Page 83 of No Merciful Corruption

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I drop my keys on the kitchen counter as Alejandro says, “How was it?”

I remove my sunglasses and hat. “I pushed our cousin Yulissa into Brent’s plot.”

He chuckles until his face drops. “Wait, are you serious?”

“Yes.” I walk over and wrap his arms around me. “We were on our way to the car when Kay noticed Yulissa was making a scene. So I climbed back up the hill and pushed her in.”

He tsks. “Naughty, naughty girl.”

I whistle between my teeth. “I like it when you call me that.”

He leans down to kiss me and I rise to the tips of my toes to meet him. It’s enough to melt the stress of the day away.

“You’re so domesticated.” I murmur against his lips and he laughs. “Whenever I’m looking for you, I always check the kitchen first.”

“I like it. It’s therapeutic.” He catches loose curls and tucks them behind my ears. “Where’s Kay?”

“Went upstairs to get some rest…” I rest my head against his chest and listen to his heartbeat. “Today was hard.”

“I can imagine.”

“Maybe I was a little hard, too. I stressed out Karina and I shouldn’t have.”

He runs a soothing hand over my hair. “Why?”

“Brent’s mom is a piece of work. I threatened to sue her.”

“And?”

I frown and look at him. “Why do you assume there’s more?”

He smiles. “Because with you there always is. What did you do?”

My chin tilts defiantly. “I threatened to smack her silly.”

His chest rumbles with laughter. “That’s my girl.”

“Whatever. She deserved it. I’m only sorry I bothered Karina. The whole thing really upset her…” I sigh. “Do you think I’m too much?”

“Maybe for a lesser man. I like the challenge and you’re worth the headache.”

I barely manage a scoff to convey my irritation but a smile fights its way through. I can’t help myself. He’s just too damn good.

“Please, for the love of God, my eyesight!”

Lettie saunters into the room with more bags strung up and down her arms than a store mannequin. “I can feel the Ceasar salad crawling its way back up my throat.”

I turn in Alejandro’s embrace and he keeps his arms tightly wrapped around me. “One day, Lettie, you’ll be in love. And I’ll have the satisfaction of saying I told you so.”

Her nose crinkles. “I hope someone shoots me first.”

“What are the bags for?” Alejandro asks.

Lettie’s expression becomes incandescent. A smile I’ve never seen before lights up her face as she holds them up like trophies. “Toys for the nursery!”

She sets them down on the island and goes through the bags one by one, squealing with excitement. Soon after, Lyss gets home from work and shows off the onesies and socks she bought during her lunch break. Doña Ana comes upstairs and helps Alejandro with dinner and eventually, Karina comes downstairs after her nap, joined by Diego. Lyss and Lettie inundate her with toys and baby clothes and she manages to smile. Watching them delight over the upcoming birth is more happiness than has been present in this home, in this family, for a while and I think about what Alejandro told me.