Love in Country (De La Fuente Family 4)

Mateo lightly punches my shoulder and walks away, and I can’t help wonder what the hell he wants me to say.

I’ve been drawn to a married woman since the minute I met her, long before I’d discovered her marriage was one of convenience only.

Both my brother and friend are old enough to make up their own minds and as much as it plays on my mind, I don’t really think it’s anyone’s business as to what happens between them.

Moving toward the house, I catch Lucia pacing back and forth on the porch and my heart sinks. I wish I could turn around and head the other way, but that isn’t me. Lucia obviously has things on her mind, which probably starts and ends with Rae and Diego.

Needing to get this confrontation out of the way, I approach, keeping my eyes on her. “Lucia.”

“Aiden…” She bites her lip and I know she’s trying to hold back because of our relationship, anyone else would have had a tongue lashing before they’d made it to the bottom of the steps. “Will you talk to Rae, please? She can’t have Diego.” Lucia paces. “She’s only ten years younger than me. Even your father and I don’t have that many years between us, Aiden.”

Sighing heavily, I pull my stepmother into my arms and kiss the top of her head. “Lucia, I don’t think it’s as easy as just talking to Rae. You know your son, and you know that he doesn’t make decisions lightly. No one is going to be able to change his mind. I think you just need to let it play itself out.”

“No.” She pushes away and starts up with the pacing again.

“She isn’t welcome here anymore.” She turns on her heel and heads back inside.

I rub at my brow, a headache brewing with all the damn tension around here.

Diego can sort his own mess out from now on, although I have a feeling that he doesn’t know there’s anything to sort out as of yet.

19

Four weeks later ~ Sarah

It feels good to finally be able to move my arm without having to catch my breath due to shooting pain. The cast is still a hindrance, but lighter than I expected.

Aiden has been amazing and has hinted at every opportunity that we need to be living together so that he can be here for me. I know that I’m holding out and that it’s started to cause Aiden some concern, but I really do want to take everything slow this time around. The last time was slow too, but once we got together thing progressed so fast, making my head spin, and it hasn’t really stopped.

Putting the last of the dishes away, I glance into the living room and meet Aiden’s gaze. I shooed him out so that I could finish up alone, but he’s always watching me to make sure I’m okay. It has been difficult getting around with only being able to use one arm, but I manage.

“Sarah, come and sit.” He pats the seat beside him. “Please…”

I laugh and join him on the sofa. “You don’t need to beg, honey. I love sitting with your arms around me.”

“I thought I was annoying you,” Aiden comments into my hair.

I shake my head. “You know I’ll ask if I need help. I just need to keep my independence.”

“I know. It’s just difficult standing by watching you struggle.” Aiden rearranges us so that he’s spread out on the sofa with his head on the arm and me resting between his spread thighs, my back to his chest.

“What’s bothering you?” he asks, my heart drops.

I’ve wanted to talk to him for over a day now and haven’t known how to tell him…ask him, but I guess I’m going to have to now.

“Greg has a work function in Dallas coming up, and he’s asked if I’d be willing to go with him. Be on his arm for the night.” Aiden stills behind me, so I rush on, “Greg will be getting Matthew and you a ticket as well, so it isn’t as though I’d be going off with him. You’d be with me. Sharing my room.”

Aiden tightens his arms around me. “Sarah, it’s okay, babe. Greg has alread

y talked to me about it. He’s planning on coming out during the event.”

“What?” I’m surprised because he never mentioned that to me.

“Why do you think he’s taking Matthew as well? He doesn’t want to hide anymore.”

“Wow. I didn’t see that coming.” I shake my head and laugh. “So I had nothing to worry about with asking you about it, did I? You already knew.”

“I already knew, but you needn’t have worried.” He kisses my shoulder. “I love you, Sarah, and I know you love me and want to be with me. Please don’t worry about mentioning Greg, and or, Matthew in the future, okay?”