Page 56 of Midnight Surrender to the Spaniard

‘Meaning?’

‘I want time with you,’ Anna said. ‘Not...’

‘I’m not hiring you, Anna.’ He laughed. ‘I want you to love it here,’ he said. ‘I want you to have the holiday you deserve.’

‘Why?’ she croaked.

‘I like you,’ he said, and only now did he falter slightly. ‘I’d like a holiday with you. But as long as we’re clear: no future. No falling in love. No—’

‘What if...?’ she cut in, but then halted, because she had a dreadful feeling it might be way too late for that.

No!She was not ruining this by getting overly emotional. Back in the real world she would see that this was not, nor ever could be, love. So she obliterated that thought from her mind.

‘You were saying...?’ he checked, because she knew he never missed a beat. ‘What if...?’

Anna knew she had to fill the gap. Usually she would be embarrassed to bring it up, but now was grateful for the reason to blame her blush.

‘What if I told you I’d gone on the Pill?’

‘Oh? But, no...’ He shook his head. ‘We’re not gettingthatclose. I will take care of those details.’

He was so absolute with his boundaries that she couldn’t help but ask, ‘Why don’t you let anyone get close to you?’

‘I don’t want to answer that.’

Anna was bold. Sure, she had her hang-ups, and was shy in certain things, but she dug deep and found that boldness so she could stare back at him, quietly demanding a different response.

Finally he gave one. ‘I’m as incapable of love as the woman who birthed me.’

‘No.’

‘Anna,yes.’ He was absolute. ‘I’m not going to say the acceptable thing just because it’s what you want to hear. I don’t want love.’ He offered another truth. ‘Idowant some time with you, though...’

‘You are here until Sunday?’ she checked, because if he left in the morning she would never forgive herself—let alone him.

‘I have packed my bucket and spade.’

‘Stop it!’ She laughed, but her breathing was shallow and fast.

‘I’m going to give you the holiday of your life.’

Never had she thought he’d agree to it. This was going to be a holiday—a real holiday—her first since she couldn’t remember when. A holiday with the most stunning man ever to have come into her line of vision.

‘No tears at the end,’ he warned. ‘Because it ends on Sunday morning. No exceptions.’

Perhaps... But Anna knew that she would possibly live off the memories for ever.

He crooked his finger and she stood and walked over to him, a little unsure if she was up to this, and still wondering if she was somehow dreaming...

He pulled her down onto his lap.

‘Not just sex,’ she said, as he unknotted the belt of her robe. ‘Because when I said I wanted a holiday—’

‘Anna,’ he cut in, ‘leave the details to me.’

‘No,’ Anna said, playing with the heavy silk of his loosened tie. ‘I want a piece of that black heart.’

‘You don’t,’ he said.

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