Valaquez Bride Read Online Free PDF Page B

couple, she went to stand
before a painting displayed on a whitewashed wall. Seemingly endless
rows of olive trees gleamed golden in an exquisite sunset and glancing
down at the corner of the canvas, Juliet recognized the artist's name.
The painter was one who frequently brought his work to Uncle Will's
gallery but she couldn't recall her uncle mentioning that he had sold
any paintings to a clinic. Perhaps he had made the sale within the past
eleven months or perhaps Raul had sold it. Coming from such a prominent
Granada family, she imagined he had connections with almost everybody
who was somebody.
    Despite her firm resolution to completely ignore Raul and
the flirtatious receptionist, Juliet couldn't prevent herself from
glancing over her shoulder. Her cheeks warmed with color as she found
Raul walking toward her, the parting smile he had given the
receptionist fading from his lips and the warmth leaving his eyes as
his gaze flicked over Juliet.
    "You wait here," he commanded brusquely. "I want to tell
Will you've come. It might be too much of a shock to him if you just
walk into his room. Sit down somewhere and I'll come for you in a few
minutes."
    "Wait," Juliet said swiftly as he started to walk away.
Before she thought, she reached out to lay her hand on his forearm,
then quickly pulled it away when she felt his muscles tense beneath her
fingers. She gestured uncertainly. "Is—why do you think my
coming might shock him too much? Is he that badly injured? Rosita said
he only had a broken leg and a concussion."
    "A fairly severe concussion," Raul responded tersely.
"Will isn't a young man and when you
see
him, I think you'll realize he's changed since you left last June."
    On that ominous note, Raul walked away and Juliet felt a
sinking sensation in her stomach. Too nervous to sit on one of the
rattan chairs behind her, she stared up at the painting again but
without really seeing it.
    Though she was still disappointed in her uncle for what he
had done last year, she didn't want to think about that right now. She
owed him so much. No one had expected him to take her in when she had
become an orphan at age twelve and it would have been far simpler for
him to allow her to become a ward of the state. But he hadn't and
because he now needed her, Juliet couldn't really regret coming back to
Granada, even if she did have to endure Raul's animosity.
    For the next long five minutes, Juliet paced the floor of
the deserted waiting room, beginning to wonder if Raul was ever coming
back. At last he did, but he neither smiled nor spoke a word as he led
her out of the reception area, down a long corridor. Two nurses in
white starched uniforms glided past them almost noiselessly, their feet
making no sound on the cork-tiled floor. Only their skirts rustled
softly as they hurried by. Raul stopped by the next-to-the-last door at
the end of the hallway but before Juliet could take a step to precede
him into the room, he caught her arm.
    "He's still weak and a little groggy so you can only stay
five minutes." Hard green eyes bored into the amber depths of hers.
"And whatever he says to you, you agree with him. Is that understood? I
won't have you upsetting him."
    Juliet yanked her arm free, righteous indignation making
her cheeks bloom with crimson color. "I can't imagine why you'd think
I'd upset him!" she whispered furiously. "For God's sake, Raul, he's my
uncle; I'd never do anything to hurt him! And I don't need you telling
me how to act around sick people. Who do you think you are? The wise
and powerful reincarnation of El Cid or something? Well, don't expect
me to jump to your every command! I don't want you telling me what to
do and how to act. You have no right to treat me like I'm a rather
stupid child!"
    "Don't I, Juliet?" he countered with infuriating calm.
"Considering how stupidly childish you acted last June, I think I have
every right. As long as you act immature, I'll treat you accordingly."
    She glowered up at him, her