Page 68 of His Innocent for One Spanish Night

He looked up to where she stood, delving in her bag for a tissue, apologising and stepping out of the way as some arrogant hotel guests brushed past.

Alejandro would have liked to get out and tap her on the shoulder, correct her on one vital point...

It was Emily who was embarrassed by herself, Emily who apologised if another person stepped on her shadow. Emily who would rather buy gifts for others than spend anything on herself. And, for all there was much to address from her outburst—Mariana, his family, work—it was the evidence of her insecurities that had shaken him the most.

And those were the first things he would address.

Hisway, though.

There was no checking in required at the opulent hotel—they knew him well—but as they took the ancient elevator to his suite there was an explosive energy between them.

The elevator pinged. Emily didn’t even look at the suite they stepped directly into—just stood there as Alejandro dismissed the butler.

‘You don’t come near me when we’re out and I don’t get why,’ she said suddenly.

‘You want to know why?’

Oh, he was going to come near her now.

‘Because I have recently broken up with someone. And even if there was no love there, there was respect. Do you think it would be fair for her to hear that we’re together?’

Emily caught her breath.

‘Do you think it would be kind for us to be seen dancing in thetaberna...’ he pulled her in ‘...like this? Pressing in to each other?’ He lifted her hair and deeply kissed her neck, touched her as he wanted to all the time.All the time. ‘If you think I’m a cheat you’re wrong about that, and if you think I’m ashamed or embarrassed by you, then you might as well go. Because that means you don’t know me at all.’ He looked right at her. ‘I think you’re beautiful.’

‘You’re just saying that.’

‘Why would I just say that? I want you all the time.’ He watched her rapid blink, and the pinch of her lips as she fought his compliments. ‘I don’t want others to find out because I want to protect you for what little time we have.’

‘Protect me from what?’

‘If my family thought you were the reason for Mariana and I breaking up you would be hated.’ He looked at her. ‘And you don’t deserve to be.’

‘Hated?’ she checked.

‘At the very least you would be blamed. I’m trying to protect you. Protectus,’ he elaborated. ‘We have a week left, and I don’t want my family or Mariana’s to spoil a single moment of our time.’

‘Why would they spoil it?’

‘My father still wants to see a marriage between Mariana and me—even more so since he fell ill. I’ve told him it won’t be happening. I just don’t want him, or anyone, to think you’re the reason why it isn’t going ahead.’

‘Sowhyisn’t it going ahead?’ Emily asked. ‘I mean, if the land and the business are so important, and you don’t care for love...’

He was knotting his tie, and as his hand paused on the heavy silk he hoped she didn’t notice that he faltered.

He met Emily’s eyes in the mirror and answered her question honestly. ‘I couldn’t promise that I’d remain faithful for the rest of my life.’

Alejandro watched Emily blink, and her lips pinch in distaste at his response, and he wanted to amend his answer—I couldn’t promise Mariana that I’d be faithful for the rest of my life. But I could promise you...

It was as if the mirror had cracked before his eyes—the mental correction was completely at odds with his usual thinking. And absolutely not what they had agreed.

‘That’s a very good reason not to marry,’ she said.

‘Yes.’

He turned from the mirror and looked at Emily.

She hid herself from the world, but not from him. She was like a star, glinting and starting to brighten in a night sky, and he wanted her to soar.

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