Page 6 of Midnight Surrender to the Spaniard

She dragged her eyes back to his.

‘Finished.’

She attempted a firm response but heard the tremble in her voice as she said it. She turned her head to the front window. Why had she said that? Why had she been about to allude to his reputation when it had less than nothing to do with her?

‘Let’s just get through tomorrow,’ he suggested, although there was an edge to his voice that told her he wasn’t best pleased.‘Hasta luego,’he added.

She blinked, wondering if she’d just been insulted.

‘It meansgoodbye,’ he translated. ‘Or rather,until later.’

Until later!

Sebastián did not help her with her luggage. He was through with being polite and pointedly just popped open the boot, remaining in the driver’s seat.

There was fire beneath that rather icy exterior, he thought. Reluctantly, he admired her for standing up for her friend, and for facing him as she told him what she thought of Alejandro and this sudden wedding. But then she had alluded to his own behaviour... He had thought himself numb to those accusations. After all, he knew the truth. Yet her green kitten eyes had felt like a flashlight, aimed directly at him.

For a second he had actually considered tartly suggesting that she should not believe everything she read...

No.

He would not be explaining himself and he did not care what anyone else thought, Sebastián reminded himself, watching her wheel her case towards the boutique.

Thisdama de honoralso had a very beautiful back...pale and straight. He had noticed it at the airport as she’d walked ahead to the car, her slender frame accentuating the winged scapula.

Watching her walk to the boutique now, he found the pale blonde ponytail a mild irritant—but only because it concealed her graceful spine.

Perhaps she’d felt his stare, because he saw she’d stiffened briefly and halted as she arrived at the door of the boutique.

And then he further admired her, because she turned and faced him again. For a moment contempt was written on her features, but then she smiled a wide smile, turned away, and went in to greet her friend.

Unseen, Sebastián smiled too. His smile was surprisingly genuine, even though he knew Anna’s was fixed in place for her friend—which let him know she was going along with this damned wedding just as reluctantly as he...

Indeed, Anna had fixed on her smile for Emily’s benefit, and while she was thrilled to see her friend, she really was concerned.

‘Anna!’ Emily hugged her fiercely. ‘I am so sorry to have inflicted Sebastián on you.’

‘He was fine.’

‘Please!’ Emily was disbelieving. ‘If I hadn’t had to get my dress let out I’d have been there to greet you and to hell with tradition. Come and see it.’

Her friend was ecstatic, Anna realised. Glowing...

‘And come and try yours on. If you don’t like it then there are others.’

‘I love it,’ Anna said—and she did. It was made of heavy silk in a very deep amber colour, and possibly—probably—the most beautiful item of clothing she’d ever held, let alone tried on.

The dressmaker gestured for her to put a scarf over her head and face.

‘The dress goes on over your head,’ Emily said, smiling at Anna’s bemused expression. ‘The scarf’s so you don’t get any make-up on it.’

‘I’m not wearing any.’

But still, she complied, and the dark silk slid over her head and down her body. As the dressmaker did the zip up Anna held her breath—and not because the dress was tight...

It was definitely the most beautiful thing she’d ever worn.

‘You look stunning, Anna!’ Emily beamed. ‘I haven’t seen you all dressed up in...’

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