Love in Flame (De La Fuente Family 5)

I’m not sure how long I stand staring at the empty space for, but the water runs cold and starts to chill my skin by the time I step out. Wrapping a towel tightly around my body, I pad into the bedroom and tug the quilt back over the bed before I quickly pat myself dry with the fluffy towel and dress.

The sooner I pack my clothes and few belongings away, the sooner I can take Andie back home.

Sadness grips me because I know that being with Diego the way I just have will be more difficult. I’d give

anything to be able to spend time with him away from prying eyes, especially the disapproving ones of Lucia.

In a way, I don’t blame her for wanting someone more Diego’s age to be with him, but the heart wants what the heart wants. And mine is too involved to push Diego away at this point. I can’t do that to him, or me anymore. He seeped under my skin and into my heart before I really had a chance to harden myself against him.

Smiling as I slip my feet into my boots, I realize that I wouldn’t have had a chance anyway because Diego is a charmer and he’d have gotten his way sooner rather than later. I guess he has anyway. The only thing I would change would be our coming together under his parents’ roof. I wince at the remembrance. At least it won’t be happening here again.

Looking around the room, my chest flutters with panic when it suddenly hits me just how complicated my life has become.

I’m lying to friends and more importantly I’m lying to my daughter. We’ve never had secrets and the guilt is slowly eating away at me.

“Mom?” Andie interrupts my musings by poking her head into the room. “You nearly ready? Kasey’s made waffles.” She beams.

I return her smile and take her hand into mine. “I’m ready.”

Andie leads me through the house and into the kitchen.

The De La Fuente ranch style home is beautiful and filled with so much love that it’s always warm. Diego sits at the table with a cup of coffee in his hands and his uneaten waffles and bacon on a plate in front of him. Emelia and Dante sit opposite.

Kasey puts more food on the table before wrapping his arms around my shoulders and pulling me in for a hug. “Go sit next to him,” he whispers and kisses the top of my head. With a shove in the right direction, I take the seat beside Diego.

I slide my hand to his thigh and squeeze. His hand covers mine and our fingers briefly intertwine and with a quick squeeze we let go and start to eat the delicious breakfast.

“Thank you for this, Kasey,” I offer between mouthfuls. “I hadn’t realized how much of an appetite I’d worked up.”

All eyes focus on me and inside I cringe at how tactless I’d been. Kasey’s jaw drops open and his gaze quickly flickers between Diego and me. Seconds later he chuckles.

“Um, I mean packing,” I mumble and hope my comment will be forgotten as I feel a light blush coating my cheekbones.

I glance at Andie who laughs and rolls her eyes before engaging Kasey in conversation.

My eyes snap to Diego when he clears his throat. It sounds more like he’s trying to cover a laugh. I stare at him and when he notices, he offers me a wide grin. He shakes his head and takes a large bite of his remaining waffle. “Eat.” He motions to my plate.

Glancing across the table, I notice the curious expression on Emelia’s face as she glances between her twin brother and me. She knows is my first thought, which is followed by relief when I realize that she doesn’t appear to be as bothered as her mother is at the thought of there being an us.

Emelia tilts her head as she continues watching us before her gaze stays on Diego. “I hate that you have to head over to the fire again.”

My heart thuds heavily in my chest at the thought of Diego being in the thick of another forest fire, which I had no idea about.

As I’m about to ask, Andie stands with Kasey. “I’m going out to the barn with Kasey before we leave.”

My eyes widen in surprise.

“To see the horses,” Kasey clarifies, chuckling.

I watch them leave before I turn to Diego. “You’re heading to another fire?”

His hand slips to my thigh and rests there. “It’s not as big as the one that brought you here.”

Closing my eyes against the worry, I feel his palm caress my face. I open my eyes and hold his gaze. “Stay safe, Diego. Please.”

“I have every reason too,” he admits, both of us forgetting that Dante and Emelia are witnessing our affection.

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