California Royale by Deborah Smith

place,” she told him quietly as she came to a stop in front of him. “Somehow I
knew
.”
    “You come here too, then.” His voice was low and husky. “I thought so.” He pointed toward a patch of shrubbery by the steps to the gazebo. “Roses.”
    “I planted them.”
    “I figured. Did you put the gazebo here?”
    “No. I came across it one day when I was exploring. It must have been built by the person who owned theestate before Sir Nigel. It needed repairs, but I didn’t want anyone else to know about it, so I lugged paint and materials up here and fixed it myself.” She smiled self-deprecatingly. “Don’t study it too closely. I’m a terrible carpenter.”
    “Looks like the work was lovingly done.” His eyes were troubled, but respect flickered in their depths. “This is your special spot. I’ll be going.”
    Shea shook her head slowly. “No. I came to find you. To apologize.”
    “Hmmm. Is that so?”
    “I’m sorry for saying that you had no delicacy or diplomacy when you gave advice to Glenda Farrar.” She briefly related her conversation with Glenda. “You helped her. I was wrong. What you told her to do was very wise.” Shea looked away, a little embarrassed. “I’ll trust your intuition more, after this.”
    He put one hand under her chin and turned her face toward his. “Maybe I’ll be more careful with my advice to our guests,” he promised.
    Our guests
. She smiled tentatively. “Maybe the estate would benefit more if I worked with you instead of against you.”
    His eyes gleamed at that remark. “Stay,” he urged in a soft voice. Duke nodded at their surroundings. “Enjoy the scenery.”
    “All right,” she agreed just as softly. He took her horse and led it over to the side of his. Together they removed the gelding’s gear, then tied the horse’s lead to a sturdy sapling.
    “There,” Duke noted. “Now he’ll be able to eat some grass, like my horse. They’ll stay happy and quiet.”
    “It must be nice to be happy and quiet.”
    “It’s an acquired skill. Come on, let’s practice.”
    They walked back to the gazebo and sat down on the lowest step. Duke stretched his long legs out and leanedback, propping his elbows on the step behind him. Shea hugged her knees and inhaled the rich scent of the forest. It mingled with the musky fragrance of Duke’s body, so close beside hers.
    “I’m afraid,” she whispered.
    “What are you afraid of. Shea?”
    She turned her head and gave him a bittersweet look. “That I’m going to make love to you regardless of what you do about the estate. That nothing’s more important than being with you.” She paused, shivering a little. “I’m not accustomed to feeling that way.”
    He sat up, then closed his eyes for a second, as if offering a silent prayer of gratitude. Afterward he looked at her with gentle mock rebuke. “I hope you haven’t ever felt that way before. I want to be the first. And the last.”
    She wore jeans and a pink T-shirt. When he put one broad hand on the center of her back and stroked, it was as if she wore no shirt at all. Her skin burned from his caress.
    “Come to me,” he urged in a husky tone. Her-soft moan told him that her last shred of resistance had just evaporated.
    “Alejandro, my
hombre
.”
    She turned toward him, put her arms around his neck, and kissed him deeply. His skin felt hot under her hands; the whole world felt deliciously hot and promising as his tongue thrust into her mouth. He drew back, breathing roughly, and nodded toward the grass nearby.
    “Now,” he murmured, his eyes burning into hers.
    Shea nodded. “Yes.”
    They lay down on the soft carpet, his arms around her, their legs entwined. Shea ran her hands over his bare chest with a greedy abandon she’d never felt before;he was all muscle and sun-baked skin, and his chest hair was a soft pelt that invited her fingers.
    “Here. Touch me here. I’ve dreamed about you doing this to me.” He put her hands on one of his