Surrender to Her Spanish Husband by Maggie Cox

larder, pausing briefly to fill a dish of food for Cozette when her pitiful mewing became too loud to ignore. Straightening, he leant his hip against the counter, pressing his fingers deeply into his brow.
    It was about time Jenny fully realised that he couldn’t pursue a relationship with her for a second time. Even if that meant that next time he met her eyes they would be even more wary and sad around him.
    If he hadn’t been married to her before would he have stayed and played nursemaid as he had done? It was an uncomfortable thought, but a truthful one at least. He’d stayed purely because it was Jenny. On Monday he was leaving, all being well, and right now he needed to employ some of that distance he spoke about. God knew it should be second nature to him when it came to relationships—especially when someone threatened to get too close. But twice now Jenny had almost made him forget that. If he employed his usual strategy it would make it less hard for him to go and easier for Jenny to let him.
    A long time ago his father had warned him not to let his focus stray from his ambition. ‘Play by all means,’ he had advised his son. ‘But do not allow yourself to become too involved.’ Having made the error once before of thinking he could have it all—marriage and a successful business—Rodrigo intended to steer well clear of such a dangerous and misleading temptation again.
    In the charmingly decorated living room, with its gently ticking French antique clock, Jenny was asleep. About to shake her, Rodrigo saw that she slumbered as deeply and peacefully as an untroubled child—just as if she’d laid all her worries and cares aside. Her angelic features were slightly flushed, and her glorious hair tumbled round her shoulders in shining ringlets the hue of golden summer sunshine.
    It seemed heartless to wake her to tell her that a meal was ready. Instead he divested her of the blanket tucked round her, then lifted her carefully into his arms. She barely even stirred. Just disconcertingly rested her head against his chest and gently sighed.
    Clenching his jaw, because her soft, pliant body was exquisitely, painfully arousing him, Rodrigo carried her upstairs to bed. Leaving the door slightly ajar, to let the light flood in from the landing, he didn’t bother to switch on the lamp. The rose scent from her skin sneaked captivatingly under his radar. It stormed his senses as he laid her down under the covers. With great care he removed her already opened dressing gown, then dropped it onto a nearby chair.
    As he leaned over to tuck the covers up round her shoulders, Jenny’s stunning blue eyes fluttered open. ‘Mmm…’ she breathed, coiling her arms round his neck. ‘You smell so nice.’
    He froze. She must be dreaming he thought. But then she laid her hand across his cheek, tenderly stroking it.
    ‘You’re such a good man, really…and sometimes…sometimes so hard to resist.’
    ‘Do you know what you are saying?’ he demanded huskily.
    ‘Yes, I do. I’m wide awake, Rodrigo.’
    ‘This is a dangerous game you’re playing, Jenny Wren.’
    ‘Don’t you want to kiss me?’ she whispered, her hand moving gracefully from his cheek into his hair.
    His blood heating violently, Rodrigo gripped her shoulder. Self-control was suddenly frighteningly thin. ‘I want much more than just a sweet, drowsy little kiss, my angel. Unless you are prepared for that, then we will stop this right here, right now.’
    In answer, Jenny gazed up at him with her bewitching light eyes full of longing. Then, with a fleeting bold smile, she slanted her petal-soft lips against his.
    Kissing her back fully on the mouth was like coming home at last. His fantasy of tasting her like this again was like a pastel watercolour compared to vividly sensuous passionate reality. With a rough groan, Rodrigo let his hard, sensually aching body fall against the inviting feminine curves beneath him. His lips clashed urgently with Jenny’s for