The Spanish Consultant (Westerling)

‘Right.’ Libby looked at her. ‘So you didn’t feel a single thing when you looked at him?’

Katy reminded herself of all the reasons she was marrying Freddie.

‘No. Not a thing.’ She looked at her sister and inhaled deeply. ‘I’m not eighteen any more, Lib. Do you really think I’d be mad enough to get involved with him again?’

After all the pain she’d suffered…

‘You couldn’t help yourself last time,’ Libby pointed out gently. ‘I saw the way you were with him. He was the one, Katy.’

‘I wish you’d stop saying that!’ Katy leapt of the bed, her breathing rapid. ‘He wasn’t the one. He wasn’t! I was too young and inexperienced to know what I was doing.’

‘Not that young.’

Katy shook her head. ‘It can’t be love if it’s one-sided, and Jago never loved me.’

I don’t do commitment, Katy.

‘OK, calm down.’ Libby looked at her warily and stuck out her hand. ‘Have some chocolate. It’s good for the nerves.’

Katy sighed. ‘I’m beyond chocolate.’

Libby looked unconvinced. ‘Nothing is ever beyond the reach of chocolate. Well, if you don’t want chocolate, we could go shopping. I saw this gorgeous pair of shoes today.’

Katy gave a wan smile. Libby’s two big loves in life were chocolate and shoes. ‘If you buy any more shoes we’ll need a bigger flat.’ She bit her lip. ‘I can handle him now, Lib. I’m older and more sensible. I know he’s wrong for me. I don’t want a man like Jago. He’s ruthless and macho and totally not my type.’

She remembered the careless way that he’d dismissed the nurse. It seemed that, whatever career he pursued, Jago had to be in control.

‘He’s Spanish,’ Libby reminded her. ‘These Mediterranean types are all the same. Unreconstructed when it comes to women.’

‘Well, I don’t want unreconstructed,’ Katy said firmly. ‘Not any more. That was just a phase I went through as a teenager. Now I’m older and wiser and I want romantic—like Freddie. Did you see the flowers?’

Libby pulled a face. ‘I could hardly miss them. Freddie certainly isn’t subtle.’

Katy stiffened defensively. ‘He’s kind.’

‘Right.’ Libby looked at her. ‘So is the mechanic that services my car, but I’m not marrying him.’

‘Just drop it.’

‘You know I don’t think you should be marrying Freddie, and neither does Alex.’ Libby looked her straight in the eye. ‘Don’t try telling me you’re not still affected by Jago, Katy. Look at yourself! You’re a nervous wreck. You couldn’t resist him before. What makes you think you can do it this time?’

‘Because I’m older and wiser and I’m marrying Freddie.’

‘Freddie is completely wrong for you.’

Katy gritted her teeth. ‘He’s very romantic. Something that Jago could never be.’

‘But then Jago is one hundred and fifty per cent full-on virile male,’ Libby said softly, ‘something that Freddie could never be.’

‘That’s enough!’ Katy lifted her hands to her ears but Libby didn’t give up.

‘You’re going to be waking up every morning next to Lord Frederick—that’s if he hasn’t left early to get to the office before the markets open…’

Katy still had her ears covered. ‘I’m not listening.’

‘Fine. Don’t listen.’ Libby sprang off the bed and tossed the chocolate wrapper in the bin. ‘But if you think you can work alongside Jago without creating fireworks then you’re deluded.’

‘I—I can,’ Katy stammered. ‘He doesn’t affect me any more.’