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He leaned in to kiss the tender spot behind her ear. “They won’t miss us for a while.”
His breath tickled her skin. His every touch was magic, but she called his bluff. “What are you imagining, that I’ll hike up my dress and hook my knee over your hip while you unzip your pants? Do you have a condom?”
Clearly embarrassed, he drew back. “No.”
“That’s very poor planning, but it doesn’t matter. They’d miss us long before I’d be through with you. Don’t rush me. You’re worth the whole night.” She leaned around him to hit the Up button.
He braced himself against the wall. “That’s the sexiest thing a woman’s ever said to me. I may pass out right here.”
When the elevator halted with a slight bump, she opened the gate and door and laughed. “I doubt it.” She loved teasing him, and he always reacted as if no other woman had ever said no. Maybe she ought to consider it part of her work as his trainer. As they started down the hall, her mother reached the top of the stairs and came walking toward them. “Santos needs his brace.”
Linda waved her handkerchief. “Sure he does. I want to fix my makeup. You two better beat me back downstairs.”
Santos paused at his door. “I’m not racing anyone tonight, Mrs. Gunderson, but I don’t want to miss a minute of the party either.”
Her mother disappeared so quickly Libby knew something had to be wrong. “I’ll see you downstairs.” She hurried to her mother’s room and knocked lightly before looking in. “Are you all right, Mom?”
Linda turned to face her. “In the hall light, he looked so much like Miguel. He has the same wonderful accent, so you don’t really care what he says. There’s this wrenching disconnect in my mind. I know he isn’t Miguel, but it’s almost impossible to remember.” She went into the bathroom to touch up her mascara. “I couldn’t think of any advice to give Maggie I haven’t already given all you girls. I’m afraid no one knows anything about love.”
Libby leaned against the bathroom door. “Maybe the secret is in finding the right partner.”
“Or in avoiding all the wrong ones,” her mother added.
Libby had already justified staying with Santos, who was clearly wrong, but she didn’t confide her reasoning now. “That’s probably equally true. Please don’t worry about Maggie. You did a fine job raising us all.”
Linda fluffed her hair and stepped back from the mirror. “You’re very sweet, and I wish I believed you. Peter’s been a wonderful father, though, hasn’t he?”
“Yes, he certainly has.” He’d been to every school event, cheered when she’d competed and consoled her on the few occasions she hadn’t won. He’d never advised her to be more ladylike and less athletic and had always made her feel proud of who she was. “He was perfect.”
They went downstairs together, and Santos appeared soon afterward. He’d changed his suit pants for gray sweatpants that would accommodate the knee brace. He nodded to her as though he expected to be complimented, and she blew him a kiss.
There were extra leaves in the table to seat fourteen, a snowy-white damask tablecloth, silver candelabra with white candles, even more ornate sterling silver than they usually used at meals, and a gorgeous floral centerpiece filled with white roses, gladiolas and carnations. The staff had so much practice with parties everything ran smoothly, and Libby couldn’t help but wonder how many times they’d presented the same dazzling wedding dinner party at Miguel’s request. Cirilda had probably had her receptions there too.
Santos had suggested where the place cards should go. Libby took her place at his right, Perry sat beside her, then Maggie and Rafael, Nadia and Claudio Mendez. Cirilda sat at the end of the table with Alfonso on her right; Linda and Peter were opposite Maggie and Rafael. Patricia sat between her parents and Fox, and Connie sat on Santos’s left. Patricia began to whisper to Fox as soon as they were seated, and he leaned close to hang on her every word.
Both of Tomas’s helpers, Julian and Adolfo, served the meal without once missing the opportunity to smile at Patricia and the twins. To Libby’s absolute amazement, her little sister appeared to be so absorbed in her conversation with Fox, she failed to notice.
The dinner began with warm appetizers. Santos spoke softly to the twins. “I insist you sample everything served, but take only a few bites. We have the whole evening to dine, and you mustn’t get full before the wedding cake is served.”
“Do we look as though we overeat?” Perry responded with a barely muffled snort.
“No, you look half starved,” Santos replied, “and I don’t want this delicious dinner to make you sick.”
“You’re trying to make us fat,” Connie murmured under her breath.
“I am not,” Santos argued. “You’re beautiful girls, but you needn’t be as thin as a single strand of spaghetti.”
The twins glanced toward Libby with slyly raised brows. “Some people are naturally thin,” Libby offered. She hadn’t expected Santos to have such a fatherly approach to the twins. Maggie had said he held the family together, but she’d not seen that side of him until now. He might flirt like crazy with her, but he acted like a parent when one was needed. She’d wished he had more depth, and it surprised her to discover he did.
Connie sat up straighter. “That’s why we’re slender. It’s natural for us. Now, when are you doing the commercials for the cologne, Santos?”
“Next week.” He looked at Libby. “Father wanted me to do the photo shoot when he couldn’t, and I can’t postpone it any longer. The ads have to be ready well before Christmas.”
“What’s it called?” Libby asked.
“Aragon,” the twins answered. “It was created for Father, and Santos wears it,” Perry said.
“I do too,” Rafael added. He hugged Maggie. “It worked for me.”
