Carpathian 15 - Dark Secret

number of them," she mocked sarcastically. "Try not to be more of a jerk than you can help. Juan Chevez sent over sixteen head. It must have been a conscience thing."
    "The Chevez family has suffered greatly over this misunderstanding," he replied patiently. "They wish for nothing more than to heal the breach in their family. As I consider their family a part of mine and under my protection, it is of equal importance to me." His black gaze didn't blink once as it bored into her green eyes. She felt hunted. More than once she'd had to track cougar after her horses, and they had looked at her with just that same focused stare.
    "Go back toBrazil, Mr. De La Cruz, and take your family with you. That will go a long way toward healing the breach."
    His teeth flashed, very white, his smile wolfish. For no reason at all it made Colby shiver. She went to move away from him, to give herself breathing room, a delicate feminine retreat, but he glided with her like a jungle cat stalking prey. His hand curled around the nape of her neck, his fingers almost gentle, yet she felt his immense strength, knew she couldn't break his grip, knew he could snap her neck in an instant Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    if he chose. A shiver of apprehension raced down her spine. She stilled beneath his hand, her gaze jumping to his face. His black eyes were suddenly hungry, a dark intense hunger that robbed her of her breath while he stared almost fascinated at her pulse.
    Why had she thought his eyes flat and hard and icy cold? Now they were burning with so much emotion, alive with need and hunger and an intensity that scorched her all the way to her very soul.
    You are not going to get away from me, pequena. No matter how far you run, no matter how much you fight, none of it will matter.
    The words shimmered in her mind, shimmered between them, yet Colby had no idea whether they were real or not. He hadn't spoken; he was only looking at her with his smoldering black eyes.
    She paled visibly, suddenly very, very afraid. Of herself. Of him. Of the dark promise of passion in his eloquent eyes.
    "You aren't welcome here, De La Cruz," Paul burst out, his face bright red beneath his tan. He took a step toward the larger man, his fists clenched, but Ginny caught at his arm and held on to him like a pit bull. "Let go of my sister right now."
    Rafael swung his head slowly around, his gaze reluctantly leaving Colby's face so that he could look at Paul. The boy noticed at once that Rafael's black eyes never blinked. Not once. For a moment Paul couldn't think or move. He stood frozen in place, his heart pounding. Rafael smiled at him then, no humor, just a flash of white teeth and then he was striding for his pickup truck.
    They watched him move, mesmerized by his fluid grace. No one spoke until the truck had been swallowed up in a cloud of dust, then Paul flung himself onto the grass. "I must have been out of my mind! Why didn't you gag me? He could have killed me with his little finger."
    Ginny laughed nervously. "Fortunately I saved your life by holding you back."
    "For which I thank you from the bottom of my heart," Paul said, staring up at the darkening evening sky.

    Colby flung herself on the ground beside her brother, dragging Ginny down beside her. They clung together laughing at their audacity, slightly hysterical with relief. Colby was the first to sober up. "Pride is going to cost us big bucks this time. With Daniels pressing us on the balloon payment for the mortgage, I'm afraid this is a serious setback. I've only got two months to come up with the payment and he's told me in no uncertain terms he won't give me an extension."
    "He didn't say we have to give the horses back," Ginny pointed out pragmatically. "Just keep them and bill him for the work."
    "We'll sue if he doesn't pay," Paul burst out indignantly. "You've worked hard on those horses and they've been eating our supplies. De La Cruz couldn't find anyone better here in the States, orBrazilfor that matter. He can't expect to get your services for nothing."
    "That's probably how they got rich in the first place," Colby said snidely, then was immediately ashamed of herself. She thankfully accepted a piece of fried chicken from practical Ginny. "Blast that man for coming over here! Although, to be strictly honest, I never would have accepted those horses had I Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter,