Page 38 of Midnight Surrender to the Spaniard

‘Oh...’ She frowned, because this really was another world to her. ‘So, does it just follow you around?’

‘No!’ He gave a half-laugh. ‘It has been out on charter, but that’s just finished and they had already started preparing the yacht for me. I was going to take a break before Alejandro took time off for the new baby.’

‘So you lease it out? I mean, charter it?’

‘Not often—and only to friends or associates. But I have a crew who love to travel and be on the water,’ Sebastián explained.

Perhaps he registered her frown.

‘So do I,’ he said, ‘although it’s more than that.’

‘In what way?’

‘It’s something to share,’ he said.

‘For parties?’

‘At times—though not of late.’ He thought for a moment. ‘It is nice for family gatherings and such. Special times. You might see it for yourself. The crew are already planning a celebration for my new niece.’

‘That’s nice.’

‘They are far more thoughtful than I am,’ he admitted. ‘I have an apartment outside of Jerez, near the port. I really can’t imagine having such gatherings there, nor in a hotel or function room. The yacht is different.’

‘How?’

‘It’s home,’ he said, ‘with an incredible crew. They know my family. Believe me, that helps. My family is a lot to deal with...’

‘I’d have loved to have a big family...’ Anna sighed wistfully. ‘I’d love brothers and sisters for Willow too.’

‘You want more children?’

He pulled a face, looking so incredulous that it made her laugh.

‘You really don’t want a family?’

He shook his head. ‘To my father’s eternal dismay.’ He rolled those black eyes. ‘But I have a great life, and I don’t want to complicate it.’

‘What about when you’re old?’

‘I’ll be old on my yacht,’ he said, and gave her a smile. ‘Don’t worry. I’m too rich to be lonely.’ He drained his coffee. ‘I should go.’

‘Should you drive back today?’

‘Pardon?’

‘Well, you’ve hardly slept.’

‘Anna, we were in separate beds by midnight.’ Then he added. ‘Yourchoice.’

‘I meant...’

She flushed, because she knew she’d been caught fishing for information, and because she knew just how relieved she was that hehadbeen in bed by midnight. But she didn’t want him to go, Anna realised. She was inventing excuses for him not to leave.

It was just so nice to be like this with him. Even with the annoying background of their fellow diners, one of whom was now complaining that the sun was too bright.

‘No doubt she finds the water too blue,’ Sebastián muttered, and then said something entirely unexpected. ‘I was once engaged to a woman like that.’

He gave himself a little shake. She couldn’t tell if it was because he was surprised that he’d said it, or to rid himself of the memory of this woman.

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