A Spanish Engagement by Kathryn Ross Read Free Book Online

here?’
    ‘Yes. If my father refuses to retire I will. Ultimately this vineyard is my home, the place I was born to be. That sense of belonging is a very strong pull.’
    Something about the way he said that struck a chord inside Carrie. She had never had that sense of belonging. Her mother had died when she was seven and she had been sent to live with her father and stepmother. She had never felt she belonged in her father’s new life. The only good thing that had come out of it had been her half-brother Tony…and his daughter Molly.
    Swiftly she tried to focus away from Tony before her grief started to encroach. There was no use looking back; the future and Molly were all that mattered. And she was going to have to go back and face Molly’s grandmother with determination, tell her the truth: that there was no man in her life but that she was self-sufficient and more than capable of giving Molly a good home.
    The housekeeper came back in to ask if they had any further requirements.
    Carrie straightened her cutlery on the plate. ‘No, that was absolutely delicious, thank you very much,’ she said.
    Carrie glanced at her watch as the dishes were removed from the table and was surprised to find she had been here over three hours. ‘Heavens, I’d better make a move,’ she said swiftly. ‘I didn’t realise it was so late.’ She reached for her case and brought out a copy of the advertising contract. ‘I’ll leave this for you to look over, Max,’ she said. ‘If you are happy with the contents you could sign it and post it back to me tomorrow.’
    Max didn’t reply immediately. ‘Perhaps I could return it in person tomorrow evening? It’s Saturday night—we could have dinner together.’
    The softly asked question sent shivers of awareness through her. ‘That’s not really necessary, Max,’ she said swiftly.
    ‘Maybe not necessary, but pleasurable,’ he murmured confidently.
    Was he flirting with her? she wondered suddenly, alarm bells ringing. Here was a man used to women agreeing with his every word, but that wasn’t her style…and this was business. ‘If you would like to come into the office on Monday morning to discuss any changes you’d like to make, then that’s fine,’ she said quickly. ‘But I’m busy tomorrow night.’
    Max accepted her reply with nonchalant indifference. ‘I’ll phone you on Monday and we will arrange something then. How’s that?’
    ‘Yes…’ Carrie pushed her chair back from the table. ‘Yes, that’s fine.’
    Max watched as she opened her bag and took out a business card. ‘My office number,’ she said swiftly, handing it across to him. ‘Remember nothing is set in stone—we can change things to suit your requirements.’
    ‘Good, I like a bit of flexibility.’ He grinned at her and it made her heart skip in a crazy way inside her chest.
    ‘Right, well, I should go now. She felt it imperative to get out of here fast, before she found herself agreeing to have dinner with him. It would be so easy just to say yes. Business and pleasure don’t mix, she told herself again firmly.
    ‘So I’ll speak to you on Monday,’ she said briskly as they stepped outside into the sunshine.
    ‘You will indeed.’ She wondered if it was her imagination, or was his tone huskily deep with an undertone of promise?
    To counteract the feeling she tried to be even more businesslike. ‘Thank you for your time.’ As they reachedher car she turned and held out her hand to end the meeting in a formal way.
    But as he reached to shake her hand there was nothing conventional about the feelings that suddenly raced through her body. The touch of his skin against hers was electric.
    Hurriedly she pulled away from him and got into her car; her heart was bouncing against her ribs. The last man who’d had this effect on her was her ex-husband. The lessons learnt there were too strong to ignore. Max Santos had to be strictly kept at arm’s length, she told herself fiercely as she