‘What? This is exactly what I’m talking about in my book.’
‘Katerina is my sister. We live here. My dad used to part own the hotel but he died with Tia Maria’s husband. In an accident. It was very sad. But it would have been sadder if Felipe had died too.’
‘Felipe was there?’ asked Rebecca, aghast. She knew that the two men had died in an accident, but no one had mentioned that Felipe had been involved as well.
‘Yes. They were out on their bikes and a car came too fast around the corner on the wrong side of the road.PapaiandTiowere killed straight away. Felipe had to go to the hospital because he hit his head, but he was okay.’
Rebecca shivered. She’d had no idea. Poor Felipe. That was quite a burden to carry.
‘I was just little. Only two. I don’t really remember mypapaiso much. I’ve always lived with Tia Maria and we all lived here because mymãedied before.’
So much tragedy, thought Rebecca. No wonder the family were so close.
‘That’s very sad, but you’re lucky to have Tia Maria and your cousins.’
‘Felipe is so bossy. He sometimes thinks he is likepapai.’ Cristina wrinkled her nose in disgust.
‘I’m sure he’s just looking out for you,’ said Rebecca.
The young girl sniffed. ‘Mmm.’ It reminded Rebecca of how annoying her brothers had been when she was younger and how galling it had been that they always got preferential treatment. Here, everyone in the house seemed to pull their weight helping around the hotel, except Felipe. She had no idea what he did, apart from charm the staff and guests. Perhaps his brush with death had reinforced the life-is-too-short mantra, which she could understand. And he’d had to bear a lot of responsibility in the years he should have been enjoying life. No wonder he didn’t want any further strings. He had enough of his own already.
She sneaked a glance at Will, absorbed in his phone.
Cristina intercepted her look and grinned in sudden delight before hopping off her chair and skipping away.
Will didn’t look up from his phone.
‘It’s safe to come out now,’ she joked.
‘What?’ Will peeled his attention away from the phone.
‘She’s gone.’
‘Oh. I wasn’t paying much attention. Who is she?’
‘She’s Felipe’s cousin. She lives here.’
‘And who is Felipe again?’
She didn’t bother answering because she could see he was absorbed in his phone and only half paying attention and he didn’t notice she hadn’t replied.
A minute later he put his phone down. ‘Sorry about that. A note from my editor.’ He smiled at her. ‘But I’m all yours now.’ A gentle smile teased his lips. ‘So when the kid asked if I was your boyfriend…’
Rebecca stared at him.
He smiled. ‘You said we were friends. I’d like that to change.’
‘You would?’ Her voice sounded a little pitchy, and inside she felt as if she’d stepped off a cliff and was waiting for the fall.
Chapter Seventeen
‘Morning.’ Felipe was already poolside, sunglasses shading his eyes and the brilliant early sunshine soft on his silken skin. He sat with his feet dangling in thewater and when he gave her his ready smile, she immediately relaxed. With Felipe, she always knew where she was. There was never any game-playing. He’d never been anything but honest, though he’d never mentioned about being there when his uncle and father died. Not that he should have done– it was deeply personal and most likely traumatic. Despite that, she wished she’d known before.
She sat down next to him, conscious of the scant inches between his skin and hers. That familiar buzz of sexual awareness thrummed through her, bringing her up short. Where did they stand now?
‘So that’s Will, is it?’ asked Felipe, taking his sunglasses off. The question was simple and easy.
‘Yes,’ she replied, staring down at her knees. Her head felt too heavy to lift.
