Page 163 of Dream Chaser

“No.” Ale stepped in front of it, then picked her up and carried her back to the table. “Peligroso.” Dangerous. He tickled her with his stubble, kissed her cheek, and handed her to Fernando. “Toma tu regalito.” Take your little gift.

Clara pouted, arms crossed. Her father looked at her adoringly. Luckily, her annoyance lasted all of two seconds—right until her grandmother gave her a piece of cheese.

Alejandro’s dad slid a bowl of olives toward me. “Prueba. Son del jardín.”

“From the garden,” Lucía said. “The olive oil is theirs, too.”

I bit into one—salty, just a tiny bit bitter—perfect.

“Delicious,” I said.

A grin lifted Emilio’s lips. “Gracias. Toma otra.”

“Take another one,” Alejandro whispered behind me. I tilted my head back so I could see him, and he bent down, then kissed me on the lips lightly.

Fernando cheered. I covered my face with my forearm, laughing.

Alejandro put the steaks in the center of the table and lowered himself beside me. “A comer.” He rubbed his palms together. Let’s eat.

As he put a steak on my plate, our eyes met. He slipped an arm around my waist, squeezing my side. “Me alegro que estés aquí.”

“He’s happy you’re here,” Fernando said as a chorus of awws drifted over the table, then he added, “Y nosotros también.” We are, too.

Ale kissed my temple, whispering, “See? They already love you.”

***

Lunch lasted well into the evening and morphed into dinner. Alejandro, Fernando, and Emilio went to tidy everything up at around nine, leaving all the women at the table. I wondered what my mother would say if she saw that men could also cook and clean without making a stink face.

“Ale está muy feliz contigo,” Teresa said.

“Ale is very happy with you,” Lucía whispered, stroking a hand down Clara’s back. She was asleep, tiny arms wrapped around her mother’s neck.

“Thank you.” I smiled. “I’ll learn Spanish, I promise.”

Lucía said that to Teresa, who patted my arm, looking at me with warmth. “Un día.” One day.

Alejandro emerged from the house and strolled toward me. “Está todo limpio.” Everything is clean.

Teresa stood. Then she kissed my cheek and smoothed her hand down my hair. “Descansa, cariño.” Get some rest, honey.

Lucía said goodbye. As both of them went to the house, Ale took my hand in his. “Come with me.”

“Where?” I asked as he led me past the grove of olive trees.

“You’ll see.”

A few minutes later, a small wooden cabin came into view.

“We’re staying here,” he said.

I grinned. “Your bachelor pad? Is this where you bring all of your girls?”

He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “Just one. And I’m not planning to ever bring anyone else here.”

I stepped closer. A small round table and two chairs were next to a fire pit. On the table sat a bottle of red wine and two glasses, together with olives, grapes, and cheese on a platter.

“In case you’re still hungry.”