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She gave him a onceover. “I disagree, but if that’s the way you want to play this… I’m pretty. If the Beauty and the Beast could make it, why can’t we?”
“I don’t want a wife.”
“Neither do I,” she said with that musical, and yes, annoyingly chipper voice of her.
“Fuck,” Gio said.
She turned to his friend. “You promised me I could choose any of Hector’s men, but apparently, he doesn’t want to marry me, and I can’t force him. So, Gio, are you going back on your word? I have to know now because I’m running out of time.”
Hector knew Gio considered his word his bond, as any man should. He also knew his friend wouldn’t ask him to honor the promise that he had made. It was just that neither of them had thought of excluding him, since they never expected her to choose him. Clearly, she didn’t know the implications of her choice.
“I’m Hispanic,” he tried once more.
“I can see that. What’s your point?”
“Pretty little, white, rich girls usually don’t go for Hispanic guys covered in tattoos and scars.”
“That’s racist.”
He supposed it was, though he’d never considered it that way.
“Also, I’m not rich. Nor am I little.” She seemed insulted by that.
“You are compared to me,” he said, just to raise her hackles.
She snorted. It was cute, really. Like a kitten trying to be intimidating, but failing miserably.
“Everyone is, compared to your hulking presence.”
Good point. “You didn’t comment on me telling you’re pretty.”
Her cheeks flushed. How was it that she could be all Mama bear when it came to a child, but she turned shy when he complimented her?
“Could we please get back to my initial point.”
“Sure. Your initial point of marrying some stranger, so you can become guardian of your godchild.”
“Not a ‘stranger.’ I said I choose you. I’m sure we can come to some kind of an arrangement.”
Apparently, in her warped mind, he was Prince fucking Charming. Little did she know that he really was the Big Bad Wolf.
“Not going to happen.”
“Why not?” Then, as if something just occurred to her. “Are you… do you have a girlfriend?”
All it took was a nod. Then she would stop pestering him about this ridiculous idea of hers. For some reason, he didn’t.
“I don’t do girlfriends. I have fuck buddies.”And if you weren’t off limits, you’d be one of them.
“There’s no reason to use such language.”
Such language? “Your Ivy League is kicking in again. It doesn’t really resonate with my hood, don’t you think? Yet another reason why we’re a bad fit.” When she straightened her spine, he couldn’t help but smirk.
To his surprise, she walked up to him. Her chin raised, eyes blazing, as she got in his face.
“Now you listen to me, Hector Diaz,” she said, as she poked him in the chest. “Zoe’s at protective services right now; scared and alone. That little girl’s life has come crashing down around her. Tomorrow will be an even worse day because she has to attend her sister’s funeral. Then she’ll have to go back with the CPS lady to a house full of strangers, yet again. Leaving her at that place, while she cried after me, nearly wrecked me. I made a promise to Britney that should something happen to her, I’d take care of Zoe. I intend to keep that promise. You think we are a bad fit? Fine. I won’t bother you again. Just don’t stand in my way.” Another poke to his chest. “Since you refuse to help me out, I’ll reconsider the other options Gio has so kindly offered to me. Maybe one of your men will like a pretty little white girl, as you’ve put it.”
They were standing nose-to-nose and for the life of him, he couldn’t look away.