Checking the time, he carefully got out of bed so as not to disturb her. He’d make them both breakfast before they headed to Casa Flanagan for lunch.
In the kitchen, he scrambled up a couple of eggs and made the coffee. Then he carried the breakfast tray back into his bedroom and placed it on the bedside table.
Zita was sprawled out over the mattress, the sheets exposing the tops of her breasts. “Time to wake up, beautiful.” He ran a hand gently over her hair and pressed a kiss against her brow.
“Mmhuf,” she muttered, turning away from him.
He lay down on the bed next to her. He nibbled on her neck and caressed her breasts, enjoying the way she unconsciously pressed herself toward him. “I made you breakfast,” he murmured. “And if you wake up now, we might have time for other things before we go to lunch.” He ran his hand under the sheets, along her side and between her legs.
Zita moaned. “We definitely have time for that.” Her eyes opened and she turned onto her back, reaching for him. “Come here.”
The demand shot straight to his groin.
Breakfast could wait.
“I could get used to waking up like that each day,” Zita said when they were done.
“I agree.” His heart raced at his words. He could definitely get used to waking up next to Zita, and that was kind of scary. He brushed a kiss on her lips and then handed her the cup of coffee, which was still warm. “Though next time I’ll wake you up before I make breakfast.”
“I’m not complaining.” She took a sip and grinned at him.
“I’ll reheat the eggs.” He grabbed the plate and hurried away.
A quick examination of the food had him tossing it in the trash and starting a new batch.
The fact he liked Zita was clear. She was interesting, kind, and fun to be around. There was no denying he was attracted to her, but should he be having long-term thoughts about her?
All of a sudden, the comments his friends had made about Bob came rushing back. He’d never thought ethnicity was a problem, but now... he wasn’t as certain as he’d like to be. If he was lucky, Bob wouldn’t remember Zita at all.
She wandered out naked and he lost his train of thought. She was beautiful.
“Any of those eggs for me?” she asked.
“Of course.” He dished up and handed her a plate.
He’d think about it later.
***
They were first to arrive at Casa Flanagan. Inside, both babies were screaming, and voices were raised. Zita winced as she hurried through the door, not waiting for him.
David followed at a slower pace, to let Zita find out what was going on.
In the living room, Alejandra and Elena were shouting at each other, both holding crying babies in their arms. Carmen was standing in the middle trying to calm them, but everything was in Spanish so David had no idea what was going on. Zita took Xaviera from Elena and passed her to David. “Take her for me.”
Surprised, he hugged the baby against his chest, whispering nonsensical words to her. He had to get her away from the noise and tension in the room. He gestured to Zita that he was heading for the kitchen.
“Hush now, sweetheart,” he said, kissing Xaviera on the head. “It’s all right.”
The baby’s cries immediately lessened, and by the time Zita carried a crying Julio in, Xaviera was quiet.
“The baby whisperer,” Zita said with a smile as she shushed Julio.
Xaviera gurgled and when he glanced down at her, she smiled at him. The tug on his heart was painful. “What’s going on in there?”
Zita sighed. “Alejandra is accusing Elena of being a bad mother, of acting like a child.”
The evidence of how well that had gone down could still be heard in the living room.
