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His accent was heavy as he said, “I’m good, Ms. Holtz, but I’d be more than happy to escort you inside.”
Shaking my head at the weirdness of the situation, I looked both ways before crossing the parking lot. “So, tell me about yourself, Tino. Are you a cupcake or a brownie kind of man?”
Chapter 7
As I pulled up the circular drive that graced the entrance of the Cordova’s mission style mansion, I spotted Ramón’s brother Diego waiting for me at the black wrought iron and weathered oak front doors. Dressed in a pair of pale khaki pants, shiny and no doubt expensive black shoes, and a tailored heather gray cotton button up shirt, he looked like he belonged in a men’s magazine ad selling expensive watches. While Ramón had more of a rugged quality to his good looks, Diego’s face was more sculpted, his lips thinner and his nose more hawkish.
After I got out of the car, Diego quickly made his way over to me then stopped with a small half-bow, his long black braid falling over his shoulder. “Madam.”
“Hi, Diego.”
Clutching my hand in his, he gave me a teasing grin, then sighed. “You know my name.”
I couldn’t help but laugh while tugging my hand back. “Of course I do.”
“My life is complete.” His phone rang and he gave me an exasperated look. “Excuse me for a moment,” he murmured before pulling out his phone. He told someone on the other end that I was there, with him, and I was fine.
When he hung up, I arched a brow and asked, “Ramón?”
Diego nodded then opened the front door of the house. Cool air from inside rushed over us smelling faintly of flowers and spice. “Good guess.”
A little shiver ran over me as we left the heat of the day behind and entered the silent coolness of the mansion. The foyer was large, two story, and a variety of hallways branched off it. Bright and bold art hung from the walls, while a huge red, white, and black Navajo rug muffled our footsteps as we crossed the circular space to one of the hallways. Family pictures adorned the walls and I had to keep myself focused on Diego, when all I wanted to do was stop and check out pictures of Ramón when he was a kid.
Giving Diego a distracted smile, I fiddled with my purse. “I’m sorry, he’s a little overprotective.”
“I’ve never seen him like this with a woman before,” Diego grinned at me again and this time his face held a trace of real warmth. “It’s been fun watching him drive himself crazy over you. Never thought I’d see Ramón this obsessed with anyone.”
“He’s not obsessed with me.”
“He’s totally obsessed. Never seen him like this with a girl before. Joy and Ramón, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First—”
I gave him a hard shove with my shoulder. “Shut it.”
Diego started to hum the wedding march while I sighed.
I secretly liked the idea that Ramón didn’t have a habit of sweeping women off their feet. “We’ve only known each other a few days. I’m sure as soon as he gets to know me, he’ll be running for the hills.”
“Yeah, I don’t see that happening. Welcome to the family.”
His words caused me to stumble on the edge of a carpet. He grabbed my elbow, helping me steady myself as I glared at him. “You’re all crazy.”
The smug smile that he gave me was just like Ramón’s. “Ask my mom about the legend of the first kiss.”
Rolling my eyes, I spotted Mrs. Cordova approaching us with a tight smile. Wearing a retro bronze dress that would have been perfect on Jacki-O, she looked like a million bucks. But…something about her seemed off. Her dark eyes were as emotionless glass doll eyes. Then, like a switch flipping, she smiled and the ominous air left her like mist burning off in the morning sun. The change was so quick I wondered if I’d imagined it as she gathered me into a warm hug.
“Joy, it’s so good to see you.”
Pulling back, I brushed aside my worries into my increasingly full mental box labeled ‘shit to deal with later.’
“It’s nice to see you as well, Mrs. Cordova.”
“Please, call me Judith.” She slowly scanned me then frowned, her large ruby ring flashing as she gestured to my face. “You’ve been crying.”
“I—”
Before I could say anything, Diego quickly spoke up. “Ramón was his usual charming self. No big deal, right, Joy?”
Put on the spot, I tried to find my backbone as they both stared at me, each seemingly trying to read my thoughts through sheer will alone. “Uh, yeah.”
Her peach-frosted lips thinned. “What did my son do?”
Diego started to speak again, but she held up her hand in an imperious gesture that silenced him. “I was speaking with Joy.”
“Really, it’s no big deal.” Her creepy vibe was back, and I quickly tried to defuse the situation. “There was a misunderstanding on my part, but I talked with Ramón and cleared it up. Look, I’m really here to see Hannah. I don’t care if she’s sleeping. I won’t disturb her, but I have to see her. She’s…well, she’s pretty much my sister, and I’m worried about her.”
