The Spaniard's Love-Child by Kim Lawrence Read Free Book Online Page B

‘No problem. I’ll get a blanket and pillow.’
    â€˜No need. I’ll take the chair.’ He nodded towards the chintzy number. ‘You have the sofa.’
    â€˜That’s stupid, you’re too tall.’ She eyed his six-feet-five frame with as much objectivity as she was capable of.
    â€˜We could share?’ he suggested.
    â€˜If you’re going to be facetious…’ she croaked as a wave of debilitating heat washed over her body.
    There was no humour in the look he sent back. ‘I appreciate a frank exchange of views as much as anyone, but do you have to turn everything into an argument?’
    â€˜That’s rich coming from…’ She stopped as he began to shrug off his jacket. His actions followed by her disbelieving eyes, he then proceeded to slip the top button of his shirt before responding in a tone that did not invite discussion.
    â€˜I’ll take the chair.’
    The subject of where they should sleep no longer seemed so vitally important to Nell. Her tense glance kept flickering from his face to the section of bare, lean golden torso—a section that was getting larger and larger with each passing second.
    â€˜What are you doing?’ she asked.
    â€˜I’m taking off my clothes.’
    â€˜I can see that!’ His skin was an even golden all over—at least everywhere she could see. There was a light dusting of dark hair across his chest, which was broad. There was not an ounce of excess flesh to hide the well-defined but non-bulky musculature of his upper body. Perfect was an overused term but in this case it seemed frankly inadequate to describe how better than good his body was.
    If he was aware of her scrutiny it didn’t seem to bother him. ‘Then why did you ask?’
    Nell opened her mouth to reply, saw him unfasten the belt around his trim, lean belly and changed her mind. She literally ran to the airing cupboard in the bathroom, yanked out all the spare blankets she had, ran back into the room, threw half of them at him and switched off the light. She climbed into her own makeshift bed fully clothed.
    It was a little while before the sounds of Raul settling down stopped.
    â€˜Sleep well, Nell Rose.’
    The amusement in his deep voice made her bring her teeth together in jarring impact. Of course he knew she wouldn’t sleep. He knew she would lie there in the dark, a bundle of lustful longing.
    In the darkness she scrunched up her face in a mortified grimace. How could you be so obvious? Acting like a scared idiot who had never seen a man semi-clothed before.
    â€˜Goodnight,’ she replied coolly.
    The other side of the room Raul heard the moment her breathing changed and became deep and regular. He didn’t sleep.

CHAPTER FIVE
    N ELL opened her eyes. ‘Hello,’ she said, stretching sleepily like a cat. One arm still curled above her head, she smiled.
    Raul caught his breath at the sleepy invitation in the long-lashed china-blue eyes.
    â€˜What are you doing?’
    The shrill accusation in Katerina’s voice succeeded in severing Nell’s link with the dream world. She jerked upright, her eyes wide, her mouth half open, gasping for air like someone who had just been immersed in icy water.
    â€˜I…I was dreaming…’ For a moment there—a dangerous moment—subconscious and conscious, dreams and reality had clashed.
    â€˜Your eyes were open.’
    Raul straightened up with far less haste. Without any sign of self-consciousness he began to button up his shirt. ‘Good morning, Katerina,’ he said to his niece.
    â€˜What are you doing here?’ she snarled, bristling with suspicion. ‘And what,’ she added with a pointed glare in Nell’s direction that shrieked traitor , ‘are you doing with Nell?’ Her lip curled. ‘Like I need to ask…’
    Ridiculously Nell felt guilty. ‘Your uncle stayed because by the time we’d