Read Online Under the Spanish Stars by Alli Sinclair - Free Book Online Page A

red crept across his face.
    â€˜How did you … but … Federico …’ Why couldn’t her mind stop spinning enough for her mouth to connect?
    Raul gave an understanding smile and saved her the embarrassment of sounding like a fool. ‘Federico managed a café cantante I worked in when I first went to Seville. We became good friends, but after a few years we parted ways to pursue other endeavours. We ran into each other a couple of months ago in Seville and he convinced me to join him again.’
    â€˜Were you the one behind him trying to recruit me?’ she asked, hopeful.
    He shook his head and disappointment washed over Katarina. Her gaze fell on his lips. Those same lips she once kissed with intense passion during their clandestine meetings a lifetime ago. Now they remained motionless as an uncomfortable silence enveloped them.
    â€˜Do you like the theatre?’ he finally asked.
    Cautiously, she said, ‘It needs some work.’
    â€˜Spit and polish is all. Once the sleeves are rolled up we will change the fate of this magnificent piece of architecture.’ His light tone sounded forced. ‘Others wanted to tear it down but Federico saw its beauty and convinced the Lobo Brothers that—’
    â€˜The Lobo Brothers?’
    â€˜They own this building. They’re bankrolling the company.’
    Katarina clenched her fist, annoyed with Federico as the way he’d spoken sounded like the company belonged to him. Had she suspected the Lobo Brothers were involved, she might have thought twice about making the commitment. Being entangled with anything vaguely related to the Lobos made her nervous as they were known Franco sympathisers and had amassed a fortune shrouded in many questions.
    Shifting from foot to foot, she stared at the dust rising from the floor.The Lobos were one challenge, but the biggest one stood right in front of her.
    â€˜Katarina—’ Raul traced his fingers along the marble column.
    â€˜Yes?’ Her pulse raced and she closed her eyes, her fingers itching to reach for him, to gently stroke his face, to experience how much his body had changed. Emotions welled up inside and she desperately tried to keep them contained but it was impossible. And, for the first time in a long while, she set them free. ‘I tried so hard not to miss you, but I think about you all the time.’
    â€˜It’s been eight years, Katarina. We’re different people.’ A wall shot up around Raul and she instantly regretted expressing her innermost thoughts. What a fool she was.
    â€˜People’s true nature never changes.’ Her defensive tone didn’t help.
    Raul shook his head. ‘I wish I had your naïve view—’
    â€˜I’m not naïve!’ She countered her hands on her hips. ‘You have no right to make such assumptions.’
    â€˜I’m sorry, you’re not naïve, but from what I understand, you haven’t exactly been in the thick of war.’
    â€˜And you have?’ How much did he know about her and why? A large part of Katarina hoped it was because he still cared.
    Raul pulled his shoulders back and she sensed a raw nerve may have been hit. ‘My past shall remain there.’
    She didn’t like this distant version of Raul. What had happened to the young man who had captured her heart, who made her question what she wanted from life, who ultimately led Katarina to her true calling?
    â€˜When did you find out I would be dancing in this company?’ she asked.
    His shoulders relaxed. ‘Not so long ago. Federico told me to go and watch a flamenco dancer he’d recruited so I went to the café cantante but never expected to see you. I was … surprised. I still am.’ When he looked at her this time, his eyes held sincerity. ‘You’ve come a long way. Your dancing is more mature, like there’s a depth you never had before. I imagine much of that stems from