De La Fuente Family: Love in Montana Part 15

"When you find a good woman, see how often you find yourself grinning."

Diego frowned.

His brother had a revolving door of women, he really would run a mile if he thought he was about to be caught. The thing was, that if that ever happened she'd have to be one h.e.l.l of a woman, like his Sylvia was.

"I have a lot of years left before I decide to find the one, and until then, I'm planning to continue to sample what's offered."

Dad wasn't impressed with Diego's casual take on women if the disgust on his face was anything to go by.

"Women should be treated with respect, not with disregard," Dad commented. "I know I taught you better than how you've been behaving. One of these days, I hope you find one who gives you the run around, and treats you the same as you've been treating women for years."

Realizing the conversation was about to get out of hand, Eric asked, "What is everyone up to today? I thought I'd saddle a couple of horses and take Sylvia out for a short ride."

"Okay, son." Dad nodded his head. "Your woman is good and seems to have the approval of Lucia. She'll like having another woman around. She complains that there's too much testosterone in the house when everyone is home."

They laughed.

"Emelia is enough to level it out with her hot head," Aiden commented about their sister.

"Don't be an idiot. There's still only two of them against the seven of us," Dante added, a frown marred his brow.

"And Caprice," Diego grinned. "She'd be hot if she didn't open her mouth."

"Diego," their father warned, again. "She's your brother's girl and until he says otherwise you all need to treat her with the same respect that you've been doing with Sylvia." Father sighed. "And we can hope Mateo sees sense before too long."

Diego laughed and stood. "I'm outta here. I'll be back in time for dinner."

On his way out, Diego kissed and hugged both Lucia and Sylvia. The smile on Sylvia's face was priceless. His brother had just treated her like a member of the family, and it had made her happy. She turned and held Eric's gaze before blowing him a kiss and turning back to Lucia.

"You have a good woman there," Dad observed.

"Yes I do."

"Make sure you don't screw it up."

Aiden and Dante chuckled at their father's words while Eric smiled. "I have no intention of s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g it up," he winced, remembering the other night, "but if I do, I have no problem saying sorry and begging if I have to." He went silent as he drank her in before he added, "I can't lose her."

Their dad's cell started to ring so he left while he answered it.

His dad had been worried about Aiden, but Eric thought that perhaps he'd been worrying about the wrong brother. Aiden had always had his head screwed on right, but Dante. Well he was a whole new problem. Part of Eric wished he didn't know what he did about how torn Dante was and the reason behind it.

There were real feelings between Dante and Emelia, and as much as it made his stomach hurt, he couldn't disregard them. He actually wished that he could forget he ever so much as thought that way about them. It was ten times worse when it was confirmed.

He needed to help Dante keep Emelia away from him. Instead of encouraging her to stay with Dante, he needed to suggest one of the others and make it convincing. Emelia was no pushover, so it wasn't going to be easy, but he guessed he could run interference. He just hoped she wouldn't hate him afterwards. Apart from Diego, Eric had always been her favorite.

"Hey," Sylvia slipped her fingers over the nape of his neck.

He looked up and smiled. "Hey." Her hand on him caused an ache he'd rather not have in front of his brothers or, heaven forbid, Lucia. He didn't remove her hand though.

She sat next to him and took a sip of her steaming mug of coffee while she let her hand drop and entwine with his.

He caught sight of Lucia as she headed out toward his father.

He'd never been so content until he'd met Sylvia.

"I'm Aiden," his brother said and offered his hand when she sat down. Sylvia took the offered hand with a smile and shook it. "You were half asleep last night, so I wasn't sure if you'd remember."

She smiled. "I'm sorry. With the flight being delayed, it was so late when we finally arrived that I could hardly keep my eyes open."

"You made it, which is the good thing," Dante added.

"It is, and I'm so glad we did. It's beautiful here. So peaceful."

Aiden snickered. "It's only peaceful because not everyone is here."

"Don't spoil it for her," Eric chuckled. "It's not that bad. It's family."

"Nothing can spoil my time here, and I can't wait to see you all together. But first, I hope I'm going to get to play in the snow."

"I thought we'd try some horse riding," Eric suggested, and hoped she wouldn't panic too much. "There are a couple of horses that are so d.a.m.n gentle, you'll forget that you're sitting astride one."

He watched as she gulped, her smile slipping. "I'm not sure..."

"I won't let anything happen to you. Trust me, Sylvia."

"I do trust you. It's the horse I'm not too sure about."

"You'll be fine. Snow White will look after you," Aiden promised.

Sylvia smiled. "Snow White? I like that name." She sighed. "Okay, I can do this, right?"

"You can do anything, babe."

"Enjoy," Dante added as he got to his feet and left the room.

Eric frowned and looked at Aiden who wore a similar expression of worry. Their brother still looked troubled, but Eric was glad that Dante had asked someone to stand in for him with the Thanksgiving service so that he could join the family.

"I thought I had a lot on my mind," Aiden mumbled before his attention went back to Sylvia. "Enjoy yourself out there. Snow White will make you a horse lover."

"Thanks, Aiden." Sylvia smiled, and looked excited as her gaze met Eric's. "I'm ready."

Eric chuckled with how eager she now looked.

Chapter Twenty-Five.

Snow White had been so fragile with her that she'd fallen in love with the gypsy vanner. They hadn't stayed outside too long because the temperature rapidly dropped with the weather turning fierce.

Eric had brought her into the sunroom with two mugs of hot chocolate, and a blanket. He'd used the blanket to wrap them up as they snuggled together and watched the weather. She'd never seen a winter storm as fierce.

The wind howled as the large snow flurries swirled down to the ground in an angry storm. She worried about Emelia and the others being out in the weather and hoped they'd taken shelter.

She felt safe in Eric's arms...and loved. He treated her like his princess, and although she'd never been a sappy fool, she loved it, and him.

"What's your family farm like?" he asked, breaking into her thoughts.

She smiled against him, wanting him to know all about them. "My parents' dairy farm is a couple of hours drive from Lexington. They love the land and everything they've done to it over the years. My brother, Kane, helps out when he can, but he's busy with his own work. His wife, Kelly, does the paperwork for the business, but she gets frustrated not being hands on." Sylvia raised her head up from his chest and held his gaze. Her smile infectious as his lips twitched.

"Until Sam, their young daughter is in school, she isn't going to get much chance of that. They deal with it, and they're happy. Being a dairy farmer just wasn't in the cards for me. I feel guilty about that, but they've never made me doubt my decision to leave home and follow a different path. I love my job working for Sebastian and Michael, and most days, it's also entertaining with how they banter off the other. They've been good to me and always been there if I've needed them."

"Will you take me to meet them?" He clarified, "Your family?"

She reached up and kissed him. "I'd love for you to meet them." She grinned. "Christmas?"

His hesitation caused her smile to fade. She offered what he'd asked, so why the change in him?

"Forget it," she whispered, her feelings hurt with his silence.

She pulled away, but he stopped her at the last minute. "I'm sorry. Come back here." He pulled her back onto his chest, his hands cupped her face. "I promised Lucia that I'd be here for Christmas this year as I haven't been around for Christmas for more years than I can remember. I'm usually overseas." He frowned. "We could do Christmas here and the New Year at your parents'."

She sadly shook her head. "New Year we're both going to be with the McKenzies for Ramon and Noah's wedding."

"s.h.i.+t. I forgot about that."

The silence stretched between them.

"Let's forget about it for now," she suggested. Her heart cracked a little bit. There wasn't a solution as she'd promised to be home for Christmas as well. They'd both made a promise that neither would be willing to break. She didn't blame Eric, it just saddened her to realize they'd be apart for a week over the Christmas holidays.

"Everything will work out," Eric offered, more optimistic than Sylvia felt and pulled her tight against him.

Her hands splayed on his chest and she wished that there was no s.h.i.+rt between her flesh and his. He had a beautiful chest with hair that lead down to his c.o.c.k and b.a.l.l.s. She loved fondling him, and the quickness with which he hardened was a huge turn on. Those thoughts really needed to stay buried while they were in the sunroom. They didn't stop her from squirming around on his lap, though.

It didn't stop Eric's hand from clamping down on her hips to keep her still, either.

"Behave, babe," he groaned, and captured her hand in his after she'd sc.r.a.ped her nails over one of his nipples.

"I don't want to behave."

Eric chuckled. "Well save that thought. Someone is outside the door." Then it opened and Dante walked in.

Dante paused when he saw them on the sofa.

"We're decent, brother," Eric offered.

They sat up and removed the blanket. Eric quickly yanked his s.h.i.+rt lower to cover his hard-on, which caused Sylvia to smirk before she focused on Dante.

He looked pale and troubled. Her concern had her on her feet and standing in front of him. "What's wrong?"

She felt Eric come up behind her. "Dante?"

"Mateo called. They're struggling in this weather to get back. They thought they'd be back before the storm hit, but they're about two miles away. So close, but not close enough. I'm surprised he got a signal to call."

"f.u.c.k," Eric cursed. "Which car did they take?"

"Kasey's truck. It's not the best for this weather, but he had the snow tires put on before he got here," Dante answered.

"Let's take the SUV, it's made for this weather and see if we can help guide them back here," Eric suggested.

"I'm with you," Dante agreed. "I'll meet you at the backdoor in five."

Eric took hold of Sylvia's hand and dragged her with him to the kitchen.

Lucia, Emiliano, Aiden and Diego were in the kitchen, sitting around the table.

"I'm going out with Dante to find them and guide them back here. We're taking your BMW, Dad." He led Sylvia over to the table. "Sylvia, you stay here so I'm not worrying about you as well, okay?"

She really wanted to beg him not to go, but she knew he needed to. It was his siblings out there so she told him what he needed to hear. "I'll be okay. You just be careful. Please." She reached up and cupped his face before kissing him. "Please, Eric," she begged.

He smoothed the hair down her back, and promised before he grabbed his jacket and disappeared with his brother.

Sylvia stood where he'd left her, not knowing what to do or say. She felt close to tears. She'd never experienced worry like she felt with Eric being out in the storm.

Aiden moved from where he was sitting and wrapped his arm around her. "Don't worry. He'll be fine. Come and sit, and get high on coffee and cake."

She hugged him back, and let herself be pulled down beside him. "Here." He poured her some coffee and offered her a slice of cake. She shook her head. She wouldn't be able to eat anything until Eric was back.

"I hate this," Lucia admitted.

"Don't worry, love," Emiliano comforted, his arm wrapping around his wife. "You know Dante and Eric will get them back safely."

"Why did they take Kasey's truck? We gave him enough grief about the state of it that they all know how s.h.i.+t it is," Lucia added.

"They went to collect a chest of drawers that Emelia had put away. Kasey's truck was the only one not buried behind others," Diego admitted. Then supported his twin. "In all fairness, Emelia did look at the sky and said they should wait, but Mateo called her chicken so she climbed in the truck. Think he wanted something to distract Caprice for a while."

"One of these days, I'm not going to be able to keep my mouth shut with that woman." Lucia fumed. "She is no good for Mateo. He needs a nice, sweet girl, not a leech."

Diego and Aiden threw their heads back, laughing. Diego even wiped his eyes while he laughed. "That's awesome, Mom."

Emiliano smirked and shook his head at his wife. "I love you, honey." He kissed her.

It was nice watching them together, and seeing the tender love they shared, but of course, that moment had to be spoiled.