Chapter 40
Lily
The cab drops us off at Marcus’s mum’s farm, and it is not what I was expecting.
I thought I’d see something of a small holding, but this place is huge.
A massive white house stands tall in the fields, surrounded by lush green fields with goats roaming free.
Pink flowers twist around the door with perfectly manicured bushes and gardens to the front.
But behind the expansive house are acres and acres of grapevines.
“Marcus, this is beautiful,” I say in absolute awe.
He squeezes me into his side. “Yeah, it’s pretty spectacular. I helped Mama and Yaya redo it all when I got my first big paycheck. We added the vineyards a few years later. I’ve got good and bad memories here.”
“The geese?”
“The geese.” I shiver next to her, making her chuckle. “There is a harbor just beyond the vineyards where we take the boats out in the summer.”
“This isn’t the sort of farm I’m used to. I could get used to being a farmhand out here.”
“Good to know.”
“Marcus? Mi tesoro.” A petite, dark haired woman, who I would put at about fifty, comes barreling out of the immaculate farmhouse. “Paulo rápidamente Marcus esta aquí.”
“Sorry, Mama can be a little much at times. I don’t have any siblings, so she can be a bit overpowering.
” He removes his arm from around my shoulders to accept the woman, who is almost sprinting towards us.
“Mama, te extranaba.” Marcus bends so he can embrace his mum, who is hanging on to him for dear life.
“Elena, deja que pobre muchacho respira.” A man who must be as tall as Marcus comes to stand at his side. He is dark haired like Marcus, but that’s the only resemblance between the two. Marcus entangles himself from his mum and shakes his hand.
“Lily, this is my Mama Elena and my stepdad Paulo. Mama, Paulo, Lily Chambers.” He wraps a possessive arm around my shoulder and looks down at me warmly.
“Nice to meet you.” Reaching out, I shake Elena’s hand, but she pulls me into a hug, which takes me off guard. A nervous giggle escapes me as she squeezes me affectionately.
“Sweet child, just look at you.” She pulls away to take me in.
“You’re like a ray of sunshine. Stunning.
I’ve seen how you keep my boy in his place.
” I flush a little as I remember some of the things I have said about Marcus on television.
“And he needs it.” She winks at me. “Come, I have drinks out in the garden.” She waves for us to follow her, and I'm shocked by how fluent her English is.
“The garden?” Marcus stills next to me.
“Si, Mi tesoro.” She rolls her eyes while linking her arm through mine, guiding me toward the farmhouse. “Paulo has put the geese in the bottom field.” Giggling next to me, she turns to whisper, “He hates the geese. If I’m honest, I only keep them to mess with him.”
Oh, I like her.
“What a strange thing to be afraid of,” I muse.
“I’ve never heard such a high pitch squeal come from a man so tall.”
“Mama, stop,” Marcus whines.
“Never. It brings me joy.”
“But they are locked in the other field, right?”
“Of course,” she sing songs next to me as we reach the gate to the glorious gardens behind, where a pitcher of sangria and four glasses are displayed on an ornate table surrounded by two benches decorated with bright orange cushions.
The whole setup is covered by a white canopy. It looks like a tranquil escape.
A goose honks a few feet away, and I hear what can only be described as a girlish squeal come from behind me. “Oh, maybe one got out.” Elena throws her head back and laughs so hard.
“Mama, please don’t. This is embarrassing.”
“Oh, come on, Diaz. It’s just a goose. What is it going to do?” I shout back at him.
“Look at its eyes, Chambers. They are evil, I tell you.” He’s backing away until he’s behind the fence. “Look, it's watching me. Plotting my death.”
“Por Amor de Dios Marcus. “It's not going to attack you. Stop being so dramatic.” Elena continues to guide me to the bench, and I take a seat, looking back over at Marcus as he continues to stare down the lone goose.
“Mama, it will. Please get rid of it. Otherwise, I’ll just stay here.” He crosses his arms over his chest defiantly.
“Fine by me. Gives me a chance to talk to Lily. I bet she has some stories to tell me about you. Ones you wouldn’t want me to know.” She pours me a glass of sangria, and I gratefully accept.
“Lily wouldn’t dare.” He scowls at me.
“Wouldn’t I?” I smirk over at him.
“Joder.”
“Marcus Diaz, cuida tu lengua.”
“Lo siento, Mama.”
“Paulo, move the goose, please, so the princess can sit down.” I snort out my drink at his mum’s comment. “Sorry, dear, but he’s a grown man.” She takes her seat opposite as Paulo moves the goose out of the garden.
“Don’t apologize, Elena. Princess Diaz has a certain ring to it.”
“Great, now you’re bonding over insults.” Marcus gingerly makes his way to the table and sits down next to me. His eyes are on high alert as he stretches his neck, looking around for the goose.
“Well, you shouldn’t be such a princess.” I nudge his shoulder with mine, sipping my sangria through my straw.
“Dios, this was a mistake bringing you here.”
“Why? I’m having a great time.” I turn to face him, giving him a megawatt smile. “I also can’t wait to lounge on the boat and drink cocktails while you do manly things I have no interest in.”
“Manly things?”
“I live in London, Diaz. I have no idea what you do on a boat.”
“I’ll teach you.”
“I’m good just watching.”
“Oh yes, Marcus, you have to take her out on the boat. You must go out at sunset. It’s meant to be a perfectly still night. I’ll have a picnic prepared for you.” Elena bounces in her seat as she seems to be planning a date.
What has he told her about me?
“I have made sure the boat is ready for you too.” Paulo slides in next to Elena, kissing her cheek affectionately.
“Thanks, Paulo.”
We spend the afternoon laughing and swapping stories, and I quickly work out where Marcus gets his quick wit from. His mum is hilarious. She doesn’t let him get away with anything, and I want to be her when I grow up.
The day has flown by. We’ve laughed, shared stories, and it’s been perfect. I’ve felt so welcome and comfortable with Elena and Paulo. I now know that the crossword hack isn't just something Marcus did, but Elena and Paulo also took it upon themselves to learn English. The Marcus way.
Marcus has taken every opportunity to touch me, trailing his fingers along my exposed skin while we chatted or twirled a piece of my hair around his fingers the whole time. My head is full of questions about what all this means.
Taking a breather, I’m in the kitchen with Elena getting some snacks ready to take out, and I find myself watching Marcus through the window as I’m washing the glasses.
He’s laughing with Paulo, looking so carefree.
A smile creeps onto my lips as I watch them both.
It’s obvious that he really cares for Paulo.
I know he speaks with his dad, but he has a wonderful bond with Paulo that you can’t ignore.
“You love my boy.”
The glass I’m washing slips from my hands and crashes on the side of the porcelain sink. “I’m so sorry.” I fumble. “Let me clean that up.” Collecting the broken shards out of the water, I try to process her words.
“Don’t worry, it's fine.” Elena takes hold of my wrists gently, and her kind eyes meet mine. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, it didn't catch me.”
“Good.” She moves me to sit at the farm-style table and sits next to me.
“I didn’t mean to make you jump or say something out of turn.
I just feel your emotions around my boy.
He has never brought a girl here. Never even mentioned a girl.
If I’m honest, I thought he would take the same path his papa has.
He was certainly showing me he would.” She shakes her head.
“But for the past few months, all I’ve heard about is this fiery redhead who is making his life hard work.
” She squeezes my hands. “But recently, those comments have been about how amazing she is. How she’s so intelligent, how she makes him laugh, and can run rings around everyone at the network.
How he loves working with her; she makes his days interesting, fun, and chaotic. ”
Her words send my mind reeling.
Months?
He’s been talking to his mum about me for months?
Glancing out the window again, sweat starts to form on my neck as Marcus and Paulo make their way towards the house. Paulo has his arm around Marcus’s shoulders, smiling across at him a look of pure pride on his face.
“You both may not have realized it yet, but no one looks at each other the way you two do and don’t have the raw passion you only get with your soulmate.
” My throat tightens at her words. “He wouldn’t have brought you here if he didn’t feel something for you, sweetie.
I know my boy. Even if he hasn’t told you yet, he’s head over heels in love with you. ”
Marcus is laughing as he walks into the kitchen. Pushing his sunglasses on his head, he looks relaxed. A swarm of butterflies flutters in my stomach as a carefree smile graces his lips when he catches me and Elena at the table.
God, he’s gorgeous.
My pulse picks up as he keeps his gaze on me, sweat trickling down my back as his mum’s words continue to roll around in my head.
He’s head over heels in love with you.
“What are you two gossiping about?” Paulo says before kissing Elena on the cheek.
“Nothing, Lily just dropped a glass in the sink, and I was just checking her over.”
“You hurt?” Marcus rushes to my side and takes my hands from Elena’s as he crouches in front of me, checking them for any injury.
“I’m fine.” Elena gives me a knowing smile as I attempt to pull my hands away, but he keeps hold.
“You sure?” Concern is woven in the knit of his brow as he dusts his thumbs over my knuckles.
“I’m sure,” I say with more confidence than I feel as I stand on shaky legs.
“Okay.” The look in his eyes, along with Elena’s comments, has me a little off balance.
“Should we take these out to the harbor?” I motion to the snacks on the side as I gather my thoughts.
“That sounds like a great idea.” Elena rushes about next to me, collecting everything, holding the picnic basket out to Marcus. “It will be beautiful right now.” Her eyes glisten with mischief.
His voice is tender as he drops a kiss to my cheek. “Want to see the best view in all of Spain?”