Page 2 of Reign

“Buenas noches, señor y señorita,” said Valentina, my father’s Spanish maid.

I smiled at the slim, dark-haired woman. “Evening, Valentina.”

“I hope you’re hungry,” she said in her husky voice. She wasn’t looking at me, though; she was staring right at my fiance. I hid a frown, certain she was talking about something other than food. Even though I was unsure of Jed’s and my relationship, he was my fiance. Surely, flirting with him was wrong?

Jed grinned and winked at her, dropping his hold on my hand. “Always, Tina. You’ve been here long enough to know that.”

“Si, is true. I know youverywell, Señor Hawk. Where is Señor Manivera? Will he be joining you?”

I tried not to react to that little inflection in her voice. So she knew my fianceverywell; it didn’t mean anything.

It wasn’t worth me answering her question. I never knew what my father’s commitments were. Not wanting to listen to Tina chatting up my fiance, I poured myself a glass of red wine and left them to it. The terrace was cool and inviting, the scent of jasmine drifting on the air. When I’d commented on how acutely I smelled things, my father had explained my sense of smell had heightened due to my head injury. I smiled and inhaled again, enjoying the gentle perfume as I watched a cruise ship sail slowly across the horizon, its lights twinkling.

Jed’s musky aftershave drifted into the mix with the perfume. It was a little like sandalwood, only deeper. I smiled despite my reservations about him. Such beauty and prettiness mixed with his deep allure was a heady thing indeed.

“Here.” He held his hand in front of me while stepping close enough his chest brushed my arm and shoulder. Heat bloomed between us as I inhaled again. I pushed away the horrible hollow feeling that haunted me and gave myself a chance to enjoy some contact with his powerful body. Tension zipped between us, but he didn’t move, and for once, neither did I. I swallowed and looked at the two small white tablets that sat in his calloused palm.

“Thanks,” I said, keeping my voice steady.

“You’re welcome.”

I took the tablets from his palm, and, finding my courage, I lifted my gaze to his as I popped them between my lips. He looked at me, his eyes glinting and his jaw clenched. He swallowed hard, the thick column of his throat bobbing. Slowly, as if giving me a chance to pull away, his hand curved around the small of my back, pulling me closer into the steel of his embrace. My insides tightened. I didn’t drop my gaze. Instead, I pushed against him. Time to start trying…

He exhaled sharply and rested his forehead against mine. “Sarah...what are you…?”

“You shouldn’t be drinking that with those painkillers.”

I jumped, my cheeks flaring hot. I turned my head to greet my father, but Jed didn’t let me go. He gave me enough room to twist a little, but that was it.

“Rex.” Jed’s greeting was stilted, his face dark.

Ignoring the irrational guilt at being caught in Jed’s arms, I smiled and pulled back a little, patting Jed’s pecs as a signal to loosen up his hold. “I’m pretty sure I can decide what I drink, Dad. And if I can’t, I guess my fiance will suggest an alternative.” I shrugged like his words were no big deal, while all I really wanted was to down the whole glass in defiance. Surely no adult woman allowed her father to dictate what she drank?

Rex raised his brows and crossed his arms over his broad chest. He was tall and well built, with muscles that he worked out regularly despite being a successful businessman. He was in his early fifties yet looked ridiculously young, with a full head of brown hair and smooth tanned skin that belied his true age. With his eyes narrowed on Jed, he shrugged. “If you trust him to do the right thing by you.”

I leaned up and kissed Jed’s cheek, determined to try and capture some of the feelings I must have had for him at some point. “I do.”Well, mostly...I think. Or, I want to.

Had I loved him? I hid my sigh behind another sip of my wine. I had no idea, but if he was spending the day with me tomorrow, maybe I could start to figure it out. First, I had to persuade my workaholic father he didn’t need my fiance.

“But I have seen so little of him since I came home, Papa.” I pushed away from Jed and walked up to my dad, giving him a hug and a kiss on his cheek. Again it was alien closeness. He was my father but, at the same time, a complete stranger. It didn’t mean I couldn’t try and twist him to my will, though. I peered up at him and widened my eyes, changing my tone. “Please, can he stay here with me tomorrow?”

Silence.

My father narrowed his eyes at my pout. “Why? You have every luxury you need to keep you entertained. You can read, paint, swim, you have a cinema room, the sun, and an army to keep you, my precious daughter, safe. What more can you possibly want?”

I sighed, trying not to grind my teeth.My life. My memories. Me.“Company, Papa. Besides, how can I get to know either of you again if you are both working so hard all of the time?”

My father’s mouth twisted up at one side, but it didn’t look much like a smile, more like he was thinking about something. I slipped my hand into his and squeezed. “Can’t you at least let him go a bit early tomorrow?” I hated that I was practically begging.

There was a moment of silence, and I held my breath, praying for my father to release Jed for at least a little while. God, it was pathetic how desperate I was for some company.

“Fine. I can see keeping you alone all these weeks has made you crave companionship, and who better than your intended? You can spend as much time together from now on as you would like. Jed, you will fit your work in when you can and keep me apprised of your progress with our current project.” My father’s face was hard as he held Jed’s steady glare.

As soon as he realised I was looking at him it was replaced with a softer smile. But I hadn’t missed the warning in that gaze. A distant alarm bell rang in my head. Why would my father be giving my fiance a warning look? I plastered a false smile to my face, something I was good at these days.

“Thanks, Papa.” I flashed Jed another look, but he didn’t return it. With cold, hard eyes, he watched my father walk back into the house where Valentina was serving dinner. Keeping my smile in place, I took his hand and pulled him towards the room. He didn’t budge. Instead, he pulled me towards him. One of his hands speared in my hair, cradling the back of my head. With the other, he held my hip in a firm grip. He tilted my head up, and I had no choice but to meet his gaze. My heart went crazy at the dominance in that hold. I wasn’t sure if I liked it or if it made me want to knee him in the nuts.No, you're trying...

“Be careful of your papa, beautiful. He is relentless when he wants something.”

---