Tomorrow was the big day. She and Matilde were flying out to Madrid with Cristiano, and when they arrived his personal driver was going to meet them and transport them the seventy kilometres to the town where he lived. The thought was exciting, but somewhat overwhelming too. Cristiano kept telling her not to be daunted—that everything would work out perfectly—but Dominique could not help fearing it might not, and then where would she be? Back in this too-small bedsit with a growing infant and barely enough money coming in to make ends meet.
Pausing as she turned to the half-filled suitcase she’d hefted onto the foldaway bed that doubled up as a couch during the day, Dominique sighed heavily as she gazed critically round her. As optimistic as she’d tried to be when she’d first set eyes on the place, she’d be a liar if she didn’t admit the rundown décor and general living conditions weren’t depressing. If she hadn’t had a baby to look after and a job to go to five nights a week perhaps she might have got round to doing some redecoration to freshen it up a little …
No … she was glad to be leaving this bleak, dreary environment to go somewhere warmer and more welcoming. The only thing that was really making her stomach roll over time and time again was the idea of going with Cristiano. Seeing him on and off over the past few days, for lunch or coffee, and walks in the park whenever she could grab an hour or two away from the demands of her week, had not lessened her heightened awareness of the man one jot. She had learned that he definitely liked to take charge, that he had certain old-fashioned views about men taking care of women, and that he could be brusque one minute then absolutely charming the next. With Matilde he’d assumed the role of a very fond uncle, and he loved to make a fuss of her and buy her little gifts—pretty dresses and baby toys that had clearly been purchased from the more upmarket department stores.
All in all, he did the things that most women would love their children’s fathers to do for them, and Dominique sensed that her vow to distance herself from men in general after what had happened with Ramón was being seriously compromised by his appealing attentions. However, she knew that once back in Spain Cristiano would have his own very independent life to lead, and although he would be close at hand, she and Matilde would not command his attention half so much as they did here.
That was good, she told herself. She absolutely did not want to need or depend on him—She had learned too well how no one could be relied upon. But it would be very hard when she had become so used to his presence as well as his reassurance and advice. Somewhere deep inside Dominique sensed a warning that she knew she should seriously heed. She’d already been abandoned by her father, and the father of her child. Did she want to risk making the same catastrophic mistake again by becoming too attached to Cristiano? He was merely acting as a sort of guardian for her and Matilde until he got them safely back to Spain, and that was all. After that his life would resume as normal, and Dominique would be busy getting used to a completely new situation—as well as a whole new set of people on her own. The thought gave her serious butterflies.
The phone rang, startling her, and she scrubbed a hand round her face to help focus. Her tone had an unknowingly husky cadence as she spoke into the receiver. ‘Hello?’
‘Dominique?’
The sensually commanding Spanish voice that answered had become compellingly familiar, and an involuntary shiver rushed through her at the sound of it.
‘I was wondering if you might ring,’ she replied, shocked that the word she had actually been going to use was hoping. Feeling mild irritation at her foolishness, she was glad that Cristiano wasn’t there in person to witness her telling blush.
‘How is the packing coming along?’ he asked, and she heard the smile in his voice.
Glancing down at the only half-full suitcase, Dominique grimaced. ‘Actually, I had to take a break from it for a while. I had some friends round this evening to wish me bon voyage, and I’ve only just got Matilde off to sleep after all the excitement. I’m just about to carry on.’
‘Do you need any help? I could be there in about half an hour.’
‘No! There really isn’t any need … thanks.’
Her hand was shaking as she threaded it through her hair. Right now she didn’t need the added distraction of his presence, and besides, she was sure he had seen enough of her depressing bedsit. No, she would be far more relaxed packing her meagre belongings on her own rather than have Cristiano helping her.
‘It won’t take me long, and then when I’m done I’m going straight to bed. We have an early start in the morning, right?’
‘I will be there to collect you at around eight-thirty. Our flight is at eleven. I hope the baby won’t disturb you too much tonight … you will need your rest with all the travelling we have ahead of us.’
‘I have a feeling she’ll sleep through.’
‘Good. I rang my family earlier, and they will definitely not be sleeping through,’ he said ironically. ‘They are overwhelmed at the idea that you are coming and they are going to see Ramón’s daughter at last.’
‘No more overwhelmed than I am at the thought of meeting them.’
‘You have nothing to worry about.’
‘So you keep telling me!’
‘And what I am telling you is the truth. Anyway … I think I should let you go now and finish your packing. Buenas noches, Dominique. Sleep well.’
‘Goodnight …’
Suddenly saying his name seemed too intimate, so she chose to exclude it, but as she replaced the receiver on its rest it came to her that she was holding her breath …
Matilde had won over the airline staff as soon as they boarded, and during the flight in the first class cabin the steward and stewardess assigned to look after them took every opportunity to stop and make a fuss of the beautiful infant. In turn, her huge brown eyes and happy dimpled smile declared her definite approval of being the centre of so much attention. Cristiano could not help but feel a strong wave of pride that the irresistible little girl had Cordova blood running in her veins, and he knew that when she was grown she would be a magnet for all the young men in the vicinity. He frowned, surprised by the worry this thought produced. Already protective towards her, he also sensed a definite possessiveness where her mother was concerned, and that perturbed him. Dominique was young and beautiful. Some day she would marry, and another man would assume the role of guardian and protector to her and her child. And that was just as it should be. Cristiano would be relegated to a far less important role in their lives and he would simply have to learn to accept it. His jaw tightened.
Glancing at Dominique now, as she stared out of the window at the clouds—just as he himself had been doing only a week ago on his way to meet her—he silently observed her classic, flawless profile and knew great pleasure in doing so. Matilde had fallen asleep on her lap, and the baby’s head was snuggled into the groove of her arm. Together they made the most beguiling tableau.
‘What do you see out there amongst the clouds?’ he asked softly, leaning towards her.
Her dreamy blue-eyed gaze settled on his face in surprise. ‘It’s compelling, isn’t it? It makes me wish I could fly … get away from everything troubling that’s going on down there on the ground and escape up here into the silence and solitude. That would be amazing!’
A frisson of concern rippled through Cristiano. ‘This world makes you wish to escape it?’
‘Doesn’t everybody feel like that from time to time? What’s the matter? Have I said something wrong?’
‘No. Of course not.’ Determinedly releasing the tension that had gathered