Island Affair (Keys to Love #1)(99)
Unable to resist temptation, Sara scrolled up to read yesterday’s part of their text thread. Anamaría had reached out, letting Sara know she understood if it was better that they change their scheduled lunch date to a video chat in the coming weeks. If Sara remained willing to offer Anamaría some business advice.
Luis’s name appeared in their thread, and Sara stopped scrolling.
Anamaría: I don’t know the details, but I’m sure my idiot brother messed up. Luis is a good guy. But let’s face it, men can be dumbasses. At least in my experience.
Sara: “Dumbass” is an apt description. :-) Please know, my offer to help you still stands. If you’re good with it, I’d rather not let my breakup with Luis get in the way.
Anamaría: I’m in. Let’s compare schedules next week and see what works. Thanks!
Working with Anamaría, helping her learn how to grow her business and brand, was an exciting prospect for both of them. Sara and her agent had been discussing the idea of her teaching an online seminar for budding social media influencers. Mentoring Anamaría would give Sara useful experience for that project making it a win-win for them both.
Of course, the idea was back-burnered now that the contract for Sara’s clothing line partnership with the investors had been electronically signed. Tomorrow afternoon, she and her agent planned to celebrate.
At least something had gone right this week.
The sorrow she hadn’t been able to ditch since Luis had walked out Wednesday evening squeezed her chest. With a heavy sigh, she leaned her temple against the passenger window’s cool glass and eyed a catamaran floating aimlessly on the water.
“You doing okay back there, sweetie?” her mom called from the front seat.
Carolyn patted Sara’s thigh. Her mother hen mode remained in high gear, as it had since Sara came down for breakfast yesterday morning. Her face puffy thanks to her crying jag.
Sara shared a sad smile with her sister-in-law, then peeked in between Robin’s and Edward’s heads to give her mom a thumbs-up.
Actually, more than finalizing the contract had gone right over their family vacation. Sara’s heart-to-heart with Robin. The beginnings of a plan to meet Jonathan and his family for a trip to Disney World later this summer. And Sara’s blossoming relationship with her mother.
Ironically, crying your eyes out in the dark while your mom strokes your hair and lists all the things about you that are amazing had a cathartic, bonding effect on people. At least for the two of them it did.
The Vance family weren’t the Brady Bunch, that’s for sure. But Robin had said it best—not that anyone would admit it to her. Over the course of their time in Key West, in part thanks to Luis’s calming disposition, they had all grown closer. Become more like a family than an institution. For that, Sara would always be grateful to him.
The airport’s green and white sign appeared ahead on the left and her dad slowed to make the turn.
“The website said there’s no curbside flight check-in,” her dad announced. “We can return the rental, then head to check in. I think, Sara, you’re United, and the rest of us are American, correct?”
“Yes, but it’s a small airport. I’m sure our gates are close.” Her mom twisted in the front passenger seat to address the rest of them.
The SUV drove between the terminal and the parking structure at a snail’s pace with Sara’s dad stopping to allow a family with two young kids to cross. As they neared the rental car return at the far end of the terminal, Sara stared up at the large mural of the cornflower blue, yellow, and white Key West Conch Republic flag painted over an entire section of the two-story building’s facade.
Inevitably her gaze strayed farther down to where Monroe County Fire Rescue Station 7 was housed. Carlos’s station. A pang of sorrow pierced her heart when she saw the parking spot where Luis’s truck was now parked—
“Stop!”
The cry burst from her and Sara’s dad stomped on the brakes. The rest of her family jerked forward in their seats.
“What the hell!” Robin scowled at Sara over her shoulder.
“He’s here. Luis is here. That’s his truck.” Sara pointed at the supersize F-150 that, second to the Fired Up, was his most prized possession.
A car honked behind them before swerving to go around. An older uniformed security guard approached, no doubt to tell them they needed to keep moving.
The driver’s side door of Luis’s truck opened. He stepped down the running board, shut the door, and moved to the front of his truck. Hands wedged deep in the front pockets of his dark jeans, the muscles in his gorgeous arms straining at the short sleeves of his red polo, he stepped toward their vehicle.
The security guard drew closer. Luis called out and waved to the guy, who smiled a greeting at him. They exchanged words; then the guard ambled back toward the arrivals area of the terminal.
“Let me out!” Sara cried.
She tapped nervously on the back of the middle seat, urging Robin, Jonathan, and Edward to hurry up, so she could climb out.
Luis stopped walking as soon as the SUV’s passenger door opened. He stood on the gravel area where they’d first met, waiting.
Heart in her throat, Sara clambered over the middle seat’s slanted backrest, hiking her floral maxi dress out of the way to avoid tripping. She landed awkwardly on the asphalt, her dress catching on the bottom seat cushion.