A Spanish Engagement Read Free Page A

hurry,’ he said. ‘Do you want to share this taxi with me?’
    Carrie looked into those meltingly dark attractive eyes and for a moment she hesitated; then, remembering Molly sitting in the classroom waiting for her, she nodded. ‘Thanks.’ She smiled at him as she climbed into the vehicle beside him. ‘Do you mind dropping me off first? You’re right—I am in a hurry. I’m on the last minute before picking my niece up from school.’
    ‘Of course,’ he acceded easily, and then listened as she gave the driver the address.
    ‘Thank you,’ she said politely to him again, and relaxed back into the seat beside him.
    ‘That’s okay. I’m going out to the other side of the city anyway, so you are practically on the way.’
    Carrie got her mobile phone out to ring one of her friends who had kindly said she would pick Molly up for her if she were delayed today. ‘Hi, Bernadette, it’s Carrie.It’s okay, I don’t need you to pick Molly up from school. I’ll be a few minutes late but I will be there.’
    As she listened to Bernadette’s light-hearted rejoinder, Carrie’s eyes drifted to the man beside her. She wondered if he was married. He wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, but then that didn’t mean anything. A lot of men didn’t wear wedding rings…especially ones who enjoyed flirting with other women. One thing was sure: he was far too good-looking for any woman’s peace of mind.
    ‘Why is it falling to you to pick up your niece from school?’ he asked inquisitively once she had hung up. ‘Where are her parents?’
    ‘They are both dead,’ Carrie murmured. ‘Her mother died two years ago and her father…my brother died in a car crash a few months ago.’
    ‘I’m sorry.’ He shook his head, sympathy in his dark eyes. ‘Poor little girl.’
    ‘Yes…’ For a moment she couldn’t say any more as grief encroached suddenly upon her. Tony had only been her half-brother but they had been close, and one of the things that had attracted her to working in Barcelona was that he’d lived not far away. She still couldn’t believe that he was dead…it was like some kind of nightmare. ‘But we are managing,’ she managed to say huskily.
    ‘I’m sure you are. You strike me as an extremely capable young woman. But it can’t be easy.’
    ‘We’re fine.’ She hastily pulled herself together. ‘Usually I have a nanny to help me, but she is off this week and it has made things a little more difficult.’ She noticed that the taxi was now turning down the street towards the school. ‘Anyway, thank you again for allowing me to share your taxi.’ She glanced over towards the meter. ‘How much do I owe you?’
    ‘I was going this way anyway—please don’t bother with payment,’ he said quickly.
    Carrie was going to argue but suddenly she looked up and saw Molly standing on the pavement outside the school, holding hands with a woman. Leaning forward with a start, she realised it was the little girl’s grandmother, and judging by the thunderous expression on her face she was anything but pleased.
    What on earth was she doing here? Carrie wondered frantically. She wasn’t due to arrive until tomorrow.
    ‘Something wrong?’ Max asked, noticing the sudden pallor of her skin.
    ‘No…it’s just Molly’s grandmother is here and she looks annoyed—probably because I’m late.’
    He leaned forward to glance out. ‘You’re not that late. There are other children just coming out now.’
    ‘Even five minutes isn’t going to please Carmel, judging by a letter she sent me recently. She thinks Molly would be better off with her and her husband because I’m not married and I have a demanding career. They say they will have more time for her.’
    ‘That’s as may be, but there are lots of single working mothers. As long as Molly is happy with you, I can’t see the problem.’
    ‘No, neither can I. I think she means well. She just wants to do her best for her daughter’s child. Hopefully I can