Northwest Romantic Comedies: Boxed Set Books 1-6

by Lia London

  “Are you kidding? I love this idea so much, I’m going to write it into the script for Angels and Tycoons!”

  “But what if it goes badly?”

  “It’ll be soap opera gold no matter how this turns out.”

  “My life isn’t a soap opera, Jill.” Antonio frowned. “Or maybe it is a little.”

  “Hey, gorgeous leading man, lovely leading lady. Let’s do it.” She let out a happy squeal. “Okay, I’ll see you then. Leave everything to me.”

  Antonio pocketed his phone and took a deep breath. Was he crazy? He shook away the jitters that wanted to overtake him and reached for a pad of post-it notes. Chewing his lip, he planned the best wording, and then composed his invitation.

  Dear Z, I have missed you so much and really hope we can start over, or maybe pick up where we left off when you were last in my arms. With that in mind, do you

  Antonio frowned. Why had he chosen a post-it? It was too small. Shrugging, he removed the first square and continued on the second. Want to come with me to a party packed with celebrities? Thursday at 8:00pm. Semi-formal wear. Say you’ll come? Love from A to Z.

  He nodded at his efforts and then realized his mistake. On the back of the first note, he wrote, I’ll pick you up at 7. And yes, the boys will be happy to watch Gabi. It should be a very special evening. I love you. Using arrows to direct which message to read next, he added the Halsey’s home address on the back of the second post-it.

  A few minutes later, he stuck the two notes side by side on the Clinica door. The first one fell off, but he pressed it back up and pounded it with his fist for good measure. Little numbers in the corners of the notes would help her follow the message in order.

  He jogged down to Irene’s office. “I’m going to head out to get those decorations and the cake order for Dia de Amor, okay? If I don’t finish before the end of my shift, I’ll come in later tonight and hang it all up, okay?”

  Irene looked up from her computer monitor and nodded. “As long as this place is bursting with red and pink hearts and balloons by tomorrow noon, I’m fine with that.”

  “Thanks.”

  In the hall, he hesitated. Part of him wanted to watch Zaira’s reaction to the note, but another part said it would be safer for his heart if he didn’t. Brimming with nervous energy, he locked his office and headed over to the outlet mall.

  Though the gray sky blended seamlessly into the ocean at the horizon, he noted a few cars in the parking lot by the beach where the tiny D River poured into the Pacific. Curious, he pulled in and circled close to the lookout area. Someone out on the sand wrestled with a stunt kite, and a few people walked by in the typical thick parkas of Northwest beachcombers.

  As he turned back out, he passed a pick-up truck with a canopy. A couple sat on the tailgate, using the canopy door as shelter while they laughed and ate fried chicken from a brown paper bag. The sides of the truck had been decorated with window paint proclaiming them Just Married. It was a crazy, cold, private picnic, but it warmed his heart and gave him courage for what he was about to do.

  Zaira frowned when she didn’t see Antonio’s green Subaru in its usual spot. Inside, she took the long route through the halls to pass his office, but the room was dark, and the door locked.

  Disheartened, she lugged her gear down to the Clinica and fumbled with her key, noting a pink post-it in Antonio’s tidy handwriting stuck to the door. She tugged it off and stepped inside. Want to come with me to a party packed with celebrities? Thursday at 8:00pm. Semi-formal wear. Say you’ll come? Love from A to Z. He’d printed a Salem address on the back.

  Celebrities? A party? But why on a Thursday? She glanced at the puppy calendar on the wall and hiccupped with surprise. That was Valentine’s Day!

  She stared down at the note. What a strange invitation. Apparently, she was supposed to get herself there? What was that all about? Maybe to avoid paparazzi issues at the celebrity gathering?

  Hope rushed through her, and she drummed the exam table with excitement. “Yes! I will go, and I’ll make sure he never forgets tomorrow night!”

  She scribbled her reply on the back of an info card about the flu with a sharpie and hurried down the hall to stick the note in the crack of his office door. She had to adjust it twice to get it to stay wedged by the doorknob. He’d see it if he came in today, and maybe he’d even stop by the Clinica or her apartment to make arrangements. She realized with a pang how much she missed his face, not for how handsome he was, but for the tender way he always looked at her.

  Four patients awaited her at the Clinica door when she rounded the corner, and she soon fell into the rhythm of the check-ups and banter. As inconvenient as the scheduling was, she loved working at the Clinica.

  But by closing time, Antonio had not stopped by. She lingered at the Clinica, hoping for excuses to prolong her stay, but no footsteps sounded outside her door. When she gave up, packed up, and trudged down to his office, she found it still dark. A movement in the office down the hall caught her eyes, and she glanced in to find Irene Morales.

  “Oh. Hi. You’re here late.” Zaira hesitated, embarrassed to be caught lurking by Antonio’s office.

  Irene looked up with an officious smile. “You, too. Lots of patients today?”

  Zaira shrugged. “The usual.” Tucking a loose strand behind her ear, she tried to appear casual. “No Mr. Seneca today?”

  With a knowing smirk, Irene returned her gaze to her monitor. “He was in, but he went out to get stuff for Valentine’s Day.”

  Zaira’s heart thumped. “Oh! That’s nice.” What could he be getting? “Good night.”

  “Thank you, Nurse Vasquez. You, too.” The lines around Irene’s mouth softened. “The folks here respect you. I’m glad you’re the one Mr. Seneca picked.”

  “So am I.” Zaira let out a nervous laugh and scuttled back down the hall with her gear. At the exit, she paused. It was nice to get the compliment for her work, but Irene’s last words wobbled in her ears. He’d picked her. Or had he? And as a nurse, or as a girlfriend, or more? What did Thursday’s invitation mean? She wanted to see him to confirm the party was a sign of hope for something to grow between them relationship-wise and not simply something he thought she might enjoy as a friend.

  She swallowed her insecurities and hurried home, swinging by Burger King on the way. Sofia was covering for Tia Julia today, and she’d need to put on a good face or endure a cross-examination.

  “Hey, Sofia! I brought you a crown!” She called, tossing the glossy cardboard souvenir on the table with the bags of food. “Thanks for helping today.”

  “I hope there’s a Whopper in there with my name on it.” Sofia sat bundled under a fleece throw on the couch, reading a board book to Gabi.

  Gabriela disentangled herself from the fuzzy blanket and ran to hug Zaira. “Mami, Tono come!”

  “Sh sh!” commanded Sofia sharply. “What are you talking about, hijita?”

  Zaira quirked an eyebrow. “Yeah, what is she talking about? Did Antonio stop by?”

  “Tono!” cheered Gabriela.

  “Man, I’m starving!” said Sofia, jumping up and coming to them. “Thanks for the grub.” She rummaged through the paper bag, pulling out a pinch of fries before locating a boxed burger.

  Zaira furrowed her brows at her cousin’s evasive maneuvers. “Don’t you need to hurry home to your adoring newlywed husband?”

  “Miguel has some kind of weights class at the gym tonight. He won’t be back for an hour.”

  Zaira smiled. “Good. Then you’ll have time to get home and get ready for him. I’m sure you two are still in the honeymoon phase. All romance and rowdy nights.”

  Sofia’s arched brow teased her. “Trying to get rid of me, prima?” Puckering her lips, she spoke like a cartoon fish. “Is Antonio coming over for some pre-Valentine’s kisses?”

  “What?” Zaira stiffened. “How do—”

  “Thanks for the burger.” A glint of mischief in Sofia’s eyes accented a wicked grin.
She pulled on her coat and opened the door, dinner in hand. “See you Friday. I’ll want to hear all about your week and anything interesting that happens.”

  Zaira watched her go, totally bewildered by her cousin’s behavior.

  “Tono!” cheered Gabriela.

  Zaira whirled to face her. “Did he come over here?”

  Gabi pulled herself up to her toes, reaching her hands towards the food. “Fwies! Mami, I want fwies!”

  Lifting Gabi into the high chair, Zaira grew serious. “Did Tono come today?”

  Gabriela blew a kiss at Zaira in response and reach for the fries again. No amount of coaxing and interrogation got any more information from her. Stirring the packet of BBQ sauce with a chicken tender, Zaira stewed in thought. Irene had said he was out getting something for Valentine’s Day, but was he really?

  “I’ll call him.” She pulled out her own phone and dialed his number. After six rings, it rolled to voicemail, the automated kind that didn’t even give her the luxury of hearing his voice. She slouched in her chair and watched Gabi eat the last crumbs of her food with careful little fingers. “What do you think of Antonio, baby?”

  Gabriela was too absorbed in a smear of ketchup to respond.

  Zaira sighed. “I should have left a message, but what? Hello, you beautiful, perfect man. I’m sorry I was such an idiot, but if you’ll forgive me, I’ll make all your Valentine’s Day wishes come true!”

  Gabi made a snorting sound into her sippy cup and burst out laughing.

  “Yeah, okay. Maybe that was a little over the top.” She opened an app on her phone. “I guess I’d better figure out where this place is and how to get there.” Her eyes widened. “And I’ll need a babysitter, huh?”

  Chapter 13 ~ The Valentine’s Party

  “Where is everybody?” asked Emilio, wide-eyed as he paced down the dim hallway of the Casa.

  “The ESL class ended about half an hour ago, so we’re done for the night.”

  “La Casa after hours. How thrilling,” droned Carlos, flipping on a bank of lights as they entered the Salon de Actividades. “This place is huge. Do we have to decorate the whole thing?”

  “I’ll give you the fun job if you’ll shut your whiny mouth,” said Antonio with a grin. He wasn’t sure which tactic to use on Carlos’ current mood swing.

  “What’s that?”

  “Filling the balloons with helium. Here.” He dropped three bags of decorations onto the floor. “Find the balloons and the ribbons. I’ll go grab the helium tank from my office.” He left the boys to rifle through the sacks while he jogged down the hall, stopping at the Clinica. No word had come in from Zaira about the party, and his stomach churned a little when he saw no sign of the post-it note. Had she read it? Had she replied?

  Picking up speed, he ran to his office, dodging a custodial cart. “Hola, Javier!”

  The janitor glanced up from a pile of wrappers, dust, and small pieces of paper he swept with a wide broom. “Buenas noches.”

  Nothing lay on the floor of Antonio’s office, so Zaira hadn’t slid a response under the door. With one last burst of hope, he pulled out his phone and saw to his dismay that he’d left it on silent all day. There was a missed call from Zaira, but checking, he found no voicemail. That couldn’t be good. She didn’t even leave a message, so it must have been a no.

  Antonio’s heart felt heavier than the helium tank as he made his way back to the activity room. An ache filled him, gnawing a hole in his hope. Had he been crazy to tell Milo and Jill he’d come? Was he about to make a colossal fool of himself in front of his friends and their partners?

  He looked at his brothers, sitting in the middle of an array of poster-board cupids and red streamers. Smiling sadly, he acknowledged that, although he loved them with all his heart, he wanted more. Needed more. If Zaira refused to have anything to do with him…No, he couldn’t imagine it.

  “Okay, come here Carlos. I’ll show you how to fill the balloons.” Now was not the time to brood. He demonstrated how to use the valve on the tank and how far to fill each balloon. Tying it proved trickier, but when he finally secured the first one, he looked around. “I forgot the scissors. We need to cut the curling ribbon and attach it to each balloon.” He handed it to Emilio. “Guard this. I’ll be right back.”

  By the time he returned with the scissors, Carlos and Emilio were rolling on their backs, laughing hysterically in high-pitched, cartoonish voices. Clinging to the ceiling above, seven untethered balloons surrounded a sprinkler spigot.

  “Guys, you’re supposed to tie them to long ribbons, so we can pull them back down again!”

  “Sorry!” squeaked Emilio.

  Carlos sucked a mouthful of helium from a balloon in his hand. “We didn’t know!”

  His soprano tones made Antonio laugh, and he shook his head, reaching for the balloon. Taking a hit of helium, he made a comically angry face. “You guys are fired. I don’t want any mice on my crew.”

  “I’m not a mouse,” protested Carlos, his voice deepening with each word. “I’m a cupid.”

  Emilio shrieked with laughter at the change. “A stupid cupid!”

  Carlos snatched the balloon back from Antonio and fueled himself again. “Are you in love with Zaira Vasquez? Do you need me to shoot her with my arrow of love?” he chirped.

  Antonio flinched at Carlos’ timing and stared up at the balloons trapped on the ceiling. “She might be out of reach,” he said. “Come on. We can’t waste anymore of that stuff. It’s crazy expensive considering it’s fancy air.”

  They spent the next two hours putting up balloons, streamers, cut-outs, and table centerpieces. He thought it might be festive overkill, but the old folks would love it, and he could send home balloons and decorations with anyone who wanted them.

  As the boys wadded up the wrappers for all their supplies into a rolling trash can, Antonio checked his phone for messages one more time. Nothing from Zaira. That had to mean no.

  A text from Jill began with a row of hearts and announced, I am so excited about tomorrow night. Everything is in place. This will be the best day ever. So glad you decided to do this! We are all here for you.

  Antonio groaned and pocketed the phone. Tomorrow night was not going to be the best day ever if Zaira didn’t come, but it was too late to back out now. He’d set the Halseys in a frenzy about this special reunion, and he couldn’t let them down. He’d bring the boys instead.

  Zaira swallowed hard and examined her reflection one more time. Her bridesmaid dress worked perfectly for a semi-formal Valentine’s Day party. At least she knew it would in any other situation, but did celebrities define “semi-formal” differently? Didn’t they wear gowns worth more than her car when they attended red carpet events?

  Her stomach gurgled a complaint, and Tia Julia smirked from the bedroom door. “You need to hurry, or you’ll be late. He’s going to die when he sees you. You’re so beautiful!”

  Her aunt’s Spanish washed over her nerves, soothing her long enough to put on her mascara with a steady hand. Then the panic returned.

  “But he hasn’t called. I’m not sure if he even got my note. He wasn’t at work today again.”

  “Zaira, do you want him?”

  Zaira’s eyes glistened. “I do.”

  Tia Julia’s smile widened. “Then go get him. You’ve got the address. So, meet him there. When you walk in, it’ll be like Cinderella showing up at the ball.” She gestured with her arms for Zaira to hurry. “Do you know the way?”

  “I’ve got the GPS. I’ll be fine.”

  Tia Julia kissed her cheek. “Be careful out there. It’s dark and icy on those windy roads through the mountains.”

  Zaira steadied her trembling hands by clutching her purse. “It’s only about an hour away. Thanks, Tia. I hope I can come home and tell you that Antonio and I are on the right path again. I don’t know how we fell off.”

  Tia Julia shrugged. “Wrong turns. Detours. It doesn’t mean you stay lost forever.” She winked a
nd gently shoved Zaira towards the door. “Go. You don’t want to be fashionably late when you’re going to meet famous people. That’s their job.”

  Zaira laughed and pulled on a black dress coat. It wasn’t nearly protection enough for the conditions outside, but her bright, water-proof coat wouldn’t match at all. She picked up Gabi and kissed her on the forehead. “You be good at Tia’s house, okay? She’s taking you there to see her goldfish and watch a movie.”

  “Go,” said Tia Julia.

  “Are you sure you don’t mind her spending the night at your place?”

  Tia Julia waved her away. “We have no idea how late you’re coming home. It’s better this way. Have a great time. Win the boy back. Call me in the morning.”

  Once in the car, Zaira cranked up the heat, cued the address into her phone, and started the GPS app knowing she wouldn’t be able to stop conveniently to set it once she left Highway 101 to head inland. The creamy female voice guided her through her neighborhood and towards the junction to head east, and Zaira punched her car stereo to life.

  Every station insisted on playing over-the-top romantic songs. The “I’ll die if you leave me” songs. The ones she’d always deemed totally co-dependent and unhealthy. Still, a part of her understood the fear of the void. These past weeks without Antonio close in her life left her feeling numb, which she decided was much worse than lonely. She longed for the connection that only happened with him.

  And yet they’d been unable to connect beyond notes for days.

  Was she a fool to think it meant anything?

  Either way, she had to let him know how she felt. She would lay it all out on the line. If he needed space to think about it or warm up to the idea, she’d give it to him, but she’d leave no mistake in his mind that she wanted him. Loved him.

  If he said there was no chance for anything deeper than friendship, she’d have to…

  She shuddered away this thought and took the exit that led to Salem.

  Antonio smoothed his hands over his suit coat and examined his hair in the bathroom mirror. He felt like he was playing dress-up, pretending to be confident and successful, but his stomach lining felt like it was thinning by the minute.