Page 24 of My Spanish Love Affair

“Is this what you do for fun? Charm your way into randomwomen’s booths at cafés?”

“Not usually,” he says, smirking. “But there’s something about this English woman who keeps crossing my path. I figured I’d better find out what her deal is.”

“And what if I don’t want to share my ‘deal’ with a total stranger?” I tease, taking another sip of my coffee.

“Then I’ll just have to guess,” he says. His green eyes narrow as though he’s deeply evaluating me. “You’re from England - easy. You’re stubborn - obvious. And you’re here because you like a challenge.”

“Wrong,”I say, my tone triumphant as I smirk back at him. “I’m here because I wanted an adventure. Also, who says I’m stubborn?”

He raises an eyebrow. “I can tell. It’s in the way you talk. Like you’ve already decided I’m trouble.”

“Am I wrong?” I counter.

“Depends,” he says with a wink. “Do you like trouble?”

I laugh, shaking my head. “I… you’re impossible.”

He’s clearly quite pleased with himself. “And yet, you’re still talking to me.”

I give up on trying to work. It’s clear that Santi has no desire to leave me alone right now, so I close my laptop and lean forward on the table.

“Fine, then. What’syourdeal? You’ve got me curious now.”

“Curiousity,” he says with a playful glint in his eye. “That’s a dangerous thing.”

“Well, you seem to think you know me so well already, but I hardly know anything about you. Surely it’s only natural for me to be curious.”

“I’m just a guy who likes coffee,” he shrugs. “What else is there to know?”

“That’s the most non-answer I’ve ever heard,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Maybe you’re a politician.”

He pulls a face, evidently unimpressed.

“No way,” he says. “Maybe I’m just mysterious.”

“Or maybe you’re just avoiding the question,” I shoot back, smirking as I tilt my head. “And all these deflections are making me impossibly more curious. What are you hiding?”

Santi gives me a slow, lazy smile as he leans forward again in the booth, and we’re suddenly a lot closer, to the point where I can clearly see the hints of yellow in his lovely green eyes.

He pauses for a moment, and I practically wait with baited breath for what he’s about tofinallyreveal…

“Nothing you can’t figure out if you try hard enough.”

I don’t attempt to hide my disappointment at his answer, letting out a long, loud groan.

“You’re so frustrating!” I say, laughing despite myself. “You know what - fine. Keep your secrets. But don’t expect me to believe you’re just some random guy who happens to show up everywhere I go.”

“Alright, alright,” he says with a dramatic flourish, “I’ll give yousomething.”

Now that piques my interest, and I eagerly wait for him to continue.

“My full name is Santiago Ortiz.”

“Santiago Ortiz,” I repeat, testing the name.

It sounds so much nicer falling from his tongue, but he smiles as though he likes the sound of me saying it anyway.

“For all your stalking needs,” he adds.

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