Taken the Spaniard's Virgin

“I’m sure they are.”

They were watching the sunrise the next morning when Miguel said, “You truly love the water, yes?”

“Oh, yes. I don’t think I could ever live anywhere that wasn’t close to the ocean.”

“Perhaps you are part mermaid.”

She laughed. “Maybe.”

“I have arranged a surprise for you, I hope you will like it.”

“I’m sure I will.” Just the thought of him going to the trouble to surprise her made her feel cherished.

They were standing at the rail on his yacht when it started moving before the final shoe dropped on her surprise.

“We’re moving.”

“Yes.”

“For a day cruise?” she asked, anticipation shimmering through her.

“You said you did not need to return to California for another nine days.”

“We aren’t cruising for that whole time, are we?” she asked in an awed voice.

For Miguel to take that kind of time off to spend alone with her was just…it was…totally phenomenal. She would never have expected it.

“I will still have to take care of certain business matters, but I have cleared my schedule sufficiently to make the long cruise possible.”

“Wow. It’s like a honeymoon.” Then she bit her lip and blushed at what she’d said. No matter how wonderful the last few days had been, she and Miguel still weren’t anywhere near a place they could talk about that kind of long-term future together. “Scratch that, I’d draw and quarter any husband of mine who worked intermittently on the honeymoon,” she said, laughing off her words with a joke.

“Neither of us is in a place to think about that sort of thing,” he replied, his lips quirking.

“By that sort of thing, you mean marriage…or honeymoons?”

“Do they not usually go together?”

“I would say so, yes.”

“This…” He swept his hand out in an arc, encompassing the yacht and the now moving water beneath them. “Is an opportunity to make the most of our time together. No unintentional overtones, nothing but you and I enjoying one another and something beautifully unique.”

“You’re right. I know you have to work, but can we leave our jobs and the rest of our lives on the shore?” It sounded so good, to spend an entire week not thinking about her career or focusing on business in any way. It would be a true vacation, of both the mind and the body.

“I solemnly vow to dismiss my responsi

bilities from my mind except those short hours each day I have to dedicate to them.”

“That works for me.” Out of sight…out of mind, or something like that.

CHAPTER NINE

ANDit did work. They cruised the open sea mostly, staying close enough to shore for some spectacular views, but also offering tons of privacy. There was a small crew on board that took care of everything, just as if they were staying in a luxury all inclusive hotel. But better.

The yacht…the crew…the privacy…all added up to something very special. And he’d made it happen because their relationship was unique.

Amber spent a lot of time smiling over the next week.

They were cruising back toward port when Miguel came up to her standing at the rail. The warm sun beat against her skin while a gentle breeze kept her hair flying around her face.