Page 44 of His Innocent for One Spanish Night

‘Tonight,jaleo...’ Eva said, as Emily slipped off her practice skirt, changed her shoes and took a gulp of water at the end of her class.

‘What’s that?’

‘Hellraising!’ Eva smiled. ‘Dress up and I shall see you here at eight.’

‘If I finish work in time.’

She often didn’t, Emily thought, as she made her way back from her midday flamenco class to work, with a tiny detour to the Plaza Santiago to buy a gorgeous handbag she had seen for Anna.

It was the softest leather, and although Emily would never spend that much on a bag for herself, it was perfect for a busy single mum who juggled work and childcare.

As well as that, there wasn’t going to be much more time for lingering in the shops. She was pulling twelve-hour days at work, and often continued until late at night. Two weeks were already gone and she still hadn’t got the shots she wanted—nor had she spoken with Carmen and seen the horses.

Everyone in the office looked at her sideways when she did dash off, but no one ever asked where she was going—and anyway, she had her answer ready: she was learning more about the local culture.

Oh, and Emily loved it.

As she walked through Plaza de Santiago she checked her phone. But, no, work hadn’t called. There was just a missed call from Anna, so she quickly buzzed her back.

‘How is it?’ asked Anna.

‘Incredible,’ Emily admitted, taking a second to pause and take in the fountain, the cafés and churches, still unable to believe she was actually here. ‘I’m going to get Willow a flamenco dress.’

‘Please don’t!’ Anna said.

‘Seriously, they’re gorgeous. How is she doing?’

‘Another ear infection...’ Anna sighed. ‘Tell me what you’re up to. She loves hearing about it.’

‘Well, I still haven’t seen the dancing horses, but tell her I’m working on it. Honestly, Anna, there’s so much to see and take in, but I’m working on a few ideas and starting to get a feel for it for now. Alejandro said not to rush.’

‘Alejandro?’

‘He’s one of the brothers.’

Emily’s face was on fire. She wanted to confide in her friend, but just didn’t know what she could possibly say. Alejandro’s reaction to her virginity hadn’t exactly been inspiring. And so, instead of talking about anything deeply personal she chatted about her dance classes and how she was going to do an online course with Eva when she returned home.

‘Flamenco?’ Anna checked, as if her rather staid and sensible friend had gone completely mad.

‘It islife!’ Emily said dramatically, as the Jerez people did, and was laughing as she ended the call.

And then she looked up at the church and frowned when she saw the spire.

Oh, my goodness!

Was that a nest?

‘Hey...’

It was Alejandro, looking amazing in a charcoal-grey suit and eating a bag of potato crisps. But for once she was able to play it cool, so focussed on the church spire was she.

She turned, but only briefly. Her focus was on the church, or rather the spire above it, and she was grateful for the intriguing distraction. ‘Is that a nest?’

‘For sure.’ He looked up too. ‘It’s a stork’s nest.’

‘It’s huge!’

‘They need to be.’

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