Page 16 of Consequence of One Reckless Night

“You know, there’s a saying on the island that the women of Pérola make good wives,” he said, smiling warmly at her while she squirmed in her seat. “I think we will be good together.”

No, she wanted to scream at him. She wouldn’t make him a good wife—she’d already failed him!

“Leandro, I...” She gulped past the thick ball in her throat, constricting her airway. “There’s something... you need to know.”

“Tell me.”

Words dried up on her lips.

That he was prepared to listen to her, stumped her. Leandro really wanted this marriage to work, she realized, and it saddened her that she couldn’t even pretend to want this marriage. How could she, when she was considering backing out of this arrangement?

“I know my grandfather wants a quick wedding, but I can push it out by a month or so,” he said, taking her reticence for anxiety. “I’ve been extremely busy with work but that is no excuse for not making time for you.” His sincerity tugged at her heart. “Why don’t we get to know each other first?”

She searched his handsome face, taking in his gentle eyes and warm smile, wondering why he was kind to her. Why didn’t she feel more for this man while she had literally incinerated in Alexandre’s arms? She felt no flicker of emotion when she looked at Leandro. Why didn’t her heart flutter when she gazed at him? Why didn’t her blood sing in her veins? And why did she keep seeing Alexandre’s features in Leandro?

Lifting a hand to her throat, Raquel looked away—aghast. Why was she still thinking of Alexandre?

“I can’t...” she muttered, certain that she couldn’t go through with this wedding.

Leandro was a good man, and he deserved a good woman.

“What is it? You’re shivering.” Immediately he took her shaking hands in his and encompassed them between his warm ones.

“No!” she cried, pulling her hands away. She didn’t deserve his kindness. Tears misted her eyes as she staggered under his concerned gaze. “Leandro, I...”

“Sir.” A woman interrupted their conversation. “Your grandfather requests your presence at the dinner table.”

Dismayed at the interruption, Raquel feared she would lose her mind if she didn’t tell Leandro the truth now. “Leandro...” She caught his arm when he got up to leave. “I must tell you...”

“Can we talk after dinner, Raquel? Surely this can wait?”

She wanted to protest—wanted to tell him that she couldn’t endure another minute of his kindness. She wanted to tell him the truth and then leave. But she found herself nodding, letting him walk her back to the house.

****

Dinner was a long-windedaffair with several courses, none of which Raquel enjoyed. It wasn’t that the food was bad, but the aroma of seafood made her stomach turn. When a plate of squid rings appeared in front of her, she simply picked up the accompanying sliver of lemon and sucked on it. It offered some reprieve—the tart tangy flavor temporarily masked the strong aroma of fried fish, grilled prawns and curried beef that emanated from the heavily laden table.

But it offered no respite from the storm brewing inside her, and nothing could quell the ominous feeling that something terrible was going to happen tonight. What could be more cataclysmic than her revelation to Leandro?

“What’s wrong?” Leandro sat beside Raquel, startling her. “You’ve gone pale. Do you need some fresh air?”

Desperate to step away from the disconcerting aroma of the lavish feast before her, Raquel nodded. She stood up, and Leandro followed suit.

He was a comforting presence beside her as they moved toward the French windows that opened onto a well-manicured lawn. They’d merely taken a few steps when suddenly, Leandro’s mother let out a startled cry.

“How dare you step inside this house?”

Leandro froze beside her, and Raquel looked around to see who Erica had spoken to, but his massive shoulders blocked her view.

“Who invited you?”

Beside her, Leandro replied. “Mother, I invited him.”

“Why?” Erica cried. “I told you I don’t want him in this house!” She was clearly distressed by the newcomer. “Tonight is about family and he isn’t part of this family!”

“Mother, heisfamily.”

“You never fail to disappoint me, Erica,” someone crooned indolently, and Raquel frowned as goosebumps burst on her skin. A chasm yawned open inside her as a frisson of unease raked down her spine. Where had she heard that voice before?

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