AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I stood on the periphery, watching everyone talking and laughing, the voices blending together into white noise. I didn’t see Lili, but knowing her, she was making sure all the food was perfect. Lara pushed through the door carrying a tray with steam coming off the top, and I thought I saw my sister standing in the kitchen.
When Lyse joined me, I wrapped her in my arms and pulled her close. “Enjoying yourself?”
Her smile was tentative, but genuine. “Everyone here is so loud, but lovely. Much different from the parties my mother would have.”
I tipped her chin up and pressed a kiss to her lips. “Angel wants us back in the compound,” I told her. “For good.”
Her chin wobbled slightly. “Me too?”
“Of course,conejita.” I brought her left hand up so that the gold band glinted in the light. “We’re a package deal now, and he knows it.”
She shook her head. “I never thought I’d see the day when a Rojas would be invited into the Castillo compound.”
I pulled her against me, wishing that we were alone. “You’re not a Rojas anymore,” I reminded her.
“No, I suppose I’m not.”
“Lyse Castillo,” I said. “Say it.”
“I’m Lyse Castillo now,” she indulged me. The dip in her voice, low and sultry, shivered down my spine. I wanted to sweep her into my arms and carry her off to my bedroom. It would be perfectly ready for us, I was sure of it…but I held back. It would be rude to rush out of Miri’s welcome-home party, and I didn’t want to piss Angel off any more than I already had.
“After the party, I’ll show you around,” I promised. “Our suite is on the other side of the house.”
She smirked. “Is it, now? How convenient for a newly married couple. What could a previously single man need with all that space?”
I chuckled and cupped her face. “You’re not jealous, are you,conejita?”
Lyse shook off my touch. “Absolutely not.” She took my hand and laid it across her still-flat belly. “No one else will be able to give you what I am going to.”
“No one has ever given me the peace that you give me,” I said. “No one has given me the love that you give me…and no one has ever made me want to make that love into something even better.” I splayed my hand across her belly, possessive. My heart pounded at the thought that if anything happened to me, Lyse would have to raise our child on her own. I wondered if Angel would kick her out. Send her back to her father, where he would— I couldn’t finish that thought and needed to distract myself.
“Should we tell them?” I looked around the room at all the happy faces. There was a new life in this house and everyone was celebrating.
Lyse immediately shook her head. “I wouldn’t steal Miri’s spotlight for the world.” She put her hand atop mine. “Besides, it’s bad luck to mention anything before the end of the first trimester. You never—" She took a steadying breath. “You never know what will happen so early like that.”
“We’ll make you an appointment,” I assured her. “We’ll get a doctor to tell us just how perfect our son is.”
She slapped my arm. “It’s not anything right now. You have no reason to believe that it will be a boy.”
I shook my head. “We’re having a son,” I said. “I know it.”
“Will you be disappointed if you’re wrong?”
“Never,” I vowed. “But I’m not wrong. You’ll see.” I leaned down and kissed her again. “I love you.”
Her lips brushed the corner of my mouth. “Te amo,” she said. “Te amoa thousand times.”
Lara began handing out cake to everyone and I was surprised not to see Manny already begging our housekeeper for a second slice. Where was he? My eyes swept the room. Emma was nestled against Angel, baby Miri tucked against her chest. Those soldiers who weren’t on duty were scattered around the room along with various family members. Except Manny wasn’t the only one missing.
Grabbing Lyse’s hand, we walked over to my brother. It could be nothing. Judging from the scowl Angel gave us, he wasn’t interested in further conversation, but that didn’t matter. Without apologizing, I asked them both, “Where’s Lili?”
