Page 76 of His Innocent for One Spanish Night

Her words brought him little comfort, though.

First? This night he wanted to amend her words, to kiss her against the wall and correct her, tell Emily that he would be heronlylover.

Who was he to hold her back, though?

CHAPTER TWELVE

THEWEBSITELOOKEDINCREDIBLE.

The photo she had taken of Alejandro that first morning was the site’s main image and her favourite.

They hadn’t even kissed then, Emily thought as she sat at her desk in this her final week working for the Romeros.

It felt too soon to be leaving.

So much so that she’d secretly considered forgoing her bonus just to delay things. But then, Emily had told herself, she’d actually be paying for the pleasure of more time with him.

No.

Anyway, she doubted Alejandro would appreciate it.

Things had been a little strained between them since their dinner on Saturday night, in a way she couldn’t quite define.

Yes, they’d made love, and on the Sunday he’d driven her to Acros de la Frontera, where they’d bought more of the sweet dessert they’d enjoyed from the nuns, but she’d fallen asleep on the car ride home.

He’d woken her as they’d approached Jerez and asked if she was looking forward to going home, and she’d looked at the city, spread before them, and felt a little ill at the thought of leaving...

Or had she simply been car sick?

She’d taken a drink from her water bottle and looked at the cathedral and thealcázars, the ancient buildings and the streets she loved to wander...

How did she tell a man who wanted no strings that this place felt like home?

How did she tell a man who didn’t believe in love that she had fallen in love with him on sight?

Emily knew now that she had lied from the start.

It had always been love.

But instead of telling him that she’d told him how excited she was to return home. To see Willow and Anna and face the new challenges that awaited her, and how she was already sorting out dates with the trye replacement company.

‘Tyres?’ he’d said, and she hadn’t been able to define his tone.

A little derogatory?

Or had he just been bewildered?

She wasn’t sure.

‘It will be brilliant,’ Emily had told him, taking another sip of water as she thought of all that rubber and oil and tried to be upbeat. ‘You know, I thought sherry was an old ladies’ drink before I came to Jerez,’ she’d said brightly. ‘I’m sure that tyres...’

She’d given in then, unable to face the fact that her time here was almost done. Wondering if she should admit she’d given herself two weeks’ leave at the end of this trip. Unsure if he’d welcome the news.

And so rather than feign delays, Emily had just got on with her work.

Yet there were so many memories on the website. The written pages were lined with pictures of the intricate laced vines in the courtyard that she’d taken while lying down.

She forced herself to click past that page. To turn her attention to an image of José and Maria on their wedding day, the gorgeous couple dancing in the courtyard. There was also a beautiful, previously unseen image of Maria, performing flamenco in thetaberna.

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