Page 51 of Midnight Surrender to the Spaniard

‘Oh?’

‘Carmen is visiting, and I am concerned about her.’

Anna saw he didn’t halt himself before continuing this time.

‘She has been low these past months. I know she broke up with a guy a few months ago...’

‘I remember Emily saying.’

‘I think it was nasty—not that she would tell me the details,’ he admitted. ‘It also coincided with Maria’s return.’

‘Ouch.’ Anna felt a touch guilty, as she’d considered Carmen simply petulant and spoilt.

‘I’ve put it down to that, as well as our father being ill, but there’s something I’m missing—something she’s not telling me. I wondered if you might talk to her.’

‘Me?’ Anna shook her head in confusion. ‘Why would Carmen talk to me?’

‘Ido,’ he responded simply. ‘Look, Carmen is going to hit the salons and the shops when she gets here. I thought I might tell her that you are scaring the locals and need a decent wardrobe.’

‘That’s a horrible thing to say.’

‘I say a lot of horrible things,’ he said, smiling. ‘I don’t always mean them, though. This way, Carmen will think there’s a reason for you to go with her.’

‘Why are you doing this?’

‘Because I want you to talk to Carmen and maybe tell me what’s going on.’

‘I’m not going to break her confidence—to spy and then report back to you.’

‘You’re not a doctor or a priest! You don’t need to take her secrets to the grave,’ he said. ‘Just let me know if she’s okay. Because I swear there is something going on in her head, and I’m worried. Will youtryspeaking with her for me, please?’

‘I’ll try...’

‘Okay.’ He stood. ‘I should go.’

‘Yes.’

She saw him to the door and something close to panic quietly hit her—because she found she didn’t know how to say goodbye.

It was bad enough with him here, but without him...

‘Hasta luego...’

He left without a backward glance.

CHAPTER TEN

SEBASTIÁNFIXEDHISeyes on the road and tried not to notice the blue, blue Mediterranean or the glistening white yachts. And when he opened his window he quickly closed it again, because he did not want the scent of summer clouding his brain.

‘Why are you doing this?’she had asked him.

Because he wanted to spoil her. Because she deserved to be spoiled.

To prevent himself thinking of Anna, he called his sister.

‘I don’t want to spend a day with Anna,’ she sighed. ‘She’s boring.’

‘Carmen...’ He held in a tense breath. ‘Just sort things out. Get the things she likes wrapped and sent to the villa without her knowing.’ He gave her the address. ‘Maybe go to a salon. I don’t know...’

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