THE VALQUEZ BRIDE by Melanie Milburne

Author:Melanie Milburne
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

ALEJANDRO STOOD WITH his arm around Teddy’s waist as Ramon left to walk back to where he had parked his car near the stables. He could feel a band of tension running down from her shoulders to her lower spine. It was like holding an ironing board. Had his friend’s well-meaning comments upset her? Her limp clearly embarrassed her, even though she had never tried to hide it from him. He had felt a rush of sympathy for her when she had almost tripped.

The long journey had obviously tired her. Her features look pinched and white, as if she was trying to cope with an elevation of pain. Had he asked too much of her by insisting she move to Argentina with him? He had convinced himself it was the only way to handle the situation. The best way. It was automatic for him to want to control things. He had been doing it since he was a ten-year-old child. Leaving things to chance was asking for chaos. For mayhem and panic. Someone had to be at the helm and keeping a watch out for unexpected surprises.

‘I hope you weren’t offended by Ramon. He means well.’

She stepped out of his hold and reached for her stick where it was leaning against the table. ‘Not at all. I’m quite used to people telling me I’m imagining my pain.’

‘That’s not what he was—’

‘Wasn’t it?’ Her eyes flashed ice and fire at him in equal measure. ‘Is it what you think too? I suppose you’re going to take me on as some sort of project, are you? Like one of your homeless kids or broken-down horses?’

He drew in a breath and slowly released it. She was hurt and she lashed out. Hurt and offended. She was exactly like one of his spirited fillies. Nervous and shy one minute, lashing out with heels and teeth the next. Even the way she tossed her head as she started for the French windows reminded him of a filly throwing her mane in disgust.

Was it his imagination or was her limp even worse?

He caught up with her and took her arm and turned her gently to face him. ‘Is this about what Ramon said or something else?’

Her eyes were shimmering blue-grey pools. Deep and complex. ‘You seem to enjoy lying. You do it so well. Telling your friend you adore me when the opposite is true. It’s sickening.’

Alejandro raised his brows at her outburst. ‘We agreed to act as if—’

‘I hate the pretence,’ she shot back. ‘I can’t lie convincingly. I’m rubbish at it. I’m bound to do or say something wrong and then people will talk. I’m surprised the servants haven’t already started. I can’t bear the thought of them speculating or gossiping behind my back. Making comparisons about me with all your previous lovers. Ugh! What are they going to think about our having separate rooms?’

He put his hands on her shoulders, cupping them against her slender frame. He felt her shiver as if his touch had triggered a reaction in her body.

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