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His eyes lift from scanning the menu. "Maybe I want a gorgeous woman to stalk me. Trust me, I don't mind."
The energy shifts around us. My eyes focus on the basket of tortilla chips, letting his words mix with the flutters in my belly.
"Is that so?"
He reaches inside the basket and takes a chip. My eyes lift, watching him place it in his mouth. "I'm different,'' he says between bites. "It's a shame you've wasted your time." He scans the menu and quickly changes the subject. "What's your favorite?"
''Cheese enchiladas, no sauce.''
The waiter appears with our cokes, and he orders for us.
I have wasted my time. I think about the times I would dress up and wear makeup for him. Planned everything around his schedule so I can be available. There was nothing I wouldn't do for Santiago. I was too blind to see there was nothing he would do for me.
I try not to stare at her. To think about her, but ever since she arrived at the house on the east, she's all I think about.
I wanted to shoot my guys between the eyes for pulling a gun on her. I almost did.
I was in a mood after she peeled out. I hated myself for talking to her like that, for treating her like shit.
When I got home, I wanted nothing more than to tell her I was sorry. Nothing else mattered. I could only see Elena's beautiful brown eyes, different from her father's. What I see in them reminds me of my mother. That tortured look of loving someone who doesn't remember that you exist.
My brother is an idiot. The first time I saw her cry in her car, watching my brother with another girl, brought back all the memories of when I was a little kid seeing my mother cry. It was instinct to wipe her tears. It was the attraction burning in my gut to taste them. To taste anything that was Elena Sincere.
"Does your mom and dad know?" I ask, chewing on a tortilla.
"About?"
"Us." Her fork pauses in midair.There will be an us. She needs to get over my brother first. "You"––I swallow––"working with me."
I watch her tongue lick the cheese off her lips.
"Not yet," she says, "my grandfather said to leave it up to him to break the news to my parents."
"You think they will be upset?"
I'm not sure how badly they wanted her with my brother, but I hope they will accept her decision for my sake. I get that they chose my brother instead of me because of our age difference.
I try to rein in the attraction. To brush it off. I tried last night with Leti, and I couldn't touch her. I told her whatever we had was over. She left crying and knew the reason. Leti isn't stupid. Ever since Elena showed up, I haven't slept with her or anyone.
I talked to Leti's brother, Angel. I told him I ended it with her. He looked sullen, but theVatounderstood. I never promised his sister, Leti, anything. She was willing, and I'm a man. She knew what getting involved with me would be like. She knew I slept with the other girls. I've slept with her friends. Three at the same time. It wasn't a secret. I have needs like all the Kings, but my ending it with her meant I didn't care if she slept with anyone else. It also meant I wasn't interested in sleeping with her.
I'm interested in the woman of my dreams eating before me, nursing a broken heart.
She swallows. "My dad will understand. My mom"–– she pauses––"I hope your mom and her will get over it. I hate to disappoint them, but I need to do what's right for us."
Shit. I forgot about mom and how she wanted Elena to marry my brother.
I snort. "You meanUs,like you and my brother."
"What?"
I shake my head. "After everything, you still think of what would be best for him. How selfless."
"He will always be my friend, Maxim. Like you."
I feel like she kicked me under the table. My eyes land on her lips. I can't help it. I want to see how soft they are. How wide I make her mouth go.
I lean close and rub my thumb over the top of her hand. She doesn't pull away. She doesn't tell me to stop. She stares at my thumb, and we both watch the tiny bumps appear on her skin.
