Love in Country (De La Fuente Family #4)(41)
Chuckling against him, I watch Aiden approach from the corner of my eye and laugh when he rolls his eyes.
AIDEN
Overhearing Kasey talking to my fiancée, I wait out of sight until I feel they pause at a place that I can interrupt them. My younger brother has been bothered for a while now, so I’m glad that he feels he can talk to Sarah.
Their conversation soon finishes though when I turn the corner and see Sarah snuggled against Kasey.
Kasey teasing me isn’t new, I just wish Diego hadn’t stopped.
“Get off my future wife,” I grouch and then grin when I meet Kasey’s teasing smirk.
He moves and perches on the porch railing while I take his place beside Sarah. Once she’s settled against me, I stare at my brother. “So, you’ve switched teams, huh?”
Kasey sighs. “I have. I’m too old to stay where I was. The pace was slowly killing me.”
I frown. “Too old? Kasey you’re only thirty-one, hardly too old.”
He shakes his head. “It’s done. I’ve transferred to the New York Mavericks. The pressure isn’t as high and I’m happy, Aiden.” He jumps down and starts to walk away. “I’m hoping everyone will be there for my first game with them.”
“Damn straight we will be, bro.” I grin at his retreating back, and mumble into the silence. “I look forward to it.”
“I love you, Aiden, and I love that you have an amazing family,” Sarah whispers and snuggles deeper into my arms. “I can’t wait until I’m officially a De La Fuente.”
I smile and kiss the top of her head. “I love you too, and I can’t wait either, honey.”
“So I’ve been thinking,” Sarah offers after moments of silence, “that we should all go to Vegas for our bachelor parties.”
I blink in surprise. “Vegas? And isn’t it bachelorette?”
“Semantics.”
I chuckle. “Vegas, huh?”
“I’ve never been and it sounds exciting.”
I’m not too keen on the place myself, but I agree, “Anything you want…so Vegas, really?”
“Oh yes, but I only want to go if I can get Rae to go, and you have to work on Diego.”
For some reason hearing both their names coming out of Sarah’s mouth in the same sentence as Vegas has me worried.
But I guess we’ll be partying in Vegas…
* * *
THE END
PROLOGUE ~ LOVE IN FLAME
EIGHT WEEKS AGO ~ DIEGO
“Mom, I know my family is out there waiting to see me but before I do, I need to make sure Rae is okay with my own eyes. So, unless you want me to get out of this bed and go out there myself, please ask her to come in here.” I glare at my mom and know that she’s angry at my request, well, I’m equally angry with her for trying to prevent Rae from coming in here.
She even went as far as telling the doctor that only family was allowed in my room, which I quickly put a stop to.
Because I got stabbed in the shoulder while protecting Rae, my mom believes that Rae is the one responsible, and it’s pissing me off. Yes, I was defending Rae, but it wasn’t the woman’s fault. It’s the * that had the concealed knife tucked into the band of his jeans who is to blame. However, as I continue to tune my mom out, I realize that this probably has more to do with it being Rae than anyone else.
She hasn’t taken to Aiden’s friend and she’d been unable to conceal her surprise when Kasey told her what had happened at the bar. She’s pissed and relieved that I’m okay, but there is more to it than what she’s letting on. I have a feeling it has everything to do with the obvious attraction between Rae and I. Our ages being the main focus.
About to speak again, I silence her. “Mom, enough already. I want Rae in here within five minute or I’m going looking for her…I mean it.” I narrow my eyes so she knows that I really have had enough of her going on and ignoring what I want.
“I don’t like this. I will go and ask her to come in here, so make the most of the visit because I’ll make sure she doesn’t come in again.” On her last words, she turns and quickly exists before I can say a damn thing.
I rest my head against the pillow and breathe through the pain of my shoulder, and the frustration of wanting Rae. I’ve been distracted by her since the minute Aiden introduced us.
I smile when I think about the sexy but small package in that tight body. She’s a hot little thing and brings all my protective instincts right to the surface.
Her scent has been inside of me since I held her close when I got the first call about the local forest fire. I’d kissed her forehead and felt the heat rush straight to my dick.
It’s been obvious since then that she wants me to keep my distance, but I’m not sure how when our paths constantly cross. Kasey thinks I just need to get laid by someone my own age to get my mind off the curvy woman. According to him it’s the lack of f*cking that has me craving the forbidden fruit.
The sound of the door creaking as it’s pushed open has me snapping my eyes in that direction. I sigh in relief when my eyes land on Rae, and I do more than a once over. She moves closer and as our eyes meet, I notice her beautiful face is pale with fatigue. Her lips wobble and she turns away rapidly swiping at her face with her fingers.