Page 87 of His Innocent for One Spanish Night

But then she’d met Alejandro and everything had changed.

He wasn’t here now, though, and without him she felt like an unwelcome guest at the bodega—one who had outstayed her welcome.

Even walking into thetabernafelt a little daunting. Guessing she had no access now to the Romero table, she waited to be seated and was shown to the same small table where she’d sat on her first night.

She ordered coffee and atocino de cielo, and as she cracked the caramelised crust with her spoon a waitress came over and rather pointedly put the bill down on the table.

No more free meals for her!

It wasn’t that she minded paying, more that she was cross with Sebastián—not just for removing her, but for all the minor details that would be left out on the website. She’d wanted to picture this dessert, and to write about the nuns...there was so much more she’d wanted to do.

Or was it simply that she couldn’t bear that it was over between her and Alejandro?

She ordered a glass of salted grapefruit juice, but it made her feel a little sick, so she asked the waitress for some water.

The waitress actually rolled her eyes, and Emily knew she was dragging things out.

She simply didn’t know how to leave.

The worst thing was that without the company phone she didn’t have Alejandro’s number and couldn’t call him. With her laptop handed over too, all channels of communication were gone.

Aside from the pregnancy and all things complicated, Emily wanted to say goodbye properly, and of all the regrets she had there was a ridiculous one—that she hadn’t run her fingers through his short hair on the morning they’d parted.

‘Emily...’

She looked up at the husky sound of a woman’s voice, and although they’d never met she recognised her immediately.

‘Mariana.’

‘Oh, you know who I am?’ Mariana said, as if surprised to be recognised.

‘Of course.’ She gave a tight smile. ‘I’ve spent the past six weeks going through the Romero family’s photos.’

As well as that she recognised the dangling diamond earrings she wore. But of course she didn’t mention that as the rather ravishing Mariana took a seat.

She had glossy black hair cut in a jagged bob. Her eyes were a vivid green, and she oozed nothing but confidence.

‘I saw the new website,’ Mariana said. ‘It’s impressive.’

‘Thank you.’

‘I remember saying to Alejandro that an outsider might give a fresh perspective.’

‘Did you, now?’ Emily said, trying to keep the sarcastic edge from her voice. She did not do sarcasm well, but that wasn’t quite the way Alejandro had relayed it—he hadn’t sneered when he’d said ‘outsider’, nor had he made her feel unwelcome with his gaze.

‘Of course we have to attract the tourists...’ She looked at Emily. ‘Have you enjoyed your time in Jerez?’

‘Very much.’

‘I hear Alejandro has been an excellent tour guide...’ She laughed at Emily’s clear discomfort. ‘Now, don’t go getting all flustered.’

‘I’m not.’

‘But you are!’ Mariana gave a low laugh. ‘Emily, I know what’s been going on. We all do. And I know how charming he can be...’ She gave Emily a sympathetic smile, as if she were some poor, deluded fool to think that Alejandro would actually care for her. ‘Alejandro might wander, but he always returns. It’s been the same for as long as I can remember—especially at the end of the summer, when the tourists are gone... Of course, that was when we were younger. Now he has more sophisticated tastes...’ She looked down at Emily’s attire. ‘At least most of the time.’

‘Are you always this charming?’ Emily asked, surprised at her own sarcasm and unable to believe her own boldness.

But even at her pluckiest, Emily was no match for Mariana.

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