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“Only seven?” Libby asked, clearly amazed. “We never had more than a cleaning lady who came in once a week.”
“There’s no comparison between our family and Miguel Aragon’s household, so don’t try and make one,” Maggie cautioned. “This is a completely different world.”
From what she’d seen, Libby had to agree. She took a long sip of her tea. There was a lemon slice in the bottom of the glass and a sprig of mint at the top. It tasted very good in addition to looking like a menu illustration. She set it aside on the glass-topped table. “Are you going to live here after you’re married?”
“No,” Rafael answered. “My apartment is closer to the university.”
“What about your teaching job, Maggie?” Libby asked.
“I’ve already resigned. I do need to sell my condo in Tucson and pick up my things, but it can wait.”
“You ought to lease the condo,” Libby advised. “You two might want to live in Arizona someday.”
“Spain will be our home,” Rafael replied, and Maggie offered no argument.
Growing increasingly wary, Libby picked up her tea and stood. “Maybe I will take a nap.” She was impressed when Rafael stood as she left them, but her sister had turned her life upside down for the man, and whether or not he had fine manners, it just didn’t feel right.
Relief swept through Santos when he discovered Libby wasn’t sitting out on the patio when he arrived. “Libby was ahead of me. Did she make it home?”
“Yes,” Maggie answered. “She did, but she mumbled something about your not being able to keep up.”
“We must have misunderstood her,” Rafael offered with a sly grin.
Santos wiped his face on the bottom of his T-shirt. “No, she runs like a gazelle, with no effort at all. She also asked questions I didn’t want to answer. I must have insulted her.”
“Questions about me?” Rafael asked.
Santos nodded. “I need a shower. I’ll see you at dinner.”
Rafael waited until they were again alone. “I ought to tell Libby the truth before one of the tabloids prints it.”
“She took French in school, not Spanish.”
“So you’re hoping the fact I’ve served time for murder might slip her notice?”
She reached for his hand this time. “It’s the least interesting thing about you. Why not?”
He leaned forward and brought her hand to his lips. “Are you hoping your parents and sisters will accept me as the man you love without wanting to know more about me?”
Her chin rose to a stubborn tilt. “It ought to be enough.”
He stood. “It won’t be, but we should tell the truth rather than convenient lies. Let’s begin with your sister.”
“All right, if you’ll come back for dinner tonight.”
“What’s Tomas serving?”
She regarded him with an openly appreciative glance. The warmth of the day didn’t matter. He always looked cool and better looking than any man had a right to be. “Do you really care?”
He answered with a slow, deep kiss. “No. I’ll see you later.”
Maggie closed her eyes and sighed softly. She was certain every couple had a few secrets, and she intended to keep hers. Relaxed, she daydreamed of the life she’d have with Rafael until Libby joined her.
“I didn’t bring my laptop. Is there any way to check e-mail here?”
“Yes, there’s an Internet connection in the den. I’ve used Santos’s laptop a time or two. It’s on the desk.”
“He might not appreciate my using it.”
