Page 75 of Deceptive Desires

“Now, step aside. I want to meet the man who’s stolen my granddaughter’s heart,” she demands and pushes me aside. I laugh at her wild excitement.

“Hola, Doña Luz Marina. Thank you for welcoming me into your home.” He leans down a foot and a half to meet her barely five-foot frame and gives her a kiss on the cheek like he did Mamá. “I got these for you.” He hands her a big bouquet of pink carnations.

He can’t know this, but Abuela loves carnations. They were all around her village growing up.

She preens as she snatches the bouquet from his hands, as if afraid he’ll change his mind.

“Please, come in. Would you like some tinto, joven?” Abuela offers, and I can tell by her grin that she already likes him.

“Yes, please,” Roman answers with a warm smile, even though he has no idea what he just agreed to.

“Don’t worry. It’s just Colombian coffee,” I tell him under my breath. He squeezes my hand in response.

Mamá brings us to the living room. We sit on the worn couches, but before I can talk, I hear the familiar giggle of a four-year-old girl.

“¡Tía Ceci!” Rosa squeals, before launching herself into my lap.

I laugh along with her before pulling her in for a hug.

“Rosa, you’ve gotten so big! I almost didn’t recognize you,” I tell her as I wrap my arms around her.

“Tía Ceci, I’m four years old. I’m a big girl now!” she tells me proudly as she holds up four fingers. A chuckle next to us draws her attention and she frowns. “Who are you?” she snaps at Roman.

“Rosa, be nice. This is my friend, Roman,” I scold her.

“Roman, are you Tía Ceci’s boyfriend? Do you kiss her? In the movies, the boy always kisses the girl!” she says, and I redden impossibly.

“Nice to meet you, Rosa. I am your tía’s boyfriend. But it’s not polite to kiss and tell, so I won’t answer the second question.” I smile at his nonanswer. “I have a gift for you,” he tells her.

He pulls out a small bouquet of daisies, and my heart melts.

Rosa grins and grabs them. Her little fingers smoosh the stems as she beams.

“Tía, I like him. I want to be his girlfriend next!” Little Rosa tells me confidently.

Roman, who I don’t think has much experience with four-year-old girls, pales at the comment and shrinks back.

“Rosita, stop harassing Tía Ceci’s boyfriend. You’re turning into my Abuela!” my sister yells as she rounds the corner.

I jump up and rush over, giving Carmen a big hug.

“Happy birthday, hermanita! It’s so good to see you!” I squeal.

She squeezes me so tightly.

“Thank God you’re here. Val, Rosa, and Abuela are driving me crazy. Maybe you can help calm them down,” she whispers desperately.

I just laugh.

“Now introduce me to that sexy hunk on the couch! You definitely failed to mention he looks like a god,” she says loud enough for Roman to hear.

“That’s the truth! Back in my prime, I would’ve tied him up and taken him,” Abuela says even louder as she walks in with small clay mugs of tinto.

I almost keel over in mortification.

And to my absolute horror, Roman is blushing.

I’ve never seen that man blush.