Free Blood in the Valencian Soil (Secrets of Spain) by Caroline Angus Baker Page B

I’m 40.”
    “You’re her baby. Mothers will always love their sons.”
    “Do you have a son?” Cayetano asked with caution.
    “Two. They’re five years old.”
    “Twins?”
    “Yes.”
    “Wow… that must be amazing. What are their names?”
    “Giacomo was born a few minutes before Enzo.”
    “Italian. Like their father,” Cayetano commented. “Luna, I’m sorry.”
    “What?”
    “I mean… you told me all about Fabrizio’s death, and now I find you also have children.”
    “Trust me, I didn’t tell you even half of the story. But… Fabrizio died only a few years ago, and it’s been hard. So when I threw myself at you the other week, it… forget it.”
    “How can I forget it?”
    “I’m angry at myself, not you, please don’t get me wrong. I feel guilty for cheating on my husband, and I know that sounds ridiculous…”
    “Not really. At least when your wife of ten years cheats on you, you can kick her out without feeling bad. I can’t imagine what it’s like for you, to raise the children alone after the one you love dies.”
    “I don’t raise them alone. My friend, Darren, lives with me. He took Fabrizio’s place… on the cycling team. He is the boys’ godfather.”
    “He is your… lover? Boyfriend?”
    “No! No… maybe. Christ, I should go.”
    Cayetano reached out and grabbed Luna’s hands when she stood up from her stool.  “Can I just say something first?”
    “Okay.”
    “I like you. I thought you liked me. I thought we had a good time. I had an amazing time. I just don’t know what to do, you’re a widow, and I didn’t know how far I could push. Then I had my accident, but if I hadn’t I would have called you. I want to see you again, but I can understand if you don’t like me.”
    Luna stood on the spot, and watched the hopeful man before him. His eyes were so full of anticipation, those green flecks in the honey brown back again. What was it about this man? The second he touched her hands, the short, sharp shot of attraction and promise ran through her again. She had felt it every time she had thought about him, and that was a lot. Now she was here in his apartment, and for what? No one would ever know she was there, and now that he wasn’t married… “I like you,” she managed to say with her dry mouth, “in spite of myself.”
    “I’ m just asking for you to… try my cake.” His voice was gentle and coaxed her closer to him.
    Luna let him pull her into him, and she stood in between his legs that were balanced on the edge of the stool. A lock of his curly jet-black hair had fallen forward on his forehead and the curl begged to be twirled around her finger. She just had to tell herself that it was okay to like a man. Because she liked his one, whoever he was. “I will try your cake.”
    “Good,” he said, and let her hands go. “If you don’t like Mamá’s cake, I can’t ask you out on a second date.”
    “I thought this was a date.” She watched him stab a fork into the moist cake.
    “Shh… it’s our little secret,” he whispered, and held the fork to her lips. “Go on.” He waited until she went to bite it and pulled it away and sniggered.
    “That was mean.”
    “I’m sorry,” he said in mock apology. “Try the cake.”
    Luna tried to bite the cake off the fork, and he snatched it away again and laughed at the look on her face. “Fine, forget the cake,” she said. “I might go and get that train now.”
    “Aww… come on,” he said and offered it again, but she didn’t budge. “Please?”
    “No,” she said with a grin. “Keep it.”
    “I’ll make you eat it.”
    “How?”
    Cayetano wrapped one arm around her waist, spun her around and held her back against him while she struggled. “Fight me all you want, preciosa. I do two hours in the gym every day. I will beat you.” He dug his fingers into her ribs and started to tickle her, which resulted in high-pitched shrieking while she tried to make him stop. “You need to beg