Island Affair (Keys to Love #1) - Priscilla Oliveras Page 0,116
under the murky water of regret and recriminations.
“If you won’t listen to me,” Carlos continued. “Or Mami and Papi. Or your damn captain. Listen to Sara. Don’t mess that up. The way you were looking at her the other night, the way she was looking at you. That’s how Gina and I feel about each other. That shit’s golden, ’mano. Don’t let her get away.”
“What if I’m too late?” Luis’s question came out in a rough whisper, born of fear and despair.
“Do whatever you have to do,” Carlos advised. “Make peace with Enrique. Make peace with yourself. Then go get Sara back. Whip out some of your San Navarro magic that used to make you Mami’s favorite. Till I gave her the first grandkids.”
Luis barked out a laugh, the sound loud along the darkened pier. “I’ll always be her favorite.”
“Whatever. Now, I got a fine woman waiting inside for me, so I’m hanging up. No need to send me any money for my therapy fee, just know you’ll be watching the boys the first weekend Gina and I can get away.”
A tiny spark of hope ignited in Luis’s chest as he slid his phone into his pocket. His mind whirred, plans taking shape, tightening his chest with determination and, co?o, a measure of fear.
He needed to find Enrique, apologize for the self-blame Luis had put on his baby brother’s shoulders. Follow Sara’s example and take that first step to make amends.
Once he’d proven himself worthy of her, there was an incredible, amazing, inspiring, and sexy-as-hell woman he intended to win back.
Chapter 22
Luis pulled up to his parents’ house early the next morning and parked next to Enrique’s black SUV. Peering at the backyard, he was relieved to see their dad’s pale green and white Everglades 253 cc still tied to the canal dock.
Papi had mentioned plans to go fishing today once Enrique got off shift. Luis needed to talk to his brother before they left.
Now that his mind was made up, Luis didn’t want to waste any more time.
He hopped from his truck just as Enrique strode out of the storage room they’d helped Papi build between the pillars elevating the older house. Several fishing rods in one hand and a beat-up gray tackle box in the other, Enrique headed toward the boat. Luis followed.
The moment Luis’s footsteps hit the wooden deck at the foot of the back stairs, his brother called out, “Oye, Papi, I don’t see—”
Enrique broke off when he glanced back to find Luis, not their dad, behind him. He frowned at Luis’s chin jut of a hello.
“Mami and Papi are finishing breakfast.” Enrique gestured toward the house with the fishing poles, then continued moving to Papi’s pride and joy.
The Salvación, Papi’s older-model Everglades fishing boat, had witnessed countless significant Navarro familia moments over the years. Luis and his brothers learning to navigate the channels in search of the best fishing and dive spots. José and Ramón reeling in their first fish. Carlos proposing to Gina at sunset the day after high school graduation.
Like its name implied, the 24-footer had also offered many of them salvation in the form of time spent soaking up the serenity of the water after a tough shift at the station. Now Luis hoped the old fishing boat could help him salvage his relationship with his brother.
“I’m not looking for Mami or Papi. I came to talk to you.”
Enrique’s boat shoes squeaked on the fiberglass deck as he climbed aboard the Salvación and stepped to set the gear by the center console. “I’m a little busy. We want to get out on the water before an afternoon storm rolls in.”
“This won’t take long.”
“Look, I had a crappy shift.” Enrique spun to face him. Tired lines bracketed his mouth. Dark shadows half-mooned under his hollowed-out eyes. “We lost a fifteen-year-old. Kid overdosed on fentanyl after his girlfriend broke up with him.”
Co?o. Luis grimaced, empathy burning in his chest. It was never easy losing a victim. But when the call involved a kid, that stuck with you. Long after your shift was over.
“Lo siento.” Condolences rarely helped, but Luis uttered the words out of respect for his brother’s obvious distress.
Enrique shrugged off the sentiment.
Like every Navarro, Luis knew his brother prided himself on believing the invisible Teflon body armor they mentally strapped on at the station made them invincible. Without it, or the ability to compartmentalize when shit went bad, no firefighter lasted very long on the job.