Page 49 of His Innocent for One Spanish Night

She could see his dark eyes glinting and knew this was not about business.

‘Well, you’re not exactly dancing,’ Alejandro said tartly. ‘It will just take a few moments of your precious time.’

She turned to look at him, about to point out that it was after-hours, but one glance at his black expression had her biting her lip.

‘Excuse me a moment,’ she said to the very vain Fernando, who was looking into the bar mirror and smoothing his hair as she slid down from her stool.

She went to follow Alejandro to his table, but instead of taking his seat he picked up a box and gestured towards the gates to his residence.

‘In private.’

He smiled a black mirthless smile, and she watched his tense fingers type in the code, but once the gates had closed behind him all attempts at niceties subsided.

‘What the hell are you doing?’ he demanded.

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘Don’t give me that.’ He was not mincing his words. ‘You and Fernando were practically on top of each other.’

‘We were talking,’ Emily said. ‘It’s nice to talk with someone who’s actually attracted to me.’

‘Fernando’s a player.’

‘Well, that’s not your concern—you’ve made that very clear.’

‘Are you so determined to lose your virginity?’ He took her arm, as if trying to shake some sense into her, as direct and as blunt as ever. ‘Just for the sake of it?’

‘Go to hell!’

He did not go to hell, though.

As she wrenched open the gates to return to the courtyard he followed her out. And when she took her seat back at the bar he took his own at the table.

Arrogant idiot, Emily thought.

‘What did he want?’ Fernando asked.

‘Just work stuff.’

‘Another drink?’ offered Fernando.

‘No, thank you.’

‘A dance then...?’ he said, and put his hand over hers.

Emily knew she was playing a dangerous game. She didn’t want Fernando at all.

‘No, thank you.’ Emily gave him a tight smile and got down from the stool a little awkwardly.

God, she felt pathetic. She turned, ready to meet Alejandro’s glare, but saw that he had got bored with her stupid game and gone.

‘Emily...’

Eva, too, was possibly trying to save her from Fernando, and was calling her to join the dancers on the stage. But instead she turned to speak with her.

‘I think I’m going to call it a night.’

‘Perdón?’

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