Page 79 of Sweet Heart

Celeste stays quiet for a beat. She is so calm, it almost makes me squirm. Almost. I raise one eyebrow in a quiet challenge, and she finally relents. Her chin drops slightly, and her gaze becomes softer.

“She is a crisis counselor, specializing in working with victims of domestic violence.”

I do a double take. Mary says something to Riley, and the woman throws her head back with a loud laugh. Her blonde curls bounce all around her as she does, and her athletic frame shakes with the intensity. Mary follows her easily, and it looks as if the two have known each other for years. Something warm spreads through my chest at the effortless way she connects with everyone around her.

“That’s admirable,” I nearly whisper, but I’m not even sure if I am talking about Riley.

“Yes, it is,” Celeste murmurs back, and when I finally look at her again, she has the same smitten look that must be on my face.

Her expression shifts back to neutral, and she asks me about the inner workings of Inova, but now that I’ve seen that softness in her eyes, I can’t unsee it. Just like I can’t unsee that it doesn’t make Doctor Voss look weaker. No. Quite the contrary. She looks strong having a love like Riley’s in her corner. She looks like she owns the whole world, and knows exactly what to do with it. And I? I like that very much.

After networking, answering questions from investors, and drinking with some of the board members, I am finally able to get back to Mary. I am happy to see that she is surrounded by Carmen, Riley, and several other women, engaged in what looks like a very entertaining conversation. It’s good to know that she doesn’t need me to entertain her, but I still feel a pang of guilt when I finally slide in next to her. Her eyes instantly lock with mine, and for one beat, all sounds around us fall away. She is radiant. There is a small blush of excitement on her cheeks, her eyes sparkle, and she is smiling without any reservation. She looks… free.

“Amor,” I whisper in her ear as I brush my nose against her cheek.

She lets out a pleased hum, and I feel her fingers reach for me. I slide my arm around her waist to steady her. Her hand comes to rest on my bicep, her fingers curling into the fabric of my suit.

“Hi,” she breathes back, and I smile against her skin.

“Hi.”

Our moment is interrupted by Carmen, who bumps my shoulder.

“Ay, Katherina, get a room,” she whispers, but the words are still loud enough to reach Mary, who chuckles and flushes.

A soft laugh escapes me before I can stop myself, and at least three heads turn at the sound. I roll my eyes, knowing perfectly well that my name will be mentioned in the break room once or twice over the next week.

“What’d you say, Maria?” I ask as I nudge her shoulder. “Should we?”

Her cheeks burn even more, but she nods and slides her hand into the crook of my elbow.

“Yeah, I think we should.”

I take a moment to look at her. The way the light catches in her hair and makes it shine like spun gold, how her face just radiates warmth and happiness, how her eyes are on me, full of… adoration. My breath catches. Dios. I pull her closer and press my lips against her temple.

“Let’s go home.”

I nod at Carmen, who flashes me the biggest grin in return, and I feel oddly fuzzy. I’ve never seen her this… invested in the other people in my life. But she seems completely smitten with Maria, and for some reason, that makes me trust this even more.

“See you on Friday, guapa.”

She winks at Mary, then turns to grab another glass of champagne from a passing tray.

“Viernes?”

“Oh, yes! I was going to tell you. I invited Riley and Celeste for dinner on Friday, and Carmen, too. I thought it would be fun. Is that okay? I did not overstep, did I? If I—”

My eyes grow large as she speaks. Of course she would. Unlike me, a woman who has to scout out people before letting them even remotely close, Mary loves to build bridges. And although it makes me a bit nervous to let virtual strangers into my house, I know it will bring her a lot of pleasure. Besides, it’s not like my parents haven’t had me sit through many boring dinner parties when I was a kid. I’m a trained professional by now.

I chuckle quietly enough that only she can hear, and I shake my head. Her face visibly relaxes when I pull her closer and kiss her temple. I see the eyes, I hear the whispers, and I don’t care about any of it. Mary is right where she belongs. At my side.

“You didn’t. It sounds like fun,” I say into her hair. “Actually, if we are going to host a dinner…”

I trail off for a moment as my eyes glide to the other side of the room. Might as well make the best of it.

“Will you give me one moment, amor?”

She follows my gaze and grins.