by Linda Engman
They approached the airport and she noted in the distance a line of tall swaying palm trees, white sand beaches, and the warm blue ocean beyond with its white curling waves. She took a guess they were somewhere in Florida. She also suddenly recalled his background information—his mother lived in Florida. More specifically, Miami.
Within minutes the plane stopped and they were exiting. April navigated the stairs as a wave of heat from the black tarmac engulfed her without warning. The severe rise in temperature temporarily took her breath away, and the humidity covered her like a fine mist.
He turned and held out his hand to her, helping her down from the last step onto the pavement. “Welcome to Miami,” he offered, his deep voice holding a heartfelt quality.
His eyes captured hers again for the briefest of moments, and she shivered unexpectedly despite the sultry temperature. With her hand securely in his, she blindly followed him in the afternoon sunshine to a waiting SUV, grateful to slide into its cool confines.
As with everything concerning Roman Vasquez, the details of getting married were smooth, fast, and under the radar. In less than a half hour they’d obtained a marriage license, secured a judge to come to his mother’s home the next day to officiate, and even managed to stop for wedding rings.
Back in the SUV April looked down at the large, solitary diamond engagement piece that now adorned her left hand. The symbol of matrimony was classic, simple, modern in style, and fixed in a platinum setting with minimal design…and was completely stunning. She was astonished at the vast difference in the ring Todd had given her versus the one Roman had personally picked out and placed on her finger minutes before. That had been another surprise. The man actually picked the ring himself. But not before consulting her preference first and then keeping her close to him during the whole process. Even though she knew it was a formality, part of her had been secretly thrilled to have him choose it for her. In the swanky confines of the luxury jewelry shop, he’d quickly scanned over the gorgeous array of diamonds the manager had set before him, contemplating for only a few minutes before his dark eyes rested immediately on the one that now resided on her finger.
And for some unbelievably bizarre reason, it was perfect.
Not surprisingly, he engaged the vehicle’s voice-activated phone after sliding back behind the wheel again, conversing nonstop while maneuvering them out of the business area and through traffic. He spoke rapid Spanish, making one call after another, while they drove around the outskirts of the city of Miami, passing more palm trees and impressive estates. She guessed they were headed into a very exclusive residential area. All the homes were massive, with manicured lawns, and ideally situated on the oceanfront. Some of the houses were decorated for the holidays with festive colored lights and plastic snowmen or an occasional sleigh and reindeer, which made her smile secretly.
With his calls completed, he turned to her. “So what do you think of my hometown?”
“It’s beautiful,” she admitted. “I can see why people flock here.”
“And the ring? I hope I got it right.”
“Worried I’ll jump ship if you didn’t?”
He chuckled easily. “Something like that.”
She held up her left hand and studied the impressive but classic setting and diamond. “Roman, it’s absolutely perfect. I couldn’t ask for more.”
Her softly spoken admission seemed to catch him unaware. He nodded with unease at her flattery. “Yeah, well, it looks good on you,” was all he gave back gruffly, before turning his attraction once again to the road.
Busy admiring the sparkling facets of her engagement ring, she didn’t realize they’d arrived at his mother’s home until he turned the SUV into a black-paved driveway, stopping outside a white-washed Moroccan style home situated on the edge of the white sand beach she’d spotted from the air. She swallowed hard and took a deep, anxious breath in an attempt to calm herself. The estate screamed old money. Thankfully, at the same time the two-story dwelling looked warm and welcoming, with pots of fresh flowers and green vines trellised on both sides of the doorway, displaying exotic blooms from their intertwining lengths. Even though it was daytime, outdoor holiday lights sparkled across the shrubbery and around the entry. On the heavy wood door was a beautiful Christmas wreath of waxy cedar trimmed with an elegant gold bow.
Roman exited the car first and quickly came around to open her door, holding out a hand to help her. As soon as she climbed out of the SUV, the front door of the house opened and a small, exquisitely dressed woman, who looked to be in her mid-sixties, appeared. Smiling and clapping her hands, she walked down the flowerpot-laden steps to hug him warmly.
April watched as Roman hugged her back and immediately conversed in rapid Spanish with a broad, genuine smile. Obviously she was his mother, and she instantly felt like an interloper. Quietly, she stood back, waiting nervously until Roman turned to pull her forward.
“Mama, let me introduce you to my fiancée, April Sutton,” he stated formally. “April, my mother, Lana Vasquez.”
April had expected a cool, polite greeting from Roman’s mother. She was more than surprised when the other woman moved forward and hugged her warmly, before moving back to clap her hands together once again, staring at April with a wide smile on her face.
“It’s so nice to meet you, April. Welcome to Miami, dear. I was so worried when I found out Roman was getting married suddenly. But seeing you—I know why he’s marrying. You’re perfect for him. I can just tell,” she beamed, a Spanish accent lining her words.
The woman looked as if she’d just won the daughter-in-law lottery.
April, still shocked at the enthusiastic greeting, smiled back, dumbfounded at Lana Vasquez’s reaction. “It’s nice to meet you too, Mrs. Vasquez. I know its short notice to put a wedding together. I hope it’s not too inconvenient?”
Lana Vasquez laughed happily; her brown eyes twinkled as her petite yet overly round figure moved with merriment. “I’d carry the judge on my back to the wedding ceremony if it meant Roman was going to finally get married,” she joked, taking April by the arm as they walked toward the house. “Please, where are my manners? First, you must call me Lana. Now, come into the house. You are so fair, this muggy weather must be overpowering for you, especially after coming from snowy New York City with those icy temperatures. And don’t get me started on those horrible snow banks one has to continually climb over.”
April found herself immediately liking the small, chatty Latin woman. With expertly styled, gleaming dark hair, along with perfect makeup and designer clothes, she was a contrast in work: her warm personality and loving nature juxtaposed against the perfected elite Miami outer layer.
April entered the residence and found herself amazed at not only how cool the air was inside, but how elegant the Vasquez home was. The two-story residence made up of beautiful hand-cut tile, wood beams, and glass. It was also open, airy, and very Latin and exotic in style. In the middle of the open entry was a round glass table that held a stunning arrangement of fresh evergreens and what looked to be three-dozen long-stemmed red roses in a crystal vase. Ropes of matching evergreens garnished with twinkle lights laced the wrought iron railing of the broad winding staircase, while more white lights accented the tall Christmas tree holding court to one side of the entry hall. The house smelled of fresh, spicy gingerbread. The homey baking aroma, combined with the fragrant floral tones, graced the home with a unique, warm holiday feel all its own. April was in heaven.
“Here is my daughter now. Emily, come…meet Roman’s fiancée,” Lana instructed to the approaching woman, who made her way down the elegant staircase.
April turned and smiled, for a moment thinking how much Roman’s sister looked like him: tall, bronze, sleek midnight-black hair…until she focused on the familiar gorgeous Puerto Rican features of her best friend.
“Emily?” she sputtered, not believing her best friend was walking toward her dressed in a smart-looking black sundress and silver me
ga-high heels. At the same time, she felt Roman move behind her to protectively put a hand on her shoulder, moving closer to her, almost as he sensed her surprise.
Emily, looking amazingly smug and satisfied, shook her head in amused disbelief as she reached out for a hug. “April? What in the world? Are you really engaged to Roman?”
“Are you really Roman’s sister?”
The two friends embraced and laughed easily while Roman and his mother looked on in surprise.
“Would someone please explain?” he demanded. It appeared he didn’t like the kink that had suddenly formed in his well-laid wedding plans. “Do you two know each other?”
Both friends turned and answered in unison. “Yes!”
Emily was the first to explain with a gleaming smile as her eyes danced with mischievous merriment. “I work with April at Bressler and Bressler. I started out consulting on a few cases a year ago, and for the past six months I’ve worked full time at B&B handling their litigation cases, dear brother.”
Looking cross, he demanded more of an explanation. “And why didn’t you inform me of this information? And how come I’ve never seen you there?”
Hugging April’s arm, Emily laughed her answer. “Because, big brother, you’re so bossy I didn’t want you poking your nose into my career. And with you as the firm’s biggest client, I didn’t want others to think that nepotism was the reason why I got my job or that there might be a conflict of interest. Since I’m married and have a different last name, no one ever suspected until now,” she stated, sounding very much like her brother.
Clearly put out, he only gave a grumpy noise from his throat, grabbing his briefcase. “I have to go do some work…or something,” he mumbled, turning to stalk his way down the entry hall to some undisclosed location at the back of the house.
But not before April stopped him. “Roman, aren’t you forgetting something?” she asked, sugary sweet.
She watched him stop in his tracks, obviously realizing what he’d done. He retraced his steps to stand in front of her, eyeing her with a dark, grouchy glare before he swooped down to kiss her quickly on the lips.
She’d only been teasing, but there was nothing funny about how his lips felt on hers. The minute he touched her, she felt as if she would melt into a puddle on the floor. He pounded his lips against hers at first before relenting, softening the kiss to gently tug at her bottom lip, followed by a quick naughty swipe with his tongue. His eyes were lethally narrowed, watching her the whole time he tormented her in payback for making come back to kiss her. Quickly she turned the tables on him and leaned up to return his tongue action with a little of her own. She heard his involuntarily growl, felt his body tense against hers as she played the seductress, and from the intensely hot look he was giving her, she knew she’d managed to give him back a little of his own medicine. She hid a smirk and watched as he stomped away for the second time, disappearing down the wide, airy hall and around a corner.
Emily grabbed her arm and whispered into her ear. “We have to talk.”
“Girls, I think this is a sign that Roman and April are meant to be. You two being friends? Yes, that is a very good sign,” Lana Vasquez stated, her voice giving away its Puerto Rican accent as she smiled warmly.
“It’s a sign all right, Mother.” Emily laughed, pausing momentarily to whisper something to the passing housekeeper before smiling with definite mischief.
Lana placed a loving touch on April’s arm. “I’ve heard so many good things about you from Emily. But I didn’t place your name when introduced. My apologies, April. With that said—I can’t tell you how pleased I am, that you were the one to show up with Roman today. Oh, everything is turning out just perfect.” She gave another loving squeeze. “Now, I’ll have José bring up your bags. And don’t forget, girls, there will be drinks and dinner soon,” she sang, walking off as she did so.
“Come on, April. I’ll show you to your room.”
April followed her friend up the stairway and down a long carpeted hall. Emily opened a bedroom door and showed her in. The guest room was breathtaking in soft whites and ivory creams. Serene and luxurious, it had a canopy bed covered in a flowing netted-type material, plush white carpet underfoot, along with French doors that opened out onto a balcony overlooking the beach and aqua-blue ocean. To her delight there was also an ensuite bathroom.
Emily closed the door and whirled around with a look that told April her friend wanted every last detail before she intended on opening the door again. “So, spill woman,” Emily demanded, sounding very much like her older brother. “The last time we talked, I believe you were complaining about how Roman liked your coffee.”
April felt her face blush warmly with embarrassment. “Please, don’t remind me. I can’t believe all the times I complained about him to you. This is a more than a little embarrassing,” she confessed, watching as her friend did nothing but smile knowingly.
“Don’t think of it. You didn’t say anything I didn’t already know about him. And if you remember, I always agreed with you.”
“How could I have not realized you and Roman were brother and sister?”
Emily gave her sheepish grin. “Sorry I never let on. Like I told Roman before—I didn’t want anyone to think the Vasquez family was taking over the firm,” she joked. “Actually, to tell you the truth, by the time we became friends Roman wasn’t exactly on your A-list.”
“Right again,” she admitted, realizing the situation wasn’t as dire as she thought. “Thanks for understanding.”
“Okay, now that we have that out of the way—tell me exactly when you fell for him and vice-versa,” Emily inquired, sounding like she was cross-examining someone in court.
A quick knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Emily opened it and relieved the housekeeper of a tray containing two very large Flirtinis, along with what looked to be a reinforcement of the pineapple/vodka/champagne-infused drink in a chilled cocktail shaker.
“Oh my God, I need one of those,” April confessed, helping herself to one of the pretty Martini concoctions. She took a large gulp and closed her eyes with renewed fortitude.
“Better?” Emily guessed. She set the drink tray on an ottoman at the foot of a comfy-looking chaise before taking her own cocktail and tasting it with a much daintier sip.
April finished her second long swig before replying. “Much, thank you.”
“Good. Now you can answer my questions.”
April gave her friend a circumspect glance. “Great. Ply me with alcohol and then make me testify. I should have seen this one coming.”
Emily snickered over the rim of her martini glass. “What?” she admonished. “Stop thinking the worst. I only thought we could use a little celebration and a fun treat before the big night ahead. It’s not every day you get engaged to my brother.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“Now back to my question…”
“Question? I thought this was an interrogation.”
“Ha ha.” Emily smirked and looked like she was having too much fun. “So, when did you exactly fall for him and vice-versa?”
April couldn’t fool her best friend. The woman looked like a goddess but had the brain of a legal eagle. There was no point in lying. She took another long drink of her Flirtini and knew she might as well get it over with. “Well, let’s say your brother proposed with an offer I couldn’t refuse,” she stated, avoiding the inevitable as long as she could.
Emily crossed the room drink in hand, kicking off her to-die-for heels before plopping down on the scrumptious-looking bed. She tucked her legs neatly to one side and eyed April with a thoughtful, sly expression. “Roman’s birthday is on Sunday—so, I’m guessing you’re marrying him in order for him to get the trust fund.”
“You know?”
“Of course. Although only Roman and I know about it. We found out when Father died. But I never thought he would really go through with it,” she said. “So it’s business then? Not love?”
>
“Absolutely. It’s anything but love.”
“So then you didn’t feel anything when he kissed you downstairs?”
April tossed her purse onto the bed and kicked off her heels, stalling for time. “Emily…” she groaned, remembering how she’d blushed after his kiss.
“April…” Emily mocked, waiting for an answer.
She sank down onto the bed across from her best friend and rolled her eyes. “Okay, without giving you TMI—your brother’s a great kisser. I’m sure any woman would feel something,” she relented. “The only difference is that he could be the last man on Earth, and I still wouldn’t consider anything serious with him. Besides, I can’t see him ever being serious about one woman, especially me. I’m fairly sure I’m not in the running for girlfriend status.”
“April, don’t think for one minute that my brother couldn’t be attracted to you.”
She laughed at the thought. “Believe it or not, I have absolutely no desire to be added to his list of women.”
“Women?” Emily scoffed with a giggle. “Trust me on this one, Roman doesn’t actually date much. He’s kinda shy and backward when it comes to romance.”
April gave her a silent stare.
“Okay, well maybe not shy, but he’s not very smooth if you ask me.”
“Apparently whoever gave him his Christmas tree thinks the same.”
Emily chuckled easily and raised a hand. “That would be me,” she stated. “I could not resist when I saw that poor thing.”
“Well, it definitely lends a nice holiday touch to his loft,” April agreed with a smirk. She took another sip of her cocktail and gave her friend a curious stare. “By the way, would I have run into your brother if I’d been down here with you this weekend?”
“Funny that you should mention that…”
“Oh please, don’t say you wanted to set me up.”
