Chapter 20

Hands in the pockets of his coat, Luis gazed skyward at the zenith of the massive Christmas tree where the golden haired angel seemed to sparkle and glow with an inner light though the ceremony had not yet begun. Feeling as if he were being watched from behind, he laughed to himself when he heard a throat clear timidly behind him, followed by an impatient feminine voice.

"Honestly, Nat. You're a complete social retard," Delia huffed. "You dragged me over here to say hi to him. Say hi. He doesn't look like the biting type." Giving her sister a non-too-gentle shove in Luis's direction, Delia stalked off in search of the boy with the startling ocean blue eyes.

Reigning in the smile that threatened to take over his entire face at the one-sided exchange, Luis turned around slowly to face the silent young girl, gazing shyly at him from beneath long dark lashes, afraid to utter a word. "We meet again," he said, unable to stamp down the smile this time as he watched a blush steal over the girl's cheeks. "I don't think there's been a proper introduction so I'll go first. I'm Luis. Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald. And you are?"

"Natalie," Natalie felt the heat from her cheeks spreading all over her body as she smiled helplessly at Luis. He was even more beautiful the second time around. That was stupid though. Boys weren't beautiful. Boys were…not supposed to be beautiful. Shaking her head in an effort to free it from her rambling thoughts, she felt her smile widen with a newfound realization, and her shyness slipped away, forgotten, as she said excitedly, "You're Pilar and Martin's son. But where are your sisters? Martin promised he'd introduce us."

"What? I'm not good enough company?" Luis teased her gently.

"I didn't say that. Oh, I'm so sorry if I made you think…oh, you're teasing me aren't you?" Natalie frowned. "I hate being teased."

"If I promise not to do it anymore, will you forgive me?" Luis wore the appropriate expression of remorse.

"I suppose so," Natalie considered. "All right," she beamed. "I forgive you. But only if you promise to introduce me to the rest of your family."

"It's a deal," Luis held out his hand.

Natalie slipped her hand in his, and they shook on it. "Wait," she called out, stopping in her tracks when he started to walk away, "I'll be right back. I have to tell Delia where I'm going so she won't get into trouble."

Chuckling as the girl scampered after her sister, her pale pink scarf flying after her, Luis cupped his hands together and lifted them to his face to blow warm air on them gently. Glancing around at the growing crowd, he noticed Theresa and Whitney had already found each other, and Paloma and Jessica were smiling and laughing at something, probably something Reese had said or done. Mama and Papa were with the Russells and the Bennetts, as was Miguel, and Antonio was nowhere to be seen. Luis had a sneaking suspicion he was searching for the blond socialite that hadn't left his thoughts all day. He doubted very seriously that Gwen, as Antonio had called her with a twinkle in his dark eyes, was remotely Antonio's type, but his brother was nothing if not persistent when it came to the fairer sex. A little too persistent if you asked him, bugging him about finding a girl and having a little fun over the holidays. Luis wasn't like his brother, and he didn't believe in love at first sight like Theresa. Fate was a fairy tale, and that elusive girl of his dreams probably didn't exist. That's what he kept telling himself until his brown eyes lit upon a real-life angel, radiating beauty and happiness as she pointed to the stars above.

"Aunt Sheridan!" Natalie's cry was joyful as she tore past him.

A shiver of awareness passed through Luis when blue eyes connected with brown across the small distance.

Sheridan Crane was home for the holidays.

Something told Luis his theories about love and fate just went flying out the window.

Uh oh.

Looks like someone has a crush.

Let's hope she doesn't get crushed instead, because it seems Luis has the beginnings of a crush himself.

:D

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