Page 36 of A SEAL's Fantasy

“What kind of dance did you do before?”

“She was on Broadway,” Dominic broke in. Lara blinked at the pride in his voice. As if he thought it was a really big deal. From the impressed looks around the table, a lot of the rest of his family thought so, too.

“Hey, we just saw a dancer the other night,” said one of Dominic’s cousins sitting halfway down the table. “Marco’s bachelor party. Her name was Lotta Oomph, and boy, did she live up to it. She had the hots for Dom, too.”

Lara’s lips twitched, and she slanted Dominic a glance.

He shrugged and gave her a look as if to say, what’s a guy to do?

“Enough, Leon.” Dominic’s mother shot her nephew a chiding look, then lifted a platter. “Lara, would you like more empanadas?”

“Thank you.” Lara took the platter. “Everything is delicious.”

“Don’t you have to watch your weight as a dancer?” Celia asked, giving Lara’s plate an envious look. “I only did ballet for a year, but I thought I was going to starve.”

“I don’t usually eat much,” Lara acknowledged. Not because of her weight, but because she couldn’t afford a lot of food. “But I have a pretty fast metabolism.”

“So does Dom.” Celia sniffed at her brother. “I could almost hate him for that if he wasn’t so great.”

“That must be pretty cool, having a brother you think is great.”

“I have four of them,” Celia said, her tone making it clear she wasn’t picking favorites. “Lucas is the best at fixing things and Matteo is the funniest. Dominic knows everything, though. You want advice, you talk to him. He always has the answers.”

Lara noticed she didn’t mention a fourth name. A quick glance around the table and she realized that whoever their other brother was, he wasn’t here tonight.

Of course, who was she to comment on familial relationships or question fallings-out?

“Dominic said you wanted the security code for internet access,” Lucas said, taking the platter and sliding four empanadas onto his plate. “I can give it to you after dinner.”

“Thanks. I have homework due Monday and want to make sure it’s in.” Lara tasted the empanada. Oh, my. The meat-filled pastry was so delicious that her mouth exploded in delight.

“What’re you in school for?” Lucas asked.

“You’re in school?” Dominic muttered at the same time.

Lara slid him a sideways look, but responded to Lucas instead. “I’m studying computer security with Fireside Tech,” she told him. “This is my last semester.”

“Fireside?” For the first time since they’d gathered at the table, Lucas put his fork down. “They’re good. Are you specializing?”

“I’ve got top marks in home security and systems design, but I’d really like to get into cybersecurity. That’s what I’m focused on the most.” Lara’s voice trailed off when she realized everyone had quieted and was now staring at her and Lucas. Suddenly as self-conscious as she’d be if she were wearing her feather costume and dancing on the table, Lara gave a little shrug and finished with, “That’s about it.”

“Really?”

Before she could tell Dominic, “Yes, really,” Lucas broke in.

“What do you know about the Onyx R300 system?”

What did he know about it?

Too confused to be rude, Lara explained how she’d reprogrammed the Onyx home security system the previous semester in the school lab in order to overwrite a common weather glitch.

“You fixed that? The company said it couldn’t be done. That’s why they had issues with the Onyx R500 this summer.” Lucas gave her a long look, then nodded to her plate. “You finished?”

Lara glanced down. She’d barely eaten half her dinner, but now she was too intrigued to want more, so she nodded.

“Mama, excuse us,” Lucas said, getting up from the table and gesturing for Lara to join him.

“Dessert?” Mrs. Castillo asked, not looking at all surprised that one of her sons was leaving dinner with another son’s girlfriend. No, not girlfriend. Date. Guest? Lara pressed her lips together, too confused to figure out what she and Dominic were now.

“What’s dessert?” Lucas asked, pausing on his way out the door.

“Chocolate cake, cherry pie or flan.”

“Save us some—” He arched a glance at Lara.

“Cake, please.”

“Save us some cake.”

He gestured for her to follow. After a baffled glance back at Dominic, who just sat and grinned, Lara did.

Three hours later, she slid onto the bench seat of the truck Dominic had traded his bike for. He waited for her to settle in, then closed the door before going around to the driver’s side to get in himself.

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