A week after returning to New York with everything that Blake and I own, I’m getting the spare room in the apartment ready for him. The room isn’t as large as the master bedroom, but now that we’ve rearranged the furniture my brother shouldn’t have a problem maneuvering around it. The bathroom isn’t ideal, but it will do for now, and he should still be able to manage.

I’ll just be glad to have Blake here instead of in the hospital. I’m kinda hoping that he loses the chip that he has on his shoulder. I know he’s pissed at the world because he’s bound to a wheelchair for now, but I really want him to start living again.

The doctors can’t find any reason why he can’t feel his legs. Nothing. They’ve said it might come back in time, or it might not. In fact, I’m sure if he could have punched one of the doctors he would have done so, especially when one particular doctor had told him his lack of feeling was psychological.

Personally, I think there is some truth to that. I mean, why can’t they find what the problem is when he’s had test after test? I’m hoping that the change of scenery, especially when we leave for Montana, will have a positive effect on him.

Sighing, I finish tucking the sheet in on the bed, and hear a groan from behind me. I turn my head and see Kasey leaning against the doorjamb with his arms crossed and his eyes on my bottom.

“You like what you see, huh?” I wiggle and smirk when his eyes darken.

“I’ve never seen a more beautiful sight.” He continues watching me. “I’m not coming any further into this room or I’m going to be all over you. In you.”

Placing the last corner beneath the mattress, I straighten. “All done.” I toss the quilt over the bed and smile. “I hope he likes what we’ve done in here.”

We’ve tried to make the bedroom his room, and I’m really hoping that it doesn’t anger him because of all the NHL stuff we put up on the walls.

I move over to Kasey and wrapping an arm around his waist, he tucks me under his arm as we look at the room. “I think it looks amazing, and I’m sure he’ll appreciate having his things around him.”

“But?”

His hand tightens around me. “There’s no real but in there, just don’t be disappointed if he doesn’t thank you for your effort, okay? I can’t imagine losing the use of my legs when hockey has been my life.”

Chewing my lip, I glance around, wondering if I should have waited, only to decide that no, I shouldn’t. “He needs his things around him. He’s coming to a new apartment, so I want him to have comfort in his things. I know he isn’t a child, but it’s my turn to look after him.” I smile up at Kasey. “He’s going to have to deal with it. Maybe it’ll take his mind off his legs for a short while.”

“Just remember that you’re not alone and that I’m here to help you in any way I can. You can tell me anything. Rant. Cry. Scream. Laugh. Any damn thing, Felicity,” he says this so fiercely. “That was a bit over the top, huh?” He laughs.

“A little bit…and I promise to talk to you about anything. Always, okay?”

“Hmm.” He guides me out of the room and into the living room when the intercom buzzes.

Kasey answers and all I can hear is his agreement, and, “Send them up.”

He clicks the intercom off and turns to look at me, pausing for a moment before explaining, “Um, my brother’s on his way up?”

I blink in surprise and sit on the sofa with him facing me on the coffee table. “Diego has obviously told everyone about you.” He winces and then laughs. “I just didn’t think it would be Eric coming to see me.”

“It makes me nervous meeting your family, but it makes me happy that they want to meet me.”

“Eric and Sylvia are the ones who live in Lexington. He’s retired from the army and works security for McKenzie Holdings, a company owned and run by our cousins.” He smiles. “Sylvia gave him a run for his money when she worked there.”

“How long do we have before they’re here? I mean his wife is coming as well, right?”

“We have a few minutes, and yes, they’re both coming. Eric doesn’t travel without Sylvia.”

I nod. “While we wait will you tell me about Emelia and Dante? You said their relationship was complicated.”

He chuckles. “Complicated doesn’t really cut it, but the short version is that Dante left for school when Dad remarried. He was pissed that Dad had remarried within weeks of Mom’s funeral. The others were as well, but they stayed at home. So when Emelia and Diego were born, Dante was hardly ever with us as a family. Then as Emelia grew up, she fell in love with Dante, like he did her.

“He ran to the church because of the feelings he had for someone he thought was his half sister. Not long ago it came out that Emelia and Diego didn’t just have a different mother than us, but a different father as well. There was a lot of heartache but it worked out for the best.” I grin. “She’s about to pop with a niece or nephew for us pretty soon, otherwise she’d have been here before Diego to meet you.”

Softly smiling, I admit, “Your family and how much they love you, fills my heart.”

“They’re your family now as well.” He cups the back of my head and smiles. “I now have everything with you in my life. By my side, I want for nothing.”

I meet him in the middle for a gentle kiss that says so much about his feelings for me…and then there’s a pounding on the door.

It makes me jump back and glance at the door before I turn back to Kasey as he curses and shaking his head, gets to his feet. “I’ll let him in before he breaks the door down.”

Sighing, I watch Kasey as he jogs to the door. He makes me weak in the knees. His strong thighs lead to a firm bottom and a slim waist. The muscles rippling under his shirt as he opens the door quickens my pulse.

He catches my eyes as he steps aside so that his brother and wife can enter the apartment. Smiling but feeling nervous, I move toward them and find myself pulled into Sylvia’s arms.

“It’s so good to meet you,” she says as she releases me, and beams at her husband.

Kasey slips his arm around my waist as I shake hands with his brother. Eric looks more reserved than Kasey, and there’s an air of command exuding from him.

We move into the living room, and Kasey disappears into the kitchen with his brother. Sylvia sits beside me, and asks, “How’s your brother?”

“He’s okay really. They’re releasing him tomorrow, and I’m hoping that getting him out of that place might cheer him up. He still can’t walk.” I shrug. “It’s not going to be easy because he’s used to running at full speed, and then there’s the hockey. It’s been his life since he was a kid, so I can’t imagine what it will do to him if he can’t play anymore.”

“That will be hard, but if the doctors think that he might suddenly be able to walk again, then he needs to have faith in that.”

“I’m hoping the fresh air in Montana will take his mind off everything and help him heal.”

Sylvia is really pretty with her blonde hair tied back, and minimal makeup. Her welcoming smile and true concern for my brother makes me like her all the more, and because of her concern, I feel more at ease.

Kasey places a cup of coffee in front of me and hovers. There really is no other word for it as he stands to the side of me before his brother tugs him away to sit opposite.

I smile and watch as he sits in one of the armchairs with his brother Eric rolling his eyes in the one beside him.

Eric takes a sip from his mug and watches Kasey from the corner of his eye.

“What?” Kasey asks. “Why the long look?”

Sylvia hides her laughter behind her hand, but I grin openly. She leans closer and whispers, “They love nothing more than to wind the other up. It’s entertaining.”

“You, Brother…” Eric drawls and shaking his head, takes another sip of coffee as he rests an ankle over his knee before he smiles when his eyes touch on Sylvia. “Was I this bad with you?” He nods at Kasey.

Sylvia laughs. “Oh yes.” She places her hand on my arm. “All the De La Fuente men fall hard.”

“I have and I don’t give a shit what anyone else thinks about it,” Kasey states, staring at his brother.

Eric laughs. “You’re easy to tease.”

“Kasey,” Sylvia says with a glare at her husband before she focuses on my guy, “what Eric means to say is that he’s really happy for you. We both are.”

“Thank you.” Kasey grins like an idiot with his eyes only for me. “Now that that’s been established…” He moves from the chair, takes my hand and tugs me back down with him.

I feel a blush starting to creep onto my face as Kasey gets me settled on his lap. “That’s much better,” he comments, and grins at the couple.

Eric roars with laughter. “I’m glad Diego isn’t here or he’d have had us betting on how long you’d have lasted before she was on your lap.” He moves to sit beside Sylvia, who settles into his side.

“When are you heading home?” Eric asks.

Kasey looks at me before answering his brother, “We’re bringing Blake here tomorrow once he’s discharged. The plan is to give him a few days to get used to moving around in the chair and then we’re going to fly home. The doctors have said he’s okay to fly, we just have to make sure that he gets physical therapy.”

“You’ll love the farm, Felicity,” Sylvia adds. “It’s so peaceful and the air is so clean and fresh. On a good day, you can even catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis.” Sylvia has a dreamy look on her face. “It really is beautiful.”

“I’m excited to see where Kasey grew up, but I’m nervous about meeting the rest of your family.” Kasey kisses the side of my face and I offer him a small smile before I quickly placing a kiss to his lips. His eyes widen slightly but the smile on his face is a delighted one. I turn back to Eric and Sylvia. “I’m afraid that Blake and I will be overwhelmed because it’s really been just the two of us for the past seven, nearly eight years.”

Sylvia nods and captures her husband’s hand that was wandering back and forth on her thigh. She gives her husband a “behave or else” smile while Eric grins at her. Laughing, she rolls her eyes in response. “Just remember they won’t bite, and you might even be there when Emelia has her baby.”

“Lucia is knitting up a storm, which Emelia is grateful for, although she now might have enough knitted garments until her baby is ten.”

“Seriously?” I ask.

“Maybe a slight exaggeration on Emelia’s part, but it will be close. Lucia and Emiliano will love you, so please don’t worry.” She frowns and turns to Eric. “Can you remember the name of that woman who has just moved to town? Sarah was talking about her the last time we were there. I’m sure she’s a qualified physical therapist. Would be amazing if I remember that right. She could go out and work with Felicity’s brother.”

“Fifi Flowers,” Eric answers.

Sylvia has a surprised look on her face and then starts laughing. She pats him on the chest as tears of amusement fill her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she giggles. “Fifi Flowers…So funny.”

“That’s her name! What’s funny about that,” Eric asks, not impressed with his wife’s laughter.

Sylvia clears her throat. “Fifi Flowers is, um, Fifi and the Flowertots, something that Mateo and Erin put on the TV to stop Francesca from screaming the house down. But I do remember her name now, it’s Violet Flowers.” She gives Eric a smug look. “I just know that I’m going to be calling her Fifi now. Ugh.”

Kasey laughs and buries his face against my neck. I massage his bent head and get a tantalizing scent of his cologne. Moaning into the top of his head, he suddenly stills, but not before I feel the growing hardness under me.

He kisses my neck and finally comes up for air. “Behave,” he hisses.

“So now that we know to contact Fifi, we’ll get it sorted,” Kasey tells his brother.

“Asshole,” Eric grumbles, and changes the subject, “You guys eaten?”

“No,” Kasey replies, and I shake my head.

Sylvia grins. “Then let’s go out and eat. Italian?”

“I love Italian food,” I answer.

“Italian it is then.” Kasey helps me stand.

“Let me quickly go and change.”

“We both will…back in a minute,” Kasey wraps his arm around my neck as he walks me to our bedroom.

“No hanky-panky till later. I’m hungry!” Eric shouts.

“Me too, Bro.” Kasey smacks my butt before he closes the door.

He wrestles me to the bed and settling between my legs, he crowds me, with his fingers sliding through the strands of my hair. “Do you think we have time for a quickie?” He pushes his pelvis against me and the bulge rubs on just the right spot, making me catch my breath.

“God,” I moan. “Yes. Get naked, quick.”

We giggle and once we’re free of our clothing, we come together in a quick rush of need—neither of us lasting longer than five minutes.