SHE WENT THROUGH the paperwork, noting the recommendation for her mother’s treatment to be started immediately, preferably at a state-of-the-art facility in Miami. Closing the file, Suki walked to the sofa and sat down.
The pressure that had been building since Ramon walked into her hotel room this morning intensified. Her pulse raced and in a fit of agitation she reached up and tugged the pins from her hair. The simple of act of unknotting her hair brought a tiny bit of relief. But her mind continued to spin at the sheer enormity of what he was asking of her.
Spiking her fingers into her hair, she briefly massaged her scalp, then raised her head to the dominating figure poised like a dark overlord before her. His gaze was on the heavy tresses gliding over her hands and down her shoulders. He seemed momentarily fascinated with what she was doing, but, too soon, dark unwavering green eyes locked on hers once more.
‘Are you ready to discuss this properly?’
She took a deep breath. ‘You can have any woman you want. You only have to click your fingers to have them lining up outside your gate to have your baby. Why go to these lengths? And why me?’
This time the trace of pain was fleeting, very hurriedly controlled. ‘I can’t just pluck a surrogate off the Internet. These things take months, sometimes even years to find a right match.’
‘What about your little black book? Surely you have conquests that went beyond a one-night stand, who will be happy to bear you a child?’
His full lips compressed. ‘I haven’t yet come across a woman who, no matter how much she initially claims otherwise, doesn’t start imagining a deeper, more meaningful relationship with me at some point. I’m not interested in that.’
‘Right. You were so not interested in that that you were once engaged to be married?’
He ignored her sarcasm. ‘I was once engaged because I believed a relationship was a viable option for me. I no longer believe that. Marriage is not for me. And why you?’ He shrugged. ‘Because you require a sperm donor and I happen to need a surrogate. The timing couldn’t be better. Besides, with you I know exactly what I’m getting.’
‘And what’s that?’
‘A black-and-white transaction with no frills, no insincere platitudes and one hundred per cent commitment signed in ink.’
Her chest squeezed tight. ‘I’m not just going to hand over my baby to you the moment he or she is born, Ramon. You can forget that right now.’
Two things happened right then. All six feet four inches of him froze in rigid attention. And Suki realised just what she’d said.
‘So you agree to bear my child?’ he clipped out after a long moment, his voice strangely hoarse.
Her breath shook out. ‘I...no. Not yet.’
‘This is very much a yes or no situation.’
‘And I very much would like five minutes to think about what I’m agreeing to before I say yes to bringing another child into this world!’
He rocked back on his heels, then turned towards his desk. ‘While you think about it, I’ll get the kitchen to bring you some refreshments.’
Her raw laugh scraped her throat. ‘Canapés aren’t going to make deciding any easier.’
‘Neither will starvation and dehydration. You’re much thinner than you were the last time I saw you.’
‘Yes, I’ve been through a trauma or two,’ she replied.
‘I’m aware of that. But we still need to remedy that,’ he countered.
‘Fine, let’s fatten me up for the slaughter,’ she muttered under her breath, because he was already lifting the phone, relating instructions in rapid Spanish.
That done, he returned to his position as silent, merciless master in front of her. After several minutes had gone by, he crossed over and sat down next to her. Elbows on his knees, he angled his body towards hers.
‘What is it, Suki? Spit it out.’
She didn’t want to say the words out loud, but the fear in her heart wouldn’t dissipate. ‘I’m...are you not afraid that something will go wrong?’ Again.
A muscle ticced in his jaw. ‘You were about to get yourself artificially inseminated. What guarantees do you have that that pregnancy will proceed smoothly?’
Her heart twisted. ‘None.’
He nodded. ‘Muy bien. Then we are in the same boat. But rest assured we will have the benefit of the top obstetricians in the world monitoring you round the clock.’
The assurance eased the constriction around her heart, followed swiftly by the realisation that she was seriously contemplating agreeing to Ramon’s wishes.
‘What do you think he would say to you helping me to continue his family line?’
Her heart tugged painfully, the belief that Luis would’ve urged her on so strong, her breath caught. Whether that was the reason the constriction further eased in her chest, or because she now had fresh hope for her mother, she didn’t know. And even if she seriously considered refusing, with Ramon determined to throw himself in the way of her having a child any other way but with him, her options for a child of her own were limited, considering she had very little financial resources left.
But another child...with Ramon? Her insides clenched with apprehension at the thought of creating another child, this time deliberately with him. But next to that apprehension, a tiny quiver she refused to label as hope and excitement began to unfurl. She pushed it back down, unwilling to let it spring forth when there was so much more to consider.
‘How will we manage this? You work and travel all over the world. I live in England. You know I’m not about to hand over my child to you the moment it’s born. So how is this going to work?’
‘Our child will be born here in Cuba. Once he or she is old enough, relocating my offices anywhere in the world will not be a problem. We will decide when the time comes how that will be handled.’
She frowned. ‘I have a job, Ramon. You expect me to what...just give it up to sit around while waiting to have your baby?’
‘I would prefer that you do not work while you’re pregnant and of course in the first few years of the baby’s life—’
Her stunned laughter stopped him. ‘You’re joking, aren’t you? That’s not how the real world works. I have bills to pay, my mother to look after once her treatment is over.’
‘How do you intend to do that when your latest request to return to work was denied?’
Her mouth dropped open. ‘Is there any part of my life that you haven’t dug up yet?’
‘I don’t know what your favourite colour is or which brand of toothpaste you prefer. But we have time for that.’ He picked up the agreement and held it out to her. ‘Read the agreement, a little more carefully this time. Pay attention to clause five.’
She eyed him for a few seconds before she accepted the papers. The clause he mentioned was on the third page. Shock bolted through her, blurring her vision after she’d counted six zeros. ‘You can’t...this is another joke, right?’
‘This is to ensure that our child remains your number one priority. To ensure you don’t have to think about bills or work or anything beyond our baby’s welfare. Your mother too will be well taken care of.’
‘I hadn’t planned on anything else superseding my child’s well-being but...this is an absurd amount of money.’
His sensual mouth pursed. ‘You seem to have trouble grasping that nothing about this discussion is humorous, Suki.’
‘Probably because I’m still finding it hard to believe that you truly want this.’
He grabbed the papers from her and once again shoved them aside. His hands cupped her shoulders, bringing her close enough so she didn’t miss every flicker of emotion that crossed his face.
‘I want a child, Suki. You will be the woman who bears me that child. Is there some other way you wish me to say that before you believe that I mean it?’ he rasped in a deep, fervid voice.
Perhaps it was the electric burn of his hands on her bare skin. Or the minute tremble in his voice that spoke of soul-deep intent and yearning. Whatever it was, it cut through the fog of her remaining indecision. Even before her head had fully grasped her intent, her heart had accepted that this was what she would do.
For her mother.
For herself.
Perhaps most of all for Luis. The knowledge that she would play a hand in ensuring her friend’s bloodline lived on filled her with the same sense of joy she’d been honoured to receive from Luis. Through her child, she would always have a piece of her friend.
‘No, you don’t need to say anything else,’ she whispered.
‘So you agree?’
She nodded again. ‘Yes.’
He stared down at her for another long spell, his thumbs absently sliding back and forth on her skin before his gaze dropped to her lips. As if he’d touched them, they tingled wildly, the blood plumping them until she slicked her tongue over her lower lip to alleviate the sting.
‘What time frame do we have to work with?’
She frowned. ‘I...what?’
‘Is the window closing on this month’s cycle?’ he demanded.
That wasn’t a question she’d expected. Because those weren’t questions near strangers asked each other.
She closed her eyes as heat flared up her face. ‘I... I’m... God, I can’t believe I’m discussing my menstrual cycle with you.’
‘It’s a naturally occurring event and nothing to be embarrassed about,’ he replied.
‘I’m not embarrassed, I’m just...’
‘Being very English about it?’ he enquired with a dry tone. ‘Would you have preferred us to discuss the weather first before we got to the nitty-gritty?’
She shrugged. ‘Maybe. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with discussing the weather.’
One side of his mouth quirked. ‘Maybe I will oblige you next time,’ he answered. Then waited.
‘Yes, I stop ovulating in three days,’ she eventually murmured.
His gaze dropped back to her mouth, his nostrils flaring lightly as he leaned closer, filled her personal space with his larger-than-life aura. ‘Then you will come to me tonight.’
Too soon. Much too soon. Suki swallowed. ‘No.’
He stilled. ‘Perdón?’
She shook her head. ‘I said no. Not tonight. I just... I need a little time to take all of this in.’
A frown gathered at his forehead. ‘Nothing will change with more time,’ he warned.
‘I know that, but I’m still taking the time I need.’
His mouth pursed into a forbidding line. But any response coming her way was halted by the knock on the door. A handful of seconds passed before he released her. At his command, a member of his kitchen staff entered wheeling a serving trolley piled with trays of hot and cold beverages, pastries and neatly cut sandwiches.
The middle-aged woman smiled affectionately at Ramon before setting the tray on the coffee table. ‘This is Teresa. She’s my housekeeper.’ He repeated the other side of introduction in Spanish, to which Teresa smiled and responded, adding a few more words Suki didn’t understand.
Ramon shook his head and dismissed her, then reached out to place several pieces of pastry on a plate. Passing it to her, he indicated the drinks. ‘Which would you prefer?’
She wanted to laugh at the mundaneness of eating following the tense last hour.
‘Coffee, please. Thanks.’
He poured two cups, adding sugar and cream to hers at her request before passing it over.
For a few minutes he drank his coffee without making conversation while she nibbled on a finger sandwich. Unable to stand the tension, she picked up another triangle of pastry, and bit into it. The unexpected flavoursome guava and cream cheese filling made her mouth water, her very empty stomach reminding her how long it’d been since she last ate.
‘What are these?’ she asked, more to make conversation than anything else.
‘They’re called pastelitos. Teresa makes the best ones.’ He nudged the tray towards her. ‘Have another one.’
She didn’t refuse. A barest trace of amusement whispered over his face as he watched her devour a second one.
‘After we finish eating, I will show you to your suite. When you’re rested, I’ll introduce you to the rest of the staff and give you a tour of the villa.’
Grateful for the first normal conversation she’d had since he’d turned up at her hotel this morning, she took another bite. ‘Thanks, that would be good.’
‘Tomorrow morning, Suki. I will not wait longer than that.’
The thought of him and her...in broad daylight...threatened to send the pastelitos and coffee down the wrong way. ‘Tomorrow night,’ she countered quickly after swallowing.
He didn’t frown, but the air of displeasure once again shrouded him as he set his cup back onto the saucer. ‘Any reason why you wish to waste a further twenty-four hours?’
She tried a shrug, but it didn’t quite come off as smoothly as she would’ve wished. ‘Isn’t it enough that we’ve agreed to do this thing? Is there any reason why we need to...umm do it during the day?’
The slight widening of his eyes was the only indication that he was surprised. That surprise turned swiftly into sardonic amusement. ‘Are you trying to tell me that you only engage in sex at night, Suki?’ he drawled.
She set her cup and saucer on the table. ‘We’ve discussed my monthly cycle. There is no way I’m discussing my sexual history with you.’
‘How many lovers have you had?’ he asked in the next breath.
‘Perhaps you didn’t hear me—’
‘I heard you. Answer my question.’
She stared back at him, the need to challenge burning inside her. ‘You go first,’ she said, knowing it would put an end to the absurd line of questioning.
He gave her a number. A number much lower than she’d anticipated. ‘Close your mouth, Suki. Not everything you read in the papers is accurate. In fact I’ll stake my fortune on the fact that ninety per cent of what’s said about me is false. Now, it’s your turn.’
She closed her mouth, knowing the number she was about to reveal would scream her woeful inexperience. ‘Two,’ she muttered.
An expression sparked through his eyes, gone far too quickly for her to decode. ‘Two?’ he pressed.
‘Yes.’
When he continued to regard her with probing eyes, she dropped her gaze. He caught her chin, redirected her gaze to his. ‘Including me?’
She jerked out a nod, then pulled away. She was a touch surprised when he released her. ‘Including you.’
‘Was the other a long-term boyfriend?’ he demanded.
Dear God...
‘No, a very brief, very much regretted one-time thing that was over almost before it started.’ Setting back her empty plate, she stood. ‘There, are we done with the questions? Can I go now?’
He rose beside her, immediately towering over her. Even in her heels, she didn’t come up to his shoulders. Recalling how overwhelmed she’d been, how much more fragile being in his arms had felt that night when she’d invited him to her bedroom, she took a hasty step back.
He saw the action and his lips thinned.
Scattered around them were the papers and files of her life, reminders of the reason Ramon Acosta had brought her here. Reminders of what she’d agreed to do. The apprehension that hadn’t quite died rose again.
‘If you’re thinking of changing your mind about this, you’re wasting your time,’ he warned softly, accurately reading her thoughts.
She sucked in a breath. The tiny wisps of amusement that had briefly lightened their simple meal were gone.
‘I gave you my word, Ramon. And I meant it. I know what’s at stake here.’
Dark satisfaction glinted in his eyes, giving her a glimpse of the ruthless streak that had made him the powerful man he was today. He’d done his homework, searched out her weak points and presented her with an unbreakable deal.
He waited until she’d retrieved her bag before he led her from the study.
The multi-arched hallway leading to the giant entry turned out to be one of several. Even while her mind grappled with her current situation, the interior designer in her was bowled over by the stunning architecture of Ramon’s villa.
Large swathes of baroque had been blended with surprising Moorish designs that should have been out of place here, but oddly complemented the building. Along the upper parts of the walls and windows, over two dozen shades of stained glass let in multi-coloured light. Suki wasn’t aware her steps had slowed to a halt until he retraced his back to her.
She’d been too distracted to take in more than a glimpse of the majestic stonemasonry of the villa from the outside, but now she was up close, she couldn’t resist, reaching out to trace her hand over salmon-coloured carvings set into the nearest arch. ‘How old is this place?’
‘The original building is fifteenth century. It’s been altered a few times since then, hence the eclectic nature of the architecture,’ he replied.
She nodded. Wanted to ask more. But she wasn’t here for a guided tour into the past.
No. Her presence here was all about the future. Advancing the progeny of the Acosta family.
Her hand dropped from the wall, her senses lurching in wild alarm again at the enormous responsibility she’d undertaken. With a touch of desperation, she pushed it to the back of her mind.
She wouldn’t think about it right now. She had more immediate hurdles to overcome. Like informing her mother of what she’d agreed to on her behalf. Like dealing with her boss.
The latter could wait a few more days. Her mother couldn’t.
She turned from the wall to find him watching her. ‘What is it?’
‘I need to call my mother, let her know what’s happening.’
He weighed the request for a moment before he nodded. ‘There’s a phone in your suite you can use. Come.’
He led her through two more hallways, passing an inner courtyard complete with iron trellis, balconies and mosaic fountain before they reached a grand central staircase leading to the upper floors. Ramon turned right at the top of the stairs, past several doors to the last but one set of double doors at the end of the corridor.
Throwing it open, he took a few steps in and stopped. ‘You should find everything you need in here. Teresa doesn’t speak much English but the younger members of staff do. Dial zero on the phone if you require anything else. I’ll ensure one of them is on hand to answer your call.’
‘Are you...will you not be around?’ she asked.
‘I have a few things to attend to in Havana. I’ll be back tonight.’
The part of her that had conjured him up as her permanent shadow until she was successfully impregnated didn’t know what to do with the fact that he was leaving, albeit only for a few hours.
‘Right...okay.’
They stared at one another for an age, the silence between them still fully charged. But after the torrent of words they’d exchanged, there seemed to be nothing more to say. Except there was something else that needed to be answered.
‘Umm, what happens after...after I get pregnant?’
‘You mean, will I still want to share your bed?’
She jerked out a nod.
His gaze swept down for a spell before it reconnected with hers. ‘Once you’re pregnant, there won’t be any need to have sex.’
A sensation rolled through her she had a hard time defining. But she nodded briskly. ‘Good. Great.’
His gaze eventually swung past her, looked around the room, his thoughts completely turned off to her. But Suki caught that look of bleakness she’d spotted intermittently through the day. As he turned towards the door, his profile highlighted that expression even further.
‘Wait,’ she said before she could stop herself.
He stopped, looked over his shoulder. ‘What is it?’ There was a hint of weariness. And a lot of wariness.
Her fingers twisted the strap of her handbag. ‘You never answered my emails. I guess I know why now. But in case you didn’t get round to reading them, I think you need to know what I said in all of them. I’m very sorry for your loss. Luis was a very special person. I’m sure your parents were too.’
He stood stock-still, his face tightening for an infinitesimal second. Then he gave a curt nod. ‘Muchas gracias,’ he murmured softly.
A second later he was gone. And she was left in the middle of the most incredible suite she’d ever seen.
The small living room was decorated in tones of cream and burgundy. Heavy drapes were counterbalanced with white muslin curtains that fluttered in the light breeze from the open shuttered windows. Beneath her feet, luxurious cream carpeting muffled her footsteps as she walked to the light-coloured sofas facing each other in front of a small stone fireplace.
The fireplace itself was an exquisitely carved masterpiece, another testament to the skill and dedication that had gone into the villa’s design. Setting her bag down on the low wooden coffee table, she walked through another set of doors.
The four-poster queen-sized bed was an eye-catching work of art of wood and iron and expensive linens that made the interior designer in her stop and stare and sigh with pleasure. Kicking off her heels, she padded over and ran her hand over the cream coverlet. At the foot of the bed, a cream-and-burgundy-striped scroll-lipped chaise followed the colour scheme of the room. A theme that was repeated in the adjoining dressing room and bathroom, right down to the burgundy-coloured tubs and bottles holding some of the most exclusive beauty products on the market.
A quick look in the dressing room confirmed the presence of her clothes. Deciding to take a shower before making the phone call, she slid out of her dress and returned to the bathroom. The urge to linger, foolishly hoping that the comforting water would wash away her troubles, was entertained for a single minute before she turned off the shower.
This wasn’t the path she would have chosen for herself. For as long as she could remember, she’d relied on herself. Even her mother had warned her never to rely fully on her. The one time she’d pushed aside that warning, and thought to seek out emotional support elsewhere, namely through her absentee father, the situation had backfired spectacularly. What Ramon was demanding of her pushed all of her control-freak buttons. But she truly had no choice. Not with so much on the line.
Towelling herself dry, her hand lingered over her stomach, the constant ache in her heart still very much present, but it held one less layer of the dark despair that had triggered tears a handful of days ago. She didn’t want to give in to hope. Mother Nature had dealt her the worst blow she could suffer, so hope was still a scarce commodity to her. But if nothing else, she was glad her ache was less tormenting.
Returning to the dressing room, she retrieved the nightshirt, tucked it over her head and stopped to survey the meagre contents of her wardrobe. Yet another thing she needed to deal with. Besides the light blue sundress and sweater she’d worn to travel, she’d only packed a further two dresses, her nightshirt, a handful of underwear and sandals for her three-day stay. Even she couldn’t make that last for nine months.
The hysterical bubble nestling just beneath the surface of her emotions threatened to expand again.
Squashing it back down, she climbed into her sumptuous bed, picked up the bedside phone and punched the familiar number.
It was answered on the third ring. Taking a deep breath, Suki said, ‘Mum, I have something to tell you.’