Love in Country (De La Fuente Family #4)(11)

Greg: She’s okay. Won’t answer her phone. Won’t say why. Just sat outside in the dark.

Me: She must have said something???

Greg: She said she was tired. Got the feeling she’s pissed with you about something. Good night.

I have no idea what the hell is going on with her but I sure as hell am going to find out.





6


SARAH


“You’ve lost weight,” Diego comments as I drink coffee with him on the back porch.

I pause with the mug halfway to my mouth and look at him, a frown on my brow.

Have I really lost weight?

“You’re missing Aiden?”

Shaking my head, I place the coffee back on the table and look out toward the mountains, a sigh on my lips. “Not really.”

Diego laughs. “You don’t lie very well, Sarah.”

“I’m not lying.”

Diego gently reaches out and touches my shoulder. “Look at me.”

I turn and meet his gaze. “Tell me.”

Diego and Kasey are the youngest two brothers and they’re nearly always teasing and joking around. However, easygoing Diego is now serious and although I don’t know him that well, I just want to open up to him and get it out.

“Hey, don’t cry.”

“Aiden doesn’t want me anymore,” I blurt out as the tears fall down my face. “He’s been touring around Europe with another woman. They’re all over the Internet and, I’m guessing the newspapers.”

Diego curses and tugs me into his chest. “I know you’re upset at having seen him with someone else, but I know from Kasey that sometimes women are shoved on their arms for publicity and not for the reason that you’re imagining…You need to talk to him.”

I shake my head and pull away. “It’s the same woman in each picture, no matter which country he’s in.”

Diego frowns at my words.

“Let’s just leave it alone. My life is complicated enough as it is.”

Diego looks over my shoulder and glances back to me. I have no interest as to who is behind me because I have no intention of staying around anymore. “I have to go.”

“Sarah…” Diego tries to stop me.

I turn to leave and freeze when I find Aiden at the bottom of the steps.

He looks me over as I do the same with him before my brain starts working again, and that’s when I spot the woman from the photographs moving around the corner of the house toward Aiden.

“Aiden, why aren’t we going inside?”

My eyes widen and behind me Diego curses a blue streak before he steps beside me, his arm going around my waist. I’m sure that’s the only reason why I stay on my feet.

Aiden glances between Diego and me, a frown forming on his handsome face.

“Aiden?” the woman questions impatiently.

“That the woman from the pictures?” Diego whispers the question.

I nod.

“In a minute,” Aiden answers her but his eyes stay on me.

“You’re home?” I shake my head at stating the obvious. Of course he’s home, and he’s brought her... “I need to leave.”

Turning, I dash around to the front of the house and climb into my car. I take off down the drive like a bat out of hell with tears running down my face blurring my vision.

As soon as I know the house is out of sight, I pull over sharply, wiping at my tear stained face. It won’t take me long to get home and when I do I really hope that Greg isn’t around to witness my complete breakdown, and all because I trusted Aiden De La Fuente.

AIDEN

I move to chase after Sarah, but Diego steps in my way. “You’re an *.” I brace myself for his fist, which looks ready to fly at my face.

“Diego, I don’t have time for this shit. I need to stop her from leaving.” I go to step around him, but he grabs my arm in a tight hold.

“You’ll let her go and stop hurting her.”

His words penetrate my brain and I pause to look at him. “I haven’t done anything?”

Diego narrows his eyes and looks over my shoulder. “Not only has Sarah seen you on the Internet with her, but you had to bring her home with you.” He shakes his head. “Why’d you tell Sarah that you loved her? When it’s obvious to her and me that you don’t. You’re my brother but right now I want to hit you.” He glares and everything starts to sink into my thick skull.

“That’s Rae,” I whisper, feeling defeated.

“Rae? As in your best friend, Rae?” Diego stares behind me.

“Yes.”

“Fuck me!” He scowls. “Then why the f*ck did you let Sarah believe otherwise?”

“I didn’t…dammit. I never said anything.” I run my hands through my short hair. “I’m not even sure that I’ve ever mentioned Rae to her and it didn’t occur to me that she’d see pictures of me with her in Europe.”

“I’ve got better shit than this to do.” Diego steps around me, and jumping down the steps, he glares at Rae. He turns with his hands in his pockets. “You’ve got major explaining to do to Sarah if you ever want to be with her again. She’s upset and not just a little bit. She’s lost weight, bro, and that’s all down to you.”