At His Service: Flirting with the Boss: Crazy about her Spanish Boss / Hired: The Boss's Bride / Blind Date with the Boss

He was quiet too long as she knew he would be. “Like I said, I was thinking big.” She put her napkin down. “I’m ready to leave when you are.”

His dark eyebrows lifted in query. “Am I to assume you don’t want dessert?”

“After orange juice, I couldn’t.”

“Maybe I can change your mind.” With that cryptic comment, he put some bills on the table. “Shall we go?”

The female eyes fastened on him were legion, but he seemed oblivious. She liked the feeling of possession as he guided her through the tables to a crowded pastry shop near the end of the plaza.

It was a mistake to go in. While she was salivating over everything in sight, he bought two fabulous-looking treats for them. His dark gaze found hers. “I know you have marzipan in the States, but you’ve never tasted it like they make it here.”

“In that case let’s get enough for everyone at the casa. I’d like it to be my contribution.”

He didn’t interfere as she opened her purse and pulled out enough euros to pay for six more.

After thanking the saleswoman she turned to Remi, who was already eating his and insisted she try it. He put it to her lips. With her purse in one hand and the sack of pastries in the other, he’d left her no choice but to take a bite.

His fingers brushed against her lips, making her light-headed with longing. “No more, Remi,” she cried, laughing and endeavoring to swallow at the same time. By his dashing grin, he was obviously enjoying himself. So was she. Too much.

For the first time since the accident she was beginning to understand her brother’s concern. He wasn’t nearly as worried about Remi as he was Jillian’s willingness to be the guest of a man with the Senor’s importance and background.

More than Remi’s motives, it was her heart Dave was worried about.

My dear brother … if only you knew it was too late for warnings. Seven days too late.

She started to follow Remi out the door, but he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. It came without warning, causing her to bump into him. The sack dropped from her hand.

Jillian reached down for it, then looked up to see another man right outside the shop who bore a faint resemblance to Remi. The other man’s lean body stood frozen in place. Even with her sunglasses on, she could tell the color had drained from his face.

“Javier,” Remi said, acknowledging him.

Her chest felt this stabbing pain before Remi’s hand closed around her wrist. He had no idea of his strength, but she didn’t cry out. Together they left the shop, sweeping past his brother to find the car parked around the corner.

After helping her in, his long, powerful length slid behind the wheel. He sat there without turning on the ignition. Wanting only to comfort him, she reached across the seat and covered the top of his hand welded to the gearshift.

Jillian had no idea how much time went by before Remi drew her hand to his mouth and kissed the palm. Weakness attacked her body. When he finally relinquished it, they left the city without speaking. Once out on the highway she sensed him stir.

CHAPTER SEVEN

“YOU’VE STARTED ME thinking big, Senora Gray.” His first words since they’d left the shop.

She angled her head toward him. Relieved and thankful he’d survived one of those black moments in life he hadn’t seen coming she said, “How big?”

“If I were to go along with most of your suggestions, would you be willing to ask for a sabbatical until the harvest begins?”

Her pulse hammered in her throat. He wanted her to stay on the estate until December?

Fighting to keep the tremor out of her voice she said, “To do what?”

“Run the tapas bar and the gift shop. You had me going back at the Taberna. I’ve done some research on EuropaUltimate Tours. Their tour guides come highly recommended. Mr. Santorelli sang your praises.”

“When did you speak to him?” she cried in surprise.

“Yesterday.”

She couldn’t keep up with Remi. “He hardly knows me!”

“A CEO worth his salt will have made a thorough study of the employees in his company. He and your immediate boss, Pia Richter, couldn’t say enough in your favor.”

So he’d been in touch with Pia, too. The head of Jillian’s division hadn’t mentioned talking to Remi. “They probably feel sorry for me and were just being diplomatic,” she whispered.

“It isn’t every day someone has an accident like yours. As for your sterling six-year employment record, that speaks for itself,” he added in a faintly husky tone. “I can tell you right now they won’t be happy if you ask for a leave of absence from your guide duties.”

Jillian was too dazed by his offer to answer him.

He darted her a measuring glance. “With your flair for dealing with people and your ability to carry on conversation in a variety of languages, you’d be a natural to front our project. Instead of riding the bus with your flock for days on end, you could concentrate your efforts here.”

She clasped her hands together. “Now you’re frightening me.”

“How so? After all, it is your brainchild. By December we should have some idea if the project is a solid one.”

“I—I don’t know if I could do it,” she stammered. To stay on the estate that long would throw them into each other’s company every day. And night. She would never want to leave him then. She didn’t now …

“With you in charge we’ll increase our chances of success, but maybe the thought of not traveling around the continent makes you stir-crazy. You and your husband enjoyed married life on the move.” There was a slight pause before he said, “If it’s in your blood, I’d be the last person to try to keep you here.”

He had to be speaking about his ex-wife. Jillian wasn’t anything like her and couldn’t allow him to continue with his faulty assumption.

“That’s not why I’m reticent, Remi.”

She heard his harsh intake of breath. “Then it means you can’t see as well out of that eye as you’ve been pretending.”

He was still feeling guilty about the accident! She couldn’t bear to hear the self-recrimination in his voice.

“No, Remi—”

“‘No what’?” he answered right back.

“You don’t understand.” She shook her head. “When you first heard my proposal, you were thinking of adding some bathrooms and remodeling one of the buildings to supply a cold drink for the tourists. But then I threw in my big ideas, forgetting you have to come up with the extra money.” She paused. “I just wouldn’t want anything to go wrong for you….” Her voice trailed shakily. “You’ve been through enough.”

“So what you’re saying is, you’re worried about me.”

She studied her nails. “Naturally I am.”

“Then why not stay on the estate and help me. With an experiment like this, two heads are better than one.” His compelling argument trumped her deepest fear. If he had any idea how much she loved him, he’d turn the car around and head back to Madrid.

“Tell you what. When we reach the estate I’ll e-mail Pia. Provided she’s all right with it, I’ll do everything I can to make this project a success.”

“Then it’s guaranteed,” he said on a note of satisfaction. With those words her fate was sealed no matter what the future held for her personally.