Chapter 32

“Ow.” A cramp in my leg wakes me up quicker than a dousing with cold water, but it’s effective. I rub my calf in the half-light, easing the pain away. There’s a stirring next to me and I remember we’re all still in Rafe’s bed. The evening comes back to me, and I smile. Watching Rafe and Florencio together was hotter than any of my dreams, sleeping or awake, had been. Florencio is curled against me, looking young and vulnerable in sleep, though I know he is anything but. He’s feisty and funny. Rafe is on Florencio’s other side, facing him, their legs tangled together.

It takes me a few minutes to realise Rafe’s eyes are open.

“Hey, precioso ,” I say softly. “Are you awake?”

“Mmmm,” is his sleepy response as he smiles lazily.

“How are you doing?”

He rolls onto his back and stretches with a yawn.

“I’m good. How about you?”

“Yeah, I’m good too. ”

He turns back onto his side towards us and looks at Florencio.

“Am I crazy for wanting this? For hoping it can work?”

His voice is tinged with wistfulness.

“We are built on hopes and dreams. They are what inspire us. If we reach for the stars, we might make it to the moon, but if we aim for the moon, we might not get off the ground.”

“Romantic.” Florencio’s voice is languid as he blinks his eyes open. “Some of us are trying to sleep without all your flowery nonsense.”

“Flowery nonsense, huh?” I raise an eyebrow at him.

“Yes, you know I don’t believe in all that.” He grins up at me.

“That’s too bad.”

“Why?”

“I guess you’ll never know.” I kiss his nose and roll over to get up.

“Hey,” he calls, raising himself up on one elbow, “Are you going to leave me hanging like that?”

“Yup.”

“?Que maleducado!” Florencio flops back on the bed.

I leave the room, hearing Rafe no longer able to control his giggling.

I go to my room, and find a pair of shorts and pull them on before going down to the kitchen.

I meet Juana, preparing breakfast for Estrella.

“How is she?” I ask while I set out a tray and work the coffee machine.

“Last night tired her out, more than she’ll admit. I’ll make her rest for a few days to get her strength back.”

I set out a plate and load it up with croissants.

“So, are you boys getting on well?” Juana asks pertly.

I look at her to see if there’s any hint of judgement about us, but I see none .

“Boys? You can’t be much older than me.” I huff a laugh. Juana is in that indeterminate zone of middle-aged women where she could be fifty or I could be way off.

“I’m old enough to call you boys,” she says, looking pleased, anyway.

“Yes, you could say we’re getting on well.” That’s all I’m going to tell her. What else can I say without giving her explicit details—which is never going to happen.

I’m saved any further questions by my phone ringing.

“Hi, Wis.” I’m always pleased to hear from my cousin.

“I was just seeing how the repairs are going,” he says, and I fill him in on the latest and how I should be able to open in a couple of weeks.

“That’s good. I was thinking, we hardly ever get a chance to see each other, and I know when you get back in that bar, I won’t be able to prise you out again. Why don’t you come up to visit for a couple of days before then? You could do with some time off.” I don’t mention that I’m getting plenty of relaxation and time off right now, but I’d like to see Luis again.

“Sure, I’d love to. How about next week?”

“That would be perfect.”

“Hey, Wis? Can I bring a couple of friends?” After he agrees, I ring off. I don’t want to go into lengthy explanations on the phone. My cousin knows me the best, so I think he might be surprised when I bring Rafe and Florencio. It’s still pretty surprising to me.

When I take the breakfast tray to the bedroom, Rafe and Florencio are as I left them, still lying in bed, facing each other, talking and laughing. Seeing them together causes a fluttering in my chest that stops my breath. I can’t think why. Maybe I’m having a heart attack, yes, that must be it.

I put the tray down a little too sharply.

“Are you okay, Con?” Rafe asks and I take a deep breath before turning round. My heart returns to normal. It could be an early warning. Perhaps I should get it checked out.

“I brought breakfast.” I pass them each coffee as they sit up.

I bring my own coffee and the plate of croissants over and sit on the bed.

“Mmmm, I could get used to this,” Rafe says, taking another bite of his croissant while I tell them the plans to visit my cousin and his vineyard next week.