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Bull realized he was treading on thin ice. No woman wanted to hear about another one, even if there was nothing to be jealous about. “Oh, nothing. She just seemed a bit spirited, trying to come across as older than she is.”
“What did she do?” Isabella couldn’t remember anything she’d done to warrant his reaction. As far as she could remember, all she’d done was speak and smile at him. “Did she flirt with you?”
Bull thought back, reviewing his interaction with the little Lolita. No, she hadn’t done anything especially forward. She’d appeared to be glad to meet him, that was her only crime. If anything had been improper about their interaction, it had been in his thoughts, not her actions. “No, she didn’t flirt. She’s a cute kid. Why you should’ve seen her racing through the house after a dog that escaped from its bath.” He chuckled. “I’m not sure who was wetter.” The memory of Isabella’s delectable shape in the wet T-shirt caused Bull to shift in his seat.
“I see.” Isabella didn’t know what to think. One thing was crystal clear, Benedict might be attracted to the mysterious La Diosa, but he viewed the real Isabella as nothing more than an irritating child. Suddenly, her self-confidence plummeted. Without the makeup, the fancy clothes…not to mention the mask that hid her features, she didn’t appeal to Benedict Redford.
“Enough about that girl, she’s not important. Can I call you when this is over and meet you somewhere?” Bull held his breath, he needed more time with this woman. Returning to Texas without seeing her again didn’t bear thinking about. As he waited for her to give him some hope, his attention was snared by a movement in the courtyard. The branches of a tree seemed to be moving.
Doubt rose in Isabella’s heart. What should she do? There was more at stake here than just a romantic liaison. She couldn’t afford her actions in the bullring to be exposed to her uncle. Yet, ending things with Benedict at this point was not something her heart would allow. Could he be attracted to plain Isabella Cortez or was he only drawn to the power and mystery of La Diosa?
Carmen Isabella Mercedes Cortez intended to find out. She needed to know.
“I’m sorry, Benedict. I can’t get away to meet you right now. Uh…my family has a guest.”
Damn. “Just let me call you. We’ll work something else out later.”
“Yes, Benedict, call me when you are free.” She gave him her number.
“Perfect.” Bull felt a weight lift from his chest as he entered her name into his contacts. “I can’t wait to see you again, Beauty.”
“Nor I you.” Although, Benedict would be seeing her far sooner than he suspected. “Be good, my cowboy. I’ll be waiting to hear from you.”
“Give me the chance, Diosa, I’ll be good to you. I want to give you another one of those earth-shattering orgasms we shared,” Bull whispered into the phone. At the same time as he heard a gasp in the phone, Don Luis’s voice sounded in the hall.
“Bring a bottle of my best tequila, Magdalena!”
“I have to go, Benedict. Goodbye.”
Bull didn’t get a chance to respond before she was gone. As he stood at the approach of his host, he noticed a commotion outside the courtyard window. To his amazement, right before his eyes, Don Luis’s niece came tumbling down from the branches of a large flowering tree. “Oh, my Lord.” He started for the double French doors, intent on going to her aid. Before he could take two steps, she was on her feet, looking flustered, her cheeks ablaze. Their eyes met and Bull felt an electric attraction arc between them.
“Are you hungry, my friend?”
Bull tore his gaze from Isabella to greet Don Luis. “Famished.” When he glanced back, the little spy was gone.
“Ow, ow, ow.” Isabella dusted herself off as she made herself scarce. She couldn’t believe he’d seen her fall out of the tree. That sure wasn’t a La Diosa move. Hurrying up the stairs, she managed to get back in her room before Don Luis spotted her. One thing was for sure, she wasn’t ready to give up on her cowboy. Competing with herself seemed foolish, but she needed to know if he could be attracted to the real Isabella.
“Thank you, Magdalena.” Don Luis took a crystal glass from the copper tray and handed it to his visitor. “Siesta is my favorite time of the day.”
Bull accepted the tall drink. “I’ve gotta say, Don Luis. I haven’t been in Mexico long, but I do like the way you do things down here. I’d love to give my ranch hands a break in the middle of the day. Hell, I’d even join them and down a few drinks myself, but I know we’d never get back to business. We’d work five hour days and all be drunk by noon.” He took another sip and licked his lips. “Damn, I don’t know what the hell this is I’m drinking, but it tastes incredible.”
Despite her uncle’s objections, Isabella was sitting with the men on the wide galleria, one of her favorite parts of the house. With its travertine floor and broad arches, it provided a cool place to rest in the heat of the day. She pretended to read a book, but really, she was just watching Benedict. “The drink is a Paloma, Mr. Redford, the true cocktail of Mexico.”
“I always thought that designation was reserved for the margarita,” Bull muttered, trying not to stare at the sexy, nubile, young woman. God help, they sure knew how to grow them beautiful south of the border. She looked absolutely ripe for the picking. He bit the inside of his jaw, forced himself to look away, and said a silent apology to La Diosa. In spite of what he’d told Joseph, Bull had always loved women. He loved looking at them, he loved thinking about them, and he’d loved having sex with them too - until Carol. But in all his adult years, Bull could truthfully say he’d never met two women who attracted him more than Carmen and Isabella.
Isabella held the glass up. “Grapefruit juice, lime juice, sugar and a splash of club soda. And of course, never forget the tequila.”
“Tequila?” No wonder the bitter tinge had been familiar on his taste buds. “Young lady, you are talking my language.”
“And don’t forget, you must always lick the salt from the rim.” The tip of her tongue came out of Isabella’s mouth and swirled around the rim of her glass. Not even for a millisecond did she break eye contact with the man she’d set her sights on. He looked so sexy in his form-fitting western clothes. Remembering how he’d nailed her to the wall made her cheeks pinken with excitement.
Good God Almighty, Bull felt another stirring in his jeans. For the longest time he’d been unable to get an erection and now he couldn’t seem to get rid of one. On the rodeo circuit, he’d run with a money-laden crowd and he knew these rich girls could get bored and sometimes they did stuff like this for kicks. He’d been lucky Don Luis was speaking on his phone, or he might have castrated Bull for watching such a brazen act being performed for him by his teenage niece.
“Aren’t you a little young to be drinking liquor, Senorita?” he asked, licking the salt from his own lips and wishing he could lick it from hers.
“I’m old enough for anything you have in mind.” She gave him a wink.
Bull almost swallowed his tongue, biting back a groan.
