Modern Romance Collection: August 2017 Books 5 -8. Jennie Lucas

already changing from dark blue to an even darker brown flecked with gold that reminded her of Cortez’s eyes.

      She could insist on a DNA test to prove that Cortez was Harry’s father, but what would be the point? she thought wearily. Cortez did not want his son and she would not demean herself by pursuing him through the courts for a maintenance pay-out. Harry was her responsibility and she was prepared to bring him up on her own. At least she would have somewhere for them to live. Rose and Ivy Cottages were tucked away on a remote part of the Cuckmere estate. She knew Jarek would insist she took ownership of whichever cottage was in the best condition. He rarely came to east Sussex and when he was in England he stayed at his London penthouse apartment, but most of the time he lived in Japan, where he worked as head derivatives trader for Saunderson’s Bank.

      She would have to look for another job. Elin chewed on her lower lip as the harsh reality of her situation sank in. Marriage was not an option. She did not have a prospective husband handily available and, even if she could bear to force herself onto the dating scene, she was a single parent with no money or prospects and she was hardly a great catch. But it meant that under the terms of Ralph’s will Cortez would inherit one hundred per cent of Saunderson’s Wines.

      The pain that had lodged beneath her breastbone following her mother’s death gave a sharp tug with the realisation that she would not be able to fulfil Lorna Saunderson’s dream of producing a top quality English wine from Cuckmere’s vineyards that Lorna herself had planted.

      It was conceivable that Cortez would allow her to continue in her role as production manager of the winery, but she did not relish the thought of working for him. Not if there was a chance she might see him regularly. She could not risk it when he had such a powerful effect on her. She pictured his handsome face: the chiselled cheekbones and square jaw, those dark, almost black eyes with their golden flecks and his wickedly sensual mouth that promised heaven—and delivered. Oh, boy, did it deliver.

      Memories she’d blanked out for over a year filled her mind. His lips on hers, the way he had plundered her soul and ravished her senses with his devastating kiss. Until today she’d convinced herself that her outrageous behaviour on the night of her birthday party had been the result of her drink being spiked with a date-rape drug by one of the other guests. But when she had seen Cortez in the library at the reading of Ralph’s will, her body had betrayed her and forced her to acknowledge the shameful truth. She had fallen into bed with him a year ago because she’d seen him across a crowded room and she’d wanted him so badly it had hurt.

      She had ignored the voice in her head which warned her that a man as lethally attractive as him was way out of her league. He had stolen her breath and her sanity and all that had been left of her was a burning need to feel his arms around her, his mouth against her mouth, his body on her body. Damning memories of having sex with Cortez came storming back and her treacherous body betrayed her all over again. Her nipples tightened and the quiver she felt low in her stomach was a shameful reminder that she had behaved like a slut at her birthday party.

      But her night of shame had resulted in her son. Harry finished his bottle and Elin held him against her shoulder while she winded him. Her heart turned over when he gave her a gummy smile. She would never regret having him even though she regretted the circumstances of his conception. She loved him so much and she vowed that as he grew up she would protect her son from the painful truth that his father had refused to acknowledge him.

      She told herself it would be best if she forgot that Cortez Ramos existed but, after she had changed Harry’s nappy and settled him in his cot, she found herself in front of her computer searching for Cortez’s profile on social media sites. His biography revealed that he had spent his childhood living with his mother on a small vineyard in Andalucía. After graduating from university with a first-class business degree he had worked for one of Spain’s largest banks and quickly proved he was a brilliant financier. His rise through the ranks to the position of CEO of Hernandez Bank had been meteoric.

      It was no wonder that Ralph had chosen his illegitimate son to be chairman of Saunderson’s Bank over his adopted son, Elin thought heavily. Ralph had been concerned that Jarek was too much of a risk-taker and it was an opinion shared by many of the board of directors, who would no doubt be very happy to have Cortez as the head of the bank.

      His success was not confined to banking. He had earned a reputation as a skilled viticulturist, and at his vineyards and bodega near the town of Jerez de la Frontera he specialised in producing exceptionally fine sherry. Five years ago, Cortez had formed a partnership with an international sherry company to produce and export specialist sherries around the world. The business, Felipe & Cortez, had become so successful that he was reputedly a multimillionaire.

      Elin was deep in thought as she switched off the computer. Her mind went blank for a moment when her phone rang and she answered a call from a catering company who wanted to discuss arrangements for the party that was to take place at Cuckmere Hall.

      ‘Oh, yes, the event is definitely going ahead,’ she confirmed to the caterers. The party was to raise funds for a charity organisation that she, Jarek and Ralph had established after Lorna Saunderson’s death. Lorna’s Gift aimed to support children living in orphanages around the world, and the many celebrities who had been invited to the party were likely to make huge donations to the charity.

      Elin was sure her adoptive father would have wanted her to hold the party. But Cortez was now the owner of Cuckmere Hall and she did not have time to find another suitable venue. He had told her before he’d left for his business meeting in London that he did not plan to return to Sussex for some time. There was a good chance he would never find out that the party had taken place. Her conscience felt uncomfortable, but she reminded herself that the charity was already making a difference to the lives of orphaned children and it might be her last chance to hold a major fund-raising event before she had to leave Cuckmere Hall.

      * * *

      What if Elin had told him the truth?

      The question had haunted Cortez when he’d driven away from Cuckmere Hall, and uncertainty had continued to plague him for the past two days while he’d had meetings with the board and management team of Saunderson’s Bank. He had dismissed Elin’s claim that he was the father of her child because he was ninety-nine per cent certain she was lying. But that left a one per cent possibility that it was true.

      His conscience pricked that he had rejected her claim outright and rushed away from Cuckmere because he hadn’t trusted himself around her. She unsettled him in a way no other woman had ever done and he resented the effect she had on him. But he needed to rule out the slim chance he had a son, which was why, instead of spending a relaxing evening at the house in Kensington, he had driven down the motorway back to Sussex in the pouring rain that at times had turned to sleet.

      Cuckmere Hall was a beacon of blazing lights against the black sky. When Cortez turned the car through the gates of the estate he was surprised to see dozens of vehicles parked on the driveway in front of the house. He was tired, which was perhaps understandable after the bizarre last few days, when he’d learned that the man he struggled to think of as his father had bequeathed him the chairmanship of the UK’s most prestigious private bank. The role came with a huge amount of responsibility and the expectation of the board that the bank would flourish under his leadership. But he felt no loyalty to Ralph Saunderson, who had ignored him for thirty-four years and had only made Cortez his heir because Ralph’s adopted son was not up to the job of running Saunderson’s Bank.

      The journey from London and the foul English weather had darkened Cortez’s mood even more, and his temper simmered when he walked into Cuckmere Hall and found a party going on. He threaded his way through the crowd of people in the central hall and shook his head at the waiter who offered him a tray of canapés. In one of the reception rooms there was a champagne bar, and in the ballroom music blared from the speakers and people were dancing.

      He saw Elin immediately, and the punch in his gut made him catch his breath. It was history repeating itself, he thought furiously. She was even wearing a red dress like she had done at her birthday party a year ago. But, instead of a scrap of scarlet silk, her dress tonight was a burgundy velvet floor-length gown with a