Read Valaquez Bride for Free Online Page B

to you."
    "You and who else?" she challenged recklessly as he parked
the BMW in front of Will McKay's house. "If you ever try to lay a hand
on me, you'd better have help."
    Raul simply laughed. "I'm beginning to see Pablo didn't
handle you right last year. And obviously your singer doesn't either.
You need to be taught that men are a great deal stronger than women,
physically at least. And if you give me any trouble whatsoever, I'll be
delighted to teach you that unavoidable truth," Raul said calmly,
getting out of the car and coming around to her side to shut her door
as she got out. He laughed again, more softly, the sound coming from
deep in his throat as he gazed down at her from his considerable
height. Then, incredibly, he reached out and trailed one fingertip
along the enticingly curved outline of her lips. As she hastily drew
back, trembling, he smiled almost triumphantly, lowered his head and
whispered softly into her ear, "You might even discover you enjoy the
lessons."
    "Very amusing," Juliet drawled, managing somehow to sound
composed and cool. But as her cheeks warmed tinglingly, she was
grateful the darkness masked the revealing blush. She was so anxious to
end this dreadful evening that when Raul impelled her none-too-gently
to the front door of the house, she lost no time fumbling in her purse
for her key. "You don't have to go in with me. You've already been too,
too kind to me tonight by driving me to the clinic," she said
sarcastically. "So you needn't escort me into the house."
    "I'm not escorting you; I'm coming in for the night," Raul
countered matter-of-factly, then took her key and unlocked the door. As
he handed it back to her his fingers deliberately brushed across her
sensitive palm. "I've decided to stay here since I have to go to the
gallery every day. No use driving back and forth from Casa Valaquez.
Besides, Will asked me to stay with you. He doesn't want you to be
alone in the house."
    "But I'm not alone! Rosita's here," Juliet protested
swiftly, peering up at him, wishing she could see his expression. But
his face was shadowed; he was a broad silhouette in the shaft of
moonlight that shone behind him and she felt suddenly overpowered by
his dark form looming before her. "You can't stay here," she continued
weakly. "I…"
    "I'm staying. So just accept that fact graciously and get
inside," he commanded imperiously, nearly pushing her into the brightly
lit entrance hall, then shutting the massive door firmly behind them.
    The sudden silence that filled the hall was unnerving;
Juliet swallowed uneasily, tilting her head back to look into Raul's
lean face. Though she was of average height, the top of her head didn't
quite reach his shoulder and a very real awareness of his superior
physical strength struck her with near breathtaking force. That
awareness coupled with the strange unrecognizable light in his eyes
caused her to move backward, away from him. Then the phone rang and the
sudden unexpected jangle nearly made her jump out of her skin. Although
she was illogically reluctant to turn her back on Raul, she did so and
hurried to the round mahogany table that graced the center of the hall.
    It was Holly calling. "How's it going? How's your uncle?"
she asked quickly. "I bet seeing him wasn't as bad as you thought it
would be. Right?"
    "He's still in the hospital, of course," Juliet answered
evasively, feeling Raul's intense gaze burning into her back. "He seems
very weak and—and he wants me to stay until he's well again,
so I guess I won't be seeing you in two days after all. I hope you
understand."
    "Of course I do. I never thought you'd be able to leave
him that soon anyway," Holly answered compassionately. "I just hope you
get lucky and don't run into Pablo and Raul Valaquez."
    "I'm afraid my luck's already run out. With the latter."
    Holly got the rueful hint. "You mean you've seen Raul? Oh,
what rotten luck. Well, how did his royal majesty act?"
    Juliet shuffled her feet uncomfortably and