Love in Bloom (De La Fuente Family 3)

He was beginning to realize that it was a nervous habit of hers, but it was so fucking hot that his blood would always run south in one big rush. “I think I was. Stupid.” He rubbed the back of his neck, ignoring not only the throb in his knee but the one between his legs.

He was being ridiculous and that had to stop. “Look, if you want to hang out with Kasey then, okay. He’s my brother and I’d trust him with my life. So if that’s what you want, then go for it. I mean he’s closer in age to you anyway.”

What the fuck was he saying?

Erin looked close to tears and he wasn’t sure why when he’d just said it was okay to hang out with his brother. Really though, what did she expect?

She expected you to want to spend more time with her.

“Okay. I like Kasey.” Erin’s voice was cool but there was still so much warmth to the tone that he was struck again by how different she was from Caprice. She moved past him and walked off toward the house.

He turned and watched her, and what a sight she was in her fitted jeans. Her T-shirt stretched over delicious curves, her hips swayed as she stomped off. He couldn’t blame her for being in a temper after how they’d spent the previous evening and waking in bed together.

Fucking bastard!

“A mighty fine ass.”

He turned and glared at his youngest brother, Diego. The twenty-seven year old fire fighter had a rep with women, although he wasn’t sure whether or not to believe what he’d heard. Something about it didn’t ring true with what he’d seen with his own eyes.

Diego loved his own space and would have the occasional hookup that he knew, but the odd one didn’t give him a reputation. So he wondered.

“Let’s leave Erin’s ass alone.” He passed one more glance to Erin and faced Diego. “What’s going on with you? Emelia said your bells been quiet?”

Diego’s eyes widened in surprise before he started to laugh. “Don’t you just love my twin?”

“I do.” Mateo grinned feeling his mood lightening a bit. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“Bro, get real.” Diego turned back to the barn so Mateo followed.

“I haven’t seen you for months. We used to hang out.”

“I’m good, okay.” Diego came to a stop at the barn doors.

His brother looked tired, as though he was at the end, or had taken as much as he could. “You’re tired.”

“You need to go check on Erin before Kasey sneaks in. He wouldn’t shut up about the change in her last night after you’d taken her out.”

That was all he needed.

“I’ll go and grab Erin in a minute and if you don’t talk to me I’m going to make sure Emelia knows there is something wrong with you.”

Diego chuckled before he became serious and looked lost in thought. “I’m really okay, Mateo. I am tired…there was a fire that we went to and both of the couple’s children died.” Diego dropped to the wooden bench just inside of the barn, so Mateo joined him. “It was hard for us all to see. I guess I’m second-guessing myself even though the reports are saying that the children had been dead for a while.”

“How had they been dead for a while?”

“Mom and Dad had left them alone in the house while they went out. The eldest had been seventeen and the younger one nine. The smoke had gotten to them before the fire had even been seen from the front of the house.”

It gave him chills to think of Diego running into burning buildings while everyone else ran out, but he didn’t say that and never would. But to witness death up close and personal, knowing that there was nothing you could do, would be hard for anyone.

His brother was too damn young to have to experience that. There were only five years between them, but he always felt protective of Diego.

“I wish I knew what to say, but with something like that, I don’t.”

Diego shook his head. “You don’t have to say anything, but I appreciate you making me say it out loud.”

He slung his arm around Diego’s shoulders and tugged him closer. “I don’t give a shit if we’re guys, you’re my brother…Just remember that whenever you need to talk about work, or anything, D. Anything.” He smiled to himself. “Even if you want pointers on the female anatomy.”

Diego laughed, which had been Mateo’s intention and shoved him away.