Love in Country (De La Fuente Family 4)

“Lucia will be in here soon. She’s in the lounge talking on the phone with Emelia,” Diego offers after Kasey disappears down the hall to his bedroom. “She wants advice about neutral colors for the baby’s room. Poor Dante.” Diego shakes his head and grins. “I’m going to head over there once this fire that I’ve been called up to is under control.”

My heart freezes at his words. I really hate that Diego is on a hotshot crew.

He refuses to meet my gaze but when he stands, I step in front of him. “You be careful.” I hug him and feel Rae’s hand on my back.

“Be safe, Diego,” she quietly offers, holding Diego’s gaze.

Diego hesitates, watching Rae, and I see when he makes the decision about his next move. He tugs Rae into his arms and holds her close, then he cups her face between his large hands and places a gentle kiss to her forehead before walking away.

Rae doesn’t say anything but sits back down and takes a sip of her coffee, her hands unsteady.

Clearing my throat, I greet Lucia, “We were promised waffles.”

I’ll think more on Rae and Diego when my own life isn’t so messed up.

13

Sarah

My front garden is bursting with color, thanks to the previous owner and his green fingers. When he’d died the property had overgrown with weeds, but with some hard work before moving in I had it looking like a garden once again. I’m out watering it now when I hear a truck pull up. I know who it is and am not surprised. He dropped Rae off minutes before and now he’s here.

My heart thumps in my chest and I really wish this confrontation wasn’t about to happen but I suppose it’s best to get it over with.

I feel his eyes on me, so I slowly place the watering can down, and turn to face him. My eyes roam over his body and my mouth still waters at the sight of him in denim.

His eyes are as focused on me as mine are on him and when our gazes finally lock, I remind myself why I haven’t made any effort to get in touch with him…and my reason is the redhead down the street.

“You lost?” I ask, and see his mouth tighten.

“No, are you?”

I close my eyes and breathe through my temper at Aiden before I snap them open and answer, “I know exactly where I am. I’m in my new home.”

“Greg?” he asks.

“Greg is living with his boyfriend. He and I are in the process of getting a divorce.”

Aiden steps close until we’re nearly toe-to-toe. “After all this time, you’re finally getting a divorce and you have this place, which I’m presuming is yours and not his,” he drops his hands to his sides and whispers, “and you’ve been avoiding me. Why?” He’s upset, and considering where he slept last night, I don’t understand why.

Sighing, I respond, “I didn’t think my single status mattered to you anymore.” I shrug and head inside, hoping he’ll leave.

In the kitchen, I look out the window as my fingers grip the sink in front of me. I need to hold in my tears, but one escapes.

“Sarah?” he whispers from behind me.

I dip my head when I feel his hands on my hips.

“I sent a couple of messages at first, but then they all kept saying undelivered. I figured you’d blocked me. Then I heard you’d gone out of town with Greg…I didn’t know what to think. I waited for you to get in touch with me, but you never did.”

I swallow and try to control my tears, but they fall anyway as I admit, “Greg blocked you on my phone. I had no idea and he only told me yesterday. As for going out of town, that was to talk to his lawyer about the divorce…I’ve heard the gossip, Aiden.” His caressing thumbs freeze on my hip.

“I told you that there was nothing between Rae and me,” he growls and then sighs, dropping his chin to my shoulder.

His closeness and having his hands on me makes me want to forget why I’ve kept my distance, but it’s not so easy to forget.

“I couldn’t sleep last night so I sat on the front porch and watched the sunrise…I saw you and Rae, Aiden. I know you spent the night at her place.”

I slip out of his slackened grip. “I think it’s best if you leave and we both forget that there was ever anything between us.”