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‘Annalisa!’
Ramon didn’t just walk into a room, he charged it with electricity, she realised, springing to her feet.
‘Rodriguez is looking after you?’ he demanded, shooting her a keen stare.
‘Very well,’ she confirmed. ‘Shall I call for some fresh coffee?’
‘Don’t bother,’ he said, tossing his jacket onto a chair as he dropped onto the sofa. ‘What brings you here?’
They were meeting later for dinner, to discuss her appointment to his team, so no wonder he was surprised to see her. ‘I have to talk to you.’
‘Talk away.’
‘Ramon, this is serious.’
‘So come over here,’ he said, patting the sofa, ‘and tell me what’s on your mind.’
‘I don’t want you to think I’m here because I expect anything—’
‘What’s happened?’ he said, leaping up. ‘What is it, Annalisa? Something at the finca? Tell me,’ he insisted, moving towards her.
‘I will if you just give me chance.’
‘OK, OK,’ he said, lashing a strong hand through his hair as he stared at her with concern.
‘I’m having a baby…our baby.’ She froze as he just stared at her. Somehow she forced the words out again.
‘I heard you the first time,’ he said, shaking his head as if he couldn’t quite believe the evidence of his own ears.
‘Don’t worry,’ Annalisa said quickly. ‘This doesn’t change a thing. I can still work on your project and I don’t expect anything from you. I’ve got plenty of money—’
‘Money! What the hell does money have to do with this?’ Ramon demanded passionately. ‘And as for not changing anything…a baby changes everything!’ His grip on her arms was fierce; the look in his eyes was no less intense. ‘You’re sure about this?’
‘According to Maria Teresa—’
His grip softened and she watched his lips tilt at the corners. ‘I should have known,’ he murmured. ‘But this is the most wonderful news…isn’t it?’ he demanded softly, tipping her chin with one hand so that she was forced to look into his eyes. ‘You must be the happiest—’ He frowned as he read her expression. ‘You’re not happy, are you, Annalisa?’
‘I’m frightened—’ She stopped. That wasn’t what she meant. And he knew it too.
‘You? Frightened?’ Ramon chided gently, allowing his fingers to wander into her hair. He turned her gently to face him again and dipped his head until their eyes were on a level. ‘That doesn’t sound like you, querida.’
She had never seen such emotion in his eyes…such tenderness, such intimacy and warmth. ‘OK. Not frightened. I know I can manage—’
‘Manage?’ His brows knit together as he studied her face.
‘On my own.’
He seemed stunned for a few moments, then in a low, tense voice he said, ‘Is that what you want, Annalisa?’
As he let her go she shook her head, confusion sliding into vehemence. ‘I only know that if my mother had thought things through sooner she might have been better prepared when my father abandoned—’
His sharp curse cut her off and his keen gaze fastened on her face as his fingers cupped her chin and forced her round to look at him. ‘Let the past go before it ruins your life too!’
‘How can I forget?’
‘Remember the past by all means. But learn from it, build on it—’
‘What? Use it to hone my parenting skills?’
‘Don’t be so cynical,’ he insisted. ‘You’ll be a great mother.’
‘And how do you come to that conclusion?’
‘I only have to look at what you’ve done with the finca—’
‘What? Filled a few plant pots and cleaned out—’ She stopped. Everything he said was designed to prepare her to face the challenge of bringing up their child alone.
‘You’ve not only made a home for yourself and every stray animal within walking distance,’ Ramon insisted, oblivious to the effect his words were having, ‘you’ve resurrected dozens of jobs for the villagers, giving the young people reason to stay here instead of heading for the mainland first chance they get.’
Her face twisted with pain as he said everything but the words she needed to hear. ‘I don’t see what that has to do with—’
He grabbed hold of her arm and brought his face very close to hers to say fiercely, ‘Don’t underestimate your worth, Annalisa. You’ve got guts and compassion and you’re not afraid of hard work. If that doesn’t match the job description—’
