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“I didn’t realize you were such an expert on God’s proclivities. But if you don’t have the resources to secure Santa Ana’s, I understand.”
It’s somewhat of a low blow, and more than a little manipulative. For a man like Antonio, it’s like hearing,If your dick isn’t big enough, I understand. But I’m not the least bit sorry for the manipulation. Isabel deserves to have her life honored in a place that she held dear.
“I have another piece of news,” he says, choosing to ignore my request, like I might forget about it if he moves on.
Not happening.
“We might have found an assistant for you. After the funeral, you can interview her, and if you like her, she can begin immediately.”
An assistant?It catches me off guard. Of course, I expected that eventually I would have someone, but it’s been the last thing on my mind.You can interview her, and if you like her, she can begin immediately.He’s allowing me to choose my own assistant?How magnanimous. But completely out of character for him.
“I have Paula,” I tell him, dismissing the idea of more change.
“You’ll need some help, especially with Valentina living with us. It’s a large household to run, and we’ll have lots of social obligations to coordinate, especially as it gets closer to the harvest. Paula’s a maid. Nothing more.”
She’s been loyal to me, and I really like her, and I hate the way he dismisses her so easily. “I have a relationship with Paula. She isn’tjust a maid. The people who work for us aren’tjustanything. They’re human beings with full lives beyond your castle.”
“Are you through?”
“For now.”
“What I meant is that Paula has had no experience with the sorts of things that you’ll require. If I’m wrong, let’s hear it.”
The smug bastard knows he’s not wrong.
“Who do you have in mind?”
“Lara Ramos. Do you know her?”
I sort of remember her, but she’s several years older than me. I don’t think we ever exchanged a word. “Not really.”
“Her family has worked for mine for generations. She’s been working in one of the Huntsman offices since she graduated. But I don’t have a horse in this race. The final decision is yours. If you don’t like her, we’ll find someone else.”
He knows her and has decided that she’ll do. Maybe she’ll spy for him—contact him every time I hiccup. “Assistants aren’t like dogs. When one dies, you don’t run out and get another to make you feel better. I’ll speak to Lara, but I don’t want anyone here who I can’t trust.”A part of me already doesn’t trust her.
“Agreed. But I live there too, and I need to be able to trust whoever you choose.”
I live there too.He just handed me an opening. “What time will you be home?”
“I’m staying in the city tonight.”
Really? Why?I feel the jealousy in the pit of my stomach. I could pretend it’s something else, but I don’t. I certainly would never admit it to him, but I won’t lie to myself. “I told Valentina that we’re married, like you wanted. So now you need to behave like a husband.”
“OhPrincesa, is that what you really want?”
I can almost see the smirk and the twinkle in his dark eyes, and my body responds in ways that are impossible to ignore.
“In exchange, will you do your wifely duties? Will you get on your knees and swallow my cock into your pretty little mouth?”
It’s not what I meant. But, yes, I would. There’s no sense in pretending otherwise.
I want him home at night. The house feels safer when he’s home.Ifeel saferwhen he’s home. That’s the truth. Now that he knows about Valentina, about Tomas, his father,the rape, I worry he won’t find his way to our bed as often. Let’s face it, none of it’s a turn-on.What about what happened on the plane?It was an anomaly. He was taking care of me, in the way I took care of him the night before.Paying a debt. That’s all.
He’ll get his needs met elsewhere.In a different pretty mouth.I essentially gave him permission.Why did I do that? How will we ever make a marriage?
If you want a marriage, a family, you’ll have to fight for it.
“Families have dinner together in the evening,” I say with all the allure of a schoolmarm. “They share news of the day. Husbands and wives don’t live separate lives, in separate homes. Those are values I want to instill in Valentina. It’s my responsibility as her mother.”
