Fierce Pride (41 page)

“I doubt it. The only piece of evidence we have is the baby,” Santos replied. “I’ll insist upon a DNA test. If the boy is an Aragon, then I’ll threaten to sue for custody. That should convince her to leave me alone.”

“Do you want custody of the boy?”

“No, of course not.”

“Would anyone else in your family want to take him in?”

“I can’t see my aunt doing it, but my sister might. I’ll have to ask them. My father had children with four different women. A fifth is a complication we don’t need.”

“I understand. What did you decide about your chauffeur?”

“I’m keeping him, but I frightened him so badly with the threat of dismissal he’ll show more loyalty from now on.”

“I hope so,” Cazares responded. He closed his notebook and slipped it into his pocket. “If there’s nothing else you need, I’ll mail my final bill.”

“I hope this is the last of it.” Santos thanked him, but he had the uneasy feeling they weren’t anywhere close to being done.

Santos and Libby were eating a delicious roast chicken dinner that night, when Mrs. Lopez entered the dining room and announced through primly pursed lips, “A Mr. Fermin Ramirez is here. Will you see him?”

Santos responded with an exasperated grimace. “The man certainly doesn’t waste any time. Show him in, and he can be the evening’s entertainment.”

The housekeeper left briefly and returned with Fermin Ramirez. She left him at the dining room door. The attorney offered an apology, but didn’t smile. “Forgive me for interrupting your dinner, but we have something very serious to discuss.”

Santos gestured to welcome him in. “As long as you’re not carrying any weapons, why don’t you join us? Would you care for something to eat or drink?”

“Mr. Aragon, this isn’t a social call. We should speak privately.” Fermin took a seat in the middle of the table, laid a large leather envelope in front of him and folded his hands on top. He was an attractive man with silver hair and hazel eyes, smartly dressed as he might have been for court in a navy blue suit, white shirt and a red-and-blue paisley tie.

Santos took another bite of chicken and chewed slowly. He sipped his wine before looking the man’s way. “Ms. Gunderson has been a witness to all the attempts on my life. If that’s what you’ve come to discuss, she definitely belongs here. Are you sure you wouldn’t like a glass of wine?” He continued to eat his dinner with a gracious display of fine manners.

Fermin refused the offer of wine, opened the leather envelope and took out several pages of notes. “I’m representing Luis and Victoria Ruiz. You’ve made several allegations against them, and they must stop.”

“What?” Libby cried.

Santos reached for her hand and squeezed lightly. “I’ll handle this. Mr. Ramirez, the police are investigating the murder attempts. You should be speaking with Detective Nuñez rather than us. I’ll have Mrs. Lopez show you out.”

“I’d hoped we could settle this as gentlemen,” Ramirez responded.

“It was no gentleman who flashed a mirror in the bullring, set a fire in the elevator here or took a shot at Santos,” Libby exclaimed, and she gave Santos’s hand a returning squeeze.

“There’s no proof my clients had anything to do with those unfortunate incidents,” Fermin insisted, his manner glass-smooth.

“This is a matter for the police,” Santos repeated. “I won’t bargain with you.”

“You may change your mind, Mr. Aragon. Miss Rubio has an issue that must be addressed.”

“Are you referring to her claim my father fathered her child? I want a DNA test before we begin that subject. If the boy is my half brother, then I’ll sue for custody and raise him myself. If you’ve no wish to share dessert with us, please go.”

Santos made his point without raising his voice. His body language projected an admirable cool, but anger lit his dark eyes.

Fermin returned his papers to the envelope and zipped it shut. “You’ve misunderstood, Mr. Aragon. Miss Rubio says you’re the father of her child.”

“Really?” Santos replied, apparently unconcerned. “While I resemble my father, most women could easily tell us apart. A DNA test will disprove her claim. I’ll have my attorney arrange for it.”

“I’ll handle it.”

“Run a test if you like, but I’ll insist upon a second one. Good night.”

The attorney left the room at a brisk clip with Mrs. Lopez hurrying along behind him. Libby hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath and exhaled slowly. “You are amazing,” she whispered.

He pushed his plate away. “I thought I knew what was coming, although naming me the father of the baby was a surprise. Thank you for not mentioning Rigoberto Avila. I didn’t want to give Ramirez the opportunity to blame everything on him.”

Libby had lost her appetite too. She curled her napkin in her lap. “Do you actually intend to raise Miguel Angel?”

He rolled his eyes. “What do you think?”

“You have such a convincing manner, I think Ramirez believed you. The point is whether or not Victoria believes you.”

“She must have thought I’d be easier to deal with than a dead man. She’s wrong. I’d never seen her before the day Patricia met her on the beach. You know I’m careful. I don’t intend to father any children, ever.”

Libby pulled her lower lip through her teeth. She knew his stance on the matter, but it still saddened her. “I’ve always wanted a family.”

“I’ve done the family bit, over and over. I’m not repeating my father’s mistakes.”

“You’re not your father, Santos. You’re a different man.”

“Not really. Think of the ego it takes to strut into a bullring. Matadors are not good husband-and-father material.”

“I’m not interested in statistics. We’re talking about you. You’ve created your own family with Maggie, the twins and Fox. They all regard you as a wonderful brother.”

He finished his wine. “That’s some sort of success, I suppose, but women I meet aren’t looking for great brothers.”

“I was, but that swiftly went off the track, didn’t it? You’re the one who matters, Santos. If you want a loving family, you’ll have one.”

He looked away, obviously unconvinced. “Let’s talk about something else.”

She was leaving in August, and there was no point in extolling the virtues of a happy family when she wouldn’t be there to create one with him. That would be lunacy. She had a backup plan and went with what they did have. She leaned close to whisper, “All right. Let’s talk about sex. Why don’t we make love again in the closet with your fancy suits? Maybe it’s only the way your cologne lingers in the air, or the delicious darkness, or—”

He laughed and laced his fingers in hers. “Stop. Tomas has made a special dessert. Let’s have it first.”

Libby licked her lips. “I hope it’s something with whipped cream.”

“I don’t care what it is. I’ll ask him to top it with whipped cream just to see you lick it off your lips.”

“You can imagine it in the dark.”

Julian came in to clear the table, and Santos nodded to thank him. “This table is one of my favorites.”

That memory made Libby feel warm all over, and when Julian reappeared with baked apples topped with berries and whipped cream, she grinned through the first bite. “I swear I’ve fallen into paradise.”

Santos laughed and winked. When they finished, he asked Julian to help him up the back stairs. Libby used the main staircase and met him in the hallway. She waved her long skirt with a dancer’s graceful flourish.

“I like dressing for dinner. At home, we came to the table in whatever we’d put on that morning.”

Santos looked down at his navy blue shorts and white dress shirt. “I’m sorry I can’t do better than this. We used to have much higher standards.”

She slid her arms around his waist and kissed him. “Your present standards work fine for me.”

“It’s nice you’re so easy to please.”

She laughed and didn’t remind him he’d had another opinion of her that afternoon when she’d pulled Victoria from the sea. She waited for him to bring the key to unlock the closet, walked in and turned to face him. When he closed the door without turning on the light, she had to push his suits back along the poles in the dark. He propped his crutches against the wall and leaned back on the door to remain steady.

“Let me undress you,” he murmured, and his voice sounded even deeper in the small room.

She unbuttoned his shirt. “Where do you want to begin?”

He reached under her long skirt to peel off her bikinis. “What color are these?”

“A bright orange, a shocking color that’s unfortunately unappreciated.”

He slipped her panties into his pocket. “I’d appreciate any color on you.”

“Isn’t it more like off me?” She helped him out of his shirt and tossed it over her shoulder.

He pulled the pins from her hair, and the lazy curls spilled over her shoulders. “Maybe I’ll give everyone Sunday off, and we can spend the whole day without clothes.”

She licked his nipples and felt him quiver. “I like to sit out on the patio, so I’d at least have to wrap myself in a towel.”

“That would work as long as no one in the water screamed for help.” He rolled her top off over her head and unfastened her bra. “Your breasts fit perfectly in my palms.” He rubbed his thumbs over her nipples with a tender stroke. They were already perfect buds, and he leaned down to kiss them.

She swayed into his magical touch, and he turned his hand to brush her breasts gently with his knuckles. The soft bumps gave her a new thrill. “Maybe I won’t go out on the patio.” She combed his hair through her fingers. “Someone else can play lifeguard.”

“We could sit out there Sunday night after dark.”

She giggled at the thought and unbuttoned his shorts. “We could do that tonight after everyone’s gone home.”

“That would mean another trip up and down the stairs, and I’d rather use my energy elsewhere.”

“Wise choice.” She eased down his shorts, lowered her hands to his butt, snuggled against him and gave him long, slow kisses. After a step back, she cupped his balls, lightly traced her name with a fingertip and wished she could write it with permanent ink. His cock filled both hands, and she stroked him firmly, then fluttered her fingers up and down his length. “You feel full of energy right here.”

He grabbed her waist to pull her against his chest. “I’ll bet you’re the most popular girl in your sorority.”

“Are you calling me a slut?” she teased playfully.

“No, I just meant…”

“I understand it was a compliment, but I don’t lavish affection on every man I meet.”

He rocked back against the door. “I’m grateful you’re lavishing it on me.”

Intending to keep him grateful, she rose up to lick his lips lightly with the tip of her tongue. “Grab on to both poles so I won’t overwhelm you.”

“I don’t overwhelm easily.”

“We’ll see.” When he had both hands firmly anchored, she spread a luscious trail of kisses from his shoulders, across his nipples and down his flat abs. She was still wearing her skirt and brushed the hem lightly over his navel and lower. “Isn’t this nice?”

He bumped his head against the door. “Better than nice.”

She knelt to kiss his cock. “This is all I want up.” She flicked her tongue over the sensitive underside of the smooth rounded tip, tasted a salty drop and sat back. “Did you remember condoms?”

“I’ve been putting them in my pockets every time I get dressed. I’ll be ready when you are.”

She brushed her curls over his crotch, sucked him deep, and, had anyone else been upstairs, they would have heard his deep-throated moan. His heady cologne played with her senses just as her affectionate kiss played with his. The enticing darkness made every caress a double thrill. When he grabbed her shoulders to pull her to her feet, she relaxed against him to align her body to his. He handed her a condom, and she tore the wrapper.

“Hurry up,” he begged.

With a lazy caress, she slipped the condom down his length. She stopped to kiss him deeply, pulled her skirt out of the way and wrapped her leg around his waist.

He didn’t lift his mouth from hers as he guided himself into her and surged deep. He pulled back slowly and then dived into her again. He held her tightly in his arms, barely moving for a long, deep ride. He eased a hand between them to find her clit and pulsed against her in time with his strokes.

She had one hand around his neck and the other in his thick hair to hang on. His taste and smell, his every move lifted her higher and higher. She brushed her nipples across his broad chest to satisfy a delicious longing. The feeling was a surprise she’d never have discovered without his insistence she had a desirable figure all on her own. The man was a wonder in so many ways, and her whole body sang with his until filled to overflowing she shattered into whirling, sparkling bits. Her core clenched through his last hurried push, and she bit her lip rather than attack his shoulder. It may have all been instinct, but they blended pleasure so well together, she never wanted to let him go.

When he could draw a deep breath, he sighed against her hair. “It’s never been this good for me.”