“Your life is with me now. You will pack a suitcase, inmediatamente, and come with me.”
“This is America, Alejandro. You can’t kidnap me and force me onto a plane. We have laws against that.”
He laughed. Cute of her to try and dissuade him with fear of the American authorities. And completely useless. He would do anything, no matter how ruthless, no matter how underhanded, to win this battle with her.
Anything to safeguard his child.
“Nevertheless, you belong to me. You will cooperate, or I will make sure you never see this child again after it is born. I will use any means necessary to win. Do not mistake me.”
Her breathing grew faster as she battled some deep emotion. Tears, no doubt. He would not be swayed if she lost control. He knew he was being harsh, but icy fear had him in its grip. He would protect this child at all costs. He would never, ever allow Anya’s fate to strike again. This baby would be tested within an inch of its life. So would he. And so would Rebecca. He would leave nothing to chance.
“Why do you have to be so cruel?” It was little more than a whisper.
Her words pricked him. But he had no use for misguided attempts to imbue him with guilt. “Life is cruel. Better to face the bull head on, sí?”
She sank back onto the couch, her breathing irregular. The hairs on his arms prickled. Dios, she’d had trouble breathing once before. Once, when he’d upset her. He would not let that happen again.
He dropped to his knees in front of her, gripped her shoulders. “Breathe, Rebecca. All will be well. Come with me and I will take care of you both. I promise you.”
She dropped forward until her forehead was touching his, pulled in deep breaths. He cupped her jaw in both hands, smoothed his thumbs over her cheeks. He’d missed touching her. So much. “Shh, mi querida, don’t fight. Think of something happy, yes?”
“Easy… for you… to… say….”
“Kittens,” he said. “Kittens are happy. Or puppies. Sí, think of these things. I will buy you a puppy. Or a kitten. Or both. Just be calm,” he said softly, caressing her slowly, rhythmically. His heart battered his ribs as he worked to soothe her. Because of the baby. It is only because of the baby…
“You will not… take… my baby. Not—”
“No, I won’t.” What else could he say? It was imperative she be healthy for their child.
“Your… word, Alejandro.”
He knew what he had to do, though it filled him with dread. But he hadn’t faced down dozens of angry bulls in his career only to cower before a task as monumental as this one.
“You don’t need my word, mi amor. You will have my name.”
She blinked. “Marriage? You’re asking me to marry you?”
He stifled the urge to laugh. “Asking? No. We will marry, Rebecca. Our baby will not be torn between us or shuffled from London to Madrid and back on a revolving schedule.”
He thought she might argue with him. Instead, she nodded. “Then I guess my answer is yes.”
Rebecca wandered through Alejandro’s villa, looking at bedrooms and trying to decide which would be best for a baby. Señora Flores hovered, always offering tea or food or asking if Rebecca wanted to sit down and rest. It was a far cry from how the woman had behaved when she’d first arrived from Hawaii all those weeks ago. Then, Señora Flores had treated her with indifference. Now the woman behaved like a worried aunt.
Rebecca pressed her temples against the headache flaring to life as she took a seat in the library and grabbed a book. She still didn’t know what to do with herself. She was used to working long hours, not hanging around like a pampered house cat. In the few days since she’d boarded Alejandro’s plane in New York and followed him to Spain like a lovesick puppy, she’d quit her new job and gone to a flurry of doctor’s appointments that Alejandro insisted upon.
He’d barely spoken to her since they’d arrived. She hadn’t quite expected his absence, but she had to admit she wasn’t surprised. He’d gotten what he wanted. He was probably still laughing at how easy it’d been to convince her to accompany him.
But marrying him was the best decision for their child even if it wasn’t for her. Alejandro would be a good father. A fierce, protective father. His child would never be an afterthought in his life. She was comforted by that knowledge.
For herself, however, a lifetime of heartbreak lay ahead. He’d gone to extraordinary lengths to take over her company, yet the real punishment would be in living with him and loving him when he was incapable of reciprocating the feeling.
Unexpectedly, Alejandro returned later that afternoon to collect her for yet another doctor’s appointment. Because of what had happened to Anya, Rebecca didn’t fight him over it. He had a need to be there, a need to be involved and understand everything that happened with her pregnancy. He wanted to protect the baby. If it helped him feel somehow in control of the future, she wouldn’t stop him.
The appointment was routine. Alejandro was sensible enough about her wish not to have him there for the pelvic ultrasound, but he returned immediately after. They both had blood taken for the genetic testing Alejandro insisted on having, though the baby couldn’t be tested for heart defects until much later. The doctor assured them that if they both were fine, the baby most likely would be too.
She didn’t think Alejandro would accept that conclusion without having the baby tested, but she would find it reassuring if they were clear.
They climbed into the limo and headed for the villa. Traffic was thick as usual and Rebecca was busy watching people on the sidewalks as they passed by. Studying the women’s clothing and wondering if any of them were in love with a moody billionaire too.
“We need to set a date
