Page 97 of Midnight Surrender to the Spaniard

‘Because Alejandro and I are brothers and our children should be cousins.’

‘But you’ve always said you don’t want children...’

‘I don’t want children with anyone other than you.’

‘You haven’t even met her yet.’

‘I haven’t met our future children either, and nor have you. But I know we’ll love them. I never want Willow to feel she is not just as important.’

He took her breath away.

‘What will I do with myself if I don’t have things—family—to worry about?’

He gave her a smile in the sunlight. He was nervous, Anna realised. Certain of his love for her, but as yet uncertain of what might happen next.

‘We can take it slowly,’ he said. ‘I have to be here for a while, to make sure Carmen and Maria don’t burn the family home down. And then there is the business...’

She laughed, breathless.

‘You did say you wanted a big family...’ he added.

‘I did.’

‘Mine are hard work,’ he warned. ‘We won’t foist everyone on Willow until you think she’s ready, and we’ll have to sort out where we live, but—’

‘Hola!’

Anna turned at the sound of her daughter’s voice and smiled as she approached with Dali, who had taught her a few words of Spanish.

‘Hola!’Sebastián said. ‘You must be Willow.’

‘Yes.’ She looked up at him. ‘Are you Mummy’s friend whose daddy died?’

‘I am.’ He nodded. ‘Sebastián. Pleased to meet you.’

Willow stared at him suspiciously for a moment, and Anna watched her clever girl quietly working things out.

Then, ‘Are you Mummy’s boyfriend?’

Anna watched Sebastián blink at the very direct question, and before he could respond with a carefully constructed denial Anna settled for the truth.

‘Yes,’ Anna said, and held her breath, waiting for her daughter’s response.

‘Okay!’ Willow said, and then turned to Dali. ‘Can we have one more play in the water?’

A laughing Dali took Willow’s hand and they both ran off, leaving a rather stunned couple sitting on the sun loungers.

‘That went rather too well,’ Anna said.

‘I never thought I’d be called a boyfriend!’

‘We don’t have to take it slowly,’ Anna turned to him, and reached over and took his hand. ‘I love you so much.’

And in a complicated situation, at least one decision was easy.

‘My parents will only want Willow for holidays. My family is here.Ourfamily.’

‘You’re sure?’

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