Authors: Sophia Knightly
"Ugh," he groaned. "What happened?"
Gabriela's eyes prickled with hot tears. She blinked them back quickly. There was no way she'd allow herself to shed a single tear in front of him. "I'd rather not waste my breath discussing Nicole. She said a lot of cruel things that I want to forget."
"Tell me what she said."
"Why should I? You'll only deny everything."
His face darkened. "Don't give me that. Now tell me," he said firmly.
How could she relay all the vile things Nicole had spewed? That Marcos had been deeply disappointed with their trip to New York? That he had referred to her as a scared little prude, too old-fashioned for his taste? Gabriela shook her head and braced her back against the dosed door with her eyes closed. She couldn't look at him. His proximity was killing her. My God, she'd fallen so deeply in love with him that she hoped everything Nicole had said wasn't true. But the image of the two of them together in the hospital haunted her.
"Look at me," Marcos commanded, gently lifting her chin to meet his gaze. "Whatever Nicole said to upset you was a lie. Hell, she's having a hard time accepting that I don't want to see her anymore."
"I'm not very proud of myself and what we've done to Abuelita Coqui," she said, meeting his gaze. "Now please leave me alone."
"I can't. Nicole had no right to upset you."
"Yeah, well right now she's spreading the word around the hospital that our whole relationship was a sham, a pathetic joke was how she phrased it. She warned me she was going to tell everyone as soon as she left here," Gabriela said, moaning with anguish at the thought.
A muscle ticked in his rock hard jaw. "Don't worry about what Nicole says. I'll set the record straight." He gently cradled her face with his palms. "I don't care what other people think. You're the only person who matters to me right now."
Gabriela blinked and her heart skipped a beat. Not taking her eyes off him, she warily stepped out of his reach. "You don't have to make false assurances. Abuelita Coqui knows the truth. I told her," she said defiantly.
He ran a hand roughly through his hair. "I know. That's why I'm here." He fixed her with a stern look. "Last night I arrived early to find the three of you having a merry time in my study, drinking rum, dancing, and smoking cigars," he accused.
"So that's what you meant about the rum," she mumbled.
"Precisely. Now what do you have to say for yourself?"
She merely shrugged, not willing to apologize. "I only went along because I felt guilty over my part in it. Your grandmother is such a gracious lady that she didn't hold it against me." She lifted her chin and stared at him. "I won't accept any money for these last few days. I was working against you, not for you," she said unrepentantly.
"That's what hurts. When did I become your enemy, Gabriela?"
Her heart squeezed. Hurting Marcos was not what she had intended, even though she should have realized that would be the end result. He seemed so impenetrable, so in command all the time, that she hadn't thought he could have hurt feelings, too. "You're not my enemy. But you're not my fiancé either. Please take your ring back," she said, sliding it from her finger.
He stayed her hand. "No. I don't want it back."
"Why not? You can probably return it and..."
"Keep it," he gritted out.
She adjusted her purse on her shoulder. "I have to leave. I have an appointment with an oral surgeon this morning. Right now I can't imagine which is worse, standing here arguing with you or going through the ordeal of a root canal. And believe me, I'm a coward for pain."
"I'll be back this evening to check how you're feeling," he said, ignoring her insult.
"Sorry, I can't see you tonight. I have a date with Alex," she said smugly.
He drew himself up. "Alex who?"
"Dr. Cortes. After the bachelorette auction, he's called me a few times for a date, and I've been turning him down. This time I accepted," she said, smoothing her hands down her sides.
His eyes darkened and narrowed into slits. "I don't want you going out with Cortes. Cancel it."
"You forget I no longer work for you."
Marcos gestured toward the turquoise knit sheath she wore that sinfully hugged her curves. "Where did you get that outfit?" he demanded. "And turquoise eyeliner? Why are you wearing that makeup?"
"I'm just trying out a new look. Marisol thought it looked pretty hot." She held her breath, waiting to see how he'd react. She'd had such fun shopping with Marisol. Never in her life had she bought such seductive clothes. She had felt sexy and self-confident until Nicole's damaging visit. In one fell swoop the haughty witch had managed to make her feel like a bookish spinster, not a femme fatale who could heat Marcos' blood. She'd rather die than let him know how vulnerable Nicole had made her feel, draining her of any hope with Marcos.
Thrusting her shoulders back, she tried to adopt the seductive manner that Marisol had suggested. She slowly twirled on her high heels, then peered at him beneath her lashes with a flirty little smile. "Isn't it great?"
He scowled. "No. It's too provocative. I hope you're not planning to wear that tonight." His hazel eyes burned with jealousy.
Gabriela's spirits lifted and she felt like crowing with satisfaction. He'd fallen right into the trap with such little effort on her part. "I have something even cuter that Marisol picked out for me. She has
such
good taste," she taunted.
He ignored the bait. "If you can't meet with me tonight, I'll come back this afternoon. We need to talk."
"We've said all there is to say." She grabbed her keys. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go to my appointment."
He forcefully expelled his breath in seething frustration. "I can't let you leave before I tell you what's been eating at me." His hands closed over her shoulders. "I love you, damn it! Only you," he emphasized, his gaze fiercely possessive as it bored into hers. Releasing her shoulders, he turned and stalked out the door.
Gabriela stood stock-still as she let his words sink in. He'd just uttered what she'd been dying to hear, but Nicole's comments had rubbed a raw emotional spot, leaving a lingering sting. And try as she might, Gabriela could not get the image out of her mind of Marcos and Nicole's kiss at the hospital.
If only she could believe him.
* * *
Late that afternoon, Marcos knocked on Gabriela's door. When there was no answer, he knocked harder.
"Coming!" she called out before flinging the door open. "Oh," she said when she saw him. "I thought it might be Alex." She nearly tripped as she wobbled into her living room. "Come on in," she said, swaying on stiletto heels.
She'd changed into a form-fitting black suit trimmed in zebra fur and her hair hung loosely about her shoulders, framing her face in bouncy ringlets. "How was your dental work?" he asked, noting her unsteady gait and overly cheery manner.
"Marvelous!" she cried, flinging her arms around his neck. "Didn't feel a thing!"
Good God, had she been drinking so early in the afternoon?
"Gabriela, what's gotten into you?" he asked, holding her up. "Have you been drinking?"
"No, silly. I was just taking a little nap when you came."
He studied her with suspicious eyes. "You sound like you're out of breath."
"Probably because my clothes are a little tight," she said, tugging at her skirt. She nuzzled her nose against his cheek. "Stop frowning and give me a little kiss."
He stared at her in shock. After her cold reception this morning, she was now flirting with him so brazenly that he wondered if she was on medication. Either that or the woman was bipolar.
"Did you take any medicine when you came home?" he demanded.
"Why? Do you want to examine me?" She wiggled her arched eyebrows suggestively. "Wanna play doctor?" Stumbling slightly, she stepped back and peered at him through drowsy, half-closed eyes.
Without another word, Marcos lifted her in his arms and carried her into the bedroom. By the time he deposited her on the bed, she was asleep, a dreamy smile upon her red, glossy lips. Smoothing Gabriela's curls away from her flushed cheeks, he glanced at her nightstand and saw the bottle of a strong painkiller. How many had she taken to cause such a reaction? He emptied the contents and counted them. She'd taken two, not a dangerous dose but enough to make her act like she'd had too much wine to drink. Everyone reacted differently to medication. Obviously, she couldn't handle this one.
Noticing her labored breathing, he remembered that she had mentioned her clothes felt tight. He unbuttoned her snug jacket and removed it. His eyes shot open when he saw the zebra-print push-up bra beneath it. Surges of hot lust electrified his body as his eyes feasted on the ripe swell of her creamy bosom overflowing the bra cups. Summoning every ounce of self-control, he forced his gaze away and took several gulping breaths as he fumbled for the button to her skirt. Not finding it on either side, he gently turned her over and found the clasp.
When he unzipped her skirt and pulled it off, the sight he encountered nearly made his jaw hit the floor. She wore no slip, just matching thong zebra-print panties above thigh-high black stockings. Each hill of her bottom rose up, inflaming his senses and tempting him to caress her velvety skin.
Swallowing hard against the thick desire clogging his throat, he fought to control the savage surge of lust for Gabriela. He didn't trust himself to undress her further. He turned her over again and searched under her pillow for pajamas. Finding a long-sleeved nightgown, he quickly drew it over her head, thankful when she didn't wake up.
His forehead beaded with the effort to ignore the wildly erotic picture she had presented dressed in animal-print lingerie. God, with that image in mind, he wouldn't be able to get through another day without making love to her. Sexual craving for her seemed to consume his every thought of late.
Stunned, he sank into a chair and stared at her. Had she been planning to wear those sexy panties and bra on her date tonight with Alex? Consumed with jealous anger, he knew that no woman wore provocative lingerie like that unless she was planning to seduce her date. He felt like tearing down the walls. How had he allowed her to slip through his fingers so easily?
Suddenly, the past few days unfolded before him in vivid detail. He found himself smiling as he remembered Gabriela's delight over her makeover the first day they'd spent together... the delicious meal she'd prepared for him wearing an apron, with soft tendrils framing a face made adorable by horn-rim glasses... their passionate kisses on the beach... their carriage ride through Central Park... snowflakes on her fragrant hair and silken skin... the lushness of her curves resting in his hands when he held her....
The phone rang, jolting him from his recollections.
"Hello," he barked into the phone.
"I must have the wrong number," a male voice said. "Or maybe not. May I speak with Gabriela?"
"Who is this?" Marcos demanded.
"Dr. Alex Cortes. With whom am I speaking?" he asked.
Marcos noted the wry amusement in Alex's voice. "This is Marcos, Alex. Gabriela will not be joining you tonight. She feels under the weather after her dental work. She'll be under my care this evening."
Alex chuckled. "Too bad. I had a hot date planned. Tell her I'll call her tomorrow."
"Not if I can help it," Marcos said before slamming down the receiver. He stalked back to the chair beside Gabriela's bed and sprawled on it, so riled he could spit nails.
He glanced at her hand and noticed that she had removed the engagement ring. He grabbed her purse from the dresser, guessing that she would have taken it off after their visit this morning. When he found it in the change section of her wallet, he pulled it out and put it back on her ring finger.
He set his jaw and made a crucial decision. She belonged with him and no one else. There was only one way Gabriela would be his and off limits to other men. And by God, before tomorrow was through, he'd make sure she was!
* * *
Hours later, Gabriela awoke in a dark room. She leaned over and turned on the lamp. Startled to find she wasn't alone, she blinked at the large male sleeping figure before her in the armchair.
"Alex?" she mumbled.
"No, it's Marcos."
Even though her head felt fuzzy, she noted his grumpy tone. Why had she called out Alex's name? He must have been lurking in her subconscious. Realizing she had to acknowledge Marcos's presence, she said, "What are you doing here? And who let you in?"
"You did." He straightened in the chair and rubbed his face. "I must have dozed off. How are you feeling?"
She gingerly touched her jaw. It felt a little sore and there was some tenderness, but not enough to say she was in pain. "I'm okay, I guess. Just a little groggy from the painkillers." She glanced down at her nightgown and didn't remember how she ended up in her bed, out of her suit. She discreetly peeked under the neckline. Thank God she still wore her underwear, even though it didn't cover much. Then suddenly it hit her full force. He'd seen her in her new lingerie. A flood of embarrassment heated her cheeks and neck. "How long have you been here?" she asked.
Marcos smiled. "A few hours. And in case you're wondering, I was the one who put you to bed."
"Who gave you the right to take off my clothes?" She felt mortified and exposed. At Marisol's suggestion, she had put on the racy lingerie to feel sexy and uninhibited
.
Gabriela's tastes ran more toward silky, beautiful under things, not zebra thongs and push-up bras.
"Hey, now. Don't get upset," he said in the same soothing tone she'd heard him use with his patients. He smoothed a lock back from her flushed cheek. "You were out of breath and told me your clothes felt tight. When you fell asleep in my arms, I helped you into your nightgown. That's all."
"Yeah, right," she muttered. "You closed your eyes the whole time and didn't peek."
"How was I supposed to know you have a taste for naughty lingerie?" His mouth eased into a slow, sexy grin. "Don't get me wrong; I'm all for it. But if you continue to wear tight clothes you'll find yourself out of breath again."