Wild Hearts

Chapter One

Not edited

Chapter One

      "Tía Isabella, you have got to stop eavesdropping on all of my conversations." Antonio drawled out as he slipped his phone back into his pant pocket as his aunt emerged from around the corner.

She held her hands up sheepishly. "Well, excuse me. I heard you talking to a woman, and I got curious is all."

He watched as she dropped her hands back to her side, her long black hair falling to her waist in soft curls. "Sure you were. As nosey as always." He commented, leading her to the front door of his restaurant.

     "Who was the woman anyways?" She asked, as they walked.

       "A good friend from college."

"Not a girlfriend? Or at least a love interest?" She questioned desperately.

      "No." He told her simply, "She made a cake for mom's birthday tomorrow. She told me that she wouldn't be able to deliver it to me tonight, so she asked her cousin to bring it by on her way home." He said, glancing at his watch. "She'll probably be here within the next hour."

His aunt pursed her lips, her bright red lipstick showing. "You're never any fun." She told him, before sighing. "But okay, I'll see you at the party tomorrow. Have a good night and try not to stay up here too long." She instructed him, "You work too much, even after closing time."

He nodded. "Don't worry, I won't. You be safe on your way home, okay?" He called after her as she got into her car and pulled out of the parking lot. He locked the front door behind her, and flicked off a couple of the lights before heading back to the kitchen.

He could get the dessert tray ready for tomorrow while he waited for Margot's cousin to arrive. He had always wondered what sort of lady she was. He had never met the woman, but Margot had often brought her up in every conversation she had had with him. He didn't mind it though, he enjoyed hearing about her, and the way Margot scrunched up her nose whenever she talked about her 'Younger cousin's nonexistent dating life.'

Lynett. It was a simple name, yet unique, and he often liked hearing it.

Margot claimed they were more of best friends than cousins, but the way she always talked about her made it sound as if she was more of a sister than a best friend.

He smiled as he thought of Margot. She was a joy to be around, and unpredictable at best, and her little girl, Amy, was precious. He prayed that one day Margot would meet a man who could keep up with her enthusiasm and unpredictability, as well as be a real father to her daughter.  He was sure that man would come along one day, it would just take some time.

He pulled out a baking sheet and a pan, as he got ready to get started. If he was being honest with himself, he also prayed that one day he would find a woman worth falling in love with. A woman who brought even more light to his already bright and beautiful life. Not one that was impressed by the fact that he owned a restaurant and that he and his family were well off, but a woman who would love him, and who wasn't afraid to let him love her with his entire being.

He had so much loved stored up, and he was dying to find someone that he could finally express that love to and who would accept it wholeheartedly without any doubts.

He smiled as he rolled some dough. He would never label himself as a romantic, but the idea of loving someone unconditionally did seem nice. He wouldn't mind having someone to settle down with and share his life with.

His mother had always thought that Margot would be that someone, but both he and Margot had come to the conclusion that they would never be anything more than friends. There had never been any inkling of romance between the two, just friendly chemistry at most.

As he got the dessert ready to go in the oven, he heard a knock come from the front door of the restaurant. Hmm, that was fast. He thought, glancing at the clock on the wall. He dusted off his hands and headed to the front door to see if it was Margot's cousin.

He felt anticipation slowly bubbling deep down inside his chest as he came closer and closer to meeting the woman that his friend had always talked about, the woman that he had heard about for years but had never once met.

Lynett.