The Wedding Favor (10 page)

Ava tried to ignore the ripple of excitement that his touch set off. She shook her head, as much to clear her own head as to let Mateo know he hadn’t understood her. “It’s not me I’m worried about. It’s your family. You.” Her eyes searched his for some sign he understood her but his expression was guarded. She moved a step closer and placed her hand on his chest. “Mateo, let me help you.”

Much to her surprise, instead of speaking he gathered her in his arms and lowered his head to kiss her. But this kiss wasn’t as gentle as his other kisses had been. It was insistent and demanding, as if Mateo was a drowning man and she was the one thing he could cling to that would save him. She wound her arms around his neck and surrendered to his need.

Caught in a whirl of desire, Ava savored the taste of Mateo’s kisses. As she felt his hands reach for the buttons on her blouse she pulled back just enough to look up into his eyes. There she saw the same kindling of desire that burned within her. “Inside,” she whispered, and when he didn’t move she buried her face in his neck and whispered, “Please.”

Mateo scooped her up and carried her over the threshold. He paused inside the front door and Ava wiggled out of his embrace. To her eyes Mateo seemed uncertain but she wasn’t. She reached around him and locked the front door before reaching for his hand. Without a word she led him down to the bedroom.

The moonlight was just bright enough that Ava could see Mateo’s face. The rest of the recently redecorated room was in shadows but she didn’t care. Not about the new décor, not about the problems they’d face from the complicated lies they’d told Mateo’s family, not about any of it. All she wanted was to touch Mateo. Touch his body and bring him pleasure, but even more, she wanted to find a way to touch his heart and bring him relief from the worry and sadness that so clearly plagued him.

“Ava, are you sure?”

In answer, Ava reached up and placed a finger gently over his lips. “Sshh,” she whispered, “no words.” Slowly she traced his face with her hands and then trailed her fingertips down over his throat. His groan of pleasure matched the rush of desire that coursed through her as she undid the first of Mateo’s buttons.

His uneven breathing only excited Ava more. Once the buttons were undone she slipped Mateo’s shirt from his shoulders. She ran her hands over the smooth expanse of his chest and up over his shoulders. His muscles were hard. Her hands continued up over his throat and neck and into his hair. This time it was Ava who moaned with pleasure. She laced her fingers behind Mateo’s neck and pressed her body against his.

“Is this how you want to spend one of your last nights as a single man?” She rained a trail of butterfly kisses across his chest. “Because if you want to leave before I get completely carried away, this might be your last chance.”

His arms tightened around her waist. “Mi querida,” his voice was low and husky, “This is the only place I want to be but I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

“Mmm…interesting, because I have plans to take advantage of you.” And to show she meant it, Ava felt for his waistband and undid the top button.

Where exactly her lack of inhibition came from, Ava had no idea. But as she finished undressing Mateo and led him to the bed, she realized she didn’t care. After Mateo settled onto the pillows he reached for her but Ava moved back out of his reach. With the moonlight behind her, she took her time unbuttoning her blouse and slipping out of her skirt. Standing before him wearing only a black lace bra and panties, Ava reached up and unpinned her French twist. She shook her hair out over her shoulders and ran her fingers through it.

“Come here,” Mateo commanded from the bed. His voice was thick with desire.

Ava smiled at his obvious reaction to her actions. “You’re not enjoying the show?” Without waiting for an answer she wiggled her hips and let her lace panties fall to the floor. She kept her eyes on Mateo as she reached up and undid her bra. It was too dark for her to see his expression clearly but she knew the moonlight was enough for him to see what she was doing. She knew he wanted her as much as she wanted him. Needed her as much as she needed him.

“Ava, come to me.” Mateo held out his hands. “Please.”

Ava didn’t hesitate. She crossed to the bed and took ahold of Mateo’s outstretched hand. As he drew her into his arms and began to nuzzle her neck, she threw her head back and completely opened herself up to the experience of his touch. She had no reservations about loving Mateo tonight. Tomorrow their problems would still be there, but tonight was not about the future. It was about the moment. Tonight was for them alone.

Chapter Eleven

The weather on the day of the wedding was an absolute gift. Mateo stood at his grandfather’s bedroom window and watched as his family worked industriously to transform the backyard into a wedding oasis. They’d been hard at work since before breakfast and had taken only a short break for lunch. He couldn’t be more proud of his family for their loving efforts. He also didn’t know if he could be any more ashamed of himself for his duplicitous lies. He doubted it.

“Ven aca, Mateo.” The older man patted the seat next to his.

He smiled at his grandfather as he eased himself into the chair. “You should be in bed, Abuelo.”

Joaquin waved his hand dismissively. “Bah, I’ve been resting all day under orders from your tias. I feel like a small child who has to take a nap under watchful supervision before he’s allowed to stay up late with the adults.”

“It’s because we love you.” Mateo reached over to lay his hand on his grandfather’s arm. “No one wants you to tire yourself out.”

His grandfather patted Mateo’s hand gently. “But you’re all missing the point, Mateo. I want to tire myself out.”

“But your doctor said-”

“Never mind the doctor. Is he God? I don’t think so.” Joaquin took a deep breath and then shook his head. “Who wants to live a life where they’re well rested at the end? Not me, no mi hijo, not me. And do you know why?”

Mateo smiled at the familiar phrase that always preceded a gem of wisdom. “No, tell me why.”

“Because I want to die having lived my life as fully as I possibly could. When I meet God I want to be able to say ‘Lord, I wore out my body living a good life and I have near worn out my heart loving my family until I couldn’t love them more’.” He smiled and nodded. “I’ve done both, Mateo. My body is about to give in to the cancer, so the wearing out is almost done.” He squeezed Mateo’s hand. “And I hope that each member of this family knows I’ve loved them with everything I’ve had in me.”

Mateo closed his eyes against his tears. “I don’t think you could have loved us more, Abuelo.”

“Good, good. Now, there’s a secret to a happy marriage that I want you to know.”

Mateo nodded. “I’m listening.”

His grandfather chuckled. “That’s a good start. Listen to your wife. Hear her. Value her. Protect her. Cherish her. Love her. Every single day for the rest of her life.”

For the rest of her life? Mateo wasn’t even sure if Ava would show up today. Not after the way he’d made love to her and then left in the early hours of the morning without a word of goodbye. Not after the way he’d said as little as possible to her while they’d gone downtown to get their marriage license. He hadn’t seen her or talked to her in more hours than he could count. Considering he didn’t know if there would even be a wedding today, the rest of her life was too much to even contemplate. “You make it sound so easy.”

“Love and loyalty aren’t complicated issues, Mateo.”

Mateo stood and crossed to the window, more so that his grandfather couldn’t see his face than because he needed to see how the wedding set-up was coming along. He sighed.

“What is it, son?”

He closed his eyes against the pain that had a virtual choke hold on his heart. He turned to face his grandfather. “I’m afraid.”

“Afraid of what exactly?” his grandfather gently probed.

Mateo hesitated. He wasn’t looking forward to a future without his grandfather’s constant source of wisdom, of love, of guidance. But that wasn’t fear so much as it was a profound and painful sense of loss. When it came to Ava, however, Mateo was afraid. He was fearful he’d made a huge mistake in proposing to her and for letting things get so out of hand that he’d made love to her before the wedding. “I’m afraid I’m going to hurt Ava and that is the very last thing on earth I want to do.”

The older man nodded his understanding. “Do you love her?”

Mateo didn’t hesitate. “I do love her.” Already he felt immeasurably better for being able to speak the truth. Because if he knew one thing for absolute certain, it was that he had fallen in love with Ava McKenna.

“Ah, then you’re fine, Mateo. Your life will be happy if the woman you love is happy. That’s the secret. Love Ava and make sure she’s happy.”

Mateo forced himself to smile. “Thank you, Abuelo.” He cleared his throat against the emotion that made his voice thick. “For everything.”

Joaquin Ortega smiled and touched his heart. “You are welcome, mi hijo, but I should thank you. No man could have a more wonderful family than your Abuela and I have had, and you have always been a special treasure to us. You’ve made us proud, my grandson.”

A light knock at the door interrupted Mateo’s next words. It was his Tia Sylvia. “Mateo, where is your bride?” A slight frown marred her normally placid face.

Mateo’s stomach dropped but he kept his face composed. “With Claudia and the girls I assumed.” He shot a quick look at the grandfather before shrugging. “I haven’t seen her today.”

“You’ve at least spoken with her, right?”

He’d tried. Heaven knew he’d tried to get ahold of her but she hadn’t answered his calls or texts. “No, Tia, I haven’t.”

“Why is she alone? Who is picking her up?” she asked. She shook her head. “It’s almost four o’clock. She should be here. What are you going to do about finding Ava?”

Her father waved his hand. “Leave the poor girl alone, Sylvia. She probably just wants a moment to herself before she joins this crazy family.” His smile belied his sharp words. “She’s a wonderful lady, Mateo. You’ve done a fine job choosing a life partner.”

Mateo stared at him. Perhaps to his grandfather it seemed that way but Mateo knew the truth. He’d done nothing but mess everything up from the moment he’d hatched this ridiculous charade. He’d lied not only to his grandfather, but to his entire family. He’d lost his heart to Ava McKenna and, worst of all, he’d apparently upset her so badly that she’d disappeared.

“I can’t do this anymore.” The words were out of his mouth before he realized what he had said. His aunt pounced on his choice of words.

“What can’t you do, Mateo?” She looked between the two men. “What does he mean, Papa?”

“He’s fine, Sylvia, just go.” He motioned toward the door. “The boy has a bit of nerves like any rational man would on his wedding day. He’s fine. Ava’s fine. Just give us a minute.”

After she’d reluctantly left the room, Mateo blew out his breath. “Abuelo, what I meant was-” but he got no further before he was interrupted.

“I know what you meant, Mateo. And I know what’s wrong.”

Mateo’s eyes widened. “You do?”

His grandfather nodded sagely. “You’re afraid you’re making a mistake. You’re afraid Ava doesn’t know what she wants. And you’re being foolish on both counts.”

This wasn’t what Mateo expected to hear.

“Foolish,” his grandfather continued, “because you’re not giving yourself enough credit. More than foolish because you’re not giving Ava credit either. She knows her own mind. You couldn’t make her marry you if she didn’t want to. Just trust that it’s meant to be. Faith, mi hijo, have faith. Your bride will show up.”

**

“Aren’t you going to answer that?”

Ava looked from the man in front of her down to her cell phone and then back at him again. She had to think for a moment to remember his name. Joe. “No, Joe, I’m not.”

He shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He turned his attention back to the keys in his hand but only for a second. “It’s been ringing like crazy. Aren’t you curious who is trying to get ahold of you?”

Ava shook her head. “Something’s wrong with it. When I answer the line goes dead. And I can’t read my texts, all I can do is hear the alert that someone is trying to get through. It’s been like that all day.” She powered it off. “So what do you think?”

“About what?”

Ava schooled her features, refusing to let her frustration show. It wasn’t either the time or place to lose her temper. “About the car. What are we going to do?”

He shrugged. Again.

Ava bit the inside of her cheek. Marti had called her at the condo and said that everyone at the office had pitched in to hire a town car so that Ava would arrive at the Ortega’s in style. “Just because you insist on getting ready for your wedding alone doesn’t mean you need to stress yourself by driving in your convertible,” Marti had said. Ava had been touched by the gesture at the time but now she longed for her own car.

“Well,” Joe said, as if they had all the time in the world, “I guess we should call for a tow truck.”

“Great idea,” she replied, unable to stop a bit of sarcasm from creeping into her voice. She craned her neck to take a better look at the front fender of the black town car that was now crushed into an orange and white striped metal construction barrier. The car was probably okay to drive, if it weren’t for the two front flat tires. And, more to the point, Ava wasn’t sure that the driver was fully sober. Now, watching him fumble with his cell phone, she realized that hitting the barrier was not the worst thing that could have happened. Although she didn’t feel particularly lucky to be stuck by the side of the road on her way to her own wedding, at least the driver hadn’t caused a sixteen car pile-up with injuries. “What’s the matter?”

Joe shook his cell phone as vigorously as a graffiti artist would his spray can. “I can’t get a signal.”

Ava reached for his phone and attempted to dial the number he gave her but she received the same message that service was unavailable. She handed the phone back to him. “Unbelievable.” She pulled out her phone and tried it again but she didn’t have service either. She groaned. The blasted thing had been ringing incessantly for what seemed like hours and yet now that she actually needed to make a call, it was as good as dead.