Tenderly, Aidan kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her lips. “You know I will. And if you need me, just pick up the phone. Alright?”
“Yes. Alright.”
Gently, reluctantly, he released her. His eyes met Maria’s, and he smiled.
“Have a good night, ladies. I’ll be back around two o’clock, I figure… I’ll try not to wake y’all up when I come in.”
They watched him walk out the door, looked at each other. Maria moved to the kitchen, and started to take down plates and tea cups.
“You hungry?” she asked Gabi. “I brought lots.”
“Hell, yeah,” Gabi said. “Let’s pile the plates high, OK? Totally pig out and gain ten pounds?”
Maria laughed, and started to dish out generous portions of saffron rice. “Aidan and Dillon will love that, huh?”
“They sure will. They love us curvy.” Gabi poured the boiling
