The Playboy's Touch (Book 2)

Chapter 7

Rachel

For the rest of the day I wandered around the house thinking about what Enrique said. I even went to sleep thinking about it, thinking about the possibility that he was right.

Could there be a man who genuinely didn’t care about my leg? That would see me and be allured to me without hesitation? That I’d be able to forget about my insecurity about? Of course I didn’t tell Enrique specifically what I was insecure about, but maybe he was right, maybe when it came to physical pleasure, the perfection of one’s body wasn’t a priority. Especially not in a moment of heated passion.

The next morning I heard Oliver and mother arguing at the breakfast table.

“Rough start to the morning?” I teased as I sat down.

Mother scowled at me but nodded. “Your brother here stayed out late last night with the Viscount.” She turned to Oliver and in a Mother tone scolded him. “Now I understand that you are not at your happiest back home with your wife but that gives you no right to go about a new country drunk and causing a ruckus. It will be a scandal!”

“Mother it was a couple of drinks. And I’ll let you know that there was no ruckus. A married woman flirted with me and her husband got upset. I explained the whole thing but when he tried to pin me to the wall Enrique stepped in.” Oliver said smiling as he drank his tea. “You should have seen the Viscount in action, truly a terrifying man when provoked.”

My mom sighed. “Oliver! You should know better than to do this! You’re a grown man.”

“And so is the Viscount.” I added. “He should know better too. He is as much to blame as Oliver and should be reprimanded in the same way.”

“Well.. I’ve never been one to deny my actions, but I didn’t know you were passionate about justice Ms. Thompson.” Enrique said.

I turned and saw him standing in the doorway of the dining room. His shirt was a bit loose and crinkled. He must have had a lady friend over again-how typical. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the married woman that caused problems for Oliver.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

He nodded and sat across from me. He grinned. “Yes..our conversation yesterday was enough to show me that.”

I felt myself turn red in embarrassment remembering how I admitted my virginity and questioned him about the desires of men and discussed women’s imperfect bodies. I turned to my family but luckily they were still bickering.

“I assume you have been thinking about that conversation for a while now haven’t you?” Enrique said grinning as he drank his tea.

I decided to be the adult in the conversation and stuck my tongue out at him.

I remembered the first time I did that to a man and he looked at me in horror; he proceeded to tell everyone I was doomed to die alone. That no dowry could ever make me worth a man’s time.

However, Enrique just laughed and ate his food.

Later in the day mother requested Oliver accompany her for a walk and he offered to take me as well.

“You can walk a bit and then sit and wait for us, you shouldn’t stay locked in this house forever.” He urges until I agreed.

We walked in a nearby park and when I felt my knee begin to hurt I asked Oliver to lead me somewhere to sit. We found a large fountain surrounded by beautiful flower bushes and hedges.

“We’ll be back in a bit ok darling?” Mother said smiling.

I nodded and shifted until my leg was resting against the fountain. I sat and watched everyone around me and familiarizing myself with the sounds and smells.

Courting couples walked flirting and laughing with their chaperones behind them, kids held their mother’s hands and gentlemen casually smoked and chatted.

The air smelled of ripe tomatoes, flowers, spices and wine. Nearby houses had large balconies, giant arcs leading to patios and colorful flowers were everywhere. Everything was more vibrant, warm and inviting. I almost felt more alive and seen here, even though no one was looking at me.

“Señorita?” I heard someone say behind me. I turned slightly and a tall lean man with giant hazel eyes was looking at me. “Está bien señorita?”

I tried to respond but couldn’t. I knew he was asking me if I was ok but I didn’t know how to respond. “I-um…I’m fine thank you.” I muttered out not sure if he spoke or understood English.

His full lips pulled back to a wide smile and he reached out to take my hand and kissed it. “Pardon me, I was unaware you are English.” He said with a beautiful accent. I looked at him even more carefully and noticed his wavy light brown locks falling over his slender face with high cheekbones. He truly was very handsome and the way he was smiling at me caused me to blush a bit.

“What is your name señorita?” He asked.

“Rachel..” I said clearing my throat. “Rachel Thompson. And you are?”

“Vicente Hernández señorita, it is a pleasure to meet you.” He said bowing. “Although I believe I’ve heard your name before.”

“I don’t recall us meeting,” I said.

“No, we haven’t. I’d definitely remember meeting you señorita,” Vicente said smiling. I laughed and looked at my feet. He exuded a non irritating charm that flustered me. “But I do recognize your name.”

“That’s because I’ve told you about her my friend,” a deeper voice said behind us both.

We both looked and Enrique was standing there grinning. His black hair shone under the sun and his white teeth sparkled under his lips and thick mustache.

“A week ago over drinks I told you I’d be hosting friends from London,” he said as he walked over. He stood next to Vicente and patted his back. “I do remember telling you about the Thompson family my friend.”

“Ah yes, you did say that. But you failed to mention the beautiful young lady involved.” Vicente added.

Both men stood next to me and I couldn’t fail but notice that while Enrique exuded a powerful, dangerous charm with mischief and humor, Vicente had a warm, boyish, confident and alluring charm.

“I guess I did fail to mention that Rachel was here- I apologize for that to the both of you. Although, I’m glad you mentioned how beautiful you find her- it was only yesterday that the young lady and I were discussing, well.. debating the attractiveness of women.”

Vicente’s eyes widened in surprise but he laughed. “Is that so? And what did you two finally agree on?”

Enrique looked at me, encouraging me to say something and giving me the opportunity to put something in motion.

I smiled warmly at Vicente who was looking at me eagerly with his large hazel eyes. “We agreed that women’s attractiveness differ for each man. But that at the end that no matter what others say.. every woman is beautiful in their own way.” I said, my voice cracking at the end remembering my leg which I hadn’t even thought about since I had begun talking to Vicente. “Even if we women don’t believe it.”

Enrique nodded proudly. “Exactly.” He grinned at me and winked. “I’m glad we are on the same page.”