by Cari Quinn
“What? We were…”
“Hanging out,” she said helpfully.
“Right.” Rafe cleared his throat. “Hanging out. And she bugged me for some of your cooking.”
Rosa looked from her to Rafe then back again. “Hmm.”
“What?” Rafe pulled at the collar of his shirt.
Rosa came over to Hollie and looped her arm around her hip. “It’s nice to see you again, querida.”
Her heart lurched. It had been a very long time since Rafe’s mother had called her that. Not since she was a kid. “What smells so awesome?”
“Always thinking with your belly.” Rosa patted Hollie’s middle. “Nice and firm though. You know I just started taking a spin class. What do you do?”
She laughed. “Yoga and beat the crap out of a punching bag.”
“Well it’s working. You look amazing sweetie.”
Rafe frowned. “Will you two be okay for a few minutes. I have to go do a work…”
Rosa shooed him off. “Don’t worry about us Rafael.” She nodded at Hollie “We’ll be fine right?”
“Absolutely.”
Rafe went through the doors across the restaurant to the office. She followed Rosa through the swinging doors. “Oh, man. That sauce smells amazing. What is it?”
“A pineapple chile sauce. Rafe’s favorite actually. Let me show you.” Rosa pulled an apron off the hook by the door and handed it to Hollie. “Always good to know how to make a dish, querida.”
“Oh. Um, sure.” She tied the long white apron over her jeans and red “Fight Evil, Read Books” long sleeved T-shirt. Her phone buzzed from her back pocket.
Her heart raced at the number on the screen. “I have to take this really quick.”
Rosa went to the stove with a nod.
Hollie went back through the swinging doors to the main part of the restaurant. “Hello?”
“Miss Bennett?”
“This is she.” Oh, my God she was going to stroke out.
“This is Matthew Perry from Hilltop Apartments. Your number was pulled from our randomizer.”
“Wow. That’s great. I thought they weren’t pulling numbers for another few weeks.”
“Yes, one of the tenants we’d contacted no longer needed the apartment. Are you available to move in?”
“Yes!” Hollie cleared her voice and forced herself to put her librarian voice back on. “Yes. I’m very interested.”
“Good, good. That’s wonderful. Just come on into the business office and we’ll get your contract finalized. Since you’ve been pre-screened you’ll just need a certified check for your security. You can start moving in on the first of March.”
“Oh, wow. Okay. I have everything ready. Thank you so much for your call.”
“Have a good day, Miss Bennett. And welcome to the Hilltop family.”
“Thank you.” She ran back across the room and through the door. “Oh, my God. You’ll never believe what just happened?”
“From your bouncy voice, I’m assuming that was a welcome phone call?”
“Yes. So very welcome.”
“Well, good. Come over here and help me with these tortillas and tell me all about it.”
“Gladly.”
11
He couldn’t concentrate for shit.
For the first time in his life, he was ditching the paperwork he’d brought with him to the restaurant to spend time with a girl. Two girls, in this case. His mama as well.
Exhaling, he shoved his paperwork into his messenger bag and stood. He wasn’t getting much done, and it wasn’t just because of the happy hum of music and voices around him. It was pretty much useless for him to try to accomplish anything today, since his mind was occupied elsewhere.
He rose and followed the sounds of music and laughter back to the kitchen of Rosa’s. On the way, Juanita, one of the waitresses, came out carting a tray of drinks. She must’ve just showed up for her shift.
“Rafe, my boy! So long since I’ve seen you. Dios mio, you don’t call, you don’t write.” Somehow she managed to balance the tray of glasses and reached out to pinch his cheek. “You’re pale. You never see the sunlight anymore, up in that ivory tower of yours.”
He laughed and leaned in to buss her cheek. He’d known Juanita forever. “How are you, sweetheart? Are you ever going to leave that husband of yours and marry me?”
“Oh, I don’t know. You’re just a young buck. I need someone with experience.” She winked and pinched him again. “But you know, that pretty little blond back in the kitchen, she might be perfect for you. She’s so bubbly.”
He fought a smile. “Bubbly is the perfect word to describe Hol. But sometimes those bubbles get a little dark around the edges,” he said, thinking of her wicked sarcastic streak.
One of the things he loved most about her, though there were so many.
“Maybe, but she and your mama have been like this today.” She twined her fingers together. “Cooking together, laughing together, having a grand time. Your mother, she adores that girl you know.”
Was he imagining things or was Juanita giving him the look? The pointed one that meant she’d picked up some kind of vibes between him and Hollie?
Not more vibes. They were freaking everywhere lately.
“Yes, she does. She always has. Hollie was the only Bennett she ever liked.” As soon as he said the words, he shook his head. “Correction, she liked Wade, but she thought he’d be a risk for Charli because musicians are flakes. With Colt, she had her doubts about him, but she knew he’d be a good provider.”
And he was babbling. Like an oversexed, happy idiot.
He was, he realized. He was actually oversexed and happy.
Praise the Lord.
Juanita adjusted her grip on the tray. “Don’t let your mama hear me saying this, but if you ask me, you always cared a bit too much about what she thought.”
He blinked. Juanita was one of his mother’s closest friends. “Say what?”
“She’s your mother. That means she has set ideas about what is good for you. Her heart is always in the right place, but you still need to figure out your own. Charli, she knew she had to make her own way.”
“I’ve made my own way. I’m not some mama’s boy.”
Okay, so maybe he was in some ways, in that he respected her and listened a lot to what she had to say. But he wasn’t controlled by her. He did his own thing. Made up his own mind.
Let the things she’d said about your father rule you for most of your life.
“You were always such a good boy.” Juanita sighed and tapped his arm. “Be bad for a change, Rafael.”
When she walked away, he shook his head. The world had truly spun off its axis.
He walked into the kitchen and found Hollie bouncing up and down beside his mother. They were both at the stove, and aromatic smoke was curling up from what looked to be a pan of meat and veggies. Both women were laughing.
“I can’t believe it. I’ve been on the waiting list forever. I’m so excited. Mama Rosa, I’ll get to have my own kitchen! No more sharing. My dad’s an ice cream thief.”
Her excitement made him smile, until what she’d said kicked in. No more sharing. Was she leaving him?
Leaving Quinn, not him. She wasn’t his.
Rafe set down his messenger bag on a nearby table. “Where are you going?” he asked, unable to wait for a better time to enter the conversation.
Maybe she didn’t belong to him, but God, when she turned to glance his way, his heart kicked so hard in his chest he wouldn’t have been able to swear by it.
She sure as hell felt like his. Especially after last night.
“I’ve been on the waiting list for that new apartment building that’s almost finished being built. I finally got in. Someone backed out.” Hollie jogged over to him, skidding toward him on her sneakers. “Isn’t that awesome?”
“The Hilltop?” he questioned, though of course it was that one. Quinn didn’t have that many new sprawlin
g apartment buildings going up at any given time.
“Yes.”
“That’s fabulous, Hol.” Without thinking, he pulled her against his chest and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, only realizing what he’d done when he caught his mother’s eye.
Yeah, he was doing terrific with the whole being circumspect thing.
Not so much.
His mother waved the tuning fork in her hand. “That building is one of the biggest to be built here in a very long time. Quinn is expanding. And you know who is responsible for a lot of that, don’t you, querida? “
“I do.” Hollie eased back and patted his chest. “This one right here. Wait a second, did your company design my new building too?”
He nodded, feeling like a proud little kid with an A report card. “Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Hollie slugged his arm hard enough to leave a bruise, and he laughed. “Dumbass. Always keeping everything to yourself.” She gripped his hand and turned toward his mother, who was watching this sequence of events with a bemused smile. “How do you deal with him, Mama Rosa?”
“I’ll tell you a secret.” She plucked up a piece of meat from her pan with her fork and walked over to them, holding out the utensil to Rafe. He leaned in and snagged the meat. “Men are controlled by two things. Well, three. Since he’s my son, I only worried about the food end. Keep him well fed and you’ll never have a problem.”
Hurriedly, he finished chewing and swallowed. “Mama, don’t misunderstand, we’re not—”
But both women ignored him. “Really? Two other things?” Hollie asked, tapping her chin. “I only know of the one that every woman knows.”
“Ah yes, querida. That one is a definite.” His mother smiled and Rafe wished he was anywhere but there.
Maybe back in bed with Hollie riding him. That would be just fine.
Then again, that proved his mother’s point, didn’t it? Give a guy good sex and he was putty.
But it wasn’t just that. He could’ve had that with other women. But no other woman would challenge him about everything. No other woman would pester him with random facts about well…everything. There definitely was no other woman who would make his mother positively beam with pride.
His mother was suspicious of everyone on the planet—except evidently Hollie Bennett.
“C’mon, help me out,” Hollie pressed. “What’s the other one?”
His mother turned back to the stove, smiling faintly. “Control of the remote.”
“Ooh, good one.” Hollie cocked her head at Rafe. “You don’t care about TV, do you? Other than catching a few of the games.”
“I watch other things,” he replied, trying to pretend his ears weren’t burning.
“Ah yes, mijo, you should tell her. Let her know what she’s in for.”
“She’s not in for anything, because—”
“Mama Rosa, now I gotta know.” Hollie left him to go pull on his mother’s sleeve. His mother only laughed. “I need an ace in the hole.”
“Okay, okay. Since he won’t tell you, I will.”
“Fine.” Rafe sighed and tipped back his head. “I watch Una Familia Con Suerte,” he muttered. “A telenovela.”
“What’s that?”
“Mexican soap opera,” his mother said, turning her head to laugh into her shoulder.
“Wow. Really?” Hollie whirled back to him. “So you get off on lots of crying and rampant sex?”
“Male,” his mother reminded her. “The last is a given.”
“True.”
“Come here,” he growled to Hollie. He didn’t even care if his mother got ideas about them being a couple anymore.
All he cared about was pinkening Hollie’s tight little ass with the flat of his hand.
She strolled over to him, two flags of color high on her cheeks. “It’s cute,” she protested.
“Mijo!” his mother said, but he was focused on Hollie.
Hollie laughed as he swung her in and out to the jovial Spanish music playing over the speakers, but he made the mistake of glancing up at his mother.
And saw horror cross her face before she turned back to the stove.
She’d thought he was really angry, that he might hit Hollie. That was why she’d called out to him. As if he ever could strike her.
Isn’t spanking the same?
No. No, it was not the same thing, and last night had vividly shown that to him. Hollie had enjoyed what they’d done, even if he’d had a few concerns this morning once the haze had cleared. She’d had fun and he’d had fun, and he would never cross any lines with her that she wasn’t comfortable with.
Never. He would die first.
He drew Hollie close and cradled her head in his hand, pulling her against his chest. They danced for another couple minutes while his mother went back to cooking, and the waitstaff and bussers bustled around them. It should’ve been weird to dance in the center of the kitchen of a restaurant, but Rosa’s was a second home to him. His mother was always dancing in the kitchen too, sometimes while she cooked. The atmosphere usually resembled a frantic party.
But the moment was broken.
After a song or two, he eased Hollie back and cupped her cheek. Her eyes were dazed and she’d lifted her face, as if she expected a kiss.
He wanted to do nothing more. Unfortunately, he had something else to take care of.
“Belleza, do you mind leaving me and my mother alone for a couple minutes? We have to discuss something.”
Hollie nodded, but not fast enough that he could miss her frown. She thought he was trying to exclude her.
Far from it. Someday she would have to know about this part of his past, if things continued as they were going. For now, he would spare her so she could enjoy her apartment excitement without anything tainting it.
Without him tainting it.
“Sure. No problem. I’ll go wait in the car. I’m assuming you have work to do tonight?”
He didn’t want to go back to everything he’d put aside to spend this weekend with Hollie, but he’d lost hours already. He had a million meetings during the week to prepare for, prep work to do, and designs to work on. All the things he was usually happy to let fill his life because there was nothing else.
Now there was Hollie, and the idea of returning to his apartment alone burned like gasoline in his veins.
“Yes, unfortunately.”
She nodded. “No problem. I gotta get started with packing anyway.” She moved over to his mother and gave her a long hug. “Thank you for letting me hang out back here. It was the most fun I’ve had in forever.”
“Anytime, querida. I’ve missed you so much.” His mother wiped flour off Hollie’s nose. “It would do my heart good if you spent more time here.” She gave Rafe a pointed look. “Lots more time.”
Hollie smiled weakly. “We’ll see how things shake out. I’ll see you soon.” She shifted back and then walked over to the table to grab his messenger bag. “I’ll be outside. Take your time.”
The moment she’d left, his mother set down her fork, turned off the burner under her food, and called out instructions to one of the kitchen help. Then she whipped off her apron and motioned for Rafe to follow her out the double doors at the back of the kitchen to the narrow alley between Rosa’s and the football memorabilia shop next door.
“What are your intentions with that girl?” she demanded.
So much for easing in. He leaned back against the brick wall and exhaled heavily. The scents of garbage just turning and grease and old food filled the space, so taking a deep breath wouldn’t do him much good.
He’d just have to spit it out.
“I think I’m falling for her. Or have fallen. I don’t know.” He rubbed his forehead. “Fine, I do know. I’ve probably always loved her. It makes no sense. She’s not right for me.”
He expected his mother to agree. That she loved Hollie didn’t mean he thought they should be together. She’d always wanted him to work and make a
good, stable life for himself and not worry about girls.
Well, he’d done that. So well that he’d been alone forever. Now everyone else was pairing up and he had a great job and nothing else.
Instead his mom leaned over and smacked him in the back of the head. “Are you really that dense, mijo?”
“What?”
“She looks at you with stars in her eyes. She couldn’t stop talking about you all afternoon. Rafe said this. Rafe did this. Rafe knows so-and-so. If I didn’t know better, I would think you were a saint put on this earth.”
“It’s just good sex,” he mumbled, before doing the honors himself and banging his head against the brick.
It hurt.
“Sex helps, but that girl’s been in love with you for a million years.”
He shook his head. “Are you kidding me? She thinks I’m boring. I basically had to convince her to have sex with me a second time, because I did so badly during the first go-round.” He thunked his head again. “And now I’m discussing sex with my own mother.”
“Who better to discuss it with? I gave birth to you, did I not?” She cursed in Spanish. “I have not been factory sealed since my youth, Rafael Martinez. Give me some credit.”
He gave in and laughed. Weakly. “I didn’t bring you out here to talk about that. I don’t know what’s going to happen with Hollie. We’re still figuring things out. It’s new. We’re only supposed to be friends.”
“Friends who have sex. Kids today.” His mother shook her head. “Back in my day, we didn’t play games. Once you were naked, you were no longer just friends.”
“No. And Hollie and I probably haven’t been just friends for a while, but that doesn’t mean I’m sure of what we’re meant to be. Or how she feels about all of this.”
“I can tell you. She loves you.”
“She wants adventure. I’m an architect who gets drunk once a year on New Year’s Eve and organizes my sock drawer by color. I haven’t taken a trip in too many years to count.”
“So you mess up your drawers. You drink a few more times, if it suits you. You call your travel agent. You enjoy life, Rafael, and not let it consume you.” When he would’ve spoken, she held up a hand. “I know some of this is my fault. Probably all of it.” She glanced away. “Just like what happened in that kitchen.”
