Meanwhile, Gael leans over and explains to the abuelos and Ginger that Charlie is the one who talked his way into the hotel room where Ant was being kept. Abuela, moving pretty damn fast for a refined lady of her age, approaches Charlie with open arms and tears streaming down her face.
Abuelo hugs him from behind, and pretty soon, the entire Hernández family is in a big group hug with Charlie, and somehow, I get pulled into it as well.
Charlie then looks up and does a double take. “Oh my God. Ginger?”
Laughing through tears, she nods. Stunned, he pulls her in for a hug.
Wiping away my own tears, I grab Ant’s shoulder. “Don’t we have folding chairs in one of the spare rooms?”
He shakes his head. “Hallway closet,” he says, jogging over to the closet in question.
“We can make more room at the table, right?”
Everyone hops into action. Bram remembers a second leaf I didn’t know the table had, and within minutes, we’re all crowded around while Bram serves our newest guests, but not before they give us their good, grateful, and leave-behind things.
Tolly sits next to Gael and compliments his shoes, then expresses surprise when Gael says he made them. He has all kinds of questions about Gael’s process and business goals.
Ginger turns and whispers to Ant, “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?”
He leans into her shoulder. “I’m pretty sure I told Tolly that Gael makes shoes.”
Joining in on the gossip, I add, “I’m also pretty sure you gave him Gael’s website, which has the answers to all the questions he’s asking your cousin.” I tap my chin. “Isn’t there a picture of Gael on his site?”
“Yes, there is,” Ant answers shrewdly. “Something tells me he didn’t come up herejustto check on me and give us an update.”
“Agreed.”
Ginger lifts her chin. “How do you feel about that?”
Ant looks over at Gael and smiles. “About a rich, kind man showing interest in my beloved cousin? Pretty damn good, actually.”
We kiss on it, and Ginger laughs, even over Abuela’s disapproving tuts. Her eyes sparkle with far too much happiness to ever take her propriety seriously.
Our guests stay long into the night, and Tolly finds himself staying on our side of the house after Beckett and Ginger take off toward Seguin.
After saying goodnight to everyone, I take Ant’s hand, leading us to his room. “Here’s hoping you can be quiet again tonight.”
He runs his tongue over his teeth. “Hm. Maybe you should be the quiet one tonight.”
* * *
I was notthe quiet one last night, despite my best efforts. Even with Ant topping me, I couldn’t help but take over the direction of things. When I pass Tolly in the hall this morning, I get a royally arched brow and a snigger as he disappears into the bathroom.
My friend, realizing last night that Gael had also been badly traumatized by the events of the last several days, stepped back his flirtations. He always was a good one, never wanting to take advantage of someone in a compromised situation. I hope for his sake and Gael’s that they can make something of what seems like a mutual attraction.
I go to the kitchen to make Ant’s ridiculous morning coffee, loving it when he tries to encircle me with his short arms. I turn and catch Ant’s bemused expression.
Laughing, I grab a chair and stick it right in front of him. He scrunches his nose at me, then climbs onto the chair and throws his arms around my neck, kissing me as the coffee percolates.
“Hey,” I say, nosing his nose.
He smiles, nosing me back. “Hey.”
We kiss like a couple of lovesick fools and are—once again—interrupted by a knock at the door. Cursing, I open the door and it’s Anders and Hopper, looking sheepish.
Never a good sign.
We usher them inside and gesture at their guilty looks.
