CAROL MARINELLI - Spanish Escape - The Playboy of Puerto Banús / A Game of Vows / For the Sake of Their Son

‘We have three people each who, should something happen, wouldn’t be construed as cheating with.’ He gave her a smile. ‘It’s just a game, of course, and it’s mainly movie stars, but Raúl could very easily make it to my list. No one can resist him when he sets his sights on them—especially someone as darling and innocent as you.’

‘I feel awful.’

‘Don’t.’ Gordon closed her hand around the cheque. ‘My being in competition with Raúl Sanchez Fuente could only do wonders for my reputation, if word were ever to get out. It might even be the reason for our breaking up and me realising just how much I care for Virginia.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t be,’ Gordon said, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. ‘Just be careful.’

‘I’ll never see him again,’ Estelle said. ‘He doesn’t know anything about me.’

‘Mere details to a man like Raúl—and he takes care of them easily.’

Estelle felt the hairs on her arms stand up as she remembered that she had given him her name.

‘Just do your hair and put on a ton of make-up and we’ll head down for breakfast,’ Gordon told her. ‘If anyone says anything about last night just laugh and shrug it off.’

It was a relief to hide her blushes behind thick make-up. Estelle put on a skirt that was too short and some high wedges, and tied her hair in a high ponytail and then teased it with a comb and sprayed it.

‘I feel like a clown,’ she said to Gordon as she checked her reflection in the mirror.

‘Well, you make me smile.’

Raúl had gone, and all Estelle had to endure were some daggers being thrown in her direction by Araminta as they ate a full Scottish breakfast. She was relieved not to see him, yet there was a curious disappointment at his absence which Estelle chose not to examine.

Finally they were on their way, but it was late afternoon before Gordon dropped her at her home.

‘Think about what I said,’ Gordon reminded Estelle as she climbed out.

‘I think I’ve had my excitement for the year,’ Estelle admitted as she farewelled him.

She let herself step into familiar surrounds and released a breath before calling out to Ginny that she was home.

‘How are you feeling?’ Estelle asked as she walked into the lounge.

‘Awful!’

Ginny certainly looked it.

‘I’m going to go home for a couple of days. My dad’s coming to pick me up—I need Mum, soup and sympathy.’

‘Sounds good.’

‘How was it?

‘It was fine,’ Estelle said, really not in the mood to tell Ginny all that had happened.

Ginny would no doubt find out from Gordon, given how much the two of them discussed. Estelle was still irritated that Ginny told Gordon about her virginity but, seeing how sick Ginny was, Estelle chose to save that for later.

‘Gordon was lovely.’

‘I told you there was nothing to worry about.’

‘I’m exhausted,’ Estelle admitted. ‘You didn’t tell me about Gordon’s sleep apnoea. I got the fright of my life when I walked in and he was strapped to a machine.’

Ginny laughed. ‘I honestly forgot. Your brother’s been calling you. A few times, actually.’

The phone rang then, and Estelle’s heart lurched in hope when she saw that it was her brother. ‘Maybe he’s got that job.’

He hadn’t.

‘I found out on Friday,’ Andrew said. ‘I just couldn’t face telling you.’

‘Something will come up.’

‘I’m not qualified for anything.’

Estelle could hear the hopelessness in his voice.

‘I don’t know what to do, Estelle. I’ve asked Amanda’s parents if they can help—’

His voice broke then. Estelle knew the hell that would have paid with his pride.

‘They can’t.’

She could feel his mounting despair.

‘Something will come up,’ Estelle said, but she was finding it harder and harder to sound convincing. ‘You’ve just got to keep applying for work.’

‘I know.’ He blew out a long breath in an effort to compose himself. ‘Anyway, enough about me,’ Andrew said, ‘Ginny said you were in Scotland. How come?’

‘I was at a wedding.’

‘Whose?’

‘I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.’

‘Tomorrow?’

‘I want to speak to you about something.’ As a car tooted outside, Ginny stood. ‘Andrew, I’ve got to go,’ Estelle said. ‘I’ll call in tomorrow.’

Estelle didn’t know how to tell Andrew she had some money for him, but anyway she knew that one month’s mortgage payment would only be a Band-Aid solution. She was relieved that Ginny would be out for a few days because she really wanted some time to go over what she was considering.

The library was offering her more hours. Perhaps she could defer her studies and move in with Andrew and Amanda for a year, pay them rent, help out with little Cecelia, maybe even take Gordon up on his offer… Yes, she was glad Ginny would be away, because she needed to think properly.

‘Your dad’s here,’ Estelle said.

‘Thanks so much for last night, Estelle,’ Ginny said, grabbing her bag and heading out of the door, waving to her father, who had climbed back into the car when he saw her.

Ginny was too dosed up on flu medication even to notice the expensive car a little further down the road.

Raúl noticed her, though—and a frown appeared on his face as he saw Virginia, Gordon’s regular date, disappearing into a car driven by another older male. After Raúl’s father’s revelations he was past being surprised by anything, but there was a curious feeling of disappointment as he thought of Estelle and Virginia together with Gordon.

No.

He did not like the images that conjured, so he settled for the slightly more palatable version—that Estelle hadn’t picked him up at Dario’s; instead Estelle and Virginia must both work for the same escort agency.

He needed someone tough, Raúl told himself. He needed a woman who could separate sex from emotion, who could see what he was about to propose as a financial opportunity rather than a romantic proposition.

Except his knuckles were white as he clutched the steering wheel. Since last night there had been an incessant gnawing in his stomach when he thought of Estelle with Gordon. Now that gnawing had upgraded to a burn in the lining of his gut.

Estelle would be far better with him.

Was he arrogant to think so? Raúl pondered briefly as he walked up her garden path.

Perhaps, he conceded, but he was also assured enough to know that he was right.

* * *

‘What did you forget…?’ Estelle’s voice trailed off when she saw that it wasn’t Ginny.

Raúl preferred the way she’d looked last night on the balcony, but her appearance now—the short skirt, the heavy make-up, the lacquered hair—actually made things easier.

‘What do you want?’

‘I wanted to apologise for what I said last night. I think it was misconstrued.’

‘I think you made things perfectly clear.’ She drew in a breath and then gave a small nod. ‘Apology accepted. Now, if you’ll excuse me?’

Her hand was ready to close the door on him. There was just a moment and Raúl knew he had to use it wisely. There was no time for mixed messages. He knew he had better reveal the truth up-front.

‘You were right—I didn’t want you to go back to Gordon, but not just because…’ The door was closing on him so Raúl told her exactly what he was here for. ‘I wanted to ask you to marry me.’

Estelle laughed.

After the tension of the last twenty-four hours, then her brother’s tears on the phone, and now Raúl, standing absolutely immaculate in black jeans and a shirt at her door with his ridiculous proposal, all she could do was throw her head back and laugh.