Read Online Untamed Fire by Donna Fletcher - Free Book Online Page B

embarrassed and hastily slipped the
shirt on. What had just happened between them? It was obvious he
had meant to kiss her and lord, help her but she wanted him to even
though she knew it was wrong. He was a powerful ranchero ,
she a peasant woman. It wasn’t proper, at least for what he
intended, which was probably no more than to satisfy his need.
    “My mother will be upset. We best
return.”
    She nodded, tying the ends of his large
shirt around her waist.
    They walked beside each other in silence,
Gaby wondering if it was simply sex he wanted from her. But then
why had he called her querida , an endearing term used for
someone you love.

Chapter Five
    “Louise Ortega would make a suitable wife
for you, Rafael,” Dona Maria said, adjusting the crisp white linen
napkin that lay across her lap.
    Rafael casually tilted the crystal glass
filled with red wine and swirled the dark liquid around. “I suppose
she would.”
    “She most certainly would,” his mother said
in a way of a gentle reprimand. “It is time you take the importance
of a good marriage seriously. The Ortega land borders ours. Our
families have been friends for years. It would be a good
match.”
    Rafael steadied the glass and looked over at
his mother. She had changed considerably in the past few days. She
no longer wore bleak, black mourning gowns. Instead she dressed as
she once had when his father was alive... awash with color. Pale
blues, bright whites, touches of yellow—it was as though she had
come to life once again, and it pleased him. Even her complexion
had brightened; the paleness and dark half circles beneath her eyes
that had haunted her face for over a year were now gone.
    She still relied on the wheelchair on
occasion, though more toward the end of the day after a bustle of
activities.
    “Rafael, are you listening to me?”
    He smiled at his mother’s reprimanding tone.
It had been too long since he had heard such firmness in her voice.
“Yes, Mother, I am listening.”
    Dona Maria reached across the table and
patted her son’s strong arm. “I’m only thinking of you. I want you
to be happy. With a wife and children to fill your days, there
would be no time to dwell on past sorrows.”
    He stiffened for a moment, the muscles in
his arm tightening.
    His mother gave a tight squeeze. “I have
invited Louise and her father for dinner this evening. You seem to
get along well with her, and I thought perhaps with a little nudge
from me...”
    Rafael did not want to disappoint his
mother, besides she could be right. “Louise and I get along well
enough. Perhaps it is time I marry and have children.”
    Dona Maria smiled. “I’m glad you feel that
way. I will speak with Lupe and have her prepare something extra
special for this evening. And could you please request that Enrico
and his friends entertain us with their delightful music?”
    “I’m sure Enrico will enjoy playing for the
guests. He has missed entertaining for us as he has often reminded
me.”
    Gaby entered the room backside first as
usual, turning with her customary flourish and wide smile as the
door closed behind her.
    “Dessert,” she announced, holding a crystal
bowl filled with berries and soaked liberally with wine.
    “Gaby, what are you doing serving?” Dona
Maria asked. “That’s Anita’s job. I gave you a list of things that
must be completed before supper.”
    Using a shiny silver spoon, Gaby scooped up
a generous portion of berries and placed it in the bowl in front of
Dona Maria. “Anita isn’t feeling well, so I offered to help.”
    “But there is much to be done before the
guests arrive tonight,” Dona Maria said. “Things must be perfect
for our guests. Louisa Ortega may soon become part of this
household and I want her aware of how efficiently the staff runs
the hacienda.”
    Gaby stiffened only slightly, but it wasn’t
lost to Rafael.
    “Everything will be as you requested, Dona
Maria.”
    “Perhaps Anita will feel well enough to
serve this