Page 78 of Midnight Surrender to the Spaniard

Anna could hear the strain in his voice, and perhaps wisely he chose not to debate the topic right now.

‘Let’s just try for one good night, shall we?’ he suggested, and then took out his phone. ‘I’ll let Dante know we’ll be aboard soon.’

It was only when Carmen huffed off to stare out of the window that he finally met Anna’s eyes.

He gave her a half-smile—or a quarter-smile and a tiny nod—and she quickly turned her head away, because she didn’t know how they were after the way things had ended between them.

‘How was your night with Carmen?’ he asked.

‘Fun!’ she said brightly.

But when she met his gaze her eyes filled with tears, because she loathed the pettiness of revenge and that was what last night had been for her.

She’d stuck to sparkling water all night, but she’d laughed and danced as if she was a glamorous and single twenty-something with no responsibilities, having the time of her life on a starry night in Puerto Banús.

She wished that she’d simply curled up and cried instead.

He gave her another smile and that made her feel even worse.

When they were finished at the hospital the cars were ready to take them to the marina, and she sat with Alejandro and Emily, who was obviously nervous at leaving her tiny baby in the hospital.

‘She’ll be fine,’ she told her friend.

‘I know,’ Emily said.

‘How was José when he held her?’ Anna asked.

‘So proud,’ Emily said, and she showed her a couple of photos on her phone.

That reminded Anna of something. ‘I have to take some photos of us,’ she said. ‘Willow keeps asking for more.’

‘We’ll get some on the yacht,’ Emily said. ‘How is she?’

‘They’re driving back from Scotland today. She’s starting to miss me and...’ A lump filled her throat but she squashed it down, and Emily squeezed her hand.

‘Thanks for being here,’ she said. ‘And I am so sorry for asking you to do that blanket. I wasn’t thinking...’

‘It nearly killed me!’ Anna laughed.

They began to walk along the jetty towards the yacht. Maria’s flamenco shoes were clipping loudly and drawing the eyes of all around.

‘Maria de Luca!’ someone called out, and she smiled and waved and blew kisses with the hand that wasn’t holding José’s.

Emily and Alejandro were holding hands too, and Carmen was casually checking her phone. Sebastián walked ahead alone and Anna ached to walk beside him, sensing this night was incredibly hard for him.

His yacht had never looked more beautiful, Anna thought as they made their way towards it. In a sea of white, it was softly lit pink in the dusky night and she felt a little foolish for having asked Sebastián to warn the crew, because they were, of course, impeccable.

‘Bienvenido a bordo, Señor Romero.’

José was welcomed back warmly, and Dante greeted all the other guests by name.

‘Señorita de Luca.’

He welcomed Maria courteously, and in Spanish asked her to remove her shoes. Anna was back to beingseñorita, as she had been the first night she had been here.

‘Can I ask that you...?’ He gestured to her shoes and to the basket.

Carmen had already taken hers off and was heading up onto deck.

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