Page 182 of Damián

Oh, no…

Panic spikes in my chest, and I immediately start to defend my man. “Mamá, I swear Oliver is a good man. You just need to talk to him to see—”

“Damián,” she interrupts, putting a hand on my arm. “Oliver went against his own family to save mine. He almost died saving my grankid… And if that wasn’t enough, he makes my son happy. That is all I need to know to see he is a good man, no matter who his family was.”

I blink, catching the past tense. “Was?”

“He is our family now,” she says, then looks out toward the living room and smiles. “Besides, he is way too cute, mijo. Good job.”

“So… my boyfriend is now family just because he’s cute?” I tease.

“No, that’s just the plus. He is family because my son is in love with him,” she says, and my face burns hot.

I blush like a damn teen, looking around the kitchen in a sudden panic, as if the walls just broadcasted our conversation to Fer and Ollie outside.

“How did you know?”

“Because I am your mother, Damián.” She laughs. “Besides, I always knew that whoever you finally introduced to us would be someone you loved dearly.” I glance back through the doorway to make sure Oliver is still on the couch and out of earshot.

He is.

He’s sitting just as quiet and stiff as before, locked in a staring match with my sister Fernanda.

“He doesn’t know yet,” I admit to my ma. “So please don’t tell him… or Fer.”

“Not my place,” she says, before picking up the plate of cookies and the tray of tea. “Now, let’s go outside before Oliver gets completely spooked by your sister.”

We walk back into the living room, setting the tray of tea and the plate of decorated cookies onto the coffee table. I immediately slide onto the couch next to Oliver, letting my side press against his to calm him.

It works.

My mamá sits and smiles at my man. “Welcome to the family, Oliver. I am very happy to finally meet Damián’s partner.”

“I really hope you have a lot of patience, Oliver,” Fernanda adds, crossing her arms. “You’ll definitely need it if you’re planning to stay with my brother. He is a handful on a good day.”

“Hey!” I protest. “What are you talking about? I am freaking adorable.”

“Sure you are,” Fer turns to Ollie, while pointing a finger at me. “So, how did you two meet anyway? How did you end up with this carb-eating monster?”

“Oliver tried to kill me,” I say, and my man chokes on a cookie.

“¡What?!” My mother gasps in horror, and Oliver smacks my arm.

“No, I didn’t!” he glares, his cheeks flushing. He looks back at my mother, completely earnest. “Damián thought I was going to kill him, but I was actually the informant he was hired to find.”

“¡Uhhh! ¡Office romance!” My mom claps her hands together, her eyes lighting up. “Just like in my novel!”

“No, no, Ma. I don’t work for Oliver,” I clarify, shaking my head. “He is helping with the case.”

“What case?” Fernanda asks. Beside me, I feel Ollie tense up instantly.

Yeah… maybe he doesn’t want to talk about the case.

Especially not after today.

“None of your business, sis.”

“It’s okay…” Oliver mumbles, cutting in. He then takes a breath, bracing himself. “A case against my father.”