Yvonne Lindsay - In the Argentine's Bed / Secret Baby, Public Affair - In the Argentine's Bed

“It’s a different era now. There’s no shame in being illegitimate.”

“Doesn’t bother me. I’m still the same person.” His voice remained steady but a muscle tightened in his neck.

Was he? How could you be the same person after learning that the people you were closest to had lied to you throughout your whole life?

“You should come to New York. I know you’ve spoken to your sister Fiona on the phone…” She cringed, wondering exactly how Fiona had botched the phone call. Tarrant’s spoiled daughter was so used to having everything her way, she didn’t function all that well in the real world. Susannah couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. How could you grow up to be a normal person with Tarrant Hardcastle as your role model? “You have a brother too. Dominic was abandoned, like you, but they found him and he’s part of the family now.”

Amado stared at her, as if the thought was sinking in. “A brother.” He looked past her, out to the mountains.

Susannah swallowed. “There might be many of you. So far, Dominic’s the only other one they’ve tracked down. He was raised by his mother. He’s a year or so older than you.”

His eyes locked onto hers. “I’d like to meet him.”

“You’d like him. I work closely with him choosing wine for the restaurants.”

“He works for Hardcastle Enterprises?” He looked appalled.

“Yes. He owns his own chain of food stores, too, but Tarrant convinced him to take over leadership of the company. It took some persuading to hear Dominic tell it. His attitude was similar to yours, but I guess Tarrant won him over in the end.”

Amado’s face hardened. “I have no interest in meeting the man who left my mother to die.” Then, he inhaled, thoughtful. “But I do want to meet my brother and sister.”

“They’d like to meet you, too.” She hadn’t seen Dominic and Fiona since the results. How could she look them in the eye when she’d slept with their brother?

What on earth had she been thinking?

She swallowed hard.

The sun glinted off Amado’s proud profile. His sleeves were rolled up to reveal his tanned and muscled forearms. He was gorgeous.

Still, that was no excuse. Her behavior was beyond unprofessional. She’d have to do her best to stay far away from him while he was in New York. Then he’d go back to Argentina and no one would be the wiser.

“Why are you backing away from me?” He glanced down at her feet.

She froze, unaware that her body had been putting a safe distance between them. “I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.” He tilted his head. Humor glinted in the coffee-brown depths of his eyes. “Little did I know what I was getting into when I invited you in for wine and alfajores. I thought my parents were so rude to try to get rid of you. Now, I see, they wanted to protect me. To protect us all.”

He took a step toward her. Desire throbbed in her veins as her body responded to the raw aggression of his gesture.

“Don’t think you can walk away now.”

Susannah stood rigid on the veranda of his house, her slim body shivering with tension.

In spite of everything, Amado wanted to take her in his arms.

Her prim carriage and her clipped, businesslike speech were only one side of Susannah Clarke. He’d enjoyed the delicious privilege of seeing the other side.

He hadn’t stopped thinking about her since she left. About her serious and thoughtful expressions. About the arch of her body under his. The way she had clung to him, her limbs taut with arousal. How she’d writhed beneath him as their passion built to exquisite agony, followed by an explosive exhale of sweet relief.

It was a night he’d never forget, with a woman he couldn’t get out of his mind.

Especially now that she’d turned his life upside down.

Her elegant chin tilted as she defied his challenge. He took another step forward. Uninvited, he slid his hand under her jacket and ran his palm over her breast.

She gasped. Her nipple tightened under his palm. And she didn’t step back.

Desire spiked through him as he cupped her breast. Peered into her mysterious dark eyes. Her mouth closed, then opened again. A silent protest? Her lips were naturally dark, the color of smashed berries, and he longed to crush his mouth over them and drink deep.

One more step brought his chest within inches of hers. His hand still on her breast, testing, teasing, he inhaled the scent of her in the hot afternoon air.

He could already taste her desire on his tongue, smell it on the wind. Also her fear.

He slid his hands around her back, pulling her close. She stood like a statue, the air between them thick with tension.

He laid his palms over the dip of her waist, enjoyed the curve of her backside. He could hear her breathing, feel her arousal swelling like a bud thickening and preparing to open.

Against her will.

If he lifted her dress he’d bet her panties were already damp with longing. His erection strained against his zipper.

Maybe he’d take her here, on the hard stone of the patio, under the unforgiving sun. With the mountains watching in stern silence.

Her lips parted and a shaky breath escaped. Her eyes slid closed for a second as her insides quivered under his fingers. He felt her muscles contract under her neat dress.

Waiting for him.

Hoping.

Their tongues clashed as he kissed her, hot and hard. The taste of her was intoxicating, a drug he’d craved.

Her body crushed against his, lithe with passion as she kissed him back, clutching his face to hers with eager hands.

A low, guttural moan escaped her as he lifted her dress and tested her slick heat with his fingers.

He slid a finger into her silky depths and she rocked against him. He held her steady with one hand behind her back as he brought her swiftly to climax with his finger and thumb.

His power over her was absolute at this moment. Eyes closed, she gave herself over to the fierce magic of the moment.

The tremor raged through her and he caught her as she almost lost her footing. Panting, she rested against him for a second.

Then she realized he’d stopped and was just standing there.

Staring at her.

Prim and proper Susannah Clarke’s eyes were black with passion. A dark flush heightened her proud cheekbones and her long dark hair hung about her shoulders, wild from his caresses.

He let her dress fall back to her calves.

Didn’t say a word.

Her glaze of passion lessened and confusion flickered in her eyes.

Good.

She smoothed the front of her dress, suddenly self-conscious. He could see her nipples, still peaked under the soft fabric.

“You don’t find it easy to say no to me, do you?”

His cruel question made her blink.

Why should he be the one lying awake, tormented by memories of that night? Let her suffer. So cool and calm and collected, as she delivered her life-shattering news.

She checked the buttons on the front of her dress.

“Don’t worry, you still look virginal.”

His mocking tone made her blink again.

“Though, of course, we both know better.” He tilted his head. Contemplated the possibility of touching her firm breasts again. “What would your big boss say, if he knew?”

Her eyes widened. “You wouldn’t?”

“How do you know? I’m a virtual stranger. We spent one day together.” He licked his lips. “And one night.”

She backed away. This time he let her.

“You know me as Amado Alvarez, of Tierra de Oro.” He snorted. “Or at least that’s who I used to be until you showed up.” He hesitated. Watching her squirm. “He would have kept your sexy secrets. Amado Alvarez was a man of honor.”

He inhaled, then let out a long, slow exhale. “But apparently, I’m not the man I thought I was. I’m the son of this… Tarrant Hardcastle. ” He spat the name like a bad taste. “Who knows what I’m truly capable of?”