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“Do you need an invitation?”

“No, but this is more formal. Why don’t you come with me?”

Cas hadn’t planned to invite her, but it felt right. He hadn’t taken a woman home since he’d introduced Monique as his fiancée and told his parents she was pregnant. They’d handled the shock better than he had. Although, his father’s disappointment was a wound that hadn’t healed. But Cas was working on that, and introducing someone as lovely as Beatriz as a friend would ease some of the shame and guilt of taking Monique into his parents’ home.

“And start more gossip?” Beatriz stared at him.

“The focus is going to be on Antonio and Maha. She told me she’d appreciate some support. You’re easy to explain. We’re old work colleagues. Mum and Dad met you at the wedding, and I introduced you as a work colleague, not just Anna’s bestie. You’re missing her, like I’m missing Hunt, so I offered you a family meal.” The longer he considered it, the more he liked the idea. “You can distract them by talking about your family—five daughters—and living at home. Don’t forget to say that.”

“Don’t push your luck. I won’t lie.”

“You do live at home. You’re taking a brief sabbatical.”

“You take a sabbatical from work.”

“We both work at home.” Cas bit his tongue to prevent him saying more. Her sheer pleasure in just doing nothing showed how rare a treat it was for her, and he got the benefit of seeing an unguarded, interesting and disarmingly sexy woman.

* * *

Treat it like any workfunction, Beatriz.

I smile, I nod, and I try and get people to talk about themselves. What interests them, what their passions are, how I can turn those into reality.

And I’m good at it. Casildo said so.

Casildo pulled onto the grass verge inside the front gate. Not for long, but long enough to provide an impressive view of the two-story house set among trees and a lavish, colour-drenched garden.

“Mum’s the gardener,” he said, without waiting for her question. “I learned colours from her.”

“That’s a lovely inheritance.”

“It is, isn’t it?” He swivelled toward her. “Thanks for coming tonight.”

“To dilute the focus on Antonio?”

“I reckon he can look after himself. We’re here for Maha.” Another demonstration of his loyalty to family, another demonstration of the things they had in common. “Have you got your set of prepared questions ready?”

“For what?”

“For whom.” He grinned. “For when the cross-examination gets heavy, for when there’s an awkward silence.”

“I can’t imagine an awkward silence in your family.”

“But Maha’s brought a fella for dinner.”

“I thought you said your mum never asked.”

“Best to be prepared.” He sounded serious. “I’ve already claimed the honeymoon question. You know, guess where Hunt and Anna are? I’ll only use the baby question if things get desperate.”

“What baby question?” she squawked.

“Guess how long before Hunt and Anna get pregnant?”

“It’s none of our business.”

“Are you claiming your family follows that rule?” He flicked a look in her direction. “Right. Babies are fair game if we’re desperate. What have you got?” He drove slowly toward the house.

“Saying I’m one of five usually works as a distraction for a bit.”