Читать книгу At His Service: Flirting with the Boss: Crazy about her Spanish Boss / Hired: The Boss's Bride / Blind Date with the Boss - Элли Блейк, Ally Blake - Страница 10

REMI NOTICED Dr. Filartigua’s reception room was filled with patients wearing eye patches. Apparently this was the postoperative day for his cataract patients, all of them much older than Jillian. The nurse called them back every five minutes for a quick check.

He’d driven Jillian to Madrid early that morning to make certain she was on time for her appointment. As it turned out they were early. He guided her to the only empty chair and remained standing until the room started to empty.

Looking fresh and incredibly attractive in a peach-colored sundress with its charming little short-sleeved jacket, she drew everyone’s attention. While she waited to know the extent of the damage to her eye, no one would know the depth of her fear. Remi was the one exception.

During the drive from the estate he’d been treated to her heightened animation and conversation. Her remodeling ideas were brilliant, but he could hardly concentrate because he knew all that emotion covered anxieties building since the accident.

When she’d met him outside the main house at eight this morning she’d been carrying her suitcase. His first instinct was to take it from her and put it back in the house, but he didn’t act on it. Jillian had been bracing herself for today and didn’t need anything to upset her.

Without saying a word he’d stowed the suitcase in the trunk of his car. He’d wait until they left the doctor’s office before further discussion about her future took place.

“Senora Gray? Come with me, please.”

The reception area had emptied. It was Jillian’s turn. Whether she wanted him or not, Remi followed her back to the last room. While the nurse helped her to sit on the end of the examining table, he found a chair and sat down.

“Dr. Filartigua will be right in.”

As soon as she went out the door, Jillian darted him a glance. “This is it.” Relief filled his system that her first words hadn’t told him she wanted to be alone. “Did I tell you I couldn’t see anything the last time I put in the drops?”

She’d prepared herself for the worst, but no one was truly ready to hear bad news, least of all Remi. If he hadn’t been on the highway at that moment, he doubted the accident would have happened. Regardless, he had to be strong for her now.

“That was four days ago. A lot of healing has gone on since then.”

He heard her take in a deep breath. “Whatever happens, thank you for seeing me through this.”

“Where else would I be?”

“At work.”

“Not today.” Before he could say more, the door opened and the doctor walked in. “Senora Gray. Has it been a week already?” He nodded to Remi.

“How are you, Doctor?” She sounded casual. Her courage would always humble Remi.

“I’ll know when I’ve removed this and learn what’s going on in there. Lift your head a little higher.” She did his bidding.

Adrenaline drove Remi to his feet. He watched the doctor remove the tape and peel the patch away.

“Oh!” she cried out at once. “I can see!”

Remi’s body quivered in reaction. Those first joyous words were the sweetest he’d ever known.

“That’s fine,” the doctor murmured. “How much can you see?”

“It’s blurry in the center, but the sides are perfect!”

“How blurry?”

“Um, like a piece of wadded-up cellophane.”

The doctor nodded, then got up to turn off the overhead light. “All right,” he said, coming back, “let me take a look inside.” He moved the eye equipment around and told her to fit her chin into the groove for the exam. “Look straight ahead and try not to blink.”

As she cooperated and followed his subsequent directions, Remi held his breath, waiting for a final verdict.

Finally the exam was over. The doctor pulled the machine away and turned on the light.

“Will the blurriness clear up?” she asked in a hopeful voice. Remi wanted the answer to the same question.

Dr. Filartigua walked over to her, cocking his head. “The hazy part of your field of vision will remain permanent.”

Permanent …

A groan rose in Remi’s throat.

“You have a condition called corneal scotoma. In lay terms it’s the blind spot left by the shard that went through to the retina.”

“I see.”

“In time you’ll adjust to the impairment. If the Conde hadn’t acted as quickly as he did, the internal bleeding could have affected the whole eye. Frankly, I didn’t think your peripheral vision would be saved. That means your right eye won’t be as dominant. It’s a great plus.” He patted her shoulder kindly.

“It is,” she whispered. “Thank you for saving what you could, Doctor.”

“You’re welcome, Senora. You only need to wear the patch at night to protect the eye while you sleep. Continue the drops from the purple label twice a day for three more weeks, then I want to see you again.”

After a silence, she asked, “Can I wash my hair yet?”

While Remi smiled through his unshed tears, the doctor chuckled. “If someone else does it for you. In three weeks you can return to your normal life and no more patch. On your way out, make an appointment with the receptionist.”

She nodded.

Remi shook the doctor’s hand, then turned to Jillian to help her down off the examining table, but when her feet touched the floor he found he couldn’t let her go.

Pulling her closer, he buried his lips in her hair. “You’re the bravest woman I’ve ever known. Gracias al cielo you’re still able to see something out of that eye.”

Her hands slid up his chest beneath his suit jacket. The sensation felt like liquid fire. “If it hadn’t been for you …” She rose on tiptoe and softly kissed his lips. “Thank you, dearest Remi.”

It wasn’t enough. He wanted to really kiss her, but she eased away from him too fast.

“We need to get going.” She reached for her patch and put it in her handbag. “You have a long drive back to the estate.”

He chose to keep silent a little longer and followed her out the door. At the desk she made an appointment. The receptionist gave her a pair of throwaway sunglasses. “Use these if the light is too bright.”

“Thank you.”

Remi noticed she didn’t put them on. He cupped her elbow and ushered her down the hall to the doors, but the moment they stepped outside, she halted. His arm went around her waist, fearing she felt faint. “What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing,” she stammered. “I’m sorry if I alarmed you. But without the patch it’s like seeing everything in Technicolor after being used to black and white.”

“I’m sure it will take some getting used to.” She nodded and put the sunglasses on.

“Better?” he murmured near her ear.

“Much.” She let out a little laugh. “Ironic isn’t it, when I’ve been praying to see anything at all? You don’t realize what your eye takes in until it can’t.”

Her comment reached right into his heart. He squeezed her waist before removing his hand. They walked to the parking lot at the side of the building and he helped her into his car.

Once behind the wheel he turned to her. “I know you want to phone your brother and tell him the good news, but before you do, I’ve a favor to ask.”

Her head was bowed. “After what you’ve done for me, how could I refuse?”

He stared at her appealing profile. “Stay at the estate until your next appointment.”

“I—I couldn’t do that.”

Her breathing sounded shallow. Why?

“You’ve done too much for me already,” she added.

“You haven’t heard me out.”

“Sorry.” She kneaded her hands nervously. “Please finish what you were going to say.”

“Your ideas for the remodeling are outstanding. Since you can’t go back to being a tour guide yet, I’d like you to talk over our business idea with a building contractor I’ve contacted. With you on the site he’ll be able to capture your vision.”

Her head jerked in his direction, causing the ends of her silky gold hair to swish against her shoulders. Both eyes stared incredulously at him through the sunglasses. With or without them, she took his breath.

“I have a lot of work to do right now and can’t be around that often,” he went on to say. “It will relieve my mind to know you’re overseeing a project that has the potential to make money for both of us. I’m relying on you.”

Maybe if he could get her involved enough, she might even forget to miss her deceased husband for segments of the day. Remi wasn’t fool enough to believe that because she never talked about him, he wasn’t continually on her mind.

When he’d felt her hands on his chest a few minutes ago, he’d feared she’d been wishing he were her husband and just for a split moment he wished he was. The thought was like a punch in the gut.

When Remi had fallen for his wife, he’d thought no man had ever loved more completely. After she and Javier had betrayed him, he’d thought he’d died and would never come back to life. Yet no one was more surprised than Remi, who sat here waiting for Jillian’s answer with more fear and trembling than he cared to admit.

He didn’t even need to look at the woman sitting next to him to realize such definitive statements like never or ever had a brief shelf life.

Jillian struggled to contain her emotions. Had he really asked her to stay at the casa until her next appointment? She knew he didn’t need her in order to go ahead with the remodeling. So what did it mean?

She knew what she wanted it to mean, but she’d only be fooling herself if she thought he had a personal interest in her.

There was only one explanation. Jillian had sought him out with a proposal on behalf of her tour company. Because of the complicated circumstances of the accident, they’d been thrown together and he’d discovered her idea had merit. After having been betrayed by those he’d loved most, it was only natural he’d prefer to work with her instead of a stranger. It was a miracle he trusted her.

Trying to keep the excitement out of her voice she said, “Thank you for your generosity, Remi. I would like to be on hand to see the changes, so I’ll take you up on your offer on one condition.”

“Name it.” She thought he sounded pleased and possibly relieved. After all, he was already planning on supplementing his income with her idea.

“When the contractor doesn’t need me, let me help around the casa or elsewhere. Dr. Filartigua was right. I am a workaholic, so please find something for me to do. That way I won’t feel like I’m always taking from you.”

“Agreed. What do you think you’d like to do?”

“Anything! Just point me in a direction.”

He chuckled. It was a glorious sound, one she’d rarely heard come out of him. “Let’s celebrate with lunch before we head back. Have you ever eaten at the Taberna Los Cabales? It’s on the south side of the Plaza de Santa Ana.”

“No. The few times one of our tours has come to Madrid, we’ve eaten at the Zalacain.”

“That’s a good restaurant for big crowds. The Taberna is much cozier and they serve excellent tapas.”

It thrilled her to be with him no matter what they did. “I’d love to try it.”

He flicked her a penetrating glance that sent feathery sensations through her body. “Better fasten your seat belt.” With that suggestion he started the engine.

“Imagine forgetting that after it saved my life—” She did it quickly. “I’d better call my brother.” Jillian was all thumbs opening her purse.

“I’m sure he’s waiting.”

While they pulled out of the parking lot, she rang Dave, who picked up before the second ring. “Jilly?” he cried her name anxiously. The love she felt from him caused her eyes to smart.

“I have terrific news, brother dear! I can see out of my eye. There’s one little spot that’s blurry and will stay that way, but everything else is perfect. I’ve been so blessed.”

The doctor wasn’t kidding when he’d said it would take a while to get used to partial vision, but Jillian wasn’t going to complain.

Too overcome with emotion, Dave didn’t say anything for a second. Taking advantage of the quiet she said, “I wish I could talk longer but another patient is waiting outside the examining room. Go back to sleep. I’ll call you tonight. ‘Bye for now. Love you.”

Remi couldn’t have helped overhear her tell that little fib about still being in the doctor’s office. He could make of it what he liked. After everything he’d done for her, it would hurt him if he knew how Dave felt. Remi had received enough hurts to last a lifetime. She’d do anything to protect him.

As they drove along she noticed that all the eating establishments were filled, yet Remi managed to get a table on the sidewalk of the Taberna. After they were seated opposite each other at one of the charming bistro tables, a waiter handed them menus and took their wine order.

She shook her head at Remi. “Not this early in the day for me. Especially when I couldn’t manage breakfast this morning. What I’d like is a tall glass of orange juice.”

“I didn’t eat, either,” he confessed sotto voce as if they were conspirators. He looked at the waiter. “Make that two large orange juices and a tray of assorted tapas.”

The other man nodded and disappeared inside the crowded restaurant. Jillian had a hunch Remi had decided against wine because of the drive ahead of them after lunch, but he always said and did the thing that would make her the most comfortable.

She loved him for it. She loved him. It was a good thing her sunglasses were on. Eyes conveyed emotions like nothing else. She preferred to hide hers and look into his while he wasn’t aware of it. They were inky black, yet they could brood, darken in pain, lighten in amusement, blaze in fury or pierce to the quick. How did that work?

“What have you decided?” His deep voice penetrated the sudden silence between them.

Her cheeks went hot. He’d caught her staring after all. She had to think fast. “This is the first time I’ve had a chance to really look at you out of both eyes.”

He sat back in the chair. With his black hair she found him devilishly striking dressed in a light gray summer suit. He’d toned it with a darker gray button-down shirt he’d left open at the neck. “Do I terrify you?”

She smiled. Yes, he terrified her because of the desire he’d aroused in her. It interfered with her breathing. “I haven’t run away yet, have I?” she teased to cover this onslaught of emotions she was having difficulty keeping under control.

While she waited for him to say something, the waiter chose that moment to serve them. It was just as well she didn’t hear Remi’s reply. Her gaze fastened on the dozen or so hors d’oeuvres arranged on an enormous platter. There was hardly room for their own plates. Next came the juice.

“Que aproveche!” he bid them before moving to another table.

“Try this first.” Remi used what looked like a cake server to put one on her plate. “This one’s called pil-pil.” An amusing name. The strong smell of garlic reached her nostrils. “It’s smoked cod cooked in its own sauce with olive oil.”

Jillian dug in and couldn’t stop with just one. Next came smoked salmon, then herb-flavored shrimps called gambas followed by crabmeat cangrejos with potato tortillas.

“It’s a good thing I’m not staying in Madrid for the next three weeks. In that amount of time I’d easily put on ten pounds eating here every day.” She’d never tasted anything so good. In fact it gave her an idea, but she didn’t have the temerity to share her thoughts with him just yet.

“I can sense there’s something on your mind, Jillian. Like to tell me what it is?”

He had the uncanny ability to read her mood and wouldn’t let go until he’d unearthed answers. She’d have to be very careful he couldn’t read her personal thoughts about him.

“These tapas,” she began. “I bet Maria would know how to make all of them and teach me.”

“Sí.” She had his full attention.

“I’m thinking big now, but it’s just an idea so don’t be too upset with me.”

“How big?”

“Big. The whole time we’ve been eating lunch I’ve had this vision.”

He rubbed his hard jaw with his palm. “I hear dollar signs. Is it going to break the bank?”

She fidgeted with her purse. “Temporarily maybe.”

“Maybe?” he asked silkily.

“Probably, but it’s a fabulous idea. You have an authentic setting on your property for something so unique and incredible, I’ve got goose bumps.”

“You’ve got the hair standing on the back of my neck. Go on.”

“What if you made the mill house into a tapas bar that would be open to the public as well as the tour bus groups? It would become the most famous tapas bar in all Spain. You could call it Holy Toledo!”

His dark head went back and deep laughter rumbled out of him, causing heads to turn.

She laughed, too. “It’s an old expression Americans say when they’re stupefied by something extraordinary. Considering you live so close to Toledo, I think it fits.”

Once he’d recovered, he asked in a deadpan voice, “Is there anything else you haven’t told me about this vision?”

“Well, as a matter of fact I was thinking you could provide entertainment on the weekends. That floor in the barn was made for flamenco dancing and those who wanted could take a carriage ride.

“What makes it so nice is that you could open up the old gate farther down the highway, the one you told me about that was closed off a long time ago. Using that entrance to the property would ensure people’s access to the bar without coming near your own private living quarters.”

He didn’t interrupt her. It prompted her to rush on.

“The olive press house could be a store to sell your fabulous product on demand. You could have little recipe books printed to tell how the tapas are made with Soleado Goyo olive oil. Yours would be the showplace of Castile-La Mancha.”

He was quiet too long as she knew he would be. “Like I said, I was thinking big.” She put her napkin down. “I’m ready to leave when you are.”

His dark eyebrows lifted in query. “Am I to assume you don’t want dessert?”

“After orange juice, I couldn’t.”

“Maybe I can change your mind.” With that cryptic comment, he put some bills on the table. “Shall we go?”

The female eyes fastened on him were legion, but he seemed oblivious. She liked the feeling of possession as he guided her through the tables to a crowded pastry shop near the end of the plaza.

It was a mistake to go in. While she was salivating over everything in sight, he bought two fabulous-looking treats for them. His dark gaze found hers. “I know you have marzipan in the States, but you’ve never tasted it like they make it here.”

“In that case let’s get enough for everyone at the casa. I’d like it to be my contribution.”

He didn’t interfere as she opened her purse and pulled out enough euros to pay for six more.

After thanking the saleswoman she turned to Remi, who was already eating his and insisted she try it. He put it to her lips. With her purse in one hand and the sack of pastries in the other, he’d left her no choice but to take a bite.

His fingers brushed against her lips, making her light-headed with longing. “No more, Remi,” she cried, laughing and endeavoring to swallow at the same time. By his dashing grin, he was obviously enjoying himself. So was she. Too much.

For the first time since the accident she was beginning to understand her brother’s concern. He wasn’t nearly as worried about Remi as he was Jillian’s willingness to be the guest of a man with the Senor’s importance and background.

More than Remi’s motives, it was her heart Dave was worried about.

My dear brother … if only you knew it was too late for warnings. Seven days too late.

She started to follow Remi out the door, but he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. It came without warning, causing her to bump into him. The sack dropped from her hand.

Jillian reached down for it, then looked up to see another man right outside the shop who bore a faint resemblance to Remi. The other man’s lean body stood frozen in place. Even with her sunglasses on, she could tell the color had drained from his face.

“Javier,” Remi said, acknowledging him.

Her chest felt this stabbing pain before Remi’s hand closed around her wrist. He had no idea of his strength, but she didn’t cry out. Together they left the shop, sweeping past his brother to find the car parked around the corner.

After helping her in, his long, powerful length slid behind the wheel. He sat there without turning on the ignition. Wanting only to comfort him, she reached across the seat and covered the top of his hand welded to the gearshift.

Jillian had no idea how much time went by before Remi drew her hand to his mouth and kissed the palm. Weakness attacked her body. When he finally relinquished it, they left the city without speaking. Once out on the highway she sensed him stir.