Love in Bloom (De La Fuente Family 3)

“We’re done here. I’ll be explaining to Erin, which should be fun.” He frowned. “But it won’t go any further unless you choose otherwise.”

Mateo waited but Evans stayed silent, his gaze averted so Mateo left as quickly as he’d arrived.

He’d be with Erin sooner and she’d want to know what had happened. He’d promised her the truth so that was what she’d get. She knew why she’d been hired so hopefully she’d accept it.

At least he’d left all that behind him because of the ‘fiancée’ thing and now he had his sweet girl to look forward to.

She was under his skin and he had no intention of sharing her with anyone, although he’d make the exception of Sadie, her best friend.

Chapter Thirty-Two

“Sadie,” Erin tugged her into the apartment as soon as she knocked on the door, “I’ve been trying to get hold of you.”

“I told you that I was at work. I’ve come straight from there.” Sadie tossed a dress bag over the back of the sofa. “I have my things and the guys are going to pick us up from here.”

Erin froze. “Guys? What guys?”

Sadie laughed and pushed past her to the kitchen. “Nice try. You had me there.”

What the hell was her friend talking about?

“Sadie.” Erin followed her friend and accepted the bottle of beer she’d taken from the fridge. “What guys? I’m serious. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Seriously?” Sadie took a drink and met her gaze.

“Seriously.”

“Andre and blind date. Double date,” Sadie replied and Erin’s heart sank.

“No way.” She dropped her beer back to the countertop. “I can’t go on a double date with you guys.”

“Oh, stop being a prude. Of course we’re double dating. The guys will be here soon. We talked about this before you went to Montana. You know a celebration that you were finally free of Mateo.” Sadie swept her dress from the back of the sofa and headed for Erin’s bedroom.

Erin was going to break it to her best friend slowly about her giving up her apartment and moving in with Mateo, but she figured she’d let her see for herself that something was going on.

“Oh, my God. Couldn’t you find the right dress?” Sadie hung her dress on the back of the door and turned to stare at the mess.

“Sadie, I need to talk to you.”

The doorbell chimed.

“That will be the guys.” Sadie took off to get the door while Erin panicked in her bedroom.

Mateo would be coming to pick her up soon. Her overnight bag was packed ready, but she’d yet to explain to Sadie about Mateo and she certainly didn’t want to go out on a blind date. She couldn’t even remember agreeing to that.

“Um, Erin?” Sadie called.

Erin felt like screaming.

Inhaling she stepped from around the door, dreading meeting the blind date, knowing she was going to let him down. But as she lifted her head, she met the angry gaze of Mateo.

“I tried not to let him in, but he’s kind of big and pushed the door open,” Sadie complained. “I’m going to call the cops.” She grabbed her cell and Mateo raised a brow in amusement.

Crap!

“No.” Erin raced across the short distance to Mateo and her intention had been to stand in front of him as kind of protection. Mateo had a different idea and wrapped his arms around her so Erin did the most natural thing in the world and buried her face in his chest and inhaled.

“I missed you,” she mumbled.