Page 47 of Vicious Temptation

“You do. I saw you.” She turns back to Estela. “I saw her.”

This is getting worse by the second.

“Why haven’t you told me? This is great news,” Estela says, already co-signing Zara with an eager nod.

I press two fingers to my temple. “News? There’s no news. It was just one kiss. It meant nothing, and I haven’t even seen him in almost a week. There’s absolutely nothing to tell.”

Estela studies me with narrowed eyes, then turns to the little traitor. “Chiquita, go to my room and grab my purse. It’s in the first drawer of the nightstand by my bed. We have to run to the market to pick up something for dinner. Think you can do that?”

“Yes!” Zara hops off her stool and runs out of the kitchen.

I wait until she disappears down the hall, then turn back to Estela. “Before you ask, Thiago is no one.”

Fuck, I broke my own rule and said his name.

“I’ve known you for most of your life, Remi, and something about that boy has you all frazzled, tripping over your feet as you try to explain him away. Is that who you were daydreaming about?”

First of all, frazzled? When has she ever used that word? Second, no one is tripping over anything. And how the hell did she catch me daydreaming about Texas sunsets?

“Estela, I promise that the day I find the love of my life—or even a friend with benefits⁠—”

She swats me with a rag.

“—you’ll be the first to know.”

“It’s all I ask,” she says, cupping my cheeks. “You’re too pretty para quedarte vistiendo santos.⁠*”

I groan and roll my eyes. Some old traditions and ways of thinking really need to die, preferably before Estela decides it’s her mission to marry me off.

She keeps going on about finding a good man and eventually having babies, a conversation that sends chills down my spine, but I’m only half-listening when several texts fire off from my back pocket.

Callahan: Remi

Callahan: 911

Callahan: City inspector’s here. Says the ventilation system isn’t up to code. Need you to come deal with him.

Me: That’s bullshit. Everything is up to code. What’s he talking about?

Callahan: Won’t say. Just keeps asking for the owner.

Of course he is.

I stare at the screen, irritation erasing every thought of Thiago, marriage, and babies.

Me: Okay. I’m heading out now.

I slip my phone back into my pocket and push off the counter just as Zara dashes back into the kitchen.

“Come with us, Remi. Let’s go to the market with Estela.”

“I’m sorry, menace.” I shake my head and reach for my keys. “I’ve gotta run back to the range. Some work stuff came up that might take a while.”

Her shoulders sag. “Wait, what about your cookies?”

“Next time, Z.” I tip her chin up and press a kiss on her forehead. “Do me a favor, though. Keep an eye on Estela.”

I look over at Estela and shoot her a quick wink. “She gets distracted sometimes and wanders off, so make sure you hold her hand tight and don’t leave her side. Just in case.”