Under the Spanish Stars by Alli Sinclair Page A

steering wheel. ‘Nothing most brothers would not do to each other, yes?’
    â€˜I’ve never punched my brother, although he’s deserved it a few times.’ Charlotte smiled, remembering the rivalry between her and Steve when they were teenagers. Thank goodness those days had passed. ‘Aren’t you too old to have fisticuffs with your sibling?’
    â€˜Fisticuffs?’
    â€˜Having a punch-up fight.’
    â€˜I think I am too old, but my brother does not believe this.’ Tapping on the steering wheel, he said, ‘So we are nearly there. Be prepared to go along with what I say and do, okay?’
    â€˜Absolutely okay.’ Mateo was going out on a limb for her and she had no intention of creating any angst between him and the people he considered family. Which made her wonder about his biological family, given the snippet she’d learnt about his brother. She sensed that topic, along with many others, was not going to be shared willingly. ‘Is Cristina part of the Giménez clan?’
    â€˜Yes. Why do you ask this?’
    â€˜I was just wondering why we didn’t speak to her last night.’
    â€˜Last night was not the right time. To ask her a favour, it is better if we do this on her territory.’
    â€˜This is a gitano thing?’
    â€˜It is a Cristina thing. She is complicated.’
    â€˜I think she hates me.’
    Mateo held his thumb and index finger close together. ‘Maybe a little.’
    They swung off the road and onto the narrow path that led to a field. A full moon hung overhead, casting a golden light across silken straw blowing in the light breeze. Between the distant trees an orange and yellow glow flickered, and when the car stopped in the middle of the field Charlotte sensed she’d just stepped back in time.

CHAPTER
6
    â€˜Where are we?’ Charlotte’s voice cracked.
    â€˜You are nervous?’
    Charlotte bit her lip and shook her head.
    â€˜Charlotte Kavanagh, I hope you are not doing the lying thing.’
    She let out a sigh and said, ‘Going to new places scares me.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜Because …’ She took a moment to get her thoughts straight. ‘Because I get worried that people won’t accept me into their group.’ Wow. That had come out so easily, yet she’d never had the courage to say it out loud before. What was with this Mateo Vives? Did he have some kind of super human power with getting her to reveal her innermost thoughts and emotions?
    â€˜I can assure you that you are very likable and even though the Giménez clan do not accept outsiders, they will not be rude.’
    Mateo’s words did little to calm her nerves but she exited the car regardless. A lone figure stepped out from the cluster of trees. With arms and legs that went on forever, the woman sauntered across the field, long skirt and dark hair fanning out in the gentle breeze.
    As she drew close, her rosy lips broke into a wide smile but the shadows fell across her eyes. ‘I thought I heard your car, Mateo!’
    Her voice was silky and her Spanish was so clear that Charlotte didn’t have a problem understanding. Maybe her school Spanish wasn’t so bad. Mateo kissed the woman on the cheeks, wrapped his arms around her in a bear hug, then lifted her off the ground and spun her twice. He deposited her back on the earth and they yabbered at a million miles an hour while Charlotte wondered when her presence would be noted.
    The moon highlighted the woman’s face as she turned and narrowedher eyes at Charlotte. It was Cristina, who now screwed up her nose like she’d just experienced a bad smell.
    â€˜What is she doing here?’ Cristina’s glare cut through Charlotte’s minimal confidence.
    â€˜I’m—’
    â€˜Charlotte is here to see El Jefe ,’ Mateo interrupted, and raised his eyebrows at Charlotte. Indignation rose in her belly, but she had to play