Page 1 of Finding Love in the Clouds

Chapter One

“Sophie, hey, it’s Andy.”

“Hello, Mr. Santos. Are you on your way to your brother’s house for the annual BBC gathering?” Sophie answered before whispering, “I’ll be right back. Don’t wait for me.”

“Ah, you have an audience; strictly professional then. And yes, we are about twenty minutes out by the looks of things. Was that a child I heard in the background? Does that mean your brother was able to make it after all?”

“We are always professional, and something like that.” A door softly clicked, and the background noise disappeared. “What can I do for you, Andy? We are packing up now. I will see you in less than twelve hours.” Sophie’s voice was sweet as always, but it registered confusion as to the call since her boss had promised radio silence during her vacation.

Fernando switched his cell phone from one ear to the next and leaned into a turn. “That’s what I’m calling about. There is no need for you to fly up here. I will be upstate for almost a week directing thereshooting of these final scenes and then the long drive back to Cali. I plan on using the time to work on my next book, and you know I need total silence for that, so there really isn’t any reason for you not to enjoy a little bit longer vacation.”

“But, sir, this vacation has already been three weeks. Any longer, and the staff will worry we are moving in,” Sophie argued.

“You don’t have to stay there. If three weeks in Mexico is enough, pick a different spot and spend the next three there. Use the credit card you have. It is all expense paid. You have been at my beck and call for three years. The least you can do is take a little time away and spoil your family.”

“Three more weeks?” Sophie’s mind was spinning. She hadn’t looked at her boss’s schedule since her vacation started, which had been really hard, but she was certain that he had things on the calendar before the 15th of January. “Sir, what about your meetings? I need to reschedule things if you are not going to be back before the middle of January.”

“Sophie, stop with the sir thing. You know I hate that. If you need to take an hour and discuss changes with your assistant, do that, but I want my schedule clear and you to stay in relaxation mode until at least the 23rd. If you challenge me, I will make it the 1st of February. Am I understood?”

Sophie ran her fingers through her beach bum hair in exasperation. Fernando was usually the most easygoing boss on the planet, but occasionally, he got these hair-brained ideas, and there was no changing his mind. If she argued, she knew she would be off the clock until February, and even though that may sound like heaven to some people, a month-and-a-half-long vacation was not her idea of a good time. She loved her job. She loved her boss. She was ready to get on a plane and see him again.

“Okay, fine. I will see you back in the office on January 23rd. Is there anything you need my assistance with while I am on the clock today? Any travel plans? Meetings?” She looked in the mirror, glad he couldn’t see her right now; she looked wind-blown.

“No. When you talk to Shelley, cancel any meetings we have through February. You need a nice soft start after my forced extension of your vacation, and I need time to finish wrapping up this book. Sophie?” His soft voice made her ache to see him.

“Yes?” Her voice softened to match his; this was his personal voice.

“I know you didn’t ask for all this time off, but take it. Enjoy it. Please. This is going to be a crazy year, and you haven’t had a vacation in the three years you’ve worked for me. I need to know you are taking care of yourself because I don’t know what I would do without you—no thoughts about the money, the schedule, none of it. Just enjoy the time with your family and come back to me well-rested and ready to hit the ground running. Okay?”

“Yes, I hear you. My family will appreciate the extra time. We will probably move locations; I don’t think I can stare at the same beach rocks for an entire month. Thank you. This is too much, but we are all grateful for everything. I will speak with Shelley this afternoon and get things settled. Enjoy your family time, too, sir. I know Hannah has missed you greatly.”

“I will. When you talk to Shelley, have her pull all the book ranking stats for this past year. I need to see it all laid out in front of me. The team will be creating a plan for a better year. I am not coming in second to Marie Lautner for two consecutive years,” Fernando growled.

Sophie knew this had been a sticking point for him all year. Every month, the stats came out, and she held number one, and he held number two on the best-seller list; his blood pressure rose. “I will have it all ready when you get back to LA. Anything else?”

“No. That should do it. Have fun!” Disconnecting the call, he placed his phone in his breast pocket before resuming his work. If he focused, he could finish this chapter before they arrived.

Fernando looked up from his laptop as the Suburban came to a stop and saw they had arrived at his brother Anthony’s home. He quickly saved his progress and shut the computer down.

He was tucking it into his satchel when his driver opened his door, stepping back to allow him space to exit the vehicle.

“I heard Miss Williams will be extending her trip. Anyone else needing to be picked up at the airport tomorrow?” the driver asked, handing Fernando his Louis Vuitton overnight bag.

“Thank you, Garrett. And no, it will be just the two of us on this trip. I told the production crew I would be on set no later than one, so pick me up at eight tomorrow morning, and we should be good. Enjoy your evening.”

Fernando made his way to the front door of his brother’s mansion and punched in the code to unlock the door instead of ringing the bell. This was his home away from home whenever he visited New York, and he didn’t need to be in the city. He dropped his bag by the door and made his way to the kitchen, where his sister Hannah was preparing dinner.

“Hey Hann, I’m home,” Fernando said quietly as he entered the kitchen, trying not to startle her as she hummed while she worked.

“Fernando!” Hannah instantly stopped what she was doing and wrapped him in a tender embrace. “Oh, I’ve missed you, sweetheart.”

“It’s good to be home,” he whispered into her hair as he held her close, feeling the maternal love she held for him warm every cell of his body. He forgot how much he missed this when he was away, working twenty-hour days. But when he returned, the first thing he wanted was a hug from his sister, the only woman who had ever loved him.

Chapter Two

They stood in the kitchen for a long moment, holding each other. Hannah loved all her boys, but Fernando was the youngest and held a special place in her heart. Each of Anthony’s brothers was unique in their own way. Fernando was the kindest, gentlest, sweetest child she had ever known until her daughters were born, but he struggled with self-worth after being abandoned at birth. It broke her heart that anyone would throw any child away, but this one… his mother missed out on raising a treasure.

After their hearts were sufficiently filled with love, they stepped apart and eyed each other.

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