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She studied his Greek god features, seeing the restless agitation and his genuine dismay. “Give us a chance,” she said quietly. “I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you see the actual proposal. No one wants to diminish the stature of the Montoros. In fact, quite the opposite. You have royal blood. That means something.”
His expression lightened, but she sensed he wasn’t convinced. They both clung to opposite sides of the ladder, their legs moving lazily in deep water. For a brief moment, she considered the odd situation. Perhaps this was the equivalent of doing business on the golf course.
Although Gabriel was a big flirt, he had neither said nor done anything to make her feel uncomfortable at being so close to him and wearing such skimpy clothing. They had spoken of deep, important matters. If anything, being in the water had kept their conversation from overheating.
It was difficult to fly off the handle when in the midst of such sybaritic surroundings. Truthfully, she felt sorry for Gabriel. It must be difficult to see the people he loved struggling with such gargantuan changes.
“You’ll be royalty, too,” she said quietly. “If this plays out like I think it will.”
“No way,” he said firmly. “If my brother decides he has to fall on the sword, I’ll support him in every way I know how. But I’m not going to be a damned royal. Bella tried to make me play Prince Eric to her Ariel doll when we were little kids. I didn’t like it then, and I haven’t changed in that regard. I know who I am and who I’m not.”
She didn’t waste her breath explaining the role he would play in his brother’s coronation...or in describing the richly ornamental robes and jewels of state that had been hidden away for decades. Time enough for him to get used to all that later. Right now, she had two jobs. One—impress upon him the importance of the Montoros to Alma’s rebirth. And two—determine what, if any, of his bad-boy past might pop up and cause damage to the royal family’s reputation.
“You can fight it all you want,” she said earnestly, “but blood will tell, as they say.”
“You’re wrong,” he said firmly. “If I were to cut your arm or you mine, our blood would look the same. I’m an American. We built this country on principles of equality.”
“That may be so, but you can’t rewrite history.”
Bella lifted her head, sliding her sunglasses to the top of her head to glare at them. “Oh, for God’s sake. Give it a rest. Can’t we talk about books or movies or baseball? The two of you are giving me a headache.”
Gabriel touched Maria’s shoulder briefly. “Though I hate to admit it, my sister is right. This is a day for relaxing.”
* * *
Alex stepped outside just in time to see Gabriel caress Maria’s bare arm. The surge of primitive fury that racked him found no outlet. He was forced to clench his jaw and walk forward as if nothing was wrong.
Maria’s face lit up when she saw him, appeasing his displeasure somewhat. “Alex...did you bring something to change into?”
Gabriel shaded his eyes. “Plenty of swim trunks in the cabana.”
Alex debated his options. What he would like to do was spirit Maria back to their villa and make love to her until the sun came up. But since that wasn’t an option, he might as well make the best of things.
By the time he had stripped down, changed and made it back to the pool, his feet were uncomfortably warm from the hot concrete. Even Bella had given up on sunbathing and was now frolicking in the water. Someone had set up a net midway across the pool, and brother and sister had apparently formed a team.
Maria beckoned him. “Hurry. They think they’re champions, but I told them you were a big athlete at university.”
“Not in volleyball,” he said mildly, sliding into the cool water with an inward sigh of bliss.
“Doesn’t matter,” Maria declared. “I think we can take them.”
Maria’s scantily clad body was a definite handicap to his concentration. But when Gabriel scored two points right off the bat, Alex dragged his attention from her rounded breasts and sexy wet hair to the competition at hand. With Maria gazing at him in supplication, he brought his A game. The adrenaline rush of competition was a great stress reliever. And it was damn fun.
Maria and Bella were both nimble and coordinated. They set up shots and the two men took turns smashing points over the net. Time and again Maria dove for saves, her face dripping water and her eyes lit up with laughter.
He was, at some level, struck dumb by her beauty. She was so alive, so eager, so joyful. He felt the pull in his gut and wanted badly to kiss her. Because of Alex’s addled state, Gabriel was able to spike the ball for yet another point. The smug smile on the other man’s face told Alex that his opponent might have put Maria on Alex’s team on purpose.
Of course, watching her across the net with Gabriel would have been just as bad.
After each team won two games apiece, it was mutually decided to play best three out of five. All four competitors were out of breath from battling the water to reach the ball.
Alex shot Maria a glance, trying not to notice the way her nipples beaded against the thin fabric of her suit. “You okay?”
“Of course.” She moved closer and lowered her voice. “And I want to win.”
He grinned, for the moment forgetting his responsibilities and his governmental role. “Then let’s do it.”
The game was fierce and quick, each side battling for supremacy. The Montoro team edged ahead by two or three only to be matched by Alex and Maria in the next few minutes.
Bella was short, but she was a master at setting up the ball. It was clear that she and her brother had teamed up before. Maria was taller and could occasionally punch a shot over the net, but mostly she fed the ball to Alex.
They had made it to game point a half-dozen times when the older Rafael appeared poolside and signaled their attention with a broad smile. “Dinner in half an hour. Don’t make me come after you.”
Alex grinned at his partner. Her cheeks were pink from the sun or from exertion or both. Her eyes sparkled amid spiky lashes. “We’ve come too far to lose,” he said.
“My feelings exactly.”
In that moment, he knew that they could have as easily been talking about their mission as the game.
Alex turned back to the net. “We’re ready.”
Bella pumped a perfect serve deep into her opponent’s watery court. Maria fielded it, set it up for Alex, and he shot it over the net. Back and forth, back and forth.
Finally, Maria began to tire. But she still made her play and got the ball to Alex. He jumped, ready to spike a point, when he lost his balance and fell into the net. Gabriel seized the moment and hammered the ball into enemy territory.
Unfortunately, the driving slam struck Maria in the face, and down she went.
“Good God.” Alex’s heart stopped. Vaguely he was aware of shouts from Bella and Gabriel, but he got to Maria first and dragged her up out of the water. Her eyes were closed, her face contorted in pain. Already a large knot had formed over her left eye.
Gabriel shoved his way close. “Let me see her.”
Alex glared at him. “You could have knocked her out.”
Gabriel touched her hair. “Damn, I’m sorry. Stupid competitive urges. I should be shot.”
Maria tried to stand up. “I’m fine. No permanent damage.”
Alex tightened his arms around her. “Don’t move. I’ve