Page 21 of A Sudden Romance

“Hey, what’s all the excitement about?” Leo’s booming voice echoed down the hallway from their three bedrooms. He emerged with damp hair as if he’d just gotten out of the shower. “Look at you dressed all fancy.”

Leo gestured to Sabastian’s wool navy sweater. Worn over a white button-down, it didn’t seem too fancy. After all, he’d had to dress up so he looked presentable to Iris. Leo pulled Sabastian into a strong embrace.

“Looks like you got kicked out of your shower.” Sabastian teased, easing back and flicking the edges of his friend’s hair. “Look at all the soap in your hair.”

He didn’t have soap, but Leo didn’t seem to get the joke. “I had to hurry. Paulina was rushing me out of the bathroom so she could shower.”

“Your hair is fine.” Sabastian hurried past the subject of Paulina, but Leo leaned in to whisper in his ear. “I didn’t tell her you were bringing someone.”

“We’re leaving soon.” Sabastian glanced over to Iris still on the floor with Martina and Alba bunched around the cat. All three ladies beamed radiant smiles while the younger kids whooped around.

Iris tucked her legs up under her. “I can’t believe you succeeded in growing tomatoes with the few sunny days our mountain town had.”

Martina talked about all the vegetables she grew in the summer and the procedure of cultivating. “Sometimes, I sell them to Sabastian.”

“Man,” Leo whispered, “I see why you’ve waited this long for her.”

Sabastian smacked Leo on the shoulder and gave him a look that should warn him not to let Iris hear him.

“I’d better go say, hello.” Leo strode to their circle. “Hey, ladies.”

Sabastian moved too just as Iris stood and dusted cat hair off her hands before she took Leo’s offered hand.

“You must be Leo.”

“You’ve got that right.” He nodded. “It’s nice to finally meet you. Did you know Sabastian has never introduced me to any girl before?”

Sabastian instinctively kicked Leo in the shin. What was wrong with this family?

“Is that so?” Iris stared at Sabastian, her smile soft, before she faced his friend again.

“Iris and I have somewhere else to be.” He’d better speed things up and not only because he didn’t want to be late for their next stop. The clock showed five twenty.

“I made some sopapillas.” Martina pushed to her feet and held out her hands to Iris. “You should at least have some before you go.”

“We’re going out to eat,” Sabastian said, intending to have dinner with Iris, although he hadn’t told her yet.

“Maybe next time we’ll stay longer.” With her eyes aglow and her posture relaxed, Iris seemed to mean it.

And his chest rose with a thrill that she’d felt comfortable around his friends.

“You should bring Iris to the party next Friday,” Leo blurted, crossing his arms.

Great. Sabastian knew his friend so well. He glared at Leo. “Is that your way of blackmailing me into cooking for your employees?”

Leo shrugged. “I’m sure you’d rather not have her eat soggy spaghetti.”

“What’s wrong with my spaghetti?” With a playful look, Martina shook a finger at her husband. “So, I didn’t get it right the last two times.”

“Six, sweetheart.”

Martina cackled. “That’s why we should stick to our staples—the Mexican food I cook better than anyone else.” She thrust her hands on her rounded hips. “Why is it you always want us to try different food when no one can best my enchiladas or sopapillas?”

“I can help Sabastian cook for your party,” Iris interrupted.

Whoa. Sabastian swung his gaze to her to see if she was joking. Wow. She had that mischievous smile. His heart rate kicked up. He couldn’t have loved her more. She was more easygoing than he’d expected. Being the youngest and raised in wealth, she could be spoiled, but she was the grand finale, the perfect last born, the sweet dessert after the many unique courses of personalities her family offered.

In regards to Leo’s request, no way was Sabastian going to turn down another opportunity to spend time with Iris. By the end of December, she’d be gone, and he might not see her again until summer.

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