outline he had delighted in when he had danced with her last night. The thought of unpeeling her ‘Arctic layers’, as she’d called them, occupied all his thoughts for a moment.

‘Why don’t we ride out together?’

She stilled, with the toast hovering close to her parted lips. ‘Do you have time?’

‘I’ll make time.’

‘In that case...’

He caught her frowning as she headed for the door, as if she suspected there was more to this than a morning ride, but he didn’t care what she thought now he had what he wanted.

His spirits lifted. He felt like a hunter with his prey in sight. And why feel guilty when he was about to make Danny an offer she’d be crazy to refuse? There was just one problem. Trying to appeal to Danny Cameron’s calculating business brain might be difficult if she didn’t have one.

She was quite likely to dismiss his plan out of hand. She would almost certainly consider a marriage of convenience to be selling out, as well as a serious betrayal of the marriage vows—and she’d have no hesitation in telling him. Unfortunately he didn’t have the luxury of time to indulge in finer feelings. The thought of trying to do this deal with one of the women he customarily dated frankly appalled him. Even a night in their company could be too long. And where would he find another potential wife at such short notice?

‘Riding out will give us chance to chat about your future plans,’ he said casually as he held the door for her.

‘Advice always welcome,’ she said blandly, smiling up. ‘But ride first, chat later,’ she insisted.

Nothing about this was going to be straightforward, he deduced.

* * *

She hadn’t planned on riding with Tiago. When Annie had told her he was eating breakfast she had considered going straight out, and then decided that would look cowardly. In keeping with her decision to toughen up, she had decided to face the hard man of the pampas to show him she was over yesterday, and not susceptible in any way to his undeniable charm.

‘You’re riding Lizzie’s horse this morning?’ he commented when they reached the stable yard.

‘That’s right,’ she confirmed as they crossed the yard.

The horses were in adjoining stalls. She couldn’t pretend that riding out with Tiago Santos wasn’t a thrill. And it would look amazing on her CV, she conceded wryly. As if she needed an excuse to ride out with him!