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“Spicy?” Faith furrowed her eyebrows.

Oh Christ. “Yeah, the sex scenes in them are quite explicit.”

Faith’s face turned a deep shade of red, as did Carmen’s. “I just didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

“She feels uncomfortable now, chica,” Mateo hollered from the bathroom.

“Shit, sorry—”

“No, it’s okay. Thank you for warning me… um… but I’d still like to read it if that’s alright?”

“Yeah sure, go for it.” Carmen gave an awkward thumbs up. Hating herself a little, she turned on her heel and headed back to the bathroom.

“Well, that was entertaining,” Mateo chuckled.

“Shut up.”

“Now that you’ve successfully embarrassed yourself and Faith, can I continue with your hair?”

???

“Wow, I love your hair,” Faith gasped when Carmen stepped into the kitchen.

“Thanks, me too.” Carmen smiled. “I was thinking,” Carmen added. “I have a friend in the Seattle Police Department. Maybe I could ask her how we should begin our search for your aunt.”

“Really? That would be great.”

“I was also thinking that we could ask the neighbors. Maybe Molly got friendly with them and told them where she was going.”

“Of course. Why didn’t I think of that?”

“Because you’ve had a super stressful few days,” Carmen laughed. “Don’t beat yourself up about it.”

“Who’s beating who up?” Mateo asked. Carmen threw her head back laughing when she saw what Mateo was wearing.

“No one needs to see you in Lycra, Mateo!” Carmen howled.

“I have a fitness video to finish,” he huffed.

“And that requires you to dress like Richard Simmons?”

“Don’t knock Ricky, Carmen.”

“Don’t assault my eyes with Lycra, Mateo.”

“Carmen was saying she has a friend on the police force that might give us a clue where our search for Aunt Molly should begin.”

“Ah, would that be a delectable Detective March by any chance, Hermana?”

Carmen rolled her eyes. Rachel March had been, at one time, a friend with benefits. Although, the friend part of that title was questionable. The benefits part certainly outweighed any friendship time they shared. “Yes, I’m going to call Rachel. We need a starting point. I’m also talking to the neighbors.” Carmen bypassed Mateo’s attempt at teasing her about Rachel.

“Maybe you could go for a drink? Make an evening out of it?”

“That’s unnecessary. I’ll just call her.” Carmen scooted past Faith and headed to her room. Hopefully Rachel would be happy to hear from her. It’s not like they parted on bad terms. Carmen hadn’t wanted Rachel to get the idea that she wanted more from their arrangement, so she’d cut off communication a few months ago. They still sent the odd text now and then, but the benefits had been put on permanent hold.

Tapping the little green icon on her phone, Carmen only had to wait three rings before Rachel’s sultry voice invaded her ear. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t Carmen Ruiz.”

“Rachel, hey, how are you?”