“I don’t want to hurt you.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at her. She reached up to trail her fingertips along his jaw. She could see him in the dim light from the moon, the hard lines of his face, the outline of his big body silhouetted against the pale wall behind him. He really was here. Tomorrow, she’d be humiliated by the things she’d said. Tonight, she just wanted answers.
“You’ve already hurt me,” she said softly. “What’s one more time?”
“Go back to sleep, Rebecca.” He kissed her palm and placed her hand over her heart. “Dream about kittens and other happy things.”
His hand ghosted over her hair and then he was gone.
Señora Flores knocked on Rebecca’s door the next morning and asked her to come to Alejandro’s office. She was finishing getting dressed so she had the señora tell Alejandro it would be a few minutes. When she finally arrived, he was sitting at his desk, dark head bent over his work. He looked up when she walked in, his eyes skimming her body.
Was that heat she saw? Or disdain? She could no longer tell.
She’d dressed carefully in a pale pink dress with little blue flowers that she knew looked good on her. It helped to give her confidence and she swayed her hips as she entered the room. Alejandro got to his feet and came around the desk.
“You look lovely this morning, Rebecca.”
“Thank you.” Her heart beat a little harder at the compliment.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Well enough.” She cocked her head. “Did you carry me to bed last night or did I imagine it?”
He nodded. “Sí. You were asleep on that cramped chaise. You would have awakened with a knot in your neck.”
She rubbed a shoulder and tried not to think of the things she’d said to him last night. “I think the cramp settled here, quite honestly.”
Alejandro made a noise as he came around behind her. His hands settled on her shoulders and her entire body electrified. He seemed not to notice as he began to rub.
“You must be careful, Rebecca. You are pregnant and must get proper rest.”
“I know I’m pregnant, Alejandro,” she said with a touch of annoyance. But was she annoyed at him for stating the obvious or at the way his hands felt so good digging into her shoulders?
“Then go to bed and don’t insist on sleeping on a cramped chair.” His fingers dug into her shoulders, loosening the tight muscles. She wanted to lean back against him, but she did not allow herself the luxury.
His scent stole to her, and she closed her eyes as she breathed him in. Why couldn’t life be simpler? Why couldn’t they really be in love and planning a happy future together?
“There,” he said, moving away after a few minutes. “That should help.”
Rebecca shrugged her shoulders as he walked around the desk and sat down again. She sank into the chair he indicated. “It feels better. Thank you.”
“De nada.” He shuffled some papers on his desk and then turned them until they faced her. “You will please take this and read it.”
Rebecca had to scoot forward to see what he was showing her. Her heart tripped and heat flashed into her cheeks. “A pre-nuptial agreement.?”
“Sí. Surely you are not surprised?”
Her skin burned. “No, I can’t say that I am.”
A rich man—or woman—had to protect assets. But since she’d told him what Parker and her father had done to her, how they’d tricked her—well, it somehow hurt that he would present her with a legal document that basically said he didn’t trust her. She had to stop looking at it that way, but she couldn’t quite help it.
“You will want to read and sign this morning. We will marry this afternoon.”
Her head snapped up. “So soon?”
“There is no need to wait. You may of course confer with your attorneys about the agreement.”
Rebecca’s belly twisted. But he was right. Why wait? Getting married was simply a step at this point. It wasn’t about love.
She stood and clutched the papers to her chest. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to do some reading.”
“Of course.”
Rebecca returned to her room to find a full breakfast from Señora Flores waiting for her. She took a seat at the table placed by a sunny window and began to read. The document was straight-forward enough and contained no strange or oddly worded clauses. She didn’t need an attorney to tell her what her rights and duties were according to the contract. At the end of an hour, she picked up a pen and signed it, her eyes smarting for some reason.
She started to take it back to Alejandro but changed her mind. Instead, she rang for Señora Flores and asked her to deliver the documents. The housekeeper wore a disapproving look as she took them, though Rebecca didn’t think the look was for her.
“Sí, I will take them. Rest up, señorita.”
Rebecca didn’t see Alejandro again until his sister and brother-in-law arrived, and she went down to meet them. She’d changed into a cream silk dress with a skirt that floated around her knees. She might not be getting married in a church, but it was still her wedding and she wanted to look a little like a bride.
Valencia exclaimed when Rebecca walked into the gathering room where she and her husband Phillipe were seated with Alejandro. All three of them stood and Valencia hurried over. She was stunningly beautiful, a smaller version of her brother with sparkling eyes and long black hair. If Alejandro smiled more, his face would be as warm and welcoming as Valencia’s.
“Rebecca! It is so nice to finally meet you.” She hugged Rebecca, who was a little taken aback at her warmth but also grateful for it. “You are so lovely! No wonder Alejandro is smitten.”
“I… Thank you. It’s nice to meet you too,” she said, a little flustered but also aware that now was not the time to correct Valencia’s mistake.
