When Love Soars

Despite her fear of heights and lack of experience, Abrienda's boss forces her to participate in a hot air balloon race against his rival, Domingo. She is terrified as she climbs into the balloon with Domingo, knowing he is one of the wealthiest and most adventurous men in Barcelona. Abrienda would much rather be safe on solid ground with a book in hand, but Domingo drags her along on his adrenaline-fueled exploits. As they spend more time together during the week-long race, their initial animosity turns into mutual respect and eventually love. But as they near the finish line, will their newfound feelings be enough to overcome the intense competition and win the race?

Abrienda Delmarico set the coffee tray down on the low table between the sofa
and the visitor chairs. The two men were in deep discussion, hardly
noticing her. She stepped back, wondering if her boss needed anything else.

A quick glance out the window showed the storm that had been threatening had arrived. Sheets of rain slid down the windows. It was so overcast it looked like dusk, though it was only late afternoon. She could hardly see the sea.

Sighing softly, she regretted the wet walk she’d have to take to get to the bus and then again after her stop for the three blocks to the flat.
She’d be soaked and cold by the time she reached home tonight.

Still, it couldn’t be helped. She had an umbrella, but the way the wind was driving the rain, she knew it would offer little shelter.

“Ha, in your dreams,” Vincente Alvarez said, laughing sardonically at
something his business rival said.

Abrienda turned to look at Domingo Ortego. What had he said to cause her
boss’s outburst? Not that Vincente Alvarez was the most complacent
man. She’d worked for his firm more than seven years, and the last three of those for the head man himself. She knew how quickly he flew
off the handle if aggravated.

“Care to wager fifty grand on it?” Domingo asked easily.

He leaned back casually in the chair, watching his rival with calculating eyes. Abrienda moved back a bit, preparing to leave,
watching Domingo Ortego warily.

Despite being a trust-fund baby, Domingo had developed a thriving
import-export business that was a major player in the Mediterranean
area and was now moving globally, with offices around the world. He worked hard and played hard. Young to have achieved so much, he had the arrogance that went with amazing success.

When he walked into the office, she always felt a bit in awe. He wasted no time with chitchat with a lowly employee. He knew his worth and his time was valuable. Still, twice over the past several months she’d
caught him studying her. When she’d met his gaze, he’d winked and looked away.

She watched him every chance she got. He was mesmerizing, fascinating.
But if ever he caught her staring at him, she’d be mortified.

“You’re on. And I’ll delight in taking your check,” Vincente replied with an arrogance
equal to Domingo’s.

Abrienda shifted her gaze to her boss. In his late fifties, he was always looking for new challenges to prove to the world he was still in top
form. What was it about men that they had to constantly be in competition with each other?

“You’re mistaken, it’s
I who will delight in taking yours,” Domingo retorted.

Mid thirties, and gorgeous to boot, Domingo Ortego had risen in the ranks of important men in Barcelona with meteoric speed, which was why she’d seen him numerous times over the last three years. The only men her boss dealt with were the city’s high rollers.

She’d also bet her last Euro that Domingo had never paid enough attention to her to recognize her on the street. A quick glance, eyes trailing
over her trim figure, and then he’d move on.

Vincente picked up a cup of
the hot coffee and poured cream in it, stirring gently. When the small ritual was complete, he looked at Domingo.

“You have only been
ballooning a couple of years. You’re a fool to think you can
outrace me. I’ve been doing it for more than a decade.”

“I’m a quick learner,”
Domingo said.

His easy grin captivated
Abrienda’s attention. What would it be like to have him smile at her that way?

“Or is that your way of
trying to get out of the wager we just made?” Domingo taunted.

“I’m not trying to get
out of anything,” Vincente protested. “It’ll be easy money.”

“As will the deal we’re about to sign. You are signing, or are you not?”

Vincente looked at the
contract that lay on the low table in front of him. “Should I have my attorneys review it once more?”

“They’ve had it for a week. Nothing’s changed.”

“So you say.”

Domingo’s easy manner
dropped in a heartbeat. He narrowed his eyes as he studied Vincente.

He said slowly, “So I do say. Do you doubt my word?”

The silky tone of his voice belied the anger that showed in the clenched jaw, the flashing dark eyes. He wouldn’t be an adversary Abrienda wanted.

Vincente shrugged and sipped his coffee. After a swallow that had Abrienda wondering if he was
playing with fire to delay his answer, he deliberately put the cup back on the saucer.

“I do not doubt your word.
It’s not a small deal that can be brushed away if it fails,”
Vincente explained.

“It will not fail,” Domingo replied.

Vincente stared at Domingo
for a long moment, then nodded. He took his pen and signed both sets of papers with a flourish.

Domingo wasn’t quick to relax. Abrienda almost held her breath as the drama
played out before her. Both men had forgotten she was in the room. She dare not move for worry of drawing their attention. She wished she could ease out the door and be gone.

Tossing his pen on the table, Vincente leaned back in his chair.

“How about we make the challenge a bit more interesting,” he said.

“By?” Domingo asked, calmly reaching for the pen to sign his own name to the contracts.

“We’ll limit people on board to ourselves and one guest—a nonballooner—chosen by the opposition. I choose who rides with you, you choose for me. We each have a man on the chase teams to keep the records in conjunction with the chase teams. We compete in the daily events at the festival and then begin our long jump.”

Domingo considered the suggestion for a moment, then with an obvious change
in demeanor, relaxed, leaned back and smiled.

“That works for me. You’ll be so far behind by the fourth day of the festival you’ll concede without the long jump.”

Vincente looked at Abrienda. “What do you think?”

She glanced at her boss’s longtime rival and regretfully shook her head. Vincente wasn’t one to concede defeat in anything.

“It’ll never happen.”

“Spoken like a true PA, loyal to the end,” Vincente said with a grin. “You’re my choice.”

Abrienda stared at him in shock. “I know nothing about hot air balloons.”

Only that they looked lovely when quietly sailing by, far overhead. And that it made her sick to even think about being so high above the
ground.