Page 72

I have to find the right moment to tell him the truth.

Bea disentangled herself from Casildo’s arms when her phone pinged. She grabbed it off the bedside table. “That’s Mamá.”

“She can’t see us.” Casildo’s eyes were closed, but his arm, still wrapped around her waist, grounded her.

“Don’t be too sure. She’s got second sight and mystical powers.”

“Then she’ll see you’re all flushed and have a naked man in your bed.” A smile curved his mouth.

“She’s inviting us for dinner.” Bea froze, uncertain of her next move. “Tonight.”

“Then wave to her, say yes, and tell her you’re currently busy.” His mouth covered her nipple.

The light suckle echoed to her toes, making her fingers tremble as she typedYes. She groaned and dropped the phone.

“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” He rose on his knees to straddle her body.

She stroked the length of his cock. “Looks hard to me.”

He laughed.

––––––––

“What’s the signal forGet out now?” Casildo glanced at her, then refocused on the road.

Bea turned to stare at his profile. Even his profile made her heart beat a little faster. She wasn’t sure if he was trying to make her nervous or reassure her. “There is no signal.”

“Okaaay. A friendly gathering. What are my topics?”

“You and Maha may have workshopped topics before she introduced Antonio to your parents. But this is different.”

This has to be different because we have no future.

“You’re the one who said your mother sized up every male as a potential son-in-law. She probably needs to focus since there are five of you.”

“Two are married.”

“That leaves three.” He sent her a sideways look. “I can wax lyrically and at length about Hunter. They’ve met Hunt, haven’t they?”

“Yes,” she said.

Do we need a set of innocuous topics?

“So where does that leave us?”

“Not sharing Anna’s apartment,” she admitted.

“Ships that pass in the night?” he sounded disgruntled.

“Friends?” She held her breath.

You promised we’d always be friends.

She didn’t say the words, but he was silent so long, Bea thought she’d black out. Then he seemed to haul himself in.

“I’ve got a few school stories that might work. You know, the old everyone-looked-at-my-lunch-because-it-was-different.”

“Empanadas were a hit.”