All Hours

by ANDIE J. CHRISTOPHER

  “I was just going to spend the weekend this time.” After Joaquin had left, and he’d finished crying, he’d decided that he wasn’t just going to wallow after this breakup. He’d called some friends and asked if they could loan him their couch for the weekend. He wanted to eat dirty-water hot dogs and drink bottomless mimosas with the guys he’d come up with for a few days. Needed to reconnect to who he was and maybe get some of his swagger back.

  He might feel like nothing right now because Joaquin was gone and his restaurant wasn’t going to happen, but he knew he would survive this. He just didn’t know if he could do that in Miami.

  “But you’re coming back?”

  “In a few days.” He’d have to come back to Miami to sell his house if he was going back to New York for good.

  Maya’s shoulders dropped in relief, but she still asked, “You promise?”

  “Promise. Promise.” He embraced his sister. “I just need a few days.”

  Maya’s phone started buzzing from inside her purse. She pulled away and grabbed for it, probably expecting a call from her hot Cuban lover. Not that Felix was jealous that he didn’t have a hot Cuban lover anymore.

  “Hello.”

  Her face wrinkled in concern. “What is it?” If something had happened to Javi, Maya would fall the fuck apart. He, for sure, wouldn’t be leaving.

  “Oh my God, that’s so exciting.” Felix let himself breathe again.

  “Which hospital?”

  Ah, so Laura was having her baby. He was happy for Joaquin, knowing how excited he was to become an uncle—knowing how that family deserved to have an infusion of new life and happiness after all they’d been through.

  Maya hung up her phone. “I have to go meet a baby.” She grabbed her purse.

  Before she left, she kissed his cheek. “I love you, bro. And you know I only have the very best taste in people to love. Come home soon.”

  Chapter 21

  Joaquin’s nephew, Jaime Delgado-Laughlin, was the most perfect human being to ever grace the earth. Even with his little red face, his misshapen head, and the ungodly amount of noise his tiny lungs propelled out of his body, he was perfect.

  He was surprised that his sister and brother-in-law let him hold the little guy, but they’d practically thrust him in his arms.

  “He has to get to know his favorite uncle sometime,” Laura said, winking at their brother, Max, who sat on a couch in the corner with his new fiancée, Letty.

  “Hey! I’m definitely going to be the favorite uncle. This isn’t even a contest.”

  Joaquin didn’t join in. He was way too captivated by the new life he held in his arms. So, so tiny and new. And he smelled freakin’ great. His cousin Carla had talked about the only reason she was happy about having twins being the “double-baby smell,” and he had assumed she’d lost it because babies smelled like spit-up and puke, didn’t they?

  He’d been sorely mistaken, because Jaime smelled like he was made of pure winning.

  Laura sighed, and that was the only thing that made him look away from the baby’s little scrunchy face. Jesus, he was turning into a sap.

  She had her head rested on Charlie’s shoulder. Apparently, her labor had come over her so quickly that she’d given birth in the emergency room. And Charlie’s car allegedly needed new upholstery.

  She looked tired but incredibly happy. He’d never seen his sister so at peace before. And he’d been a little worried when she’d gotten pregnant. Not that she wouldn’t be a great mom, but that she hated things being out of her control—her career required that she and her body have perfect control. And there was nothing more out of control than bringing new life into the world.

  Joaquin had never planned to have kids. He hadn’t planned on having a relationship, and he couldn’t fit being a single dad into the mix with his restaurant. But he couldn’t see Felix not being a dad someday. And he wanted to do that with him.

  The baby started crying and apparently needed to be fed. Laura was having a hard time breastfeeding, so everyone but Charlie and a lactation consultant left her and baby Jaime alone for a bit.

  When they got back to the waiting room, he spotted Maya and Javi across the room and waved. In return, he got a scowl that could peel paint from Maya. She’d probably talked to Felix.

  Instead of doing what he would normally do, which was scowl right back and throw some pots and pans when he got back to his kitchen, he approached Javi and Maya.

  “Where’s Felix?” He didn’t see the point in exchanging pleasantries and trying to avoid the issue.

  “On his way to New York.” Maya’s words were biting.

  So Felix must have thought that their last words were final and that they were done. He wasn’t even going to give things a few days to settle? To think things through before running away?

  “He’s leaving?”

  Maya lifted her chin in the same way that Felix did when he was being particularly stubborn. Joaquin would have laughed if he wasn’t feeling so many other things right now. “Yeah, and it’s all your fault.”

  Now, Joaquin was just getting mad. He shot a look at Javi, who held his hands up in defeat. So his cousin wasn’t going to step in on his behalf.

  “What do you mean, it’s my fault?” Joaquin didn’t mean to bellow, but it just kind of came out that way. “I begged him not to break up with me. And he just got all stubborn and told me that there was no other way.”

  Maya’s face softened as though she realized that maybe coming in gunning for him had been the wrong way to handle things.

  “I love your brother, Maya,” Joaquin said, softening his tone. “I told him that, and I don’t give a fuck about the stupid restaurant. Hell, Roman can have it.” Joaquin looked to Javi then. “And I’m not going to just open the same restaurant at a new location without him. I’m a different man than I was five years ago when I opened Cielo.” He looked back to Maya, who had tears glossing her pretty, dark eyes. “Your brother made me a better man and a better chef. And I’m not losing him.”

  Maya put her hand on his arm, really digging in there. “You should go to the airport, then. He says he’s coming back in a few days, but…” She shook her head. “I don’t know if I believe him.”

  * * * *

  Joaquin had never been a huge romantic. He couldn’t think of a single grand gesture he had ever made for a lover. All his life, he’d never thought he was built for the kind of love that made someone willing to give up a seat on the train, much less a thriving business.

  Not until he’d bought a thousand-dollar ticket to New York just so he could get to Felix’s gate before they started boarding. Miami International was the worst place to run through. The security line was interminable, even with Precheck. And the number of elderly people blocking corridors with their luggage had exploded since the last time he’d been here.

  Once he got through the morass, he had to full-out run to the end of the terminal. By the time he got there, first class was boarding. He didn’t know why, but he was frantic to not miss Felix.

  He’d tried calling him multiple times, but Felix hadn’t picked up, or his phone wasn’t charged. But he really wanted to say what he had to say in person. It felt urgent to look Felix in the face, hold him in his arms, kiss him until he believed that he loved him and was more committed to making things work than he’d ever been to anything in his life.

  Some part of him knew that if Felix got on the plane and went back to New York without knowing—for a fact—that Joaquin was in love with him, Felix would never believe it. And Joaquin was sure that showing up for him, even in a hokey gesture out of a romantic comedy movie that he would probably make fun of, would matter. Felix needed someone to show up for him in a way that Roman never did. In a way that Roman never could.

  Joaquin sighed and the knot in his belly loosened when he spotted Felix sitting in the boarding area
. He didn’t look up, so Joaquin let himself drink Felix in. He looked tired and sad. Joaquin hated seeing that, but part of him liked that Felix was having a hard time with their breakup that shouldn’t have been a breakup.

  When Joaquin sat down next to him, he looked up.

  “I’m usually one of those assholes who crowds the gate when they call for preboarding.”

  Seemed like something that Felix would do. “Oh?”

  “Yeah, I’m usually really excited to get where I’m going.”

  Hope made the knot loosen even more. “But you’re not this time?”

  Felix flipped his boarding pass over in his hand. Joaquin looked up at the screen near the gate, which showed that they were boarding the last group. Felix’s ticket was for the first group.

  “Were you thinking that I’d show up?”

  “I hoped you would.” Felix looked at him then, with a sweet half smile on his face. “Even if you hadn’t, I really wanted to meet that baby. I was going to come find you afterward.”

  “What were you going to say?”

  Felix bit his bottom lip, and Joaquin’s heart stopped. Maybe he’d just wanted to make sure the breakup was unambiguous before going back to New York?

  “That I love you, and we could find a way to deal with Roman,” Felix said. “Together. That we belong together.” He paused. “Someone has to make sure you don’t give the kitchen staff palpitations.”

  Joaquin grabbed the back of Felix’s neck and pulled him in for a kiss. The boarding area was almost empty, and he couldn’t wait any longer to touch him. Felix was on board with it because his arms wrapped around Joaquin’s shoulders and his tongue invaded his mouth.

  They never would have stopped kissing but for the insistent gate attendant calling Felix’s name. Finally, they broke apart. Felix got up, grabbing his carry-on and Joaquin’s hand, and told the gate attendant to leave without him as they walked away.

  Epilogue

  Felix bumped Joaquin’s hip with his own as he walked out of the walk-in cooler at Amantes. They weren’t open to the public yet, but they had a special event that night—one for friends and family only.

  Joaquin looked up at him with a positively piratical grin. “You can’t start anything until later, until much later. We have scores of Hernandezes and Delgados to feed.”

  “I know that.” Felix returned his grin. “I just need to touch you every few minutes. Plus, this kitchen is a lot smaller than the one at Cielo.”

  “I should probably call over there and see how the new chef de cuisine is handling things.”

  Cielo was still open and thriving. While Joaquin had raced to the airport a few months ago, Maya had paid a little visit to Roman. Sick of having him fuck with her brother’s life, she threatened to “shank” him if he didn’t sell the building to Javi on the spot and agree never to contact Felix or Joaquin again. Apparently, the only thing that Roman enjoyed more than manipulating people was having his balls remain attached to his body.

  It had been nice to have the income and reputation of Cielo to bank on while starting Amantes. And Felix had wanted Amantes to be their place and Cielo to remain Joaquin’s place. He knew that his man needed his palace of haute cuisine to express himself in ways that Felix could admire but never emulate.

  Amantes reflected both their personalities and style. It was a fusion of Puerto Rican and Cuban street food classics elevated, with top-notch ingredients so they could charge patrons out the ass. Joaquin in the kitchen didn’t hurt that cause either. They were already booked out for months—and they hadn’t even had critics in yet.

  Felix snagged Joaquin by the waist while he was mixing the dough for the mini arepas that they would serve their family tonight.

  “Too much water, Delgado.”

  Joaquin looked over his shoulder. “You telling me how to cook, Pascual?”

  “Someone has to.” Felix shrugged.

  That got him the reaction that he was looking for, because Joaquin abandoned his task entirely and took Felix’s mouth in a kiss that set them back a good half hour.

  * * * *

  When Lola and Rogelio got married the first time, she’d been on the verge of showing her first and only pregnancy. Joaquin knew this because Lola had pointed this out in pictures, using a magnifying glass the previous week.

  This time, their daughter, Sylvie, was standing up for them as the matron of honor across from their nephew, Hector Hernandez, as best man. This time around, Lola’s father wasn’t threatening Rogelio with a shotgun. Hector had gently suggested that Rogelio remake an honest woman out of his favorite aunt, but Rogelio had already purchased a ring when that happened.

  Joaquin had to work hard not to choke up when Lola danced the salsa down the aisle in her fluttery white dress, nonverbally daring anyone to question the color, even though half of their family knew firsthand that they hadn’t saved anything for the wedding night.

  This time, at a family gathering, Joaquin would be in the kitchen making sure everything was perfect for his family. But he wouldn’t be alone.

  He looked over at Felix, who was full-on sobbing. Not that he expected any different. His boyfriend had informed him that morning that he always sobbed at weddings, but he would most definitely be sobbing at this one because Lola and Rogelio deserved all the happy after being apart for so long.

  And speaking of happy, he needed to remind Felix to hydrate with something other than champagne at the reception, because he would definitely be crying when he gave Lola and Rogelio their wedding gift.

  * * * *

  Right after the ceremony, Felix jumped up to run back to the kitchen. He needed to make sure that the new servers had plated everything properly. Even though no one in their families would dare to leave a bad review of the restaurant—unless they wanted to die—he needed things to be perfect for Rogelio and Lola.

  Before he made his escape, Lola had his arm in her surprisingly strong grip. “Where do you think you’re going, mijo?”

  “Just to check on things in the kitchen.”

  “But you are a guest.” She said that as though she brooked no objection.

  “I’m also the host.” He pulled his arm out of her grasp. “Do you want the food to suck?”

  “The food will not suck. You and my grandson made it.” She pushed some air through her teeth. “And besides, just pour more champagne and no one will notice.”

  She had a point there, which he could back up with years of experience in the catering industry. So he let her pull him fully into the dining room and next to Joaquin at the head table.

  “I shouldn’t be sitting here; this is only for married couples and a fiancée.”

  Joaquin gave him a hard look. “Sit down.”

  Felix knew when it would be best to follow instructions. Food came out, and it was perfect if the repeated thumbs-up signs from his sister at the next table could be counted on. And everyone consumed plenty of champagne during the lengthy toasts, though Joaquin kept filling his water glass.

  After the third time, Felix leaned over. “Are you concerned about the amount of champagne I’m drinking, or something?”

  Joaquin looked as though he’d been caught at something. “No, I just—you were up late and working hard. You need to stay hydrated.”

  “I wasn’t up doing anything I needed to stay especially hydrated for.” Joaquin flushed at Felix’s reference to the fact that they hadn’t had sex the night before.

  “You do now.” A shiver went down Felix’s spine at the promise in his boyfriend’s voice.

  He was still lost in a daydream about what he and Joaquin would do after the wedding when Joaquin got up to give his toast. He tried to listen carefully, but he had a hard time not just staring at him. The way his lips moved as he read the prepared speech, the way his brown suit hugged his massive chest—the one that held such a giant heart—a
nd his trim waist. The broad, completely healed, shoulders. The way his hand shook as it held up his notes. And the way his eyes shone with open emotion—the kind he hadn’t shown for so long. Felix’s heart swelled with pride, even as he grew inappropriately turned on at hearing him speak.

  So caught up that he didn’t immediately respond when Joaquin asked Felix to join him. Not until Lola slapped him in the back of the head.

  He went up and stood next to Joaquin, feeling the heat of his body through the sleeve of his pressed white shirt. He shivered when Joaquin took his hand, and nearly fainted when he got down on one knee.

  “Felix, before you came in and rescued me, I was lost and alone. I might have been famous for the food I created, but I only made food from my mind and from my hands, never my heart.” Shit, this was really happening. Felix covered his mouth so he wouldn’t sob out loud. “Because I hadn’t met my heart yet. I hadn’t met you.”

  And then, he pulled out a ring. Before he even got it out of the box, Felix was on his knees in front of him, holding his face and kissing him.

  When he pulled back, he just said, “Yes.”

  Joaquin looked over at his grandparents and said, “Well, that’s your wedding present.”

  Lola, too choked up to speak for the first time ever, mouthed, “I love it.”

  THE END

  Dusk Until Dawn

  Find out how Felix’s little sister, Maya, lands Javier Hernandez in

  Book 2 of the One Night in South Beach series.

  No boundaries.

  Bartender and aspiring painter Maya Pascual loves turning up the heat. And dumping a vodka-and-karma chaser on the man who broke her heart is perfect Bronx girl payback. But how can she resist when Miami playboy prince Javier Hernandez begs to make it up to her. . .

  No regrets.

  Between his disastrous personal life and his wealthy family’s meddling, Javi needs to get back on track. The only thing that’s certain is his passion for Maya. If she’ll just let him show her how sorry he is, maybe he can move on and start fresh. But one look in her gorgeous eyes and he knows letting her go will be easier said than done.