At His Service: Flirting with the Boss: Crazy about her Spanish Boss / Hired: The Boss's Bride / Blind Date with the Boss. Элли Блейк

than ever she realized how careful she needed to be from now on. She laid the towel over the chair.

      Her host flicked her a veiled glance. In the interim he’d changed into trousers and a work shirt. She’d give anything to know what he was thinking behind that brooding facade.

      “You’ll have to excuse me, Jillian. Something urgent has come up that needs my attention. I’ll see you later. Enjoy your meal.” She watched him leave and felt life go out of the room.

      Not wanting to sit here alone, she carried her tray of food back to the bedroom. With unexpected time on her hands she walked over to the laptop and composed an e-mail to Pia while she ate. Once it was sent, she reached for her phone and called her brother.

      “Thanks for getting back to me, Jilly. Are you alone?”

      Quite alone. She wondered what emergency had called Remi away. “Yes.”

      “Good. This is your big brother you’re talking to now. How bad is it? I want the truth!”

      With her emotions in knots over Remi she’d actually forgotten about her eye. She got to her feet and started pacing. “I told you earlier. There’s one spot that’s blurry. That’s it. I’m already used to it.”

      “No, you’re not.”

      Her hand tightened on the phone. “Listen—there’s something more important I have to tell you.”

      She sank down on the side of the bed. In the next breath she explained about her new business venture and her plan to stay until December.

      “Jil—”

      “Just hear me out,” she interrupted. Having anticipated an argument, she told him about the tragedy Remi had lived through. She hadn’t planned on telling him something that private, but the situation had changed drastically since their last conversation.

      Her words silenced her brother, who eventually muttered, “The poor devil.”

      She jumped to her feet, unable to sit still. “He hasn’t let it defeat him. Remi’s remarkable.”

      “He sounds like you. But be careful, Jilly. I can hear it in your voice.”

      Heat filled her cheeks. “Hear what?”

      “You’re nuts about him. Angela and I’ve been hoping you’d meet someone, but when a man’s been hurt that deeply, those wounds have scarred him. One day he could destroy you without even realizing it. He’s not like Kyle in any way, shape or form. You do know that.”

      “Yes,” she whispered, trying in vain to hold back the tears.

      He made a strange sound in his throat. “I don’t think you do, but it’s too late for this talk, isn’t it?”

      The feel of Remi’s fingers in her hair still rippled through her body. “I’m afraid it is.” She wiped the tears with the back of her free hand. “Let’s change the subject. How’s Angela doing?”

      “All’s well. It’s the waiting game now.”

      “Have you picked out a name yet for my newest nephew to be?”

      “We’ve narrowed it down to Max or Matt.”

      “I like both.”

      “Maybe our baby won’t look like either one and we’ll have to come up with something else.”

      She’d been thinking about Remi’s babies, the ones she wanted to have with him. They’d have incredibly long, gorgeous names like Basilio Remigio de Gray y Goyo, or a Carolina Alfonso Domenica de Gray y Goyo. Whether Conde or Condesa, they’d have beautiful olive skin and flashing black eyes. Their children would be loved and cherished and—

      “Jilly?”

      She blinked. Her brother was still on the line. “I’m here. I was just about to tell you I’ll fly over for a quick visit in August to see the new arrival.”

      “We’re all looking forward to that. The kids adore their aunt.”

      “I love them,” she said, her voice trembling. “Now I’d better let you go so you can earn your living.”

      “Don’t be upset with me, Jilly. All I want is your happiness.”

      “That goes both ways. We’ll keep in close touch. Love you.” She hung up before he could say anything else.

      Depending on how things were going by August, maybe Remi would fly over with her. He could visit his distributor in New York. She could drop in to see Pia. They could even write it off as a business expense.

      Perhaps Remi would even drive to Albany with her. She wanted the two men in her life to meet. Angela would absolutely die when she saw Senor Goyo for the first time. If Jillian was going to dream, might as well dream big until it all turned into a nightmare.

      That was the problem with a wonderful brother like Dave. He’d never steered her wrong. Was she deluding herself to hope the day might come when Remi would reach out for her love?

      Troubled by the conversation with Dave, she moved over to the window and looked out through haunted eyes at the olive groves. The blurry spot prevented her from seeing things perfectly. Maybe it went deeper than her eye. Maybe it had impaired her judgment so she only saw what she wanted to see.

      Her mind kept replaying what he’d said about Remi. He’s not like Kyle in any way, shape or form.

      No. Her man of La Mancha had demons, and maybe like Don Quixote she would be forever tilting at windmills in an effort to help Remi get past them.

      CHAPTER EIGHT

      “GRACIAS.” The two little girls thanked Jillian for the sack of marzipan she’d bought them in Madrid. She sat with them on the rim of the fountain and ate the delicious confection. This was a favorite spot because there couldn’t be a more beautiful courtyard anywhere in Spain.