The Thorn in His Side Read Online Free PDF

self-disgust.
    ‘Let’s put it this way—I find them infinitely preferable to men,’ she gritted, feeling impelled to add, ‘Some men.’ She pretended not to hear his husky laugh. ‘So if you don’t mind.’ She turned back to him and mimed a zipping motion across her lips.
    After a startled moment Rafael grinned and inclined his dark head. ‘Be my guest.’
    Libby, aware of her silent critic, continued her attempt to coax Eustace to her until her patience snapped. She rose to her feet, muttering under her breath as she dragged a swathe of hair back from her face before directing a frustrated glare his way.
    ‘Fine, if you’re so clever …?’ she snapped, irrationally hoping he was equally unsuccessful.
    Of course he wasn’t.
    He stepped forward, said a couple of authoritative-sounding words in his own language, and the dog—suddenly he could speak Spanish—trotted forward meekly looking sheepish.
    Libby gritted her teeth and thought, Traitor, as after another word the dog sat down at his feet, wagging his tail while he gazed adoringly up at the man who condescended to pat his head and murmur a word of praise before bending to gather the lead from the ground.
    Libby’s chest swelled with indignation, making her even more uncomfortably conscious of the fabric chafing against her nipples. It was a conspiracy, she brooded darkly, first betrayed by her own body and now the dog.
    Libby took the lead silently proffered her and viewedhim through narrowed eyes. ‘If I took you home my family would probably want to adopt you.’ She drew the dog towards her, patting his head.
    ‘Would that not make me your brother?’ he taunted.
    ‘I already have a brother, and I’m sure you have your own family.’ And maybe a wife?
    The possibility filled her with horror. Had she kissed not just a stranger, but a
married
stranger? Checking out his left hand, she was relieved to see no wedding band.
    Rafael shook his head. ‘No, my mother died some years ago. There is no one else of note.’
    ‘That is so sad!’ Libby exclaimed.

CHAPTER FOUR
    ‘S AD ?’ Rafael raised a brow and watched the glow of sympathy fade from her blue eyes as he added cynically, ‘From what I see of families I am not envious. Down,’ he added in a stern aside as the dog, whimpering, rubbed against his leg.
    The dog immediately rolled onto his back submissively.
    ‘Eustace!’ Exasperated, Libby tugged the dog back towards her. ‘You really are an idiot!’
    ‘I have been called worse.’
    ‘Not you …’ Libby saw the mocking glint in his deep-set eyes and, fighting a grin, added gruffly, ‘Well, you are, but on this occasion I was talking to the dog.’
    Rafael’s mouth twisted into a sardonic smile that faded as a car came round the corner.
    Libby, aware that she had lost his attention, turned in the direction of his gaze and saw a bright red classic sports car driven with the top down heading towards them at a sedate pace.
    The driver waved when she spotted them and slowed.
    Rafael did not wave, but it seemed a safe bet to Libby that the woman who parked the car and leapt gracefully from the vehicle was not a stranger.
    Libby watched the woman’s progress, envying thevoluptuous figure, the length of her legs and her ability to make skin-tight jeans look good. From a distance she looked fantastic, depressingly close to she looked even more perfect.
    Libby watched the woman’s fashionable twenties bob swinging in a silky bell around her face and envied the sleekness of a style she could never achieve with her own naturally curly hair.
    ‘Ra—Oh, God,
blood!’
exclaimed the blonde, clapping a hand to her mouth. ‘I feel sick.’
    So did Libby. What sort of man kissed another woman while his girlfriend was on her way to rescue him?
    ‘Kindly endeavour not to be sick.’
    She had her answer: the sort of man who spoke to his girlfriend like that, Libby thought, wondering why the woman not only took the harsh advice in her stride, but