Riled (The Invincibles 4)

I was standing by the trail that led down to the beach when Kensington came outside. The sun was just setting, and in its glow, I couldn’t imagine anyone ever being more beautiful. She wore a simple black dress and a dark red, beaded, rope-length necklace. When she approached, I touched the strand with my fingertip. “Garnets?”

“My birthstone.”

“Ah, yes, you have a birthday soon, don’t you?”

“Next month.”

“The fifteenth.” I held out my arm. “Shall we?”

She looked over her shoulder. “Where are…”

“Close by.”

I’d had two reasons for paying the owner of the small bistro to close for me tonight. The first was for Kensington’s safety; the second was that I wanted her all to myself without any distractions.

“It smells fantastic,” she said when we walked in.

“Señor DeLeón, bienvenido.”

I shook the man’s hand. “Ponce, please, call me Cortez, and may I present Miss Kensington Whitby.”

When she extended her hand, he kissed the back of it. “Bienvenida,” he repeated.

“Thank you. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Please, follow me.”

He showed us to the lone table in the center of the room, illuminated both by candles and the lights on the Christmas tree.

I recognized his son, PJ—Ponce Junior—when he brought the bottle of wine I’d chosen to the table, followed by a simple appetizer of Manchego cheese, olives, and chorizo with fresh, warm bread.

“Por La Noche Buena,” I said, raising my glass.

“Happy Christmas Eve,” she replied so sweetly.

PJ brought our next course of Escudella—the rich, traditional soup made from pasta, white beans, and winter vegetables—and we chatted about Christmases she spent with her grandparents at the Queen’s country estate in Norfolk.

“What about your parents? You haven’t mentioned either of them.”

“Once they divorced and Kiki tried her best to take my father for everything he was worth, she wasn’t welcome. As far as my dad was concerned, I don’t remember a Christmas when he was around. Perhaps when I was very little. He travels almost non-stop. When I last spoke to him, he was in Chile.”

“When was that?”

“Right before we left London for America.”

“I wasn’t able to reach him.” I hoped she would believe I’d tried.

“He said it was a miracle I did, given he was in the desert where there was no signal.”

“Your grandparents loved you very much.”

She cocked her head. “They did, but what makes you say that now?”

“Because you are the daughter of people who cared a great deal for you. It is evident in all that you do. All that you are.”

“I will take that as a compliment.”

“As it was intended.”