Sold on You (5 page)

"Let's see what Carmen left for us to eat."

Gabriela followed him into the kitchen and was immediately drawn to its efficient layout and elegant decor. The ultramodern combination of sleek cherry wood cabinets, stainless-steel appliances and charcoal speckled granite counter-tops beckoned the cook in her.

She ran her hands over the smooth granite. "Now this is what I call a perfect kitchen."

"Glad you like it." Marcos reached inside the refrigerator and took out a large platter. "It looks like Carmen left one of my favorites."

"What's that?" Gabriela asked, rising on tiptoe to peer over his broad shoulder.

"Argentine
matambre
and potato salad." He put the platter at the center of the kitchen table. "Grab a plate and help yourself," he said, gesturing toward a cabinet before opening a drawer and taking out two knives and forks. Utensils in hand, he sat down at the small glass table and pulled out the chair beside him. "Sit down and enjoy."

He poured two glasses of Malbec wine and handed her one.

"Thanks," she said, serving herself a helping of the rolled flank steak, stuffed with carrots, spinach, peas, and a hard-boiled egg. "This is delicious," she said after the first bite of the savory meat. "Carmen's a good cook."

Marcos nodded. "I lucked out with her. There's only one problem. She cooks mostly Cuban food. This is the only Argentine dish she knows how to make."

She clucked sympathetically. "Imagine that. I had no idea you were so deprived." With satisfaction, she popped a forkful of creamy potato salad into her mouth and chewed it thoughtfully.

He raised one dark eyebrow as he peered at her from across the table. "Sarcasm again?"

"
Nooo
. I was sympathizing with you," she said, savoring a morsel of meat
.

Marcos glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall. "Abuelita Coqui should be arriving in about an hour." He ate in pensive silence, drinking wine and savoring the meal. After a few moments, he said, "Let's go over what I told you about her this morning."

"It's not necessary. My memory works fine. "

"You better quit baiting me or Abuelita's not going to believe we're engaged. Now let's get acquainted and you start cooperating, okay?"

"Ookay. We wouldn't want to disappoint your dear old abuelita."

"We'll have to do more than answer questions to convince my grandmother we're engaged."

"Oh? What did you have in mind, Doc?" she asked, gazing into his eyes.

"She will expect me to be openly affectionate with you. Like this." He gently cradled her jaw with his hand and kissed her.

"What—what are you doing?" Gabriela stammered, pulling away.

"What engaged couples do."

Gabriela fought to catch her breath. His mouth had felt warm, his lips soft and firm against her vulnerable mouth. Her heart raced at the intimate sensations he'd aroused with one simple kiss. He was gazing at her with seductive fire in his eyes, luring her, robbing her of her senses...

What a naïve fool she'd been not to consider for a minute that this charade would include physical affection from Marcos! Just last night she had felt a stirring of riotous passion when his strong arms had led her in the seductive tango. She had spent most of the evening telling herself that it was the music and the champagne affecting her and not his intense physical appeal.

But now this kiss.

Marcos' steady gaze unsettled her. "You didn't mention that was part of our deal," she said, swallowing hard as she avoided his eyes.

He turned her chin to face him. "I didn't think I needed to. If you pull away when I kiss you, Abuelita will find it odd and catch on."

Standing abruptly, Gabriela gathered the dishes and utensils and carried them to the sink. In awkward silence, she quickly rinsed and loaded them into the dishwasher, not meeting his gaze so he wouldn't see her confusion.

"Gabriela," Marcos said quietly.

"What?" she said, not turning to face him.

"You'd better not be having second thoughts because it's too late for that." His tone held a warning note.

"You're paying me handsomely and you're a pretty decent kisser. I'll just have to pretend to enjoy it," she lied.

Marcos chuckled, not the least bit put out by her back-handed compliment. "I'll do my best to keep you satisfied," he promised.

The doorbell rang, startling them both. Wide-eyed, they stared at each other for several charged moments before simultaneously mouthing, "Abuelita Coqui!"

Another ring prompted Marcos to shout, "Be right there!" before grabbing Gabriela's arm and dragging her into the living room.

He gathered their purchases in his arms and propelled Gabriela toward his bedroom and threw the bags on his bed.

"Quick! Change into the black dress," he ordered tersely and shut the door in her face.

She opened it a crack and hissed, "Don't order me around!"

Behind the closed door, Gabriela heard voices raised in happy greetings. It sounded like two women. Of course, she told herself, Marcos had mentioned that Abuelita Coqui would be arriving with his sister, Marisol.

"Where is your fiancée?" she heard the younger female voice ask. "I thought you said she'd be meeting us here."

"She'll be right out, Marisol," Marcos answered.

"I'm dying to meet her," she said eagerly.

"Abuelita Coqui, I've missed you. I can't believe you're here," Marcos said affectionately.

He must have picked her up, because the older woman exclaimed, "Put me down
, hijo
! Only your engagement could make me get on an airplane again. You've made this
viejita
very happy."

At the mention of engagement, Gabriela glanced at her hand and realized they'd forgotten to buy a ring. She moved away from the door and changed into the black dress and high-heeled pumps. Grabbing her discarded clothes and the shopping bags, she shoved them into Marcos's closet and took a quick glance around, noting the neat array of male clothing and shoes. Did he employ a full-time housekeeper for just one person? she wondered in disbelief.

Just as she approached the door, she heard, "Maybe you should check on your fiancée. She's taking a long time to come out and meet us. Could be she changed her mind about saddling herself with you," Marisol added with a teasing note.

Marcos laughed a little too loudly for Gabriela's taste. "Gabriela got a sudden stomachache. I think she has a bad case of the jitters over meeting you."

"Oh no. I hope you haven't scared her into thinking I'm some sort of ogre," Abuelita Coqui admonished.

"Not at all," Marcos said. "She just tends to be a little shy around strangers."

That did it!
Gabriela flung the door open and sauntered out to the assembled party. "Hello, everyone!" she cried out in a loud, cheerful voice. "I'm Gabriela Morales, Marcos's
shy
fiancée." Her tone belied her words to such an extent that everyone chuckled, everyone except Marcos, who watched her with suspicious eyes.

A petite blonde wearing a bright coral cashmere sweater atop snug black leather jeans ran up and kissed Gabriela's cheek in greeting. "And I'm Marisol, Marcos's shy sister," she said, extending the joke. She turned to the stylish, older woman beside him who wore a tailored blue wool suit and pearls. "Meet our dear Abuelita Coqui."

Gabriela extended her hand to an impeccably groomed elderly woman and she was instantly drawn into her warm smile and twinkling brown eyes. "
Mucho gusto, Doña Coqui,
" she said, saying "nice to meet you" in Spanish.

"The pleasure is mine, dear," Abuelita Coqui replied as she embraced Gabriela affectionately.

"You speak perfect English," Gabriela said, pleasantly surprised.

"Abuelita learned English in boarding school." Marcos turned to Marisol. "How are my favorite twins?"

"Getting plump and sassy," she said.

"Just like their mom," he returned, ruffling the top of his sister's tousled hair. "Good to see you, shorty."

Marisol slugged his shoulder. "Cut it out."

"You're not plump," Gabriela said, noting that Marisol looked a lot like her older brother. Her eyes had the same thick lashes, but instead of having jade green accents, they sparkled with amber/gold flecks. She also had the same cleft in her chin, but the corners of her lips naturally curved upward where Marcos' usually formed a firm line.

Marisol turned to Gabriela with a pained expression. "Marcos loves to rib me because I hate being the only short one in the family. He might have gotten the height in the family, but I got the looks," she said, sticking her tongue out at him.

"Mocosa,
" he returned affectionately.

"You call me a brat again and I'll tell Gabriela what your childhood nickname used to be," Marisol said, her amber eyes glittering mischievously.

"Ay,
these two still bicker like children," Abuelita Coqui said, shaking her gray curls. She sat down on the sofa and patted the space beside her. "Come and sit with me, Gabrielita. I want to hear all about you."

"Wouldn't you like to rest after your long voyage?" Marcos asked solicitously.

"Don't be so exaggerated," Abuelita Coqui said, waving a jewel-laden hand at him. "I might be old, but I'm not feeble, Marquitos."

Marquitos?
Gabriela grinned at Abuelita Coqui's boyish nickname for Marcos.

"Still, you should rest. You've been traveling for two long days," Marcos said.

The older woman gave her grandson a sharp glance that discouraged further insistence. "Puh! I'm not tired, I tell you. I'd rather have a tour of your apartment." She turned to Gabriela with an expectant look. "Will you show me around?"

Marcos and Gabriela exchanged a cautious look that seemed to amuse Marisol.

"She'd love to, but Gabriela doesn't live here," Marcos said.

Abuelita Coqui beamed at Marisol in approval. "An old-fashioned girl. How refreshing. Do you live nearby, dear?"

"I live near the beach about fifteen minutes from here."

Abuelita Coqui nodded and smiled. "Do you like to cook?"

"Yes, very much. Would you like to see the kitchen?"

"I'd love to."

Marisol linked her arm with Gabriela's as they walked toward the kitchen. Abuelita took Marcos' arm and they followed behind.

"How's Marcos behaving?" Marisol asked in a stage whisper.

"He has his moments," Gabriela said dryly.

Marisol cracked up. "Tell me about it. He can be so bossy sometimes—"

"Marisol, don't criticize your brother," Abuelita Coqui chided.

"Keep that up and I'll call Clay to get you out of my hair."

"Hey, Clay is my husband. That takes precedence over your friendship. Besides, he's busy babysitting the twins," Marisol said, making a face at him.

In the kitchen, Abuelita Coqui asked Gabriela for a glass of water. When it took her three tries to find the right cabinet for the glass, she caught Abuelita Coqui exchanging a puzzled look with Marisol. Marisol responded by shrugging her shoulders and grinning at her grandmother. Gabriela wondered if they had caught on that she was in Marcos' apartment for the first time.

Abuelita Coqui inquired about the barbecue facilities and pool area and Gabriela was hard-pressed for an answer. Luckily, Marcos rescued her just in time.

"Gabriela rarely swims in the pool. She doesn't like the way the chlorine damages her hair," he said, barely suppressing a grin.

Gabriela had to refrain from rolling her eyes at that ridiculous excuse. She loved to swim!

Abuelita Coqui was bright and inquisitive and as outspoken as her grandchildren were. Why couldn't she have been a shy, quiet old lady?

Marcos asked Marisol, "Will you be joining us for dinner? I can add you to our reservations."

"Nah. I wish I could, but I have to get back home," Marisol said, her face radiant. "Clay still gets a little flustered when the girls start fussing." She turned to her grandmother. "Abuelita, I'll come and get you on Monday."

"Well... that won't be necessary. Not yet," Abuelita Coqui said, smiling.

"Why not?" all three asked in unison.

"I've decided to stay a few days longer," she replied.

Gabriela's widened eyes met Marcos' stricken ones before he recovered enough to say, "Great!" with forced enthusiasm.

Marisol let out a delighted peal of laughter.

Behind Abuelita Coqui's back, Gabriela caught Marcos' eye and shot him an anxious look.

Abuelita Coqui smiled serenely, oblivious to the havoc she had just created.

Chapter 4

Awkward silence filled the room until Abuelita added, "I want to get to know Gabrielita and welcome her to our family." She glanced up at Marcos. "I won't be in the way for a few days, will I?"

Marcos flinched at the sudden vulnerable expression clouding his beloved grandma's wise, old eyes, and he wanted to beat himself up for lying to the woman who had raised him with love and generosity.

"Of course not," Marcos said, planting a kiss on her cheek as he gave her a hug. The last thing in the world he wanted was to hurt her feelings. Keeping one arm around his grandmother's shoulders, he drew Gabriela forward with his other arm, settling it around her nipped in waist.