Authors: Sophia Knightly
"It's wonderful you've decided to stay a while longer, Abuelita." He gave Gabriela's waist a squeeze. "Isn't it, Gabriela?"
Gabriela yelped and tried to extricate herself from his grasp. "Don't do that, Marcos. You know how ticklish I am!"
"Sorry, I forgot," he said, not the least bit remorseful. His hand slid down from her waist to rest on her hip, causing Gabriela to stiffen and flash him a private warning with sparking green eyes. Grinning openly, Marcos winked at her just to see her reaction.
Abuelita Coqui's eyes twinkled behind her stylish eyeglasses. "Stop flirting so much, Marquitos," she admonished, clearly pleased with the romantic scene before her.
"I gotta go,
viejita,
" Marisol said. She hugged her grandma and gave her lots of kisses until the older lady was protesting and chuckling fondly. "When are you coming to visit us?" Marisol asked Marcos, clapping him on the back.
"Soon. I miss the little ones," he said.
"And they miss you. They can't wait to dress you up again," she taunted.
Gabriela gave Marcos a curious look. "What were you dressed up as?"
Marisol snorted. "He looked adorable. The girls put Hello Kitty barrettes in his hair and a frilly pink scarf around his neck." She pulled out her iPhone. "I took a picture. Here, wanna see it?"
Abuelita and Gabriela giggled at his picture.
"Put that away, Marisol," Marcos growled. "The little brats did it while I was asleep in front of the TV!"
"Ha, you were just pretending to be asleep. Look at the smile you're trying to hide," Marisol said, pointing to the picture. After she said her final good-byes, she left in a whirlwind of energy.
Knowing that Abuelita Coqui had to be tired despite her assurances that she wasn't, Marcos said, "Abuelita, we have reservations at seven. Let me show you to your room so you can unpack your bag."
"Would you like some help unpacking?" Gabriela asked.
"No, thank you, dear
.
It's just a few things," Abuelita Coqui said. "I'm going to rest a while. If I fall asleep, will you wake me up in half an hour?"
Marcos smiled. "Of course." He waited until Abuelita Coqui went into the guest bedroom before frantically gesturing at Gabriela to go to the balcony. He went outside first and reached for Gabriela, pulling her outside with him.
"This was only supposed to be for the weekend, not an extended visit!" she snapped, the moment they were out of ear shot.
"I don't have the heart to disappoint my grandmother. She flew over eight hours just to meet you."
"That's makes me feel so rotten. What are you going to do when she returns to Buenos Aires? You can't keep lying to her forever. "
Grimfaced, Marcos said, "I'll worry about that later. I've never made it a secret that marriage is the last thing on my mind. Especially since two of my friends were ruined by their divorces and I don't want to end up like them." He didn't tell her the real reason was that he'd seen enough bickering and ugliness between his parents to never want to get married.
"Well, don't worry about me getting any ideas. I wouldn't want a con artist for a husband." Gabriela turned away and faced the ocean.
Marcos touched her shoulder. "I need you to cooperate until Abuelita leaves."
Gabriela turned to face him with brittle eyes and flushed, rosy cheeks and Marcos was tempted to run his hands through her glossy, ebony curls floating in the sea breeze.
"I'm going to put myself at your mercy," he said, when she remained silent.
"That's a nice start."
"I'm doing it for my grandmother. She's so delighted about our engagement; I don't have the heart to disappoint her."
Gabriela remained unmoved by his plea for sympathy. "You should have thought about that before lying to her."
"You saw how old she is," he continued, undeterred by her accusing tone. "This will probably be the last trip she makes to the States."
Gabriela's full lips tightened into that disapproving little line she seemed to save for him.
"You make her sound feeble and she isn't."
Marcos ran an impatient hand through his hair. "I didn't say she was feeble, just getting older." He paused, trying to find the right words to persuade her. "We both know I need you to pretend that you're my fiancée until my grandmother leaves."
"Yes," she agreed slowly.
"I'm willing to pay you $500 a day plus expenses, if you'll consider going along with this for a few more days."
"How about a thousand?"
"A thousand! Isn't that a little steep?"
"It's for a good cause."
Marcos hiked an eyebrow. "You?"
She raised her chin indignantly. "Of course not! It's for the Fresh Start Center. That's the only reason I would even suggest it." She paused. "Looks like I'm going to need to do more shopping."
"Damn, woman, for someone who used to like functional clothes, you sure have changed your tune," he observed dryly.
Gabriela's face broke into an enchanting smile. "Say yes to more shopping and you've got a deal, Doc."
Seeing her sudden enthusiasm, he had to wonder if their recent shopping session had unleashed a shopaholic. His gaze traveled over the new Gabriela before him, admiring the way the chic black dress glided over her shapely curves. She was blessed with the type of curves a man could sink his hands into, not skin and bones like some of the women he dated who were constantly dieting.
Fruta jugosa,
he thought, hiding a wry smile. That was exactly what Gabriela's delectable body reminded him of—sweet, juicy fruit.
* * *
Seated at a round table inside the Capital Grille restaurant with Abuelita Coqui and Gabriela, Marcos's thoughts strayed from their conversation. His dealings with Gabriela at the hospital should have clued him in to the fact that she wouldn't be easy to manage.
"Marcos," Abuelita Coqui prompted, laying her hand on his.
"Sorry. What did you say, Abuelita?" he asked, jolted to the present by the feel of her papery, cool hand on his. It made him sad to see how much she'd aged in the two years since he'd seen her.
His grandmother gave him an odd look before repeating, "I asked how long you and Gabriela knew each other before getting engaged."
"Uh," he hedged, glancing at Gabriela who was relishing the grilled salmon, oblivious to his discomfort. "About a year."
Abuelita Coqui's brows drew together, even as she continued to smile. "Really? That long?"
Her disbelieving tone wasn't lost on Marcos, and he was saved from elaborating when Gabriela answered for him. "We wanted to be sure that we were compatible in every way. Isn't that right,
mi amor?"
Marcos took a sip of the cabernet sauvignon and peered at Gabriela with growing suspicion. Had he detected a faint note of sarcasm beneath her honeyed tone when she'd called him "her love" in Spanish?
Languidly stroking Gabriela's soft cheek, Marcos replied,
"Si, gatica,
" using the first nickname that came to mind. Truth was she did look like a cat, with her slanted green eyes and bewitching smile. Surprisingly, she didn't pull away from his caressing hand, but from the look she gave him, he could tell she didn't like him calling her "kitten" in Spanish. Smiling to himself, he remembered how soft her lush mouth had felt earlier when he'd surprised her with a kiss. He would find more opportunities to taste that delectable mouth again.
"Do you have any brothers and sisters?" Abuelita Coqui asked Gabriela.
"No. I'm an only child," Gabriela replied.
"That's why she's spoiled
,
" Marcos teased, sighing in mock resignation. "I'm afraid Gabriela likes to get her own way in most things. And she has quite a weakness for the finer things in life," he said with a chuckle. He wasn't prepared for the fiery glint in Gabriela's eyes when she glowered at him in response. Apparently he'd hit a raw nerve.
"I'm not spoiled at all," Gabriela protested. "Unlike
some
people, I haven't been handed everything on a silver platter," she said, giving Marcos a pointed look.
Abuelita Coqui's eyebrows rose and her eyes clouded with bewilderment.
Marcos retrieved his hand from Gabriela's silken cheek and stared at her, dumbfounded. He had no idea she thought he was spoiled and it cut him to the quick. She had sent him a direct insult in front of his grandmother. What on earth had gotten into Gabriela? he wondered with a flash of irritation. It was one thing to tease innocently, as he'd just done, but her response had been blunt and heartfelt. He'd have to address her undeserved scorn for his personal life before the evening was through.
"You can't mean Marcos," Abuelita protested, looking from Gabriela to Marcos in astonishment. "He worked very hard to get where he is. It wasn't because of our family's wealth. Becoming chief of obstetrics is quite an accomplishment for one so young."
His grandmother's staunchly proud look warmed Marcos's heart, and he was gratified to see Gabriela flush with embarrassment.
"No, I didn't mean your grandson, Doña Coqui," Gabriela assured her in a softer tone, even though Marcos thought she could have tried to sound more convincing.
His iPhone pinged with a text and he was glad for the excuse to leave the tense atmosphere. "Excuse me, Abuelita, I have to call my service." He rose from the table and strode to the entrance of the restaurant, where he could return the call in private.
As he spoke to the hospital, Marcos stood at the entrance of the dining salon and observed his grandmother and Gabriela chatting amicably. He had instinctively known that his grandmother would like Gabriela, but he hadn't imagined how much. Could it be he'd taken Gabriela's last comment a little too personally? He shook his head, remembering the way her green eyes had glowed with conviction when she'd made her damning statement about the rich.
Well, at least Gabriela had behaved admirably earlier that afternoon when she had prepared a cup of chamomile tea laced with honey for his grandmother and had taken it to her room to awaken her before dinner. How astute of her to guess just what the older woman needed to revive herself.
In spite of their ruse, Gabriela seemed comfortable around Abuelita, entwining her arm with hers whenever she walked beside her. And she had seemed to enjoy meeting Marisol, evident in the warm way she'd said good-bye to his sister after exchanging phone numbers with her.
Marcos suddenly realized that Gabriela was a naturally affectionate woman with everyone but him!
But why should he care? he thought with a flash of annoyance. Gabriela was there for one purpose, to play the part of loving fiancée so convincingly that his grandmother's matchmaking inclinations would cease.
Once Abuelita Coqui left, Marcos could resume his budding relationship with Nicole Harrison. When he remembered he had Nicole to consider, his resolve to see the week to a fitting end was bolstered. He'd invested too much time and money in this venture to quit now just because Gabriela kept surprising him with pointed barbs.
He'd have a little talk with her, reminding her who had forked over fifteen thousand dollars, a new wardrobe and an additional five hundred dollars per diem to ensure her cooperation. Once she saw the light and realized she didn't have the upper hand to behave any way she wanted toward him, then she'd come around. He could bet his wallet on it.
Renewed with the prospect of putting little Miss Smug in her place, Marcos returned to the table in time for the arrival of coffee. Downing his espresso in one gulp, he smiled at his grandmother. "I'm needed at the hospital for a delivery. I'm really sorry about this, Abuelita. I hope you and Gabriela don't mind staying for dessert and taking a taxi home," he said, glancing from her to Gabriela.
He gave Gabriela a meaningful look. "Christy Ramirez is in labor three weeks before her due date."
"Christy? Oh, no," Gabriela said, filled with alarm. Feeling the need to explain her reaction, she turned to Abuelita Coqui. "Christy is an unwed teenage mom who is quite alone in her ordeal. I'm her birthing coach."
"Marcos, please take me home immediately." Abuelita Coqui grabbed her purse and stood. "You must take Gabriela with you so she can help the young girl give birth," she said in a clear, commanding tone that belied her eighty-five years.
Glancing at his militant grandmother, Marcos seemed to know she wouldn't be easily dissuaded. He signaled for the check and paid it quickly before departing from the restaurant.
When they arrived at his building, Gabriela walked Abuelita Coqui to the front door while Marcos waited in the car.
"Adios
,
Doña Coqui
. It was wonderful meeting you," Gabriela said, meaning it. She had spent a delightful evening getting to know the older woman. "I'll see you tomorrow morning for Mass and then brunch."
"I enjoyed meeting you, too, Gabrielita," Abuelita Coqui said. "We have much to talk about. I'm a little worried that you're angry with Marcos for some reason. Is that the case?"
Feeling sheepish, Gabriela said, "Well, it's nothing important. I didn't appreciate him calling me spoiled in front of you. I guess it wasn't worthy of the rudeness I showed this evening. I apologize."
"No, dear," Abuelita protested. "Don't apologize for your feelings." She patted Gabriela's shoulder in a motherly way. "But please, go and make up with him. I'd rather see him smiling at you than scowling," she said with a smile.
Using Marcos' key, Gabriela unlocked the front door and turned on the lights for Abuelita Coqui. She gave the older woman a hasty peck on her powdery, scented cheek. "Until tomorrow then."
The second Abuelita Coqui closed the door, Gabriela ran back to the car and climbed inside. "Hurry!" she cried, "I'm worried about Christy. Why did she have to go into labor so early?"
Marcos glanced at her. "In her case it might be better for the baby to be born a little earlier. She's too tiny a girl to be carrying such a large infant."
"Do you think she'll need a C-section?" Gabriela asked anxiously.
"I won't know until I examine her," he said, sounding slightly exasperated. "Stop worrying, Gabriela. Christy will be in good hands once I get there."