AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I am capable of it, you know.” He laughed at the note of surprise in her voice and lifted the lid on the slow cooker he had on the bench top. Instantly, the rich aroma of the spiced lamb he’d prepared before heading into his office this morning filled the air.
“That smells divine,” Sarina said, coming beside him and leaning over the pot to inhale.
She closed her eyes and breathed theatrically, then smiled.
“I didn’t think I could be hungry so soon after the tapas, but I’m prepared to be wrong about that.”
“Good, I’m pleased to hear it,” he said, giving the mixture a gentle stir before replacing the lid. “I’ll put the rice on and we’ll be ready to eat in about twenty minutes or so.”
“Can I do anything to help? Set the table or something?”
“I thought we could eat outside on the terrace. The harbor is beautiful this time of year and when the sun sets fully, it’s lovely to see the lights. You’ll find place mats and cutlery in the drawers over there.” He gestured to a sideboard against the wall. “Would you like a drink while we wait for the rice?”
“Just water will be fine. If I have any more wine, it might go to my head.”
“And that would be a bad thing?”
She just laughed and got the utensils and place mats out of the drawer before crossing to the wide glass picture windows that led outside onto his private balcony. The expanse of tiles with the toughened safety glass wall beyond, allowing an unobstructed view of the inner harbor, had been a major selling point for him when he’d bought the apartment.
He’d loved living at the castillo—it had been his family’s home for centuries and he’d enjoyed the sense of longevity surrounding him while growing up, even more so when his parents had unexpectedly and tragically passed away. But once he hit his mid-twenties he’d wanted something intrinsically his own, and he was drawn to the busyness of the city—loved being close to his work where he headed up the publicity machine that was responsible for driving the del Castillo brand, in its many forms, to greater heights.
“Wow, that view certainly is something,” Sarina said as she came back into the apartment. “It’s a good thing I have a head for heights with that wall of glass there.”
“It unnerves some people. Are you sure you’re comfortable to sit out there?”
“Oh, definitely, I wouldn’t miss the sunset for all the world,” she gushed enthusiastically.
The phone on the wall gave a discreet chirp, distracting him from her smiling face.
“Hola!” he answered, then frowned at the voice on the other end. “Sí, I understand.” There was another pause. “Well, of course we will manage. You make sure she is well cared for. If there is anything I can do, don’t hesitate to ask. Anything, do you understand? Adios.”
Slowly he replaced the receiver and rubbed his hands across his eyes.
“Is it Benedict, is something wrong?” Sarina asked.
“No.” He sighed. “It isn’t Benedict, thank goodness, but it is serious. My PA has been diagnosed with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, she’s being rushed into surgery now. That was her husband. He’s beside himself with worry about her and apparently all she could think of as they wheeled her away was for him to tell me that she won’t be in to work tomorrow.” He shook his head in amazement.
“She obviously takes her job very seriously.”
“Sí, she does. She is like my right hand in the office. I could never have spent so much time at the hospital with Benedict if she were not so trustworthy.”
“You must be worried about her.”
“I am, but I know the doctors at the hospital are among the best in the world. I’m sure they will do whatever they can. I do fear, though, that she will put more strain on herself fretting about leaving the office at what she knows to be such a crucially important time, aside from Benedict’s situation.”
“How so?”
“Our company is working on a major publicity push for the resort and the winery. Having to get another person up to speed will cause delays.” He shrugged and turned to open the fridge and grab the fixings to throw together a green salad. “Still, there’s nothing I can do about that. We’ll just have to make do, and reassure Carmella as best we can that everything is under control.”
