“Thank you, Penny,” came the raspy response.
His voice sounded strong. That was good.
Penny turned around and her face lit up. “Damian, hi.”
“Hey, Penny. How are you?”
Penny’s cheeks turn pink, and her eyelashes lower. “I’m great. On my way out.” She glided a hand over her ponytailed hair. “I didn’t know you were stopping by this evening. You don’t usually come on Thursdays.”
Of course, Luis’s nurse would have a crush on Damian. I couldn’t even be mad because what woman wouldn’t want him?
“Spontaneous visit.” Damian gave her a polite smile.
Penny glanced at me, her gaze dropping to where Damian still held onto me. The disappointment on her face was a tad amusing. I was tempted to tell her, “Sorry, sister. He's mine.”
Of course, he wasn’t really mine in the romantic sense. I wasn’t sure exactly what our relationship status was. Penny offered me a smile and glanced back at Luis. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Luis. Bye Damian.”
Damian nodded.
When she stepped away, I got a look at Luis. He was propped up with the bed at a ninety-degree angle. His skin, which I bet was once bronze like his son’s, was pale and wrinkled. He had a full head of gray hair, but despite his condition, I saw the twinkle of youthful exuberance in his light brown eyes—the same that was in Aunt Lucia’s.
“Good night, Penny,” Luis said. “Drive carefully.”
“I will. Thanks.”
As Penny sauntered out, I almost burst out laughing because Luis’s attention was on the nurse’s behind.
“Papa, you old hound,” Damian said.
Luis chuckled. “I’m old, not blind.” His gaze shifted to me, and I gave him a shy smile.
As Damian made introductions, he moved closer to Luis, taking me with him. “Papa, this Cassandra.”
Luis’s huge grin made mine grow. He had to have the most contagious smile ever. Seeing the warmth in his eyes made me more comfortable. Standing beside his bed, I offered a hand. When he took it and placed a kiss on the back of it, followed by a greeting and telling me how pretty I am in Spanish, I giggled. So this was where Damian learned how to be so charming.
“Papa, she’s too young for you and she’s mine,” Damian warned.
My jaw dropped, and my eyes swung to him. Whether he was joking or not, I hadn’t expected him to say that out loud. I was his? I certainly didn’t hate the idea.
Luis’s hearty laughter filled the room, and my shock dissipated. He wasn’t offended in the least. His eyes twinkled with humor. Damian’s relationship with his father was just as easy and sincere as with his aunt.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Cassandra. I’m Luis.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too.” I smiled.
“Have a seat,” he gestured to the chair beside his bed.
As I sat, Damian grabbed another chair and placed it next to mine. Even in the presence of his father, I was aware of his delicious scent and the heat of his body near me. I’d never been so entirely attracted to a man.
“I heard a lot about you,” Luis said, bringing my attention away from Damian.
“Really?”
“Sure. You’re the one my son met at his friend’s wedding, aren’t you?”
My eyes widened at the thought that Luis knew the sordid details of what was supposed to be a one-time fling with his son. Were Damian and his father that close?
“I told him how we met and talked,” Damian jumped in, “and how witty and funny I thought you were. I told him I’d never had such an engaging interaction with anyone.”