Love in Flame (De La Fuente Family 5)

I can’t look at her anymore because I’m sure she’ll see my broken heart so I let the silence hang over us.

“His friend on the right was cuter though.” She chuckles. “I think I’m going to like living in Great Falls.”

I groan internally as I turn up the driveway and pray that Lucia is kind to Andie because if she isn’t then I won’t be able to stay silent anymore. I’m not going to let her treat Andie the same way she treats me, she’s done nothing to deserve it…that’s why I’ve accepted Lucia’s behavior up to now because I believe I deserve it.

“Wow, look at that house.” Andie whistles at her first sight of the farmhouse. “It’s huge.”

Smiling, I bring the car to a stop and hope Aiden appears real soon. “It is big. They run a business from here and sometimes have overnight guests in relation to that so they need the space. We’ll be staying in the guest accommodation so you’ll see what I mean.”

“Do you think they’ll let me ride?” she asks climbing out of the car.

“I’m sure Aiden can arrange that.”

I follow and once in the fresh air, I stretch my aching muscles and spot Aiden striding toward us.

Andie screeches and runs straight into his open arms. Aiden embraces her before letting her go with a kiss to the top of her head.

Aiden chuckles. “I’m glad you grew out of that awkward stage,” he teases Andie. “I’d never have gotten a hug like that otherwise.”

Andie rolls her eyes. “Let’s forget how I used to be an awkward teenager, and remember how I’m a beautiful, intelligent, young lady.” She smirks and Aiden throws his head back, laughing.

“You are going to be nothing but little miss trouble in our small town,” he comments chuckling at the wink she sends his way in reply as he wraps me up in a hug.

“I’m glad you listened to me in the end, Rae. It’s safer here.” He steps toward the back of the car and opens the trunk. “Do you want everything bringing in, or just the suitcases?”

I sigh and stand beside him looking into the car at most of our belongings. “We each have a bag,” I point toward them, “everything else can stay in here. I just didn’t want to leave all our things just incase you know.”

“I get it, Rae. I’d have done the same.”

Aiden grabs the bags as I take in the jumble of the back of the car and I hope that we’ll have a house to go back to once the fi

re is out. “Oh,” I turn and follow Aiden, “we bumped into Diego on our way here.”

Aiden frowns and stops walking. “You did?” he comments, watching me carefully.

I clear my throat and add, “Yeah, I did. Car trouble on our way here, and he just appeared through the thin line of trees in his gear.”

“He was okay, right?”

“He looked fine…tired.” I smile while my heart beats double time.

Stepping closer to me, Aiden meets my eyes. “Are you okay?”

I swallow and look around for Andie who appears to be talking to Erin on the porch steps before I reply, “I…I miss him.” I shrug and try to fight off tears. “Which is stupid really considering we were never together. It’s just that no one has ever made me feel the way that he does.”

Switching the bags to one hand, Aiden wraps an arm around my shoulders. “I think he misses you too, and that’s all I’m saying.”

Aiden gets me moving but once inside the farmhouse he ushers Andie toward the bedrooms while I stay frozen to the spot as my gaze meets Lucia’s.

I don’t say anything while I wait for Diego’s mom to make the first move after all I’m in her home.

“While you’re here I expect you to stay clear of my son.” She glares, making sure I heard what she said before turning her back to me.

I blink my tears away and quickly turn to follow Aiden and my daughter.

3

Diego