A sudden burst of noise cut through the air. From her vantage point, Gabriella caught sight of a woman running through the wild chickens, breathless and smiling, chestnut curls bouncing wildly around her face. She was stunning. Dark sun-kissed skin like Mateo’s, full curves, confidence radiating off her.
“¡Mateo!”
She launched herself into his arms, grabbing the back of his head and kissing him without hesitation. Something dark and ugly bloomed in Gabriella’s chest.
Mateo pried her off of him as Spanish flew, fast and emotional. Gabriella caught enough to understand the tone with the limited words she knew.
Where were you? Why did it take so long?
Mateo gently disentangled himself, putting distance between them and speaking in English. “Sally, please,” he said calmly. “This is Gabriella. She needs a bath and clothes.”
Sally’s eyes snapped to her, hostile and assessing.
“And who is she?” she asked, her lilted voice lovely despite the disdain.
Mateo took Gabriella’s hand. “She’s my ward. Insurance, if things go wrong. We need her and so does your father, José.”
The words sliced clean and deep as she tried to process his dismissive wave of their relationship and the fact Sally was José’s daughter.
Of course you are nothing to him, taunted Justin’s voice in her head.You’ll always be nothing to him.
Ignoring the hole that opened up beneath her, steel threaded her spine as Gabriella lifted her chin. “I want a bath. Now.”
The sharpness in her voice carried with enough force that Sally blinked, then looked at Mateo. “You let her speak to you like that?”
“She’s been a handful,” he said dryly, with a smirk he didn’t quite hide.
“I said now,” Gabriella snapped louder. “Or I scream.”
Sally’s lips thinned, looking between Mateo and her. Something unspoken passed between them that left claws hooking deep into her chest. He nodded to her and Sally’s shoulders dropped. “Fine. This way.”
As they walked, Gabriella leaned into the role. “It’s filthy here. I hope the bath is clean.”
Sally’s shoulders tensed. “It may not be American luxury, but it is clean. We are not savages.”
“It better be,” Gabriella muttered, guilt pricking her even as she pressed on.
The bath, fed by a warm spring, was bliss. When she emerged, freshly dressed in a flowing skirt and loose cotton top, boots back on and hair braided, she felt human again.
Sally waited outside, clearly displeased at being stuck with her.
“I’m hungry,” Gabriella announced. “I want to eat.”
“So is everyone else,” Sally shot back.
“Well, that’s not my problem,” Gabriella said, and immediately regretted it. How could she sound so cold and dismissive when Sally had admitted people were not eating.
There was a long pause before she tried again. “I might have lost my appetite.”
Before Sally could reply, Mateo stepped into the clearing revealing so much more than what either woman expected. Bare chest. Wet hair. Skin flushed from heat and water.
Gabriella’s breath caught painfully and she heard Sally’s too. But where Gabriella hesitated, Sally did not. She rushed to him, clinging, whispering excitedly in Spanish. Gabriella understood enough.
Stay with me tonight.
Mateo ignored Sally, much to Gabriella’s delight, to look at her instead. “Gabriella, did she show you the hot springs?”
Gabriella hesitated then shook her head. “No, I didn’t realize we were near one.”