Maid For A Magnate. Jules Bennett
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The rumble of male voices blended in with the female’s weeping. Whatever was going on, it was something major. Catalina approached the circular table in the middle of the wide hall. As she plucked out wilted buds here and there, the door to the library creaked open. Catalina focused on the task at hand, though she was dying to turn to see who came from the room.
“Cat.”
She cringed at the familiar voice. Well, part of her curiosity was answered, but suddenly she didn’t care what was going on in that room. She didn’t care who Will had in there, though Catalina already felt sorry for the poor woman. She herself had shed many tears over Will when he’d played her for a fool, getting her to think they could ignore their class differences and have a relationship. “I need to see you for a minute.”
Of course he hadn’t asked. Will Rowling didn’t ask...he demanded.
Stiffening her back, she expected to see him standing close, but when she turned to face him, she noted he was holding onto the library door, with only the top half of his body peeking out of the room.
“I’m working,” she informed him, making no move to go see whatever lover’s spat he was having with the unknown woman.
“You need to talk to Bella.”
Bella? Suddenly Catalina found herself moving down the hall, but Will stepped out, blocking her entry into the library. Catalina glanced down to his hand gripping her bicep.
“Her aunt Isabella passed away in the middle of the night,” he whispered.
Isabella Montoro was the grand matriarch of the entire Montoro clan. The woman had been around forever. Between Juan Carlos being named the true heir to the throne and now Isabella’s death, the poor family was being dealt one blow after another.
Will rubbed his thumb back and forth over Catalina’s arm. “You know Bella enough through James and I figured she’d want another woman to talk to. Plus, I thought she could relate to you because...”
Swallowing, she nodded. When she and Will had dated briefly, Catalina had just lost her grandmother, a woman who had been like a second mother to her. Will had seen her struggle with the loss...maybe the timing of the loss explained why she’d been so naïve to think she and Will could have a future together. For that moment in time, Catalina had clung to any hope of happiness and Will had shown her so much...but it had all been built on lies.
Catalina started to move by him, but his grip tightened. “I don’t want to bring up bad memories for you.” Those aqua eyes held her in place. “As much as Bella is hurting, I won’t sacrifice you, so tell me if you can’t go in there.”
Catalina swallowed as she looked back into those eyes that held something other than lust. For once he wasn’t staring at her as if he wanted to rip her clothes off. He genuinely cared or at least he was playing the part rather well. Then again, he’d played a rather impressive role four years ago pretending to be the doting boyfriend.
Catalina couldn’t afford to let her guard down. Not again with this man who still had the power to cripple her. That kiss weeks ago only proved the control he still had and she’d never, ever let him in on that fact. She could never allow Will to know just how much she still ached for his touch.
“I’ll be fine,” she replied, pulling her arm back. “I’d like to be alone with her, though.”
Will opened his mouth as if to argue, but finally closed it and nodded.
As soon as Catalina stepped inside, her heart broke. Bella sat in a wingback chair. James rested his hip on the arm and Bella was curled into his side sobbing.
“James.” Will motioned for his twin to follow him out.
Leaning down, James muttered something to Bella. Dabbing her eyes with a tissue, Bella looked up and saw she had company.
Catalina crossed to the beautiful woman who had always been known for her wild side. Right now she was hurting over losing a woman who was as close as a mother to her.
The fact that Will thought Catalina could offer comfort, the fact that he cared enough to seek her out, shouldn’t warm her heart. She couldn’t let his moment of sweetness hinder her judgment of the man. Bella was the woman he’d been in a relationship with only a month ago. How could Catalina forget that? No matter the reasons behind the relationship, Catalina couldn’t let go of the fact that Will would’ve said I do to Bella had James not come along.
Will had an agenda, he always did. Catalina had no clue what he was up to now, but she had a feeling his newfound plans included her. After all this time, was he seriously going to pursue her? Did he honestly think they’d start over or pick up where they’d left off?
Catalina knew deep down he was only after one thing...and she truly feared if she wasn’t careful, she’d end up giving in.
Will lifted the bottle of scotch from the bar in the living room, waving it back and forth slightly in a silent invitation to his brother.
James blew out a breath. “Yeah. I could use a drink.”
Neither mentioned the early time. Sometimes life’s crises called for an emergency drink to take the edge off. And since they’d recently started building their relationship back up, Will wanted to be here for his brother because even though Bella was the one who’d suffered the loss, James was no doubt feeling helpless.
“Smart thinking asking Catalina to help.” James took the tumbler with the amber liquid and eased back on the leather sofa. “Something going on there you want to talk about?”
Will remained standing, leaning an elbow back against the bar. “Nothing going on at all.”
Not to say there wouldn’t be something going on very soon if he had his way about it. Those heated kisses only motivated him even more...not to mention the fact that his father would hate knowing “the good twin” had gone after what he wanted, which was the total opposite of Patrick’s wishes.
James swirled the drink as he stared down into the glass. “I know Isabella has been sick for a while, but still, her death came as a shock. Knowing how strong-willed she was, I’d say she hung on until Juan Carlos was announced the rightful heir to the throne.”
Will nodded, thankful they were off the topic of Cat. She was his and he wasn’t willing to share her with anyone right now. Only a month ago, Bella had caught Will and Cat kissing, but at the time she’d thought it was James locking lips with the maid. The slight misunderstanding had nearly cost James the love of his life. “How is Bella dealing with the fact her brother was knocked off the throne before he could fully take control?”
The Montoro family was being restored to the Alma monarchy after decades of harsh dictatorship. First Rafael Montoro IV and then, when he abdicated, his brother Gabriel were thought to be the rightful heirs. However, their sister, Bella, had then uncovered damning letters in an old family farmhouse, indicating that because of a paternity secret going back to before World War II, Juan Carlos’s line of the family were the only legitimate heirs.
“I don’t think that title ever appealed to Gabriel or Bella, to be honest.” James crossed his ankle over his knee and held onto his glass as he rested it on the arm of the sofa. “Personally, I’m glad the focus is on Juan Carlos right now. Bella and I have enough media attention as it is.”
In addition to the fact that James had married a member of Alma’s royal family, he was also a star football player who drew a lot of scrutiny from the tabloids. The newlyweds no doubt wanted some privacy to start building their life together, especially since James had also recently taken custody of his infant baby, Maisey—a child from a previous relationship.
“Isabella’s passing will have the media all over the Montoros and Juan Carlos. I’m probably going to take Bella and Maisey back to the farmhouse to avoid the spotlight. The renovations aren’t