Love in Country (De La Fuente Family 4)
I raise a brow wondering who he’s been talking to.
“Diego was attacking the feed like he wanted to kill it, so I eventually got it out of him.” Mateo shakes his head. “I can’t believe you brought Rae here when you’ve been after Sarah for a long time.”
“Fuck.” I jump out of my seat and pace in agitation. “I’m so use to Rae that I don’t take notice of the shit that gets out there about us anymore.” I run my hands through my hair. “You and the others know about her. I haven’t exactly hidden her…Hell, we’ve been friends for years and she always kept me grounded when I was on the circuit. She’s like a sister, Mateo.”
Mateo reaches out and squeezes my shoulder. “I’m not the one you have to convince.”
7
Sarah
“What are you up to today?” Greg asks.
What I really want to tell him is that I intend to hide away from the De La Fuentes all day…at least one in particular, instead I admit, “There are a couple of horses that need checking out up at the De La Fuente farm so I’ll be there awhile.” My heart isn’t in it today but I refuse to let anyone down.
I quickly glance at Greg and then continue with washing the breakfast dishes. I can hear Greg moving around behind me but I really don’t want conversation today, I just want to be left alone so I don’t burst into tears, which are threatening to fall. Keeping my head down, I pray that Greg won’t start with the questions, but with a heavy sigh, Greg says, “You need to talk to Aiden so you can either forgive him or start to get over him.”
Hearing his words, I fumble with the dishcloth and give up in the end. My fists grip the edge of the basin while I blink rapidly to stop the flow of tears.
“He brought her home with him,” I whisper and stare unseeing through the back window.
“Who?”
I turn and glare at him because I’m convinced that he knows who I’m talking about. “The woman he’s been snapped around Europe with.”
The guilty look on his face is fleeting, but it was there. I narrow my eyes. “I knew it! That’s why you suddenly stopped leaving the newspapers lying around. He was in them.”
“Hey, don’t get mad at me.” Greg holds his hands out in front of him. “I’ve seen how he is with you, Sarah. The man loves you and once I told him that I’m gay he was so damn relieved.”
“You told him?” I find that hard to believe.
“I did. He loves you and he needed to know. I asked him to not say anything to anyone or you.”
My expression must worry him because he adds, “I’ve spoken to him, Sarah. There is no way that man doesn’t love you. There will be a perfectly good reason…Give him the benefit of the doubt, ask him.”
* * *
“Sarah, have you been crying?” Emelia blurts the question out and startles me into laughter.
“I’m fine.” I offer a smile and turn back to loading my gear into the SUV so that I can leave even though I should really be looking for Aiden. The sooner I get it over with the better, but I guess part of me is afraid of what he’ll say.
“Emelia, I promise I’m fine,” I add when Aiden’s stepsister looks doubtful.
“Okay, I’ll leave you alone. I actually came outside to see if I could tempt you into having a cup of coffee and a homemade blueberry muffin.”
My mouth waters and usually I would accept. “I’m sorry, it’s a busy day today.”
“Maybe next time.” Emelia jogs back to the house but not before giving me one last glance over her shoulder.
Sighing in relief, I realize my reprieve is short lived as I catch sight of Aiden striding toward me from the house.
Aiden always makes my heart pitter patter in my chest whenever I spot him. His forest green eyes keep me enthralled. His sensuous lips are soft and needy whenever they connect with mine...and I might be angry and upset with him, but I can’t lie about my feelings for the man as tears hover on my lashes.
And now as he gets closer, I panic and slam the door closed. Dashing around the side of the vehicle, I’m just about to climb in when Aiden’s arm wraps around my stomach to pull me backward into him.
“Where are you going in such a rush?” he whispers into my ear. “We need to talk…Clear the air, but God, I’ve missed you.” He buries his face in the curve of my neck, sending goose bumps down my spine, and breathes heavily as though he’s inhaling me.
My body betrays me at his touch and pleasure pools at the juncture of my thighs while I try to think of a verbal response because I’m still angry with him.