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Unless you knew his profession, you’d think he was like any other guy...but he wasn’t, and until recently, it had never played so heavily on his mind before.
Dante dragged his brown boots on and left his room wondering if Eric and Emelia were still around or if they’d gone into town.
His question was soon answered when he heard Eric’s roar of laughter coming from the kitchen—the heart of the house. He hesitated before he entered, and had all eyes on him.
Lucia was the first to break the silence. “Dante, it’s good to see you again, and so soon.” She stepped up to him and wrapped him in her welcoming embrace.
Their relationship had settled over the years, although he’d never been able to fully forgive her, and his father, for what they did back then. With how in love his parents seemed to be, his father had still had an affair while Dante’s mother had been dying. His father had to have considering that Diego and Emelia had been born not long after his mother’s death or his father’s remarriage.
“It’s good to be back,” he finally answered when he saw the frown on Lucia’s brow.
He needed to stop getting lost in the past.
His father patted him on the back. Eric tugged him close, and then it was Emelia’s turn. He noticed her slight hesitation but doubted anyone else had. And then she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed close. He dropped his face into the curve of her neck and inhaled while he pressed her closer. The hug was over all too soon, and she avoided eye contact as she went back to her cup of coffee at the table.
He glanced at Eric and saw the frown on his face, so Dante looked away quickly, not wanting to contemplate what his brother was thinking.
“Heard you had bad weather,” Eric started. “Think it’s supposed to hit here later this evening.”
“Yeah, I’m surprised they managed to take off,” he commented, and poured himself a large cup of the Italian coffee that Lucia was partial to.
His father chuckled. “He was a funny shade of green when I collected him from the airport.”
“Oh, no.” Emelia jumped up and moved over to him. As he turned with his coffee in hand, he managed to place his cup back down as she reached for him. “Are you alright? I know how much you hate flying.” She hugged him tightly before stepping back. She fiddled with the coffee pot and poured herself more, which they both knew was an excuse to be near him.
“I’m fine...In fact, I had the most restful night’s sleep that I’ve had in two weeks.” He watched Emelia closely over the brim of his coffee cup while he took a sip of the addictive drink.
His heart beat frantically when Emelia wouldn’t meet his gaze, and a blush covered her delicate features.
So it wasn’t all in his head? He just wished that he could remember more of that night other than just her touch on his flesh? Or was it for the best that he couldn’t remember?
“Everyone always sleeps better here. Think it’s the altitude that you don’t get in other parts of the states,” his father added.
Dante didn’t remind him that he lived outside of Denver, which was also at a higher altitude.
“Sit…I’ll get you some breakfast,” Lucia offered.
He moved to take his usual seat, but said, “You don’t need to go to any trouble.”
“Pfft. It’s no trouble.” Lucia busied herself with taking things out of the fridge before she turned the burner on the stove.
His attention was on his father while he watched Emelia from the corner of his eye as she joined them at the table. He took in a deep breath and tried to focus on things other than her. He asked, “Where’s Aiden? Thought he’d be around.” Initially, he’d just thought about Emelia and, of course, Eric. He’d forgotten that his brother, Aiden, had stayed in Montana for a while.
“He has a meeting in New York with one of his sponsors, so he headed out a couple of days ago,” his father volunteered, a worried look on his face. “Something is really bothering that boy and I wish I knew what.”
“He’ll tell you when he’s ready, and not before. You know what he’s like,” Eric said.
“How come you’re visiting without Sylvia?” Dante asked Eric, changing the subject.
His brother wasn’t one for visiting every other week, so him being at the house now with Emelia caused bells to ring in his head.
Emelia spent more time at the family home than anywhere else, but Eric, not so much.
Dante didn’t miss the quick glance Eric passed to Emelia before Eric offered, “I wanted to catch up with Emelia about being a bridesmaid for Sylvia, and I hoped Aiden would talk to me.” He shrugged. “Had no idea that Aiden wouldn’t be here.”
“I wonder why Aiden didn’t say anything about New York. Diego didn’t mention him being in town. Unless, of course he doesn’t know.” Emelia frowned into her cup.
“Well,” Dante started as Lucia placed his breakfast of bacon and French toast in front of him, “whatever is going on with him will eventually work itself out or he’ll talk to one of us about it.”
