Page 120 of Vow

This man—like a lot of the others sitting at the table—was a whole other kind of mystery to Haven. She didn’t know what to make of him, and more often than not, when he stared at her … she wondered if he was trying to figure out her secrets, or just size her up because he could.

He was polite.

Nice.

He was not the same arrogant man who cornered her in her club months ago, and pissed her off without barely trying at all. He was welcoming, and even comfortable to talk to. Yet, at the same time, she didn’t know what to make of him.

“Her cancer came back,” Haven explained.

“Merda,” Dante murmured.

“No cussing at the table, Dante!”

Catrina gave Haven a sly grin as Dante shot his mother an apologetic look down the table.

“Le mie scuse, Ma,” he said, and then when his mother’s gaze was turning away he added under his breath to his wife, “She doesn’t miss a fucking click.”

“You know better than to try,” Catrina replied, laughing.

Haven smiled.

She couldn’t help it.

Dante was quick to go back to their first conversation. “What was that I heard about a missed flight, then?”

“It’s nothing.”

Catrina shook her head. “Not nothing. She was supposed to fly back to Florida this evening … to stay with her parents.” The red-headed woman shrugged one shoulder, and nodded in Andino’s direction, adding, “I think that’s changed for reasons … right?”

Haven sighed. “It’s a work in progress.”

The woman nodded. “It’s changed, then.”

Dante chuckled at the way Catrina didn’t even act like Haven had given a non-answer. His expression softened as he glanced at Haven again. “They must be angry—”

“They’re not, actually. They just want me to be happy.”

The man looked her over in a whole new way, then, before his daughter down the table caught his attention for a brief moment. “Don’t we all? I’m sure they’d still like to see you, though. Especially now.”

“I’ll figure something out. See if I can get the tickets changed over, or I’ll just grab a new flight.”

“No need,” Dante said quickly. “Tomorrow, there’ll be a private jet waiting for you to use as much as you want over the next several months, so you can see your mother as often as you please. I’m sure that would make her smile. And she’ll need that with all the treatments, won’t she?”

Haven blinked. “What?”

Dante smiled slowly. “You heard me, I’m sure.”

She had, but still …

“You don’t need to—”

“Do you think Andino won’t provide you with the exact same thing? Trust that it’s already in his plans, and I have simply saved him money and time as I am the one who owns the jet in this family.”

“First of all,” Catrina said, “that is my jet.”

The man leaned over, and kissed the woman on the top of her head. “Yes, Cat, it is your jet. Retract the claws, now.”

Catrina smiled, pleased, and then turned on Haven. “But yes, you can take it as often and as much as you would like. Consider it … a welcoming present.”