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“Thank you so much for the time and the effort to feed us. Now, if you excuse me, it’s time to go back to work.”
“Yes, you do that,” my father’s voice comes from behind the crowd. The mixture of their perfumes and the swirling food scents makes my stomach churn. Or is it the flare of jealousy that’s causing my nausea. It can’t be. I don’t have a claim on David.
My dad continues, “But first, let me see that food.”
Ruthie looks more disappointed by the second. She’s not getting the kind of attention she was looking for. The woman came here looking for a hit. On David. And to be honest, I have to say, the man is wise. He’s behaving like a gentleman, and at the same time, he’s keeping the redhead at arm’s length.
“Pastor Garfield,” Ruthie finally acknowledges my father’s presence. “All of this is for you, too, of course.”
“Yeah, right,” my sister scoffs from behind me. My father’s eyes shine as he looks at me. I know him well. He’s having the time of his life with this absurd situation.
“Having fun?” I ask David when we are close and alone.
“You don’t need to start a pissing contest,” David whispers, and the scent of his cologne tickles my nose and eases my nerves. “You left your prints on me that night, Ella. I can still feel your nails scratching my chest.”
I can’t help it. Heat turns my face warm, and I’m sure my cheeks are redder than a tomato.
“My sister wanted to see my father.” The words come out in a blurt. A while ago, I went to pick up my sister at her home, and as soon as she hopped in my car, she ordered me to drive her here. “The world doesn’t revolve around you, David.”
“Dreaming is free, Ella.” Oh, my name said in that deep voice does things to me.
Stop. This is nonsense. “I have a son. He’s my entire life.”
“My son is lucky to have you as a mother.” Damn it. His praise speeds the drum of my heart. “But you’re also a woman. Never forget that.”
Yes, and for now, that side of me has been dormant, hibernating in an endless winter. Everything inside me was focused on being the kind of mother that my son deserves. Trying blindly to compensate for the fact that his father wasn’t around. Now the sun is back, a hot Latino guy brought it back, and the woman sleeping inside of me is waking up.
“A passionate one, as I recall,” he winks so slightly that it would look like a twitch to anyone else. “I’d like to discover more of that wild side of you, Ella. That night you just gave me a glimpse of it.”
“You’re not playing fair,” I accuse him. My words only make his smile go wider. Cocky, arrogant man.
“In war and love… they say,” he replies. “See you later,gatita.The crew is waiting for me.”
Chapter Eight
David
After she opens the front door, I nod. “Hey.”
I’m rewarded with the mother of all eye rolls.
“How nice of you to come here unannounced.” She’s wearing black leggings and a tight T-shirt with the quoteI don’t give a duckin bold white letters. My mouth waters, remembering my lips all over her soft skin.
Soon. Patience.I have to remind myself. This isn’t about fucking all night long. It’s about finding a new life. And well, all the fucks too. I like her—a whole lot—but I also want to fuck the shit of her.
“I told you earlier I was coming here.” Her lips are in a flat line. Then her green eyes spark. Her golden hair is messy, and I want to run my fingers over those strands, making it even messier. “Oh yeah,” she admits in a growl. “You told me. See you later.”
“See,” a smile pulls up my lips. “I told you I was coming.”
I’m graced with another eyeroll. This woman will be the end of me. For a minute, her eyes roam across my body, then stop on the bag hanging from one of my hands.
“I’m not going to cook for you.”
“Good,” I reply, taking a couple of steps away, amble to her kitchen, and start unpacking the groceries onto the countertop. The space is an open floorplan, so I can see her standing at the same spot, with the doorknob still in her hand. The place smells like she just finished cleaning. “I plan to do it.”
She looks at me with narrowed eyes. “I’m not into that rabbit shit you should eat to keep that body of yours.”
Ah, so she has noticed. I turn to look at her, my hand patting the muscles of my flat stomach. “I’m glad you approve.”
