gave it a glance and then nodded. As they shook on it, Chance said, “If Gabriella wants this wedding, you’ve got yourself a deal.”
He smiled.
It would be the best deal he’d made all year.
* * *
Gabriella could be dangerous with a rolling pin in her hands, but she’d forgiven him for the most part, so he ambled to the doorway of Chance’s kitchen, eyeing his little sister working at the counter. Wearing an apron decorated with cherry-topped cupcakes in pink and white and chunky turquoise jewelry around her neck, she stood beside the range top, rolling floured dough into paper-plate-size circles. Steam rose from the griddle and she wiped at the beads of sweat on her face with her forearm, her long dark hair pulled back out of her eyes. She lifted her creations and dropped them onto the heat. They sizzled.
He leaned against the door frame and watched his sister’s precise movements with amazement. She’d never been an adept cook. Living with Chance had changed his sister. “Tortillas like Tía Manuela used to make.”
Gabriella turned sharply at the sound of his voice and blinked rapidly. “Alejandro?”
“I had business with Chance today. He let me into the house a minute ago.”
“You remember Tía Manuela?”
“We would go there on Sundays after church. She’d make us a batch of warm tortillas and fill them with potatoes and beans. They were delicious and we’d always fight over the last one.”
Gabriella’s dark eyes grew round. “She would tell you to let me have the last one.”
“And I would because I knew she would make up another batch just for me. I would then eat three more and mi hermana could not keep up with my appetite.”
The memory was a good one. Alex smiled as his little sister’s eyes watered. “Alejandro, I am happy your memory has returned.” She turned off the burner and took a step toward him and embraced him. She’d only recently learned that his amnesia was gone.
He nodded. “Yes. I am haunted with memories of playing tricks on my sister and having the wrath of Papa come down on my head. As you know, I remember everything.”
Alex was grateful most of his memories with his sister were good ones. He hadn’t given her too much trouble while growing up. Except for normal harmless big-brother antics, Alex and Gabriella had a loving relationship. He, like his father, had been protective of her, and she didn’t always appreciate being sheltered and overprotected. He recalled her rebellion when Papa had allowed Alex to move out of their secured mansion to live in an apartment in Mexico City...to become a man.
Gabriella had cut her long luxurious hair to a bob style that measured no more than three inches around her head and had a tattoo inked on her shoulder. By then a furious Rodrigo del Toro had had enough. Luckily, Gabriella’s tattoo disappeared on its own after one week as she’d claimed. That single saving grace resulted in her not being punished. But she’d definitely made a statement. Alex had admired her guts in her temporary rebellion.
Gabriella pulled away from their embrace to take his face in her gentle hands and stare into his eyes. “I wish those awful things had not happened to my brother. Do you know any more about the ones who did you harm?”
He glanced away from her soul-searching eyes. “It is better not to discuss it. You do not need to know the details.”
“I am not a child. I can handle the details. I’m concerned for my big brother,” she said, studying his face. “I will not wilt away knowing the truth. Are you in danger now?”
“I’m cautious, Gabriella. But I feel the danger is over. I plan to find out who did this to me and do my best to put to rest any rumors that Chance had anything to do with my abduction.”
For Gabriella’s safety, Alex wasn’t going to confide in her about his suspicions. The fewer people who knew his memory had returned, the better leverage he would have. “And you, my sister...you are no wilting flower. You have made me proud standing up to Papa. He has babied you long enough. You are in good hands with Chance. He will take care of you.”
Her mouth opened instantly. “Alejandro!”
“Let me finish. Chance will see to your needs, I have no doubt, and you will take care of his. You will be equal partners. Is that not what marriage is all about?”
Her expression softened as she contemplated. “Sí, it’s what I always believed marriage to be. Alejandro, please be careful.”
Alex used his thumb to wipe a spilled tear off her cheek. “I will be. Until I find out who was responsible for the crimes, no one but family will know my memory has returned. I revealed my secret to Cara last night. She owns my heart, Gabriella, and I only hope she will one day forgive me, but she has promised not to tell anyone and I trust her.”
“I will continue to keep your secret. You know you can count on me.” Her smile was big and warm and shining with love. “Today is a happy day. I will focus on that. Will you stay for some of Tía’s tortillas?”
“You don’t have to ask twice. I wasn’t leaving until I had me a bellyful.”
She chuckled, her light, joyous laughter stirring memories of their childhood at Las Cruces, their family’s estate. “Now you sound like Chance.”
“And every other Texan in the county.”
Gabriella’s smile radiated through the kitchen, brightening his mood. She turned to the griddle as Alex stepped beside her. “I have another surprise for you.”
“What could be a better surprise than your memory returning?”
“Well,” Alex said, “I have a great deal of making up to do.”
“Agreed.” With spatula in hand, she flipped the tortillas over. “There are so many you have deceived.”
The hairs on the back of his neck rose. Gabriella was a little too eager to agree with him. “And even though you were my tagalong little bra—” The spatula smacked his forearm. “Hey, that’s hot!” Damn, his sister was quick.
She grinned. “You were saying, I was a—?”
“The best sister in the world?” He rubbed the sting from his forearm.
“Better,” she said with a nod. She wielded the spatula his way and gestured for him to go on.
“I want to throw you a wedding, Gabriella.” All joking aside, Alex couldn’t think of anything he wanted more for his sister. “Before Papa returns to Mexico, you could speak your vows at my home in Pine Valley. I’d make sure you’d have the wedding of your dreams. Whatever you wanted, I would provide.”
Slowly, Gabriella lowered the spatula. He eyed the thing and was glad his arm was out of danger now. Lifting his gaze to his sister again, he marveled as the sweetest expression stole over her face. Growing up, Gabriella had never been a problem to him. He simply loved to tease her, and now it was important to him that she allow him this honor. “Oh, Alejandro.”
Tears of gratitude and love swam in her eyes and his heart warmed. “That is very kind of
