‘I still have your number,’ he said. And then, rather reluctantly, Anna thought, added, ‘I was going to text you an apology for what I said that morning.’

‘Yeah, right...’

‘And you were right. Iwastrying to talk about it in the car, but then I thought it better not to discuss it on a mountainous road.’

‘I don’t want to discussanythingwith you—on a mountainous road or anywhere else.’

Anna flounced off, and it was such a relief to get away from his assault to her senses that it took the edge off the sheer luxury of her home for the night.

It wasn’t a room, nor even a suite. It was a gorgeous villa, with pale wooden floors and white furnishings. There was her own terrace, and a huge shower and bath, but most welcoming of all was the low bed dressed in crisp linen that tempted her to climb in.

First, though, she texted Emily and let her know that she was here. But she got no response.

Hopefully her friend was asleep, Anna thought as she had a quick shower and then put on a robe. She shut the screens to block out the turbulent day and lay in silence in the blacked-out room.

But when she closed her eyes there was still Sebastián. There was also the sound of his reluctant apology and the tartness of her own brittle response.

Of course she had lied to his face. Because there was so much she wanted to discuss with him.

She lay there, fighting fury and attraction, angry at their parting and cross with herself for how much she still liked him.

‘I have no handkerchief to offer.’

Why did he still make her smile?

CHAPTER SIX

ANNASLEPTHORRIBLYand awoke to a knock on the door. She lay there, disorientated, unsure of the time and even the day.

The knock on the door sounded again, and she wished she’d put out the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign—or whatever it was in Spanish. But she pulled on a robe and went to open the door. Perhaps breakfast had arrived?

But it was only evening, she realised, and Sebastián was standing there, shaved and smartly dressed. She was about to say that he was supposed to have texted, when he told her the reason for his personal call.

‘It’s a girl.’

‘Oh, my!’

‘She seems to be doing well.’ Then he clarified, ‘Well, that is from Alejandro, and I don’t know if he’s talking sense or... Can I come in?’

Given the circumstances, she opened the door for him.

He sat on the sofa and Anna took a chair. He seemed a little stunned, but still very together as he told her the little he knew. ‘Emily’s okay, but I think she had to take some serious drugs, so she is very tired. The baby has a machine to help her breathe.’

‘She’ll be terrified,’ Anna said. ‘It’s so early. How much does she weigh?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Did you even ask?’ Anna snapped.

‘No,’ he responded calmly. ‘I was more focused on reassuring my brother than asking questions.’

Suitably chastised, Anna briefly closed her eyes. It was her turn to apologise.

‘Sorry.’

‘No problem,’ he accepted with a shrug.

‘Have you told your family?’