Taken the Spaniard's Virgin

“No. My career is not quite to the point where I get picked up for shoots by a car and driver. I still take a lot of taxis and public transport.” Deciding to enjoy it rather than be intimidated by the situation, she grinned.

He swooped, kissing her still smiling mouth with firm possession before lifting his head, his hands cupping her shoulders warmly. “You will do me the favor of not partaking of public transport while you are in Barcelona.”

She shrugged, making no promises. She did not know how much time he would be able to give her and she was not going to sit in her hotel room twiddling her thumbs while she could be out seeing the sites.

His eyes narrowed as he helped her into the car. “I will put a car and driver at your disposal when I am not with you.”

“That’s not necessary, Miguel. I’m quite used to riding public transport.”

He slid in to sit beside her on the black leather upholstery. “You will allow me to provide this for you as a favor to me.”

“I will?” she asked, crossing her arms and staring at him.

“Do you want me to worry about you when I should be concentrating on business?”

“Of course not.” But she didn’t mind knowing that he would.

“Then you will avail yourself of my car and driver.”

“That’s manipulative.”

He shrugged, looking supremely unrepentant.

She laughed. “You’re very stubborn, but I can be, too.”

“But please, not on this issue.”

“It really worries you?”

“Yes,mi cielo, it does.”

She supposed women in his world did not ride the bus. “Fine. If you really want to put a car and driver at my disposal, who am I to turn it down?”

“Exactly.” He brushed her cheek. “You are so beautiful, but you hear this all the time, no?”

“It’s different coming from you,” she admitted.

“I am glad. So, do you have a list of places you want to visit?”

“Yes, I brought the tourist brochures with me.” She turned and dug them out from her oversize tapestry bag, brandishing them with a flourish. “I came prepared.”

“Good.” He smiled and reached for the glossy advertisements. “We have time to look through these now. It will take more than a few minutes to reach our destination in midday traffic.”

“Where are we going for lunch?”

“I thought you might like to eat in a café in theBarri Gotic . It is interestingly gothic in that area and very nearLa Rambla .”

“Oh,La Rambla is on my ‘must see’ list.”

“As it should be. To walkLa Rambla is to experience a slice of the true heart of Barcelona.”

“I also hoped to see some examples of Antoni Gaudi’s work.”

“The architect’s designs are worth seeing to be sure. Tomorrow, I will take you toParc Guell . The snake bench is something to behold, but I think today we will concentrate on our Gothic city center andLa Rambla . Tonight, I would like to take you to the casino.”

“That sounds wonderful.” She loved the evidence that he took seriously his self-appointed job of showing her Barcelona.

“I have taken tomorrow to dedicate to you completely as well as the weekend, but Monday I will have to work.”