Surrender to Her Spanish Husband. Maggie Cox

I didn’t.’

      ‘Then it was just as well you decided our marriage wouldn’t work, wasn’t it?’

      Lifting the pan off the stove, Jenny poured the steaming milk into two waiting ceramic mugs, then gave the contents a brief stir. Bringing their drinks to the table, where Rodrigo sat silently and broodingly waiting, she lowered herself into the chair opposite him. Straight away he scented the soap she’d used to wash herself with. It smelled like newly laundered linen. Once again it lit a fire in his blood that made him feel more alive and intensely aware than he had in ages.

      Sighing softly, she focused her shimmering corn-flower-blue eyes on his. ‘One day you might meet someone you really care for, Rodrigo, and change your mind about having children.’

      ‘I don’t think so.’

      ‘How can you be so sure?’

      ‘Because I know exactly what I want and what I don’t want. There’s no confusion about that.’ His mouth set uncompromisingly.

      ‘It must be marvellous to be so certain of things…to be so sure that you’re right.’

      Jenny turned her face away. When she glanced back Rodrigo couldn’t pretend he didn’t see the avalanche of hurt in her eyes. It all but sliced him in two, knowing he was the cause of it.

      ‘It doesn’t feel so marvellous when you put it like that,’ he replied drolly.

      ‘Then let’s change the subject. Let’s not talk about us—what we want or don’t want—let’s stick to safer topics. Your shower…was the water hot enough?’

      Shrugging, Rodrigo warmed his still chilled hands round his mug of hot chocolate. ‘It was fine.’

      ‘Good.’

      ‘You worry too much about others, Jenny.’

      ‘I suppose I do. At least I worry that Lily’s guests have everything that they need and are comfortable. It’s a big responsibility, taking care of someone else’s house and business, and I want to do a good job for her while I’m here.’

      ‘Trust me…you do such a good job of taking care of your guests that you would put a top hotel to shame.’

      ‘I suppose you’d know about that, wouldn’t you?’

      ‘I suppose I would.’ Regarding her from beneath the sweeping black lashes that any female would envy, Rodrigo edged a corner of his mouth towards a smile. ‘Anyway, I’ve always believed in acknowledging effort and good work where I see it.’

      ‘Your staff must love you for that. As well as being paid well, everyone wants to feel valued.’

      He raised an eyebrow. ‘I agree. Sometimes employers can forget that.’

      In his mind Rodrigo made a quick inventory of some of the people who worked for him…Were they happy? Did they consider him a good employer? Certainly his management team seemed to think so. After all, in fifteen years he had had very few complaints. From that he had to deduce that all must be well. For their loyalty and hard work he rewarded his staff with regular bonuses and luxury breaks at different foreign resorts from the ones they worked in, as well as seeing to it that they all had good pensions and private healthcare. He also knew that despite his strict adherence to high standards, he was well liked.

      ‘So, you still enjoy your work?’ Jenny enquired, dark blonde brows lifting a little.

      ‘Yes, I do,’ Rodrigo replied.

      Now it was his turn to guard and protect his feelings. The stormy night, this warm cosy house and its unexpected pretty and familiar hostess might have lulled him into relaxing far more than he had in ages, but he was not about to confess to Jenny that lately he had fallen a little bit out of love with his chosen career.

      ‘I suppose that was a bit of a stupid question.’

      ‘It wasn’t.’

      ‘I mean…your work is your life, right? Of course you must still enjoy it.’

      Taking a brief sip of her drink, Jenny licked the chocolate-coloured froth from her lips with the tip of her elegant pink tongue. Already feeling the disturbingly sensual effects of her alluring sweet company, Rodrigo felt the taut muscles in his belly constrict even more.

      ‘My dad was only a plumber, but he really enjoyed his work too.’ Her gaze roamed from Rodrigo’s features down to his Ralph Lauren sweatshirt. ‘Of course he didn’t dress nearly as stylishly or expensively as you. Truth is he never made a lot of money, even though he worked hard. If he thought a customer would struggle to pay his bill he’d only charge them half the price. He wasn’t a natural businessman, I’m afraid. But he was the very best father you could wish for.’

      ‘You clearly admired and loved him very much.’

      ‘I did. After all, what could be more important than being a good parent, and supporting, loving and adoring your children so that they don’t ever doubt they mean everything to you? Being good at business is nothing in comparison to that.’