Page 11 of Midnight Surrender to the Spaniard

‘Más cerca,’the photographer said, waving his hands at them.

‘We are to move closer.’ Sebastián translated again. ‘And we are to remember to smile.’

‘He didn’t say all that.’

‘He said one of those things,’ Sebastián responded—and Anna found that she did both: she moved closerandshe smiled.

And then it was all over and they made their way to the reception. The bodega was incredible, and every bit as beautiful as Emily had described. What they called the cellar was in fact a huge churchlike area supported by arches and filled with black barrels of the Romero sherry. There were round stained-glass windows and a stage at one end of the room. Anna knew it was also used as a restaurant, and there was atabernatoo, which Emily whisked her off to see.

‘This is where we met.’

‘I’ve never seen anything like it,’ Anna said as she stared at walls lined with photos of flamenco dancing.

Staff were passing around trays of coffee and sherry. It was the perfect opportunity for guests to catch their breath. Anna had been told the wedding would go on deep into the night.

Emily was soon called away and Anna found herself back in the courtyard, helping herself to some food at a delicious-looking spread of tapas.

‘Take it slow...’

Even before she heard his voice, Anna knew it washim.

‘Believe me, there is more to come.’

‘Oh!’ She looked down at her rather full plate. ‘I thought this was dinner.’

‘Oh, no,’ he said, taking one of her pastries. ‘For now it is just food while there is talking. Later we have a sit-down dinner, and that goes on for hours.’

‘Do you have your speech ready?’ Anna asked.

‘No speeches.’

‘Pity...’ Anna started, and then bit down on the remaining words, for she’d been about to say that she’d been looking forward to finding out more about him. She never flirted.Ever. She did not even know how. And yet she realised she had been about to with him.

‘Are you okay?’ he asked.

‘Of course.’

‘I’m aware you don’t know anyone here. Just call out if you need a translator or anything.’

Anna knew he was just being polite. ‘I’ll be fine.’

But then he surprised her: ‘Do you want a quick rundown?’

‘Sorry?’

‘If you’re going to be people-watching?’ He looked out at the other guests. ‘Right...see the woman in silver with thepeineta?’

‘Yes.’

‘That’s Maria—our mother. With her stands my devoted father, José. See the young lady with black hair?’

‘There are a lot of ladies with black hair,’ Anna pointed out.

‘Her dress is bronze and she’s sulking and drinking champagne. That’s Carmen—my sister.’

‘Okay...’ Anna was reluctantly touched that he would take the time to make being on her own at the wedding a little more fun.

‘That one...’ He’d turned his back to the crowd now and was talking directly to her. ‘Don’t make it obvious you’re looking,’ he warned. ‘She has shorter black hair and her dress is...’ He hesitated. ‘I don’t know the English for that word.’ He thought for a moment. ‘She looks as if she is sucking lemons...’

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