“Good. Because I don’t like seeing you without that big smile on your face. I’m the worrier. Not you.”
Angel appeared in the doorway and brightened the energy in the room with a dramatic announcement. “Get your butts in the dining room because my yuca balls are gonna be ready in five minutes, and they’re gonna melt in your mouth.”
Robert and Tommy looked at one another and immediately burst out laughing. Once they started, it escalated, and they ended up rolling on the couch like adolescents.
“Come on. Vamos caballeros.” Angel waved them out of the room. “You know you want to taste my yuca balls while they’re still hot.”
They somehow made it to their feet, laughing harder and trying to catch their breath while Angel muttered something in Spanish as he returned to the kitchen.
Amber was already seated at the table with Jessi and the kids when Robert and Tommy entered the dining room, still laughing every few seconds.
“What’s so funny?” Amber asked, and it made Robert and Tommy let out one more bout of laughter.
Jessi smiled and shook her head big-heartedly. “Those two.”
Robert wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and got control over his hysterics. “How was the tour?” he asked, sliding into the chair next to Amber and draping his arm over the back of it.
“Magnificent. And that pool!” She brought her hand to her forehead. “It’s truly one of a kind. The entire yard is an oasis.”
“I feel like I’m on vacation when I’m here,” Robert admitted. “I get my own room on the other side of the house with a balcony with views of both the beach and the yard. They live large over here.”
“I can see that,” she whispered, impressed by the opulence of the mansion.
Angel returned from the kitchen and placed several dishes of amazing appetizers on the table, which everyone gushed over, followed by small talk. The main course was served next with the usual fanfare, and Robert watched as Amber surveyed the table with huge eyes. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
“Incredible, isn’t it?” Robert asked. “Wait until you taste everything.”
“How did you learn to cook like this?” Amber asked Angel.
“I’m a chef. It was my profession before the band got signed. My family owns several Cuban restaurants.”
“Garcia’s,” Robert whispered.
“I know them!” Amber exclaimed. “I’ve never eaten there, but I know quite a few people who have, and they can’t stop praising the food and the service.” She looked over the dishes on the table. “Everything looks stunning and smells divine.”
Lucas came alive and couldn’t stop talking. Usually, Tessa dominated the conversation—all conversations—but her brother was totally infatuated with Amber.
“Try the picadillo, Amber. Take extra lechón asado. You’ll want more. Don’t forget to eat the ajies rellenos. And the papas aplastadas. Me and Tessa helped Papi make it. He teaches us to cook sometimes.”
Amber couldn’t keep up with her end of the conversation, so she just kept following Lucas’ suggestions and thanking him. She filled her plate with a little of everything but didn’t overdo it, so she ate every morsel. She complimented Angel on each dish and gushed over the papas aplastadas.
“You were right,” she told Lucas. “It was my favorite.”
Robert leaned back and hugged his waist. “I love coming here. Not just because I get to see my family, because I get to eat Angel’s cooking.”
Jessi held up her glass and gazed at Angel. “Complements to the chef. I don’t know how I got so lucky to have two amazing husbands.”
Angel put his hand to his chest and bowed his head. “Thank you, mi reina. I love making the people I love happy.” He motioned to Robert and Amber with his glass. “There’s tons of leftovers, so I’ll be sending you two home with a doggie bag.”
“We got cats!” Robert blurted out, just now remembering that he never told them about Biscuit and Panther.
“Cats?” Tommy asked.
“A momma cat and her only baby.” He looked up to the ceiling as his heart melted just thinking about them. “They’resooocute. And so much fun. I can’t believe I didn’t mention it before now.”
“Um. Excuse me.” Amber raised a finger. “They’re my cats. I adopted them.”
“If it weren’t for me you wouldn’t even have Biscuit,” Robert argued. “You only wanted Panther. I was the one who said you can’t leave the momma cat there without her baby.”
