by Leah Atwood
He cupped her face. “I think that was his insecurities talking. The real you, with your beautiful soul, was too good for him. So he needed to change you into someone who he could understand better, someone who didn’t scare him as much. The real you is absolutely stunning.”
Lana’s eyes widened. She’d never looked at it that way. She rose to her feet and swayed. Arturo caught her, wrapping his arm protectively around her shoulder. In spite of her sickness, it felt wonderful to be in his arms.
“You need to rest. I’ll stop by later,” he said, his voice gentle. “Can I bring some medicine? Or make you hot tea?”
“I have a well-stocked medicine cabinet. Hot cocoa sounds good. Just don’t bring any more soup. Or flowers.” She swallowed the hard lump. “You have to go back to Houston tomorrow, right? Don’t worry about your grandfather. Even with me being sick, between Evelyn and the rest of us, we’ll take care of him.”
“What would I do without you? You’re incredibly sweet.”
“I just realized that being sweet makes me happier than being bitter. When will you be back?” Her throat tightened painfully.
“I’ll do my best to return Thursday evening. I’m sorry I can’t take care of you tomorrow while you’re sick.”
“It’s okay. And you can call me now that I have a phone again.”
“I will. By the way, thank you for getting that little device for Grandpa. It makes me less worried about him. You’re like a ray of sunshine in my life.”
She smiled shyly. “You, too.”
When she crawled into bed after closing the door after Arturo, she sneezed, coughed and struggled to relax enough to fall asleep. She was a complete mess.
Then why did she feel more joy than she had in years?
Chapter Thirteen
On Thursday evening, while cutting cucumbers for the tossed salad in Dylan’s kitchen, Lana glanced out the window leading to the backyard. Her lips curved as she watched Arturo play soccer with Dylan’s sons. It was fascinating how Arturo managed to give the lead to the boys and still give his all to the game. He’d called her many times over the last several days, and hope had started rising inside her against her best wishes.
Her cold had finally left yesterday, and she’d resumed visiting her patients today. A little dizziness remained, but she could fight it.
The click-clack of Mari’s signature cowboy boots against the kitchen tile made Lana smile. Mari still wore jeans but traded her simple white or black T-shirts and sweatshirts for a red sweater on occasion. With her more-than-casual outfits, outrageous blue bangs, and a defiant gaze of dark eyes, she didn’t look like the successful business owner that she was in reality.
“Tired?” Mari brought several takeout containers with The Café logo and placed them on the counter.
“Yep. Lots of patients. Then I spent the rest of the day wrapping presents.” Lana finished slicing cucumbers and started cutting onions.
“I’m sure Arturo did most of the carrying.” Mari winked at her as she transferred the crab salad from a container into a large bowl. “From what I’ve seen, he even attempted to carry you to the car.”
“I wouldn’t let him do that,” Lana protested. But it felt incredible being carried in his arms, like when she’d fallen on the stairs. Her heartbeat quickened.
“I would.” Mari shrugged.
Lana chuckled. Mari Del Lobo never cared much about public opinion.
“Judging by the laughter coming from outside, everybody in the yard is having a lot of fun.” With an apron over her orange long-sleeved dress, Kelly entered the kitchen.
Lana nodded. “Even though soccer wasn’t Arturo’s first choice, he seemed happy to oblige.”
Kelly stepped to the counter. “The boys are happy. It’s a treat for them.” She looked out the window to a place farther away from the makeshift soccer field, where Dylan was grilling steaks.
Lana glanced that way, too, afraid they might be having steaks with a side of dirt. So far, the soccer ball hadn’t ended up on the grill. Kelly rose on her tiptoes to reach the cabinet’s top shelves.
“Let me help you with the dishes. The salad is pretty much done, anyway.” Lana stepped in her friend’s direction.
“Well, okay.” Kelly moved aside. “I’ll get the utensils then.”
“Seriously, let’s make it easier.” Mari towered over both of them. She reached the top shelves of the kitchen cabinets without effort and passed the dishes to Lana.
Lana figured Kelly kept her best china stored high so that Dylan Jr. couldn’t reach them.
A stack of dishes in her hands, Lana followed Kelly into the dining room.
“I’ll get the heavy items.” Mari grabbed the bowl with the crab salad.
Working as a team, Lana, Mari, and Kelly set the table. Like the rest of the house, the dining room was small and simple but cozy, and it felt and smelled like home, of freshly cooked meals and fir tree. A large Christmas tree stood near the patio doors, generously decorated with shiny ornaments, garlands, and multicolored lights. Walls were covered with children’s drawings of Santa Claus, sleighs, and reindeer. Snowflakes that Lana had cut with Dylan Jr. from paper were hanging from the ceiling.
The spirit of Christmas was alive here.
One day, she’d love to have a home like this…
The luxurious places Michael had insisted on getting were palaces compared to this, but they’d never felt like home.
“Arturo is going to make a great father someday,” Kelly said between trips from the kitchen to the dining room.
Mari placed glasses on the table, tall crystal ones for the adults and a small plastic one with cartoons for Dylan Jr.
Lana put the garden salad in the middle of the table. “Arturo will be gone soon. Grandfather De La Vega seems to be getting better. His wound is healing, and his diabetes is mostly under control. Arturo has a life waiting for him in Houston and will return to it full time.”
Mari pierced her with her gaze. “As much as I’d hate for you to leave Rios Azules, your happiness is more important. So I have to ask this. Would you follow him?”
Lana gave a mirthless laugh. “He never asked.”
“And if he did?” Kelly stopped arranging the utensils.
“Not without a marriage proposal, and I don’t see it happening. I learned my lesson with Michael.” Lana’s heart sank.
“Arturo is different from Michael, and you know it. The only thing they have in common is that they’re both famous.” Kelly placed a vase with white roses in the middle of the table. She eyed the table critically and, judging by her half smile, seemed to be happy with the results.
Lana folded napkins as she breathed in the wonderful aroma of the roses. “That’s just it. I’m not looking for a celebrity. I want to have a serious relationship with a simple, kind guy. A good guy. That’s it. No complications. No ego.”
“And yet you’re so attracted to Arturo you have no clue what to do with it,” Mari said over her shoulder as she walked back to the kitchen.
Lana followed. Apparently, Mari knew her too well. “Michael didn’t take my beliefs seriously. I’ll never put up with something like that again. I want a man of strong faith. And Arturo is struggling with his.”
“Then maybe you should help him. Don’t you think there was a reason God placed him in your path?” Kelly said.
“According to Arturo, he was raised a Christian, but gradually faith stopped being part of his life after he left Rios Azules. He wants to change that. But I don’t know how to lead him back to God.” Lana looked at her helplessly.
“Or are you afraid you’ll fail?” Kelly took off her apron and draped it over the oven handle.
Mari narrowed her dark eyes. “So, let me understand this. You want a man strong in faith. You also want him to be handsome, nice, kind, responsible. You want a perfect man, like a Christmas present, wrapped up with a bow and delivered to your doorstep.”
“Arturo is like a gift to me, but…” Lana glanced out
the window, and her gaze stopped at Arturo. Wow. What a feast for the eyes. Maybe she could learn to love sports.
“But…” Kelly prompted.
“I forgot what I was going to say,” Lana admitted sheepishly. “No, I remember now! The gift got delivered to the wrong address. The problem is not that Arturo lives in Houston and I live in Rios Azules. The problem is that, even if something is possible between us, I’m not going to follow him.”
Mari placed her hands on her hips. “Because of what you learned with Michael?”
Lana nodded. “Now when I think about Michael, I only see all the ways he tried to change me to make me worthy of a star like him. Every month, I needed to become slimmer, taller, more refined, and more and more gorgeous. So there was less food to eat, more speech and etiquette lessons to take, and more hairdressers and stylists to attend. And still it was never enough. Arturo doesn’t try to change me. He seems to… like me just the way I am.”
“Of course he likes you the way you are. You’re wonderful,” Mari said. “You’re God’s perfect creation. Who are you to question God?”
Lana kept quiet. She’d never thought of it that way.
“I don’t envy the person who’d try to change me.” Mari brushed aside her long blue bangs.
“No kidding,” Lana said under her breath. Kelly looked like she was fighting a smile.
Kelly said to Lana, “Do you know how many American women would love to be in your shoes? I hear conversations between female customers in my shop. Let’s just say I’ve never heard the words gorgeous, handsome, and breathtaking used so many times. Grandma told me the sign up for Christmas presents wrapping was extremely popular this year. That’s because word got out that Arturo was going to be there.”
“You just pointed out another reason I shouldn’t get involved with Arturo. I don’t want to compete with all the fans again.” Lana squared her shoulders. “But when Arturo looks at me like I’m the only woman in the entire world, I don’t care that I’ll have to compete with many women for his attention. I feel that I already have his attention.” Lana rubbed her forehead. “I sound like I’m trying to come up with reasons to stay away from him, don’t I?”
Mari and Kelly nodded.
“I moved to Rios Azules for the man I fell in love with. I don’t regret it for a moment.” Kelly’s blue eyes misted. “I miss him. I’ll always miss him.”
Lana’s heart ached for Kelly. She couldn’t even imagine how horrible it was for her to learn of her husband’s death two months ago. The same day Kelly was going to tell him she was pregnant.
Mari pulled both Kelly and Lana into a group hug.
Kelly wiped a tear as she eased out of the embrace a moment later. “I’m okay. I’ll have to be okay. For the baby.”
A door slammed, and the boys rushed inside, screaming and laughing.
“Don’t touch anything! Take a quick shower and change for dinner.” Kelly sent Lana an apologetic glance. “I’m tempted to wash them down with a garden hose right now.”
“But we’re hungry!” the boys protested but obeyed her nonetheless.
“I need to take care of Dylan Jr.,” Kelly said.
Lana nodded. “Sure. We’ll finish up in here.” She wouldn’t let Kelly lift anything heavy anyway.
Judging by the enticing aroma coming from the oven, the rolls were ready to be taken out. So Lana removed them and then brought a pitcher of iced tea and another one of lemonade to the table. She returned to the kitchen and eyed the huge plate with baked potatoes warily.
The sound of footsteps made her turn around.
Arturo walked into the kitchen. “I’ll help you with that,” he said. “And yes, I already took a shower and changed, just as Kelly ordered. That woman could command an army if she put her mind to it.”
Lana’s heart palpitated. Fresh from the shower, with his dark hair still wet and a fresh soapy scent emanating from him, he looked devastatingly handsome. The snow-white dress shirt accentuated the darker color of his skin and did nothing to hide his impressive muscles. He’d probably brought the change of clothes with him, as the shirt was paired with carefully pressed black slacks, creating a look of simple elegance.
The small kitchen seemed even smaller with Arturo’s impressive presence. He stepped closer to her, and she leaned against the counter because her knees suddenly went weak. Must be the lingering results of her cold. Right.
“Don’t worry about helping me,” she mumbled. “Dylan probably needs help with the steaks.”
“Already checked on the steaks. They should be ready soon.” He smiled at her, and her heart swelled in her chest.
He was affecting her more strongly than she’d realized. Backed against the counter, she had nowhere to escape. Not that she’d want to, as a wonderful wave of awareness swept through her.
“You look beautiful.” He brushed aside a strand of hair that escaped from her sensible bun on the back of her nape.
Her heartbeat went into overdrive. She was falling for Arturo De La Vega, fast and hard. She needed to move away from him. Any moment, anybody could walk in the kitchen, or run in, if it were kids, and get the wrong impression. But her legs felt like rubber.
“Very beautiful.” He leaned closer.
He didn’t need to know that it had taken her hours to get ready until she’d finally settled on a long blue dress. Frankly, it had been easier to prepare for the red carpet.
His gaze moved to her lips.
Her heart jumped into her throat. She gathered whatever willpower she had left. “Arturo…”
“Lana…”
They started speaking in unison, then both laughed.
“You go first,” Lana said.
He looked into her eyes and took her hand, sending another wave of awareness up her arm. He hadn’t even kissed her, and she was already melting into a puddle at his feet.
“Hi, Ms. Lana.” Travis burst into the kitchen. “Could I get some lemonade before dinner?” “Ms. Kelly said it was okay.”
Lana stepped away from Arturo.
Travis stopped in his tracks as if realizing he’d interrupted something. “Um, I didn’t mean to intrude…”
Heat crept into her cheeks. “You didn’t intrude, Travis. Mr. De La Vega was just helping me carry baked potatoes.” She grabbed the large bowl and shoved it into Arturo’s hands.
Not a muscle moved in Arturo’s face. “That’s correct.”
“Oh. Okay.” The teenager’s skeptical look told her he wasn’t buying it.
“Steaks are served!” Dylan announced as a delicious aroma reached them from the dining room.
“Steaks! Great!” Obviously forgetting about everything else, Travis darted to the dining room.
With barely distinguishable regret in his eyes, Arturo stepped away and carried the bowl of potatoes to the table. Then he headed outside, probably to bring in the rest of the steaks.
A gust of cold air from the vent followed Kelly into the room. “I cranked up the air conditioner. I figured it was getting too hot in the kitchen.”
“Kelly…”
“I meant because you needed to take the pie out of the oven.”
Lana gasped. “The apple pie!” She grabbed the handle of the double oven and jerked her hand back. “Hot!”
Arturo appeared in the kitchen. He snatched the oven mitten and pulled the pie from the oven. Its sweet scent filled the kitchen.
“How is it?” Lana groaned, afraid to look in that direction.
“Perfect.” He turned on the water and gently placed her fingers under the cold stream. She welcomed the soothing feeling. But Arturo being so close to her, his strong hands around hers, wreaked havoc on her senses.
“Just join us whenever you’re ready.” Kelly scooted out of the kitchen.
“Lana, I need to tell you something,” Arturo started.
A racket filled the air. Lana turned in the direction of the noise. “What was that?”
“Dylan Jr. probably knocked down a plate from t
he table. Lana…”
Kelly took a tentative step inside and grabbed a broom and a dustpan. Minutes later, she returned with a broom and a dustpan full of shards in her hands. Lana got another plate from the cupboard.
Finally, all the commotion calmed down, and they sat down at the table. She smiled as she wrapped her fingers around Dylan Jr.’s tiny hand. But her fingers trembled slightly when Arturo took her hand.
Kelly said grace, and all of them said, “Amen.”
“Dig in,” Dylan said, and everybody seemed happy to oblige.
The conversation at dinner was lively, and Lana got glimpses into Arturo’s childhood from Dylan and Arturo recollecting old times. She couldn’t help noticing how Arturo cut Dylan Jr.’s meat for him and answered the pro football questions from Travis with great attention. It was so easy to imagine him at the family dinner table, interacting with his own kids with love, kindness, and respect.
When the dinner was over, Kelly went to put Dylan Jr. to sleep. Arturo volunteered to do dishes and Lana joined him to wash the pans and pots. After a smile in Lana’s direction, Mari made herself scarce.
When the dishes were done, Arturo helped her put on her warm jacket and hand-knit shawl. Dylan, Mari, and Kelly walked them to the door.
“I hope you do great tomorrow at practice. And win the game on Sunday,” Dylan said.
Of course, Arturo had to leave again soon. Then why did her heart sink to the floor? Lana did her best to rein in her runaway emotions. “Dylan and Kelly, thank you for a wonderful dinner.”
“We loved having you here.” Kelly gave her a quick hug.
Worry registered in Mari’s eyes. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” She hugged Mari good night and avoided looking at Arturo. “Thank you all for a lovely evening.”
She gave Dylan a hug, as well, and headed out the door. She needed to get away before she embarrassed herself by crying. There was nothing to cry about, really. She knew Arturo’s life was hundreds of miles away.
Only now it was even more difficult to let him go.
