Excerpt of The Spanish Billionaire's Mistress by Susan Stephens

"COME here — come closer so we can see you," the male voice commanded.

Cursing softly under her breath, Zoë Chapman slithered down to the ground and straightened up. Uncomfortable but invisible, or so she'd thought, she had been wedged into a smooth crevice between two giant rocks, discreetly observing the activity around the campfire.

She had located the flamenco camp and chosen her hiding place before anyone arrived. Her unique and popular cookery shows depended upon the co-operation of special interest groups, but the fact that she worked on a TV programme didn't make her welcome everywhere. She had wanted to observe the dancing before she introduced herself, just to make sure it was as good as was rumoured in the village.

The man speaking now had arrived shortly after she had. Back turned, he had stood gazing out across the valley. She had seen nothing more than an aggressively tall male figure, a shock of inky black hair and a wide sweep of shoulders — in fact, everything she had vowed to avoid since gaining her freedom.

As more people had joined him, she'd realised he was the leader of the group. Why hadn't she been surprised? She had wondered who he was, wondered about the quivers running through her as she stared at him. It had made her angry to think she had learned nothing since her divorce. She was still drawn to dangerous men.

Now, walking up to him, she saw he was everything she had expected: strikingly handsome, arrogant, and angry that she was here uninvited. If this hadn't been work she would have done the sensible thing, and left.

During the course of her television series she searched out interesting people from all walks of life. Local people in whichever country she chose to film were the seasoning in her shows, the magic ingredient that lifted her above the competition.

Generally she enjoyed the research. This time she had to put her personal feelings to one side and hope the dancing started soon. She couldn't let some local brigand put her off. Forget the man! This was her target group. The only thing that mattered was persuading someone to perform flamenco on her programme.

Dance was Zoë"s passion outside of work. She knew she would never make a professional, but part of her climb- back after the divorce had been to join a jazz dance exercise group. It had proved the best therapy she could have chosen — though right now it looked as if all her good work was being undone.

She could not have prepared for this, Zoë reminded herself. She had not expected to run up against such a strong character again quite so soon.

"Well, what are you waiting for?"

He beckoned her forward with a short, angry gesture, and his voice was cold. It brought back memories she didn't need, but she was like a terrier with a bone when it came to work, and she focused her concentration easily. They were attracting a lot of attention. Perhaps one of the people around the mountain hut would agree to audition for her programme?

The man held up his hand to stop her coming any closer. It was close enough for Zoë, too. He was quite something. Along with the aura of power and brute strength, she had to admit he had style. Why did she have to find such a man irresistible when she knew he had danger carved into the stone where his heart should be?

Somewhere between thirty and thirty-five, he was around six feet two or three, and his build was every bit as impressive as she had thought from some distance away. Everything about him was dark: his eyes, his hair...his expression.

"Why have you come here?" he demanded. "I heard this is where flamenco enthusiasts gather, and I want to learn more about flamenco."

"So you can go home to England and show off to your friends?" He made a derisive sound and clicked his fingers, mimicking the worst of the shows she had seen down on the coast.

"No, of course not. I..." His steely gaze remained fixed on her face, but she couldn't let that get to her. "I am genuinely interested in flamenco."

"Are you alone?" 'I am at the moment —"

He cut her off. "At the moment?" 'I know this looks bad — " 'What do you mean, you're alone at the moment?" 'I'm working with a television crew. They're not here right now."

Could his expression darken any more? She tried to explain, but her voice came out as a croak. Unconsciously, her hand flew to her throat. She should have brought some water with her. She had been at the mercy of the sun all afternoon, and now she was desperate for a drink.

"Do you think I could have some water?" She gazed around. "What do you think this is? A café?" But people were drinking all around her. "I'm sorry, I —" 'Did you think this was one of those cheap tourist places where you get a free drink along with your paella and chips?"

"No!" She calmed herself. "No, of course not —" He straightened up and moved a menacing pace towards her, and all her courage drained away. Lurching backwards, she nearly stumbled. She was only saved by the sheer bulk of a man behind her. He was carrying a stone flagon and some pottery beakers. He didn't understand when she started to apologise, and poured her a drink.

She didn't want it. She just wanted to get away — back down the mountain to safety, to where people barely looked at her, where no one knew who she was or where she had come from.

But the man with the flagon was still smiling at her, and the situation was bad enough already. 'Gracias, señor."

Keeping watch on the brigand, Zoë took the beaker from the older man and gratefully drank from it.

It was delicious, and tasted harmless — like fruit juice and honey laced with some spice she couldn't name. The beaker felt cool, and she was so thirsty she didn't protest when he offered her more. The golden liquid gleamed in the light as it flowed from the flagon, and the elderly man filled her beaker to the brim.

"Salud!"

The alpha male's voice was harsh and unfriendly. Handing the beaker back to the man with the flagon, Zoë raised her chin. She felt better now, bolder. "Delicious," she said defiantly, staring her unwilling host in the eyes. "What was that drink?"

"A local speciality, brewed here in the village." 'It's very good. You should market it." 'On your recommendation I'll certainly consider it." His sarcasm needled Zoë, but it also renewed her determination to go nowhere until she got the feature for her programme. At any cost?

At the cost of a little charm, at least. "I really should introduce myself."

"You really should."

Brushing a strand of titian hair from her face, Zoë stared up and tried to focus. She hadn't realised the drink was so strong. On an empty stomach, she was suddenly discovering, it was lethal. She was in no state to object when he reached forward to steady her.

His grip on her arm was light, but even through an alcohol- induced haze she could feel the shock waves radiating out from his fingertips until every part of her was throbbing. He led her away out of earshot, to where a wooden hut cast some shade.

"So, who are you?" 'Zoë — Zoë Chapman. Could I have a glass of water, please?"

Rico thought he recognised the name, then brushed it aside. It hardly mattered. She had damned herself already out of her own mouth: a television crew! He might have known. He grimaced, catching hold of her again when she stumbled.

"I think you'd better sit down." He steered her towards a bench, and once she was safely planted turned and called to two youths. "José! Fernando! Por favor, café solo — rápido!" Then, turning to her again, he said, "Welcome to the Confradias Cazulas flamenco camp, Zoë Chapman. Now you're here, what do you want?"

"It's good to meet you too —" 'Don't give me all this nonsense about flamenco. What do you really want? Why have you come here? Are you spying on me?"

"Flamenco isn't nonsense." She reeled back to stare at him. "And I'm not spying on you. I'm researching."

"Oh, of course. I see," he said sarcastically.

No, he didn't, Zoë thought, shading her eyes with her hand as she tried to focus on his face. Her head felt so heavy. It bounced instead of simply moving. Squeezing her eyes together, she struggled to follow his movements — he seemed to be swaying back and forth. "So, who are you, then?" Her tongue was tied up in knots.

"Rico. Rico Cortes."

They were attracting attention, Zoë noticed again. Peering round him, she gave a smile and a little wave. He moved in closer, shielding her from his companions. "I'm very pleased to meet you, Rico." As she put her hand out to shake his, it somehow connected with a coffee cup. Raising the cup to her lips, she drank the coffee down fast. The hot, bitter liquid scalded her throat, but it couldn't be helped. She had to pull round from this fast. The last couple of programmes based around flamenco were supposed to be the crowning feature of her series.

"Here, drink some more."

His voice was sharp, and then he made a signal to the boy with the coffee pot to fill her mug again.

"Leave it here, José, por favor."

He sounded different, warmer when he spoke to the youth, Zoë registered fuzzily.

"We're going to need every drop," he added.

And he was back to contempt when he turned to look at her! It wasn't the best start she'd ever had to a programme.

This time, once she'd drained the strong black coffee, it was Zoë who asked for more. The second she had finished, the questions started.

"If you're with a television crew I take it you're after an exclusive. I'm right, aren't I? That's why you were spying on us, sneaking about."

Thanking the boy, Zoë gave him back her empty cup. Her head was clearing. She felt better, much more focused. She might still be a little under par, but she had no intention of being bullied by Rico Cortes — by anyone.

"I'm here to see if flamenco will make a suitable item for my television series. Nothing more."

"Your television series?" 'It's my programme. I have full editorial control. I own the company that produces the programme."

"So, it's you." 'Me?" 'Staying at the Castillo Cazulas." 'Yes, my company has taken a short-term lease on the castle —"

"And it's there you're going to create your masterpiece?" 'I beg your pardon?" She couldn't keep the chill out of her voice now. Could he have been more disparaging? She had worked long and hard to raise her programme above the rest, to make it different and special. She had brought a great team together, and she was proud of what they had achieved.

"Flamenco for Spain, opera in Italy, fashion when you shoot a programme in France — is that how it goes? Skimming over the surface of a country, using the name of art just to make money?"

"I make money. I won't deny it. How would I stay in business, pay the wages of the people who work with me, otherwise? But as for your other assumptions — frankly, they stink."

"They do?"

His voice was faintly amused now, and he was looking at her in a whole different way. She wasn't sure if she liked it any better. Her thundering heart told her it was dangerous. "Look, Rico, if you're not the person I should be speaking to about the dancing, then perhaps you could find me someone who will listen to what I have to say."

"And allow you to trample over my privacy? I don't think so."

"Your privacy? I wasn't aware that my programme was going to be made around you."

His look was cynical. "It's time you went back to your film crew, Ms Chapman."

"Are you asking me to leave?" 'It's getting dark — I'd hate for you to lose your way." 'Don't worry, I'll go. Just as soon as I finish my business here."

"You have finished your business here." 'Why are you so touchy about my being here? I'm not doing you any harm!"

"People have a right to space." 'And this is yours?" Zoë gestured around. "If you like. I don't have to explain myself to you." 'Correct," Zoë said, standing up to face him. "But I wasn't aware that there were any private estates up here in the mountains. I've got as much right to be here as you have. And, for your information, I have never had a single complaint from a guest on my show. I treat everyone with respect."

He shifted position and smiled. It was not a friendly smile. It was a 'don't mess with me' smile.

"I give you my word," Zoë insisted. "Nothing in my programme will invade your privacy —"

His short bark of laughter ran right through her, and his derision made her cheeks flame red.