Page 41 of Yours, Forever

"Shecan speak for herself." I stole Max's phone and stared into the camera. "Hi everyone. I'm Eva, Max's wife. Nice to meet you all."

Everyone on the screen gave me brilliant grins, and I returned them. Max could have joined Javier to stay in the call, but he didn't. He grabbed the seat of my chair and pulled me close to him; the wood screeched on the floor with the force of the move.

Our shoulders collided. He kissed my cheek. I got dizzy.

He anchored me with an arm around my back.

"You make a cute couple," Gabe said.

"When can we meet you?" Lina asked. "You two seem so different. In a good way, though. The kind that can make for a lot of fun."

"Wearevery different." I gazed at Max and challenged him to contradict me.

"It creates sparks," he said.

And sparks led to fire, and fire destroyed everything in its path. Ugh.

Thin ropes entwined themselves around my stomach, threatening to tighten and cut my circulation. Seeing Max closer to his element, authentic with his friends, reminded me he wasn't the kind of man that would choose a place like Laguna Island for himself. That sparks were dangerous, because fire washard to put out, and the forests around my hometown needed a lot of care. Just like my heart.

"We could all go there and see the town." Jake's deep tone interrupted my revelation. "Javier got to."

"Javier approves of that! The town is awesome." Javier's voice carried, likely on purpose. Max's phone caught it and so did people around us. They cheered.

"Can't wait to spend time together." Lina looked at the screen, but Gabe looked at her as if hypnotized. "One of my cousins just started working on a farm nearby, actually. Relatively speaking. Did I tell you that, Max? Enrique moved for work to that general area. Lucía got engaged, too, but I don't think that's as relevant."

Max frowned. "I don't think I've met either of them, but that reminds me— when are you guys getting engaged?"

"Whenever she gives me the green light." Gabe's eyes stayed on Lina.

"Not yet," she said. "Not until you transition to CEO. Atleast."

I smiled, despite the heaviness in my heart. "Biggest issue is where will you stay, but we'll figure it out. There's Semana Lagunina in August. It's our Summer festival, if you'd like to come."

"On it," Jake said.

"And you could come to us as well," Gabe added. "There's the Construction Cares Gala in a few weeks. It's in New York this time."

I glanced at Max. "Let's see what this guy thinks. He has never talked to me about you all, and now we're all making plans to spend time together. "

"It's true," Javier said. "Eva didn't know who I was, so that was fun."

"Unbelievable!" Jake laughed.

"I'm happy to let you all mingle." Max raised an eyebrow. "No concern on my side, if Eva's willing."

Our eyes locked. This time, we challenged each other, while my feelings argued amongst themselves.

Iwaswilling, despite the nerves anchoring themselves in my gut. My tendency to be a contrarian rarely worked against me; typically, it fueled me towards my goals. Open a successful café in a small, dying town? Watch me do it. Spend quality time with my husband of convenience and his friends, even when we were total opposites? No biggie.

So I agreed, and crossed my fingers that playing with fire wouldn't consume me and turn my life into a flaming pyre.

Chapter 13

Max

After saying goodbye toeveryone at Isla Negra, Eva, Javier, and I walked back home in companionable chatter. He'd rented an SUV to reach Laguna Island, which kept my sports car company at Eva's place.

"I went to your condo in New York and brought a few extra things," Javier said. "I thought you might be missing them."