Love in Purgatory (De La Fuente Family 2)

Heading downstairs, she stopped when she caught sight of her mother in deep conversation with Aiden. As they glanced upstairs when they heard her, she knew by the embarrassed look on Aiden’s face that they’d been talking about her.

She sighed. “I’m fine…before you ask.” Kissing her mom on the cheek, she added, “I really am. It was just a build up of everything, but I’m okay. In fact, I’m more than okay and I’m looking forward to my walk with Aiden.”

Her mother pulled her into a hug, and released her after she’d held Emelia’s gaze. She obviously didn’t find anything in her eyes to worry about as she stepped back and smiled. “Okay. I’ll trust that, if you need to talk, you’ll come to me.”

“I know you’re there. I promise.”

“Good…Then, I guess I better go and see to the bread that someone started.”

Emelia chuckled. “Sorry about that.”

“Pfft.” Her mom shook her head and disappeared into the kitchen, but shouted, “Wrap up warm.”

Emelia rolled her eyes at Aiden. “We will, Mom.”

“Where are we going?” she asked, grabbing her jacket and hat from the stand by the door.

“No idea, just wanted to say something to stop the water works.” He smirked.

“I should have known…regardless, I’m glad you suggested this and, I think we should go and say hello to Sarah.”

Aiden’s eyes snapped up to hers before he averted them to his task of getting into his outdoor gear.

She quickly turned her back to Aiden and pulled her boots on so he couldn’t see the grin splitting her face. He was an open book, and couldn’t stay away from the young vet. Emelia did worry some because they all knew that Sarah was married, even though they had yet to meet her husband. No reason why they should have met him, but she was curious as to why Sarah blushed around Aiden when she was already taken.

Fully bundled up, she followed Aiden outside and inhaled the fresh, but very cold air. She usually felt good being home and, apart from her annoyance at Dante for making her leave when she wanted to stay, she was now determined to have fun. Luckily, or maybe unluckily, for Aiden, he was the one she planned on having fun with. And as they walked closer to the stables, she realized the fun was about to start with how much Aiden had picked up his pace when he spotted Sarah in the stables with their father.

With a grin splitting her face, Emelia caught up to Aiden just before he stepped into the stables, and slipped her arm around his to snuggle into him. Aiden turned and frowned down at her, but he ended up returning her grin.

“Feeling better, Sis?”

“Oh, yes,” she answered and let her gaze land on Sarah before she offered her brother a wink. “Most definitely.”

“Dad,” she greeted, and smiled when he wrapped an arm around her shoulders to keep her close before she turned to Sarah. “Hi, Sarah. It’s nice to see you again.”

“You too, Emelia.”

Sarah turned to Aiden, blushing when she held his gaze. Her blush deepened when they shook hands, and Emelia noticed how slow they were at breaking that connection.

Hmm.

Sarah was lovely with her dark auburn hair, loose down her back, and a light sprinkling of freckles over the bridge of her nose and cheekbones. She had a fresh look about her, and her slim build was hidden behind fitted jeans, knee-high boots, and a thick fleece jacket. She’

d certainly snagged Aiden’s attention, and it was obvious that it was returned…but, she was married.

Emelia’s father cleared his throat, and with a glance at his face, she noticed the look that passed between him and Aiden. Their father wasn’t happy.

“Where are you two heading?” their father asked, and Emelia sighed in relief at the distraction. The atmosphere in the barn had become stifling.

“For a walk. Clear the cobwebs away,” she answered. “And on that note, I think we’ll leave you both to the horses.” Emelia reached up and kissed her father on the cheek, and felt tears hover on her eyelashes when she noticed a similar look on his. She gave him another kiss, and whispered for his ears only, “I love you, Daddy,” before she placed yet another kiss to his cheek.

Stepping back, she quickly left the barn and gulped in more fresh air to calm her racing heart. Emiliano would always be a father to her because he’d raised her from birth. Telling him ‘I love you, Daddy’ took her back to her childhood, and her nightly ritual of saying just that. But it was her way of letting him know that her feelings for him hadn’t changed.

“Hey, are you okay? You hightailed it out of there like your ass was on fire.” Aiden stood in front of her with a frown marring his brows.

“Just think I’m over emotional at the moment. But I’m okay…what about you?”

“Me?” He asked as his eyes shifted away from her face, and he shuffled uncomfortably in place.