Page 36 of Midnight Surrender to the Spaniard

‘You’re welcome,’ he said.

‘Text me if you hear anything from the hospital.’

‘Of course... Anna?’

‘Yes?’

But his mouth pressed together, perhaps changing his mind about whatever he’d been about to say, and then he shook his head, denying her the elaboration of his thoughts. Yet there was something about his silence that weakened her resolve. Something about this man that had her wanting to throw caution aside.Again.

The palm trees were rustling above them, and the same breeze blew her hair across her face. Anna brushed it back and met his eyes.

‘I wanted to do that,’ he admitted, looking at her hair.

She’d wanted him to as well. Had wanted him to smooth her hair back behind her ear and stroke his way to the kiss that had been waiting in the air. But he’d made no move.

He broke the tense silence by explaining, ‘But I know I shouldn’t mess up my apology.’

There was a subtle offer there, and Anna heard it. It was for her to decide if they would resume what they had started at the wedding.

But she couldn’t. She just couldn’t.

‘Goodnight, Sebastián.’

‘Sleep well.’

She let herself into the villa and stood for a moment with her back to the door, resisting the urge to change her mind, reminding herself of what Sebastián himself had said earlier.

‘It was just sex.’

Only for Anna it didn’t feel quite as simple as that.

There was nothing casual about her feelings.

She liked Sebastián Romero way more than could be considered wise.

CHAPTER SEVEN

ANNAWASINCREDIBLYtempted to skip breakfast, but decided she would not hide from Sebastián and headed to the restaurant.

After selecting white shorts and a pretty cheesecloth top, she pulled on sandals and then strolled through the gorgeous grounds.

‘Señorita...’

She was greeted warmly and taken to a terrace table overlooking the delicious ocean, where she gave her order for coffee. Having chosen some fruit and yoghurt from the splendid buffet, Anna was just starting to relax when the apologetic waiter came over.

‘Señorita, please forgive me...but we have a group of guests and they would like privacy on the terrace.’

She glanced up and saw that two couples had arrived. While privately wondering why they couldn’t sit at any one of the many vacant tables, not wanting to make a fuss, she stood up, and was about to be shown to one of the tables inside when Sebastián appeared. He looked seedy—unshaven and with bloodshot eyes. Still, even at his most ragged, he was easily the best-looking man she had ever met.

‘What’s going on?’ he asked.

‘There’s a group,’ Anna said. ‘I think they want to close off the terrace for them.’

‘Perdóneme?’he said, and frowned at the waiter who, under Sebastián’s steely gaze, looked rather less authoritative as he explained in Spanish the reason for the table-change.

Sebastián answered in English. ‘I don’t give a damn. If they require a degree of privacy then they’ll have to wait—or they can eat in their own rooms.’ He looked over to her. ‘Sit down, Anna.’

‘It’s really no problem...’

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