Page 22 (1/2)
PROLOGUE
THEback on the pale hide sofa appeared infinitelythe roohts, and people fronats
As he sent a look spinning up to dis a fat brush loaded with powder ns and froze, trapped in his stare Her eyes darkened and her lips plumped, all within the space of a few seconds The television lights were blindingly bright but, as far as she was concerned, they hts and low music
‘Enough,’ he snapped ‘I don’t do make-up’
The other girls took the hint, backing away step by step in a tiht call one of them back
‘Go,’ Xavier Martinez Bordiu insisted in a low, gravelly voice, flicking his wrist at the reirl ‘Go join your friends You’re not needed here’
Abruptly, her eyes cleared and, as he watched theht hiise, but she had already gone with the others and the double doors leading out of his apartment at the presidential palace had closed behind them
What the hell rong with him?
As Xaviera stab of fa to panic He nal to deflect the‘Water for Dr Martinez Bordiu’
Xavier sat back again, oblivious to the splendour of his surroundings: chandeliers the size of houses, ivory fretwork screens, precious paintings banked up side by side as far as the eye could see on towering walls decked out in crimson silk
This was a temporary stay at the President’s personal invitation, but he had lived with such opulence all his life Itquarters, however attentive his staff, even a life of unre luxury could pall in the end That hy he had trained to become a doctor And that was partly the reason he had chosen to lose hi to him
His jaw clenched and then released again as he waited impatiently for the vanities of the woman as shortly to interview hied
She had the dark flashing looks of a true South American beauty She was voluptuous and provocative, with a fall of glossy, nut-brown hair cascading over her smooth tanned shoulders And when she turned to look at hiue creep out to moisten her lips
He viewed her lazily through hooded eyes and saw her squirm a little on her seat to ease what he kneould be bolts of desire He knew then he could have her after the show: here, where he was sitting, or straddling his lap on the hard, upright chair where she was having herin front of the wall of s so that everyone in Liet an eyeful
He had that effect on wo the way it had all become too easy for him
He never got involved He didn’t need to He didn’t need anyone He was fine by hi and losing, they were the sa as far as he was concerned—and better avoided
But that didn’t give his, Xavier thought,of iced water and a glass His thought processes changed track suddenly Shutting out the rest of the room, he ran over the moment he almost made someone cry—not in pictures, but emotions, and found he cared…he really cared
He subdued the rush of relief that gave hi sofa, and tuned his expression to neutral as the interview began
CHAPTER ONE
‘XAVIER MARTINEZ BORDIU! Are you sure, Henry?’
Shocked at hearing the na it out in a tone that made her boss’s head shoot up—Dr Sophie Ford felt her cheeks flush red She knew she only had herself to blahtful stare on her face
‘Xavier Martinez Bordiu is one of the finest physicians in Europe We’re lucky to have the chance to ith him,’ he reproved her mildly ‘I can’t think of anyone better to head up the iramme in Peru’
But Sophie wasn’t listening Ih her mind…and sun-streaked tawny-brown hair, the colour, lustrous and rich, like a glass of good brandy—
‘Sophie… Sophie?’
While her head of departled to recapture her attention it took Sophie a few hts back on track ‘I’?’
He frowned ‘I’ve heard Dr Martinez is so all that luxury behind him and those vast estates…half of Spain, wasn’t it?’ He shook his head and sighed as he thought of it ‘But he’s bringing his Midas touch to rateful’
He waited a moment, then stared at Sophie inquisitively ‘You’re very quiet, Sophie Is there anything else about hiold-rie of his nose as he waited for her to answer
Xavier Martinez Bordiu? Sophie played for esture Rumour said Xavier had become Spain’s most notable monu nature of its men Would she have volunteered for the project if she’d knoas in charge? Probably not
‘No, Henry,’ she said, able to reassure him on one point at least ‘There are no skeletons in Dr Martinez Bordiu’s closet as far as I am aware’ But even that wasn’t strictly true, Sophie realised as her face burned a little hotter ‘I hear on the grapevine that he’s becoround as her throat dried
‘You speak as if you already know him’
‘I used to,’ Sophie admitted ‘I knew the Martinez Bordiu family when I was a child’
‘Ah,’ Henry said
Why did she have a sinking feeling he wasn’t about to let the matter rest? Henry wanted to be a lot netha’s, and it was fair to say a kind of understanding had developed between thee as her h for her to
describe hiuhtful and very well respected in his chosen field And one day she would have to make a decision about her personal life…
‘And Xavier?’ he pressed
Xavier, Sophie mused The last tier—but now she was a career wos to think about than romance, she warned herself sternly
‘Xavier Martinez Bordiu,’ Henry said again, with a touch more impatience
‘Yes?’ Sophie said helpfully
‘Forgivehow the mere mention of his name makes your face flush I realise it’s none of my business—’
‘I should have knoas leading the tea
‘Martinez Bordiu kept his name out of it until recently You could hardly be expected to know Does it make a difference to your application?’
‘Do youto back out? No,’ Sophie said fir for Xavier, she could handle theing to escape to the purposeful bustle of the wards
‘Must you dash off?’ Henry said with a touch of petulance as she stood up to leave ‘I thought we could talk some more’
‘I should be getting back—’
‘I do remember your connection with Martinez Bordiu now’