I blink. “Which is what?”
“Do you like her? A lot? Or are you friends?”
I cough and shake my head. Okay. He’s got me there.
“Honestly, I like her, but friendship is all she’s ready for right now.”
“Mmm hmm,” he says, nodding like this is what he expected.
I glower. “You have a point, Papi?”
His sarcastic smile slips. “She’s white.”
I nod. “Yeah, I noticed.” Now, I’m the one wearing a sarcastic smile. I’d figured he’d have an opinion about this. I hadn’t expected him to come out and say something. Millie wouldn’t be the first white girl I’ve dated—if we were actually dating, which we’re not—but she’s the first one I’ve brought to a holiday dinner. Dating or no.
In fact, the only other girl I’ve ever brought to a holiday gathering was Ronni. And I brought her to all of them. For four years in a row.
Papi’s eyes become slits. “And she’s a client.”
This one hits me below the belt.
If he doesn’t like me being with Millie because she’s white, that’s his problem. He’ll have to deal with it. If he thinks I’m crossing a line because she’s a client, well, he’s not the only one.
“Like I said, she’s just a friend.” Who I’ve kissed. Twice. And slept next to. And seen in her underwear.
And I’d give my eyeteeth to do all of the above on a regular basis.
His sarcastic smile is definitely gone now. “You said she doesn’t want you. You should leave her be—”
My skin erupts in heat, and almost without knowing it, I switch to Spanish.“I said she’s not ready for more than that right now. She’s been through a lot.”
His brows lower and his hands open in concession.“Mami told me. I was sorry to hear about her parents.”Papi crosses himself, and I know his words are genuine. I cross myself too, with a prayer for the repose of Eloise and Hudson Delacroix’s souls and the peace and sustenance of their children.“Just remember, that business still has my name on it. Be careful what kind of reputation you build with it. People aren’t hiring you for that.”
I flinch at this.“It’s not like that, Papi,”I say, scowling.“And as for our reputation, nothing’s changed. Nothing’s going on and no one would know if it were.”
His brow shoots up in doubt.“Your men don’t know? They don’t see you ‘being friends’ with this woman?”Papi uses air quotes when he says this, and while his tone pisses me off, I can’t lie. My stomach bottoms out a little because as discreet as I’ve tried to be, Donner and Sam have to have noticed something. And if they have, it’s possible some of the other guys know it too.
But really, what would they have noticed? Me staring after Millie? Me sticking around after they leave? Me making sure none of them sets foot in the laundry room to access the breaker box in case some of her thongs are lying around?
The best they’d be able to tell would be that I have a thing for her. Neither one of them know I spent the night Tuesday. Just Millie and the kids know that.
Shit.
The kids. Mattie and Harry are hanging out with Alex right now.
Papi’s eyes narrow on me in scrutiny.“You know how long it took me to get back into this country and start that business?”
This, too, hits below the belt.“You know I do, Papi.”And if he hadn’t gotten sick, he’d still be running the show. Not me. And he never lets me forget it.
“So have a care with what I’m leaving to you and your brother.”
His words burn like cinders in the pit of my stomach. I’ve had enough of this conversation. But I refuse to give him the last word.
“I’m taking care of it, Papi. But the business isn’t the only thing I want to take care of.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
MILLIE
