“I’m wondering if I’ll be able to make you happy and if…I’ll be able to keep up with you.” She knew that was an excuse. Grace looked like she had no problem “keeping up,” and Teresa knew they pampered her and helped with chores around the house. She didn’t look haggard or ill used.
“Are you referring to the work of running a household or to the physical aspect of such a marriage?”
She realized he was using euphemisms to increase her comfort level. She recognized a difference between the two men just then. Angel tended to use plainer language. She was raised in a household where her parents talked around certain subjects. It wasn’t necessarily better, but it was what she was comfortable with.
“Both.”
“It would be a high priority for us that you were not pushing yourself too hard, in either way. It’s not supposed to be more work, and it would be us trying to make sure you’re satisfied. We wouldn’t want you to approach it as trying to keep up. If your needs are being met, then we’ll be satisfied, whether we loved you every night, every other night, or once a week. I want you to be happy. I certainly don’t want you to feel like a workhorse.”
“Joaquin, you’ve known me less than a day. What is it about me that makes you think you might want to settle down here with us?”
“Well, I heard about you from my mom. Mom has always been very intuitive. She likes you very much, by the way, and Mom…does not like everybody. Then, talking with Angel about you, hearing how…reverent he sounded, like you were precious to him.” Teresa’s cheeks heated at his words.
“When you flung open the door last night, your eyes were unguarded and excited. When you realized it was stranger, there was a glimmer of fear there. It brought out an instinctive part in me. I wanted to protect you from what scared you, and I wanted you to not feel scared of me. Then Michael went and broke the ice for us, didn’t he?”
She chuckled. “Yes, my son knows no strangers. He likes you a lot. That’s definitely in your favor because if Michael doesn’t trust or like someone, that raises a big red flag with me. You seem to be comfortable around small children. Thank you for helping him with the potty, by the way.”
“We helped Mom when we still lived at home, with Luka and Matthias. Me and Angel had them both potty trained before they were two. It’s a bit of an incentive when you see that your big brothers don’t wear diapers and get to do cool stuff like pee outside. Michael seems to enjoy horses and spending time with Angel. I hope he takes to me as easily.”
“I doubt that’s going to be a problem. Do you miss your family and your home?”
“Yes, but I’m closer now than I have been in months. It’s just a few hours there and back. I’m sure I’ll probably head down there for a day or so sometime soon. Were you planning to see your parents over the holiday?”
“No. I love them and miss them, but it’s better if I stay here in Divine. I talk with my dad every so often and send pictures to them through a friend. For now, that has to be enough.”
His eyebrows had drawn together in concern. He drew closer to her on the couch and settled back against it, facing her. “You sound as though you can’t go home, Teresa. Do you not feel safe going there?”
Biting her lip, she shook her head. “No, I don’t. And…”
“What?” Joaquin leaned toward her.
“I can’t risk taking Michael there. It’s not safe for either of us.” It was going to take some time before she could share the whole story with him.
As if he sensed her discomfort with the subject, Joaquin backed off and said, “Angel and I will protect you, regardless of whether it works out between you and I or not. You’ll be my brother’s wife someday soon, and I would help protect you from anyone who would threaten you or Michael. You have us now.”
“Thank you. It’s hard to let down those walls. I suppose I could go back home now if I had to. It was never an option when it was just the two of us. I’ve never been away from Michael overnight, although I know I could leave him with Grace, Rachel, or Rosemary if I needed to. There have been so many changes in my life this year, and it’s a lot to process. Now you’re here and I have all these feelings toward you.”
He grinned sympathetically at her. “Feel like you are at war with yourself?”
“No, it’s not negative like that. It’s more like a seesaw that’s moving too fast. If I could get it to slow down, I could get my balance in the middle.”
“Are you still feeling uncomfortable around me? Since we’ve been talking?”
She looked up at him and smiled. “No, I feel better. Talking to you helps. I think we understand each other.”
“Would you like to maybe lay down with me on the loveseat recliner and watch a movie? Just sort of—” he paused and cringed and started again, tripping over his words, “I don’t mean lay down—well, yeah I do. Okay, let me start again. Let’s pick a movie and watch it laying down on the reclining loveseat, you want to?” he finally blurted with a grin.
She smiled and felt her cheeks tingle but looked into his brilliant green eyes and playfully said, “You’re funny when you do that. Yes, I would love to watch a movie with you—on the loveseat—laying down with you—right beside you,” she said, speaking in teasing, choppy sentences.
He chuckled. “Angel is rubbing off on you. You were flirting with me just now.”
“Was I? Well, you were so cute. I think you even blushed for a second.” She giggled as they looked at Angel’s DVD collection of pop-culture iconography.
He scoffed in disgust. “Holy crap, what is Angel doing with a copy of Twilight? No self-respecting—”
She poked him in the chest with her finger and got a little sassy. “Hey! That’s mine, and no disrespecting Bella and Edward. That’s a deal breaker right there, cowboy.” Then she popped her hand over her mouth and giggled at the look of incredulity in his eyes.
He arched a brow and held up his hands in mock surrender. “Kitten’s got claws. Has Angel watched those with you?”
Somehow her hand found its way to her hip, and she was sure that was Grace’s influence on her. “As a matter of fact, he has. I won’t make you watch them with me if you don’t like them. Just remember I have a soft spot in my heart for Bella and Edward…and Jacob,” she added and giggled. They looked at each other and both burst out laughing.
They put on a movie, and Joaquin opened the recliners on the loveseat so they could lie down and watch it. Teresa missed the whole first fifteen minutes of the movie, wondering if it would be okay if she came closer. Joaquin behaved himself like he promised and watched the movie. If he noticed her distraction, he didn’t comment on it. His forearms were tucked behind his head, which made his bulky biceps even more tempting. His body language was completely open, welcoming her to do as she wished.
Here goes nothing. She sat up and shifted her pillow to his side. She gave him a shy smile before lying back down and tentatively laid her hand on his chest. He put his arm around her back and stroked her forearm and the top of her hand and fingers with his other hand. She could feel his heart beating underneath her palm.
Chapter Twelve
Joaquin smiled and closed his eyes, sighing silently in relief as she lay down right next to him and got comfortable. The next hour and a half were a sweet combination of bliss and torture for him. Halfway through the movie, she drifted off to sleep. He appreciated that she felt comfortable enough with him to do that, but she moved in her sleep, getting more comfortable. She snuggled. Damn it. He wondered if he should stuff his hands in his pockets again so he wouldn’t be tempted to let them rove over her delectable body as she sighed happily in her sleep.
By the time she finally settled, she was curled up to him, her head all the way on his chest, one arm flung across his torso and the other curled adorably under her chin. She turned more toward him, slid a knee and thigh over his, and pressed the other thigh along the length of his leg. When she shivered lightly, he realized her body temperature must drop when she fell aslee
p and she was drawing close to him for warmth. Luckily, there was a throw blanket on the arm of the loveseat, which he carefully unfolded and draped over her. She stilled immediately and fell deeper asleep.
He watched her as she slept. Her lush body, growing warmer, cuddled up to his. She was so beautiful his hands ached to touch her. His cock hardened as the evocative image of her sleeping naked snuggled to him like this flitted through his mind. He pressed his lips carefully to the top of her head, inhaling her clean, natural fragrance. He did his best to ignore the erection tingling behind his zipper.
He must have dozed at some point, too, because he woke when he heard Angel come in quietly and noticed that the beginning menu for the movie was back up on the television screen. He looked over when Angel came in the living room and saw them on the loveseat.
Angel smiled at him and whispered, “She’s like a sick kitten to a hot brick when she falls asleep, isn’t she?”
Joaquin nodded and gave him a big, satisfied grin.
His brother studied them for a few seconds and murmured, “I’m glad to see she’s growing more comfortable with you. I’ll check on Michael.” He returned a minute later and mouthed, “Still snoring,” and came into the living room and picked up the remote. He scanned the satellite channels looking for something they could watch while Teresa and Michael finished their naps.
* * * *
Teresa awoke from her nap slowly, realizing she was toasty warm under a blanket and wrapped in Joaquin’s arms. Motionlessly, she opened her eyes and took stock in her surroundings. Uh-oh. She was laying half on top of Joaquin, and he was sound asleep, judging by his regular breathing. What time was it? She needed to get started on the food she was bringing to Grace’s tonight. Unmoving, she looked over at the clock and noticed Angel on the couch. The television was on, but he was watching her, his eyes alight with love and contentment. He smiled at her when he saw that her eyes were open. She smiled back and blew him an air kiss.
“What time is it?” she whispered.
“A little after three.”
Joaquin must not have been deeply asleep because he stirred and woke up. His muscular body vibrated with strength as he stretched and grinned down at her when he saw she was awake. “Hey, it’s Sleeping Beauty.”
Teresa yawned and stretched but didn’t sit up or move away from him. She felt too comfortable under the blanket, snuggled up to his body heat.
“Not ready to get up yet?” Joaquin asked.
She curled up to him and shook her head, yawning again. Joaquin kissed the top of her head and his arms once again settled around her, seemingly content to stay there with her. She didn’t want the moment to end, instead wishing there was room for one more on the recliner.
Angel grinned and said, “Grace got a nice surprise from Santa this morning.”
“She did? What did she get?” Teresa stretched one more time, arching her back. She thought she heard Joaquin groan faintly, but when she looked up at him, he smiled at her as Angel answered her.
“A brand new BMW Z4 convertible, electric blue. Little two-seater.”
Joaquin whistled softly in appreciation. Teresa giggled and sat up finally. “How did she react?”
Angel chuckled. “She told me she screamed twice and then fainted. Adam had to carry her back in the house. Made poor Ash come running to see what the ruckus was all about.”
Teresa laughed and asked, “Did you tell them our good news?”
“No, I wanted to do that when we were all together. They will be thrilled about our other development, as well, I’m sure.”
“Good, then I’ll call her in a bit,” she murmured, sitting up and lazily stretching her arms over her head. She looked up at Angel and caught the unguarded desire in his gaze. He grinned crookedly and put his hands on hips as he grunted appreciatively at the view. Unapologetically, too. She bit her lip when her gaze landed on the bulge growing at his groin, which he did nothing to hide. She glanced away then looked back again, drawn by her curiosity and the tingles of desire that stirred at the sight. She glanced at Joaquin and found that he, too, was watching her, a similar desire warming his gaze. What would she do if she had the chance? She really needed to talk to Grace.
“I need to get started on that casserole and the tortillas.”
“Mmmm, you’re making tortillas?” Joaquin asked admiringly, like she’d offered to strip for him then give him a lap dance.
“Yes…why?” She teased, “Would you like me to make some special for you?”
“Please, baby?” Angel wheedled as he helped her rise from the loveseat. He turned to Joaquin and said, “I’ll deny it if you ever repeat this to our mother, but Teresa’s homemade flour tortillas are the best I’ve ever had. Way better than Mom’s. Try them, and you’ll see what I mean. She has magic in her little fingers,” he added as he kissed said fingers.
Joaquin arched his brows and grinned. “Magic fingers, huh? Is there anything I can do to help?” He closed the recliners and followed her into the kitchen.
“I’ll let you cook the chicken breasts and grate the cheese if you want. That way I can start the tortillas.”
Angel said, “I’ll get the little man up and see if he still wants to ride.”
“If?” she asked with a chuckle. “Ask him if he needs to potty first.”
“Sure, baby.” He kissed her temple and went down the hall.
She looked up at Joaquin and said, “Thank you for my nap. You’re comfy to snuggle up to.” She came to him and put her arms around him. He encircled her in his arms and pressed his cheek to the top of her head. She thrilled at how good it felt to be held against his muscular chest, his strong arms wrapped around her. He smelled wonderful. They both chuckled when they heard a still-sleepy Michael down the hall in the bathroom, chirping about “riding horsies.” After the toilet flushed, Michael cheered and came running down the hall.
“I dry, Mama. Gonna ride horsies with Angel, okay?”
“You be careful, and do what Angel says, all right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Joaquin smiled at her when she turned to Angel and mouthed, “Thank you,” to him. Angel kissed her, squeezing her hips. After they left, she looked at Joaquin. “I’m teaching him good manners, but it sure helps when there’s a man backing me up. Especially when teaching him how to talk to ladies. He forgets, or I forget sometimes. You and Angel can help him remember to be a gentleman. So now that I’ve been reminded, I’m dying to know.”
“Know what?” he asked.
“Did you do the pee-pee dance with him earlier?” she asked, giggling as she imagined this big cowboy doing the dance.
“Yes, ma’am, I did. I felt like I was on Dancing with the Stars. He showed me how to do it and criticized me until I got it right,” he said, and they both laughed together.
She made some tortillas and set them aside on a plate under a dish towel. She spread butter on one and rolled it up, then gave Joaquin the first bite. He moaned rapturously as he stirred the chicken while she took the next bite.
“You like it?”
“Please marry me!” He opened his mouth for another bite.
She held it back, teasing him. “What about my cooties?”
He gave her a devilish grin. “I like your cooties. Give me more, please,” he begged. She held it up for him, and he took another big bite. “Angel was right,” he said over the mouthful. She blushed with pleasure that he liked it so much. He turned the chicken and covered the skillet with the lid. “He said you were a good cook, and he wasn’t exaggerating. Who taught you to make tortillas?”
“My mother. She also taught me how to cook. When I left Tillman, she gave me her recipe book.”
“She did? Wow.”
“Yeah. She was pretty wonderful, old fashioned. I’ll show you her picture sometime. I have some from when she was very young after she married my father. She was beautiful.”
“How is she now?”
“She has dementia, Alzheimer’s,” she sa
id matter of factly. “My dad shares a room with her in their nursing home. His health is declining, as well.”
“What’s wrong with him?’
“Nothing except old age.”
“Would they like to move to Divine?”
“I don’t know. I suppose I could ask him.”
She smiled and chuckled a little to herself as memories of her parents came to mind. When he looked at her expectantly, she giggled and said, “I can remember when I was a little girl, my father would come in the backdoor while she was cooking and tug on her apron strings. He would sing ‘Besame Mucho’ to her and use them to pull her into his arms and dance her around the kitchen singing to her. She would giggle and blush, but I know she loved it. He made her very happy.” Her chin quivered, and her vision blurred with unshed tears. The pain of missing them the last three years was suddenly a heavy weight on her heart.
She sniffled and allowed him to pull her into his arms. He patted her back, and she sighed. After a minute, she wiped her eyes and smiled up at him. “Thank you. I’m so emotional today.”
“Don’t apologize. It must be hard to be away from them, especially during the holidays. I hope you won’t think ill of me, but I tended to tune my mother out when she went off in Spanish, and my dads hardly ever spoke it around us kids. When she spoke Spanish, she was usually yelling, or maybe even cursing, who knows? What does besame mucho mean?”
Teresa turned to him incredulously. “You’re kidding right?”
“No, ma’am. I’m a Texas boy. I speak English and Texan. Angel knows some Spanish, but I was never a good student.”
“Well, besame mucho means…kiss me, a lot.” She giggled when he smiled big. “I have it on a CD. I’ll bring it so you can hear what it sounds like. It’s a beautiful, old romantic love song.”
“Do you like to dance?”
“Yes, but I haven’t gotten much practice. Angel taught me how.”
“I would love to dance with you some time.”
Her heart felt open and unfettered as she turned to him and looked up into his handsome face. “I’d like that, too.” Feeling brave, she rose on her tiptoes and kissed him. Her hands slid up his broad chest, over his shoulders, and into his silky hair. She shivered when his lips and tongue stroked hers. He slid his large hands over her ribs, holding her lightly. She could tell by his touch and his kiss how careful he was being to not come on too strong. He allowed her complete control of the moment, so she took her time.
The Divine Creek Ranch Collection, Volume 1 [Book 1 - Divine Grace, Book 2 - Her Gentle Giant, Book 3 - Heavenly Angel] (Siren Everlasting Collection) Page 129
