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“You want me to get a bidding war started?” he asked as he chewed. “I can rent one of those real flashy exotic cars and drive up interest. I’m pretty sure your mom can let out my tux so it fits,” he added, patting his belly.

Rhiannon laughed in earnest. “As much as I’d love to see you roll up looking like the guy from the Monopoly game, I’m good.”

“Are you sure? I was in drama club in high school, you know. I bet I can start a frenzy. You’ll sell that house by the end of the day.”

“No, Dad. No more tricks. I don’t want to get a reputation for pulling fast ones,” she countered, crossing one long leg over the other.

He narrowed his gaze. “Did your mother get to you?”

“No,” she chuckled. “I just want to do things a little di erently.”

“Bah, you’re probably right. Whatever you do, I’m proud of you, honey. Now, if you don’t tell me what the heck is going on, I’m going to have to bring out the big guns and call your mother.”

“Dang, Dad. You’re going nuclear on me?”

“If you don’t spill it, you leave me no choice,” he replied regretfully.

“I object to the coercion, but. . . there’s a girl. Well, a woman,” she admitted, her chest tightening as she pictured Carmela’s smooth black hair and her flawless skin.

“If it wasn’t because you’ve been spending all your time hustling on that house, that would’ve been my guess, but—”

Luis stopped short. “Oh, I see. It’s that Carmela, isn’t it?” He chuckled. “I guess that means things are going a lot better between the two of you.”

“It’s kind of complicated, I guess. I know she likes me, but she refuses to go out with me,” she complained before explaining Carmela’s position on getting involved while the deal was on going and then the age issue.

Her father listened and then leaned back in his chair.

“She makes a lot of sense, Rhi.”

“Oh come on. You too?”

He held up a hand. “Now, hear me out. You know I never want to patronize you, and I know this is hard to understand, but twenty-three and thirty-nine are about as far apart as

you can get. She’s thinking ahead and trying to save you both some heartache.”

“Oh please. You and Mami were already married when you were my age. And look at you. Clearly, you knew what you wanted and stayed together. I’m not a child, despite the fact that I’m still living in your house.”

“You have to understand, your mom and I are the same age. We grew together, but you’re talking about someone already set in their ways. That’s a much bigger challenge.

She already knows where she’s heading, and you’d kind of have to mold to that.”

Rhiannon clenched her jaw. “I’m so tired of hearing that.

It’s not like I’m proposing. It’s freaking dinner!” She whisper-screamed so her mother wouldn’t hear her. Adding another Rodriquez wouldn’t help.

“Maybe she’s thinking what’s the point of dinner when it can’t lead to anything concrete for her,” he suggested.

Rhiannon crossed her arms. “Whose side are you on?”

“Yours, honey. Always. A hundred percent. No doubt. But I gotta tell you how I see it. Now, if you wanna pursue her anyway, I’ll find a boombox and we’ll blast some Peter Gabriel outside her house,” he said before popping his last treat in his mouth.

“I don’t know what the hell that means, but thanks, Dad.

You’re the best,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“I know, it’s a blessing and a curse.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO