“Fuck, Delilah.” His jaw twitches, and I know he wants to yell. He’s never lost his cool with me, but I am afraid I might have pushed him too far with this one. His protective streak is fierce.
“J—just let me help so we can both get out of here faster.” I try to hide my shivering, but it’s impossible. I really didn’t think it would be this cold. The chill goes all the way to my bones making them ache as I work to scrub his shirt clean. Tugging on it with shaky hands, I try to pull it up, but my fingers are barely working. “Ta—take it off. Faster to clean.” I breathe out.
Thankfully, he doesn’t argue. His eyes drop to me as he hands me the shirt. The heat in his gaze might be enough to warm me up if I wasn’t turning into an ice sculpture.
He does the same to his pants. “Stand in front of me,” he demands roughly. The soft look of concern returns to his face. I do what he asks, and he wraps his body around me, trying to give me some of his heat as we work quickly, scrubbing the fabric of his clothes together under the surface of the water to get the heavy mud off them.
“That’s good enough. Get out of the water and get dressed,” he says right before he ducks under to get the rest of the mud off his body.
I stand on the shore, my entire body shaking so hard that I can’t get my feet in my shorts. Dropping his soaked clothes on a large rock near the water’s edge Cruz strides over to me dropping to one knee to pull them up my legs for me.
“I’m good.” I tell him, pulling my shirt on much more quickly. I’m not any warmer, but I’m motivated by the look of worry covering his features. If he thinks I’m okay he’ll take care of himself.
Grabbing his pants he shoves his legs into them, not bothering with his shirt. There’s a fire ring from an old campsite in a clearing off to the side of the beach. Gathering a few logs scattered around and some kindling, I watch as he works to build a fire using the emergency matches he had in the daypack he was carrying.
I grab his wet shirt and bring it over hoping the fire can help dry it.
“Come here,” he says as I hang his shirt from a nearby branch. When I’m close enough, he pulls me to him, wrapping his arms around my back and rubbing his hands all over my upper body.
I sag against his chest, letting him warm me the best he can as I shake in his arms.
“Jesus, Delilah. You shouldn’t have done that. You’re freezing.”
We stay like that until the fire dies out and we are in danger of a very dark hike back. Cruz doesn’t let me get out of reach as we make the hike back. When we get to the cabin, he insists I take a hot shower, which I don’t fight because I’m still cold.
Feeling achy but warmer, I join everyone in the kitchen, my mouth waters when I get a smell of onions and chicken cooking.
“Go sit by the fire, cariño,” Cruz’s mom, Analia, says as she works at the stove, a cutting board of tomatoes next to her on the counter.
I ignore her, walking over and picking you up the knife. “The stove puts off heat. Why don’t you teach me about the dish you’re making so I can make it for Cruz when he misses home?”
The spoon in her hand stops its circular motion. Her eyes crinkle at the corner, and she gives me a loving smile. “That sounds like a wonderful idea. This is my mother’s recipe for tinga de pollo. Will you halve those tomatoes? They’ll need to simmer in that saucepan.”
Later, when we sit around the table for dinner I feel like part of the family, warmth radiating from head to toe.
Chapter 19
First Date
Present
The morning the team flies back from Boston, I’m working on inventory in the lobby ofBuns & Roses.Even over the sound of my Airpods playing the Spanish language learning app in my ears, my eyes shoot to the door every time the bell jingles. Only to be disappointed each time I look up, expecting to see him walking in, and find a stranger instead. I’m about to give up hope when it jingles during a lull before lunch.
Glancing up from what I’m working on, I find Cruz leaning against the doorframe, staring back at me with those hauntingly beautiful brown eyes. I can’t help the squeal that escapes me as I jump out of my chair and head straight for him. His powerful arms wrap around me as I crash into his hard body.
“I could get used to a welcome like that,” he says, kissing my forehead. “Think you can get out of here for a little while?”
I look around the coffee shop. It’s slow, and I’m all caught up on baking. The only thing that needs my attention is inventory, but it can wait until this afternoon. It wasn’t getting one hundred percent of my attention with my mind on seeing Cruz anyway. I’ll be able to focus better when I get back, or at least that’s how I’m justifying it.
“What did you have in mind?” My smile is so big my cheeks ache as I look up at him.
“I thought we could go on an impromptu date. I promise not to take up too much of your time. Give me an hour, tops.” The way he tacks that last bit on warms my heart. He recognizes I can’t just bolt and hand everything over without notice—something Brad never understood.
“I can spare some time for you. Let me just clean this up,” I say, nodding toward where my computer and notepad are spread out. I pile everything up in my arms and carry it to my desk in the back, the one I never use because I would prefer to sit in the front when I can.
When I come back up front, Cruz is leaning against the wall waiting for me with a smile that tells me he’s got something up his sleeve. “You look pretty sure of yourself over there.”
“I have plans for my girl that I think she’ll enjoy.” My heart rate picks up, causing my cheeks to flush, and I’m not sure if it’s because he called me his girl or that he planned something for us to do today. “Such a pretty shade of pink. I have been looking forward to seeing it in person since our call the other day.” His knuckles skim across my cheek.
