Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 98524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“Ay, mi niña!” Paola scooped Aleesa up and hugged her tight, making sure their cheeks smushed together. Fortunately, that frown of Paola’s had disappeared. “You hungry? Hmm?”
“Sí,” Aleesa said with a giggle.
“Sí, I bet you are. Come with abuela. I’ll get you fed.” Paola swung her eyes to me, looking me up and down once again. This time, I swear she was looking at me with pure disdain. “Wake my son for me, yes?”
I nodded. “Will do.”
Catalina and I watched them go until they reached the door of the next penthouse suite. As soon as Paola opened that door and went inside, Catalina put her focus on me again.
“Long night?” She wore an amused smile.
I tried reading her eyes, but with those sunglasses on, she was unreadable. Hey, at least she wasn’t glaring at me to death like her mom.
“Sort of,” I answered.
“I bet.” She snickered before turning on her heels. “Come over for breakfast when you’re ready. And tell my bonehead brother to get up.”
Yeah. They definitely suspected something about us.
After a shower, I gathered my hair into an updo, then got dressed in a gray jumper and Nike Dunks. When I left the bedroom I was supposed to share with Aleesa and carried myself into the living room, Javier was there.
He stood in the kitchen with a mug of coffee in hand . . . and no shirt. Just boxers. God, this man was impeccable. Those six abs, that tan skin, the natural V-cut just below his abdomen. Those long, thick black lashes as he looked under them to find me. He had bed hair . . . and I had never felt so attracted to a sleepy human.
“You are staring,” he said before taking a sip of coffee.
I shifted on my feet. “Kinda hard not to when you look like that.”
He fought a smile. “Like what?”
“Like an Argentinean snack. I mean, really. God wasn’t messing around when he made you. Just gave you all the green flags.”
He laughed, setting his mug down on the countertop. “You flatter me, Octavia. You really do.” He walked across the room to approach me. “Where’s Leesa?”
“With your mom. They stopped by a little bit ago. She said she ordered breakfast from room service for everyone.”
“Oh, she ordered it, huh? Is she also paying for it?”
I laughed as he placed a hand on my waist. “Doubt it.”
“I doubt it too. That woman loves spending my money.”
“Hey, listen . . . I think your mom and sister might know about us.” I tucked a loc behind my ear. “Like, they probably suspected something before, but now I think they know.”
“Why do you say that?” he asked.
“Well, your mom gave me a look when she stopped by. Kind of like she was annoyed with me. I was still in my pajamas, and I think she’s putting two and two together. And Catalina was laughing like there was some kind of inside joke happening.”
“Okay.” He seemed confused by my confession. “Did they say anything about it?”
“No, but what if they start hating me or something? They seem really protective of you and Aleesa.”
“They can be,” he said, “especially my mother. But I am a grown man who can make his own choices. Trust me, they know not to overstep.”
“So, you’re basically saying they will end up hating me.” I rolled my eyes. Men truly did not understand how women operated. “Got it.”
“No. I am saying do not worry too much about it. When I am ready to tell them about you, they will respect it. In the meantime, let them think whatever the hell they want.”
“That’s a whole lot easier said than done, Valdez.”
“Fine. I will talk to them. Okay?”
I smiled. “Okay. Thank you.” I checked my watch for the time. “Well, I’m going to head over to that lioness’s den. You should get ready. Catalina said we should leave soon if we want to beat traffic to get to the billboard.”
“Right.” His attention traveled past me, focused on the skyline. “The billboard.”
“That isn’t a very excited response.”
“No, no. I am excited. I just am not looking forward to the crowds. But I want pictures so that Aleesa can be reminded of these moments.”
“It’ll be fine.” I pressed up on my toes to kiss his cheek. “Now wash your ass and come eat. Don’t leave me in there to drown.”
“What if what I want to eat is right in front of me?” He placed both hands on my waist, then twisted us around. When he lifted me up and placed my butt on the countertop, I yelped.
“Javier, did you not have enough last night?” I laughed.
“Have enough? Of you?” He kissed the bend of my neck, then the area just below my collarbone. “That could never be possible.”
“No?”
“No. I will always want more. I am insatiable when it comes to you.”