Page 3 of Midnight Surrender to the Spaniard

Anna had been warned about him, so she had read up on him some more.

It had never entered Anna’s head that she might like him.

She wore a loose skirt and halter-neck top with flat sandals—a pretty non-descript outfit—and so on stepping into Arrivals she expected to have to cast her eyes around to find a guy holding up a sign with her name or...

Yet straight away her eyes locked with his.

He was tall, and wore a suit and loosened tie. He looked bored, brooding, and although she was both shocked and loath to admit it, he was beautiful.

He gave her a nod, and as she wheeled her case around and walked towards him, he gave her a sort of half-smile.

Well, a quarter of a smile.

‘Sebastián...’ She didn’t know if she should offer her hand, nor quite how to greet this reluctantpadrino.

‘Sebastián?’ he frowned. ‘No.’

Realising she’d been mistaken, Anna backed away. ‘Oh, gosh, sorry...’

‘Es broma...’he said. ‘Joking.’

Anna was surprised by her own smile.

‘Is there a problem with your luggage?’ He glanced at her small case. ‘Has it not come through?’

‘No, I’ve just got carry-on. I’m only here for two nights.’

‘One of themisa wedding,’ he said.

Anna took that as a criticism.

He must have seen her lips pinch. ‘I meant that is the size of a make-up bag for most women...’ He rolled his beautiful black eyes as if he knew he’d possibly offended her again. ‘Let’s get to the car.’

Surprisingly, she wasn’t offended.

Anna was actually somewhat startled by the ease of her smile at his little joke about not being Sebastián when just moments before, as she’d exited the plane, she’d called the vicarage and spoken on the phone to an excited Willow. The conversation had left her fighting tears.

‘Nanny and I are making scones!’

‘How lovely.’

‘Give Em a kiss for me.’

‘I shall.’

‘Send lots of pictures too.’

Anna had felt too far away from her daughter, and tearful that it had taken nearly five years for this to happen.

Yet Willow had sounded completely happy, and so she’d blinked away the tears. Moments later, when she’d been met by Sebastián and his dry humour, Anna had found herself smiling.

Despite the joke, it was clear he did not want to be here. She didn’t take it personally, and knew it was because he was vehemently opposed to the wedding. He was scrupulously polite, despite his feelings about his brother’s decision to marry Anna’s friend.

As they left the airport, stepping out into the gorgeous May sun, Anna got her first glimpse of Emily’s new world.

‘Anna!’ Sebastián called her back.

It was then that she realised they werenotwalking with the masses to the car park.

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