Page 126 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 1-4

‘But you do not have to go right away.’

Was he asking her to stay longer? She ignored the burst of pleasure at that—the warmth that spread through her because of his validation. She couldn’t feel it. She wouldn’t.

‘I should.’

‘Have you ever eaten paella?’

She nodded. ‘A long time ago, on a tour of Spain.’

‘Not like this, though,’ he murmured, his arrogance pulling at something in her chest.

‘Come here,’ he commanded, crooking his finger, so her feet moved as though they had a mind of their own, towards him. Once level with the stove, he dipped the spoon into the rice and lifted it towards her lips, which she parted without hesitation.

The flavours hit her like a gut punch. Saffron, tomato, seafood. It was quite possibly the most delicious thing she’d ever tasted. ‘Wow,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘This I did not expect.’

‘Dinner?’

‘You making dinner.’

‘Why?’

‘I suppose if I’d thought about it all, I would have presumed you have a chef.’

‘I do.’ He returned the spoon to the pan and stirred the rice, before flicking off the heat. ‘That doesn’t mean I can’t cook. I just don’t have the time, but when I can, I enjoy it.’

She arched a brow.

‘I cooked a lot, growing up.’

‘Paella?’

He pulled a face. ‘My stepmother would not have allowed that, no. She hated anything that reminded her of my Spanish parentage.’

Astrid frowned. ‘Your mother is from Spain?’

‘Was,’ he corrected. ‘She died a long time ago.’

It was Astrid’s turn to express sympathy. She reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. ‘I’m sorry.’

He nodded once. ‘I never really knew her.’

‘I imagine that could make it even harder.’

His eyes lanced hers for a moment before turning back to the paella.

‘Why did you move to Spain?’

His Adam’s apple shifted as he swallowed and he was quiet for so long, she wondered if perhaps he wasn’t going to answer. ‘I got into a school there.’

Astrid considered that. ‘Didn’t you have a school here?’

He turned to face her. ‘How well do you know Carlotta and Otto?’

Astrid lifted a hand and toyed with the silky dark ends of her hair. ‘We see each other at a few events each year.’

‘Not well, then?’

She shook her head once. ‘Why?’