Claiming His Baby

She moaned. “How devastating for you.”

“It was. I won’t lie about that. But the experience highlighted my country’s need for more doctors. There weren’t enough to take care of all the injured. That’s when I determined to become a doctor and make a contribution. Those are the reasons I couldn’t accept Evan’s offer, however much I might have wanted to at the time.”

Her eyes searched his with an intensity that held him spellbound. “You’re not at all what I expected,” she blurted as if she couldn’t help herself.

CHAPTER TWO

RAUL’S head reared back. “You’re totally unexpected.”

Her intrusion into his carefully planned life had come as a tremendous shock. “You deserved to win the Bacchauer. I would have given you my vote on the strength of the Rachmaninoff alone.”

“Thank you,” she responded with a warm smile.

Dios. Her charm fell over him like an invisible cloak, enveloping him so completely, he was helpless to throw it off.

“It’s a difficult piece of music. Mother was my first teacher. She told me if I could learn to play it the way it should be played, then I would be ready to contemplate a career on the concert stage.”

He nodded his dark head. “She was right. An amateur shouldn’t touch it. In truth, it’s one of my favorite compositions. Would it offend you to learn that when you first sat down to play, I didn’t expect to hear genius?”

“Hardly that. But I’m glad you enjoyed the concert, and I think it tells me you’re an authentic music lover. Do you play?”

“Let’s just say I learned the fundamentals a long time ago. I prefer to sit back and listen to the experts. Your performance tonight was flawless. I could listen to you indefinitely.”

I could do many things to you indefinitely…

“You’re very kind.” A mischievous expression made her remarkable eyes sparkle. “I, too, have a confession. When you said you were in the audience tonight, I imagined your appearance was more in the line of duty to make Evan and Phyllis happy.”

Raul’s lips twitched. “It’s gratifying to realize you don’t know every thing about me yet. Someone once told me I had no heart. Perhaps it’s true. But whatever beats there responded completely to the music I heard tonight. Music has been known to tame the wild beast.”

“I wouldn’t go so far as to call you a wild beast.”

One black brow quirked. “If I told you some of the thoughts that have passed through my mind since your performance, you’d be forced to take those words back.”

A puzzled look crossed over her expressive face. “I don’t understand.”

“It’s my way of saying that I’m attracted to you. To be frank, attracted is a very mild word. If I were being totally honest, I would tell you that I’d like to take you away to some isolated haven where I could make love to you for weeks on end.”

For once the telltale blush didn’t appear. Quite the opposite in fact. Slowly she turned away from him without saying anything. Anticipating her instinct to flee from a predator, he moved directly behind her and put his hands on her shoulders, preventing her from leaving the room altogether.

He could feel her tremble. “I’ve shocked you, Heather. I’m sorry.”

There was a long silence. “No, you’re not,” she whispered at last.

At her candor, he sucked in his breath. “You’re right. I’m not.”

Suppressing the urge to slide his arms around her waist and draw the voluptuous warmth of her body against his, he removed his hands and stepped away.

“Whether you believe me or not, I’ve never said that to another woman. Not on a first meeting or otherwise.” He raked a hand through his hair. “This seems to be a night for honesty on both our parts.”

His comment brought her blond head around. The stunned look on her lovely face let him know she was equally aware of the powerful chemistry between them.

“How long are you going to be in Salt Lake?”

“For two more days. When are you returning to New York?”

She smoothed a silky strand of hair away from her heated cheek. “Noon tomorrow.”

He shifted his weight. “The timing couldn’t be worse.”

Their gazes locked. To her credit, she didn’t try to pretend that she’d misunderstood. “You’re flying back to Argentina?”

“Yes.”

“To the bush.”

“That’s where I live and head a small hospital.”

“Were you born there?”

“No. Buenos Aires.”

Her chest rose and fell sharply. “What is it really like?”

Raul took his time answering. “It’s a godforsaken wilderness of disease, heat and humidity.”

“But you love it,” she murmured.

He nodded. “The same way you love the piano.”

There was a perceptible hardening of her delicate jaw. “The two aren’t comparable.”

Folding his arms he said, “I think they are. Music is your life. The bush is mine.”

Raul wasn’t destined to hear her response because Evan walked in on them.

“It looks as if you two are already acquainted.” He glanced first at Raul, then Heather. “Your dad just pulled up in the driveway. Phyllis sent me to tell you she has a postmidnight snack waiting in the dining room.”

“I’m glad he’s back. I’ll go help her put everything on.” She left the room in a hurry. Raul followed Evan out of the study, but his eyes remained on her retreating figure.

In the hallway Evan introduced Raul to Heather’s father. One glance at John Sanders and Raul realized he’d bequeathed his good looks and coloring to his daughter. It was Heather’s mother who had endowed her with such an amazing musical talent.

The three men moved through the house to the kitchen. Phyllis had prepared a veritable feast of salads, cold cuts and French bread. Evan told everyone to be seated. Soon they were helping themselves to the delicious food.

“What are your plans after you return to New York?” Raul watched Heather over the rim of his coffee cup, waiting for the answer to the question that had been burning him alive.

“She’s scheduled to go on tour,” John spoke up unexpectedly.

Phyllis eyed Raul. “It’s a shame she can’t stay home for a while and play on the new concert grand she was given as her prize for winning the Bacchauer.”