Page 88 of Virgin's Stolen Nights with the Boss

‘Yes.’

He’d already guessed she was leaving, but he knew for sure as they drove down the long driveway.

She couldn’t look at Homer sniffing the air... Nor at Pixie, with her short, fat legs trying to catch up with the car.

‘I’ll just stop and let—’

‘Please don’t.’

She couldn’t bear to say goodbye, Elias realised.

From the basement car park at the hotel they were whisked up by a private elevator to his suite, and he wondered just who she was back home in Spain. Because she had a grubby backpack and also a big, fancy box. She was filthy, and yet as they stepped into the penthouse she managed to smile confidently at the butler.

‘Can I get you anything, ma’am?’ he said.

‘A sherry, please.’

‘I’ll sort it,’ Elias said. ‘Could you excuse us?’

A maid came out then, and announced, ‘The bath is drawn, ma’am.’

‘Gracias,’Carmen said with a smile, but when they were alone she rolled her eyes. ‘Why do they assume it’s for me?’

‘Itisfor you!’ He was on his cell phone and firing off texts. ‘I might only have time to brush my teeth...’

‘Elias, you smell too,’ Carmen said, but not unkindly as her ex once had.

‘I know. Go and have your bath and I’ll be in soon.’

‘I’ll wait till you’re gone.’

‘Up to you.’

Only, Carmen ached, and she was so filthy that when she headed into the bathroom she peeled off her clothes and climbed into the lovely, soapy water. She knew she was a coward for not telling him that she would be flying hometonight. But she had never learned how to say goodbye, and she still didn’t know how.

To people.

Or to horses.

But especially to him.

Elias’s phone was lit up like a Christmas tree, but he made only a few quick calls as he sorted out his suit.

He glanced again at the backpack and the box...

Carmen Romero

So that was her name, was it?

He poured her a drink, and now he saw it was Carmen’s phone that flashed a message, inviting her to check in for her flight.

Her flighttonight.

First class!

Well, that explained a few things...

‘Here.’ Elias came in with a bottle and a proper sherry glass. ‘That sherry you like.’

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