Their Forever Family. Abigail Gordon

table set up for the young ones, heedless of the art and artifacts on nearby tables.

      A man about the same age as Duncan approached. Instinctively, Rebel drew back a little. The man was intense with eyes that seemed to look deep down inside her.

      “Rey, stop scaring her.” He gave a handshake, a fist bump and a hug to the man, then turned to Rebel. “He’s a cop and likes to intimidate everyone.”

      “Well, it worked.” A hesitant smile covered Rebel’s face. “I’m Rebel Taylor.”

      Rey shook her hand and the cop eyes disappeared as he gave her the once-over in obvious appreciation. “Nice to meet you, Rebel.” Then he pulled her into a quick, unexpected hug. “Thank you for helping him last night. He’s a tough old bird, but I don’t know what we’d do without him.”

      “Hey man, back off. She’s taken, and you’re married.” Duncan tapped his cousin on the shoulder.

      “Okay, fine.” He reached for a plate, more focused on the food than Rebel.

      “We’re going to check on him. Don’t eat everything before we get back.” Duncan gave his cousin a warning.

      “No guarantees.” He took a plate from the large stack and got into the line behind his relatives.

      “Come on. I’m sure he’s been waiting on us since dawn.”

      “He’s an early riser, then?”

      Duncan snorted. “Late to bed, gets up early, I don’t know how he does it at his age.”

      After a quick knock on the bedroom door, Duncan pressed down on the handle and pushed the door wide.

      “About damned time you two came to see me. I could be dead a week before you’d know.” His booming voice thundered through the room.

      Duncan grinned. “I see you’ve survived your night and are back to your usual charming self.”

      Rebel hid a smile and bit her lips together. It was good to see the man’s coloring had improved, the oxygen was nowhere in sight, and he was dressed and ready for the day.

      “Charming?” He offered a crooked smile and a foxy gleam in his eyes. “I don’t think I’ve ever been called charming in my life.”

      “You can be sure of that!” Lupe said from the bathroom. “He’s never even pretended to be charming as long as I’ve known him. Maybe my English word is not right, but cantankerous sounds good.”

      At that, Duncan laughed out loud and met Rebel’s gaze. There was something in that moment, a shared intimacy that tugged at Rebel’s heart. Then it occurred to her. She was building memories with Duncan. Her heart thumped and her breath hitched. Looking into his eyes, with the laugh lines fanning outward, she knew she was falling for him much harder than she’d ever expected.

      Then, in seconds, the moment was gone as he turned to Rafael.

      “Let’s have a look at you.” Duncan opened the medical kit beside the bed and extracted the stethoscope, listened to his heart and lungs and gave a sharp nod. “All that fluid you had in your lungs is gone.”

      “It damned well better be. I spent half the night in the toilet.” He glared at Rebel, but she only raised her brows.

      “Yes?”

      “No thanks to you.” He held his hard stare at her.

      “I didn’t do anything.” The stare was returned with equal intensity. She could handle herself again this morning, and he wasn’t going to shake her up like he had yesterday.

      “You gave me that medicine.” He glared harder, but she was nonplussed.

      Rebel snorted and nodded at Duncan. “He told me to!”

      Rafael snorted right back. “And you do everything he tells you to?”

      “Not hardly. But it was the right thing to do at the time.” She raised her chin, holding his gaze, and her confidence strengthened.

      Rafael held a hand out to her, and she crossed the room to take it. “Thank you, my dear. I appreciate your help.” He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “You’ve made an old man feel good again.” He gave a sigh. “And I do apologize for my behavior yesterday. It was uncalled for, and I hope you accept my deepest regrets. Maybe, if you come back, we can have a better time.”

      Her gaze sought Duncan, and he stood there, his mouth hanging slightly open. A piercing wail from the bathroom drew their immediate attention. Lupe stood, holding her apron over her face, sobbing into her hands.

      “Lupe, what’s wrong?” Rebel released Rafael’s hand to comfort the woman.

      “Why didn’t you tell me he’s going to die?” She covered her face again and sobbed her heart out.

      “No, he’s not. Why would you say that?” In desperation, Rebel looked at Duncan for help.