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'I see Ava has been gossiping.' One dark brow arched sardonically. 'I might have guessed. You saw Dulcie as a rival and were smitten by the green-eyed god. Really, Penny, how childish.'
He could not have said anything more likely to enrage her. Childish was she? And jealous, to boot! She had not known who the damn woman was in the first place.
'Rubbish! I didn't even know the woman was your ex-fiancée until later. You certainly never mentioned her,' she spat back, her body tense with outrage and a deepening hurt that she did her best to disguise.
'My past relationships are none of your business,' Raul informed her with icy precision. 'It is the present that concerns you, and in half an hour Senor Costas and his daughter will be arriving for dinner.'
Penny's mouth fell open in surprise and she spluttered, 'You invited...?' She could not go on, she was so furious, her body rigid with the effort to control her rage.
'Yes. And I expect you to apologise for your behaviour the other day, and, hopefully, we can enjoy a civilised meal.' She caught the implacable expression in his eyes, and her breath stopped in her throat as she realised what he had said.
Slowly she moved towards him, her cheeks scarlet, her anger so livid that she was shaking with it. She registered the arrogant stance of his tall body, the hands tucked easily into the pockets of his trousers.
Every inch the Spanish grandee, master in his own home, he exuded an aura of power and raw masculine sex appeal that could not be ignored. It was inherent in his every move and gesture. But for once Penny refused to succumb to his lethal appeal; instead she stopped a few inches in front of him and deliberately raised her gaze to his hard face, her blue eyes flashing with fury.
'Over—my—dead—body.' She dropped each word slowly into the tense silence. 'I would not apologise to that woman to save my life,' she added for good measure.
Raul shrugged. 'We will see about that.' And he smiled condescendingly. 'You're overwrought at the moment.' Taking his hand from his pocket, he casually ran one long finger down her burning cheek. 'I need to get changed. We will continue this discussion later.'
He tilted her chin up to study her flushed and furious face. 'And you'd better change into something more appropriate.' His narrowed gaze slid from her face to where the gentle curve of her full breasts was displayed by the scoop neck of her dress. 'Something that covers you slightly more than this.' His hand fell from her chin to the neckline of her dress.
'I will not do it,' she said tightly. 'I won't.' Her skin was on fire where he touched it, her heart racing with a mixture of anger and arousal.
'So the young tigress has decided to show her claws,' be drawled silkily, his finger dipping below the soft fabric to graze the dark rose areola of her breast. She shivered and Raul laughed, knowing just how he affected her.
'Don't even think about defying me, Penny, you can't win.' Pushing his hand back in his trouser pocket, he added, ‘I refuse to argue with you; we are simply wasting time.' Her refusal dismissed as lightly as he would swat a fly, he continued, 'Tell Ava there will be four for dinner.' And, brushing past her, he strode confidently out of the room.
She was left trembling and weak, watching his departing back. He thought that he had won, one touch and she melted. But not this time, Penny silently vowed. She had willingly compromised her own moral values to be with Raul, but she refused to swallow her pride and self-respect and apologise when she did not believe that she was in the wrong.
Penny stared at her reflection in the dressing-table mirror. Not bad, she told herself firmly. The redness around her eyes, from the tears she had shed in the shower, was virtually unnoticeable.
Thank God she still kept her clothes in the guest bedroom. The first night she had arrived in Spain, in the interests of propriety, Raul had shown her to this room. Not that she had ever slept in it, and Ava had soon been in no doubt of their relationship because there were too many mornings when, on serving coffee to the master, she had found them together.
Tonight Penny was grateful for the privacy. She heard the doorbell ring and slowly stood up. She smoothed the soft blue jersey silk down over her slender hips and smiled at her reflection. The dress was demure, a simple swath of fabric cut straight across her shoulders, with long, narrow sleeves to her wrists, the straight skirt falling to her feet with a small fan-pleat in the back to allow the wearer to walk easily.
She turned her back and looked over her shoulder and deliberately winked at herself. The back of the gown was virtually non-existent, swooping down in a soft curve to her bottom. She lifted a small hand to her head and curled a single tendril of blonde hair around her finger. She had piled her hair up in a soft chignon and allowed a few wispy curls to tease her
neck and the side of her cheeks.
On three-inch-heeled black strappy shoes she walked regally out of the room. Penny was heartily sick of being told what to do. No mini-skirts. Cover herself. Apologise. She would show Raul, she thought determinedly. She was not about to be intimidated by him or anyone else any more...
Dinner was a disaster!
Senor Costas was a small, dark, overweight lecher, Penny decided within minutes of meeting him.
Raul introduced them with, 'Dulcie you know, I believe, Penny, and this is her father, the Minister for the Environment, Senor Costas.' Urging Penny forward, he placed his hand on her back.
She held out her hand and the old man immediately lifted it to his mouth and plonked a wet kiss on it. His tongue touching her skin made her cringe. She tried to withdraw her hand but he held onto it far too long. She shot a sideways glance at Raul and then wished she hadn't; the fury in his narrowed eyes was directed all at her. He had noticed the plunging back of her dress and was not amused.
'You are a lucky man, Raul, to have such a beautiful young companion.' Senor Costas leered, and Penny felt the swift colour rise in her face. She turned to Raul, her blue eyes unconsciously pleading. He caught her glance and stroked his hand up her back in a consoling gesture, but his dark eyes remained coldly remote.
'I know, Miguel. Penny is—' But before be could finish Dulcie cut in.
'Really, Papa, it is bad manners to comment,' she simpered coyly, and, grabbing Raul's arm, urged him towards the dining room. 'Raul, darling, I'm starving, and I can't wait to taste dear Ava's food again.'
Penny had to stifle a gasp of outrage at the other woman's hypocrisy. Silently fuming at the way Dulcie was clinging to Raul, Penny reluctantly took Costas's offered arm and followed the other two.
Her blue eyes flashed with impotent fury as Raul walked to the head of the rectangular table, his dark head bent attentively to the other woman. And then he straightened up and laughed out loud. His dark eyes connected with Penny's for a second, a subtle warning in their depths, and she felt like hitting him.
