Selena threw a stick for Bruno to fetch as she walked along the beach. Four weeks of perfect relaxation and contentment in Miami had put a healthy glow in her cheeks and a spring into her step. She had got her peace of mind back and the silliest things made her smile, she reflected cheerfully.Alejandro had shamelessly bribed his way into Bruno’s affections with chocolate treats. It had amused her that Alejandro, so hopelessly competitive in every way, would not settle for mere tolerance from her pet. Bruno now adored Alejandro and one of his favourite spots to sleep was below Alejandro’s desk. Unfortunately Alejandro did not appreciate Bruno’s amazingly loud snores.Selena thought about the fact that she adored Alejandro just as much as her pet. She was very happy, but occasionally a cold chill would run over her when she considered the inevitable end of the affair. Nothing lasted for ever and she knew it. He was sure to get bored with her. She couldn’t believe that she had what it

Selena thought that such knowledge must have been a very frightening burden for a little boy to carry around with him. Introduced to that culture of secrecy and fear at a very young age, it was hardly surprising that he had matured into so reserved a character.‘Perez is not the name I was born with,’ Alejandro continued. ‘In fact my mother changed our surname a couple of times after she came to London because she was afraid of being traced. She was running away from her heritage and I’ve spent my life denying it,’ Alejandro admitted harshly.‘What heritage?’‘My mother was Adrian Fernandez ’s daughter and my father was the son of another crime family.’It took Selena thirty seconds to work out what he was telling her and if she was aghast, it was not for the reasons he had expected. ‘My word, that old man who died this week was your grandfather and yet you didn’t trust me enough to tell me that. No wonder you were upset last night!’‘No my dear ! I wasn’t upset!’ Alejandro launched a

Releasing his breath on a hiss, he swung back toher. ‘It was my belief that your father stole my mother’s money and left her destitute—’‘No...that’s not what’s at issue here. You don’t try and muddy the water with excuses. Did you deliberately target him?’‘Yes. I had him investigated and it was obvious that he was spending much more than he was earning. I took over Vento and sent in the auditors. That’s all it took to uncover his embezzlement.’She swallowed thickly. ‘What about me?’‘You...’ Alejandro echoed hoarsely. ‘I can’t explain you. I saw you and it was like being hit with a sledgehammer. I would have done anything to make you mine. I swear that I didn’t know you were his daughter until you came to the office to plead for him—’‘It gave you a kick, didn’t it?’ she condemned in disgust. ‘When did you realise that it wasn’t him you were hurting, it was me?’ Selena asked with tears in her eyes.‘Do you think I’m proud of it? Do you think I’m so stupid I didn’t realise that I w

Alejandro strode forward and caught both her hands in his. His Intense eyes claimed hers in a look as possessive and urgent as his hold. ‘I can’t sleep at night without you. When you left Miami I thought my life was over. I’ve been in love with you for weeks and weeks without realising it... I really need you to be with me...forever. ‘Overwhelmed, Selena nodded several times and squeezed his fingers and whispered fervently, ‘I love you too...’‘What about Bryan ?’ Angelo enquired with forced lightness of tone.‘I think I was just really scared of falling in love,’ she confessed with an embarrassed grimace. ‘It wrecked my mother’s life, and Dad has a dreadful track record. Perhaps believing that I still loved Bryan when I couldn’t have him made me feel safe—’‘So, you’re over him?’ Alejandro checked, not quite sure what he was being told, but hauling her up against his hard, muscular length just the same. ‘Like, totally over him?’‘I love him as a friend... You know, I never did fancy