Page 49 of Something Tangled Something True (Rosa Ranch #1)

IS IT HOT IN HERE?

I have never loved Isabela more.

If not for her crying, our moms would still be seated here, and I’d have just about died. Levi and Teddy left shortly after with their usual crew when the rain let up, leaving Lola, Mayte, and me to dive into the hard stuff.

Who regularly dreams about someone else in the room?

Well, shit.

I pick a number three, lying it face down on the table. Lola flips all three cards over, and her eyes lock on mine, stealing the breath from my lungs. When she releases her gaze, I gulp at the air.

It’s wild what one look from Lola Lima can do to a man. To me.

“So, Ry, what have you been dreaming about? Is it me?” Mayte asks, batting her lashes to stifle some of the tension building in the room.

The night winds down, only a few stragglers remaining. My dad’s friends all sit around the table, playing poker and smoking cigars with him and José.

The room feels smaller without the cacophony of voices and laughter. While love in this family can be loud at times, the quiet makes every unspoken word louder.

“I can’t say it’s you I’ve been dreaming about. Sorry to disappoint.” I run my foot up Lola’s shin, and she squirms in her seat.

Which player would make the best adult video with the players on either side of them?

I fan myself, blowing out a choked breath, suddenly overheated.

“Well, looks like we can’t answer this one,” I say, raising my brows and preparing to move to the next card.

Lola sets her hand on mine, stopping me. “Come on, Ry, don’t be a cheater. Let’s pick two or three numbers each,” she says.

I don’t miss the warning look Mayte shoots across the table at Lola. I gulp, picking the only answer that’ll ever make sense to me and setting the one and three down on the table.

Lola sets her two down, and of course, Mayte, the troublemaker, sets her three down.

“Alright, what’ve we got here?” I ask, flipping the sets over.

Warmth spreads in my gut, and I feel my balls tighten. Lola has a three and a one. Me and her.

When I look at Mayte's cards, they’re not at all what I’m expecting. She shrugs. “What? I’m a year postpartum. No one wants to see this body on camera.”

Lola kicks her under the table, scowling at her.

“ Deja la bobería, que tú eres una dura . Don’t talk about yourself like that.

That body you’re so mean to safely carried my niece for thirty-two grueling weeks and brought her into this world, despite all odds.

So don’t you dare talk down about it again.

” This is so contrary to the brave face she puts on, joking about being a MILF and all.

It breaks my heart that Mayte thinks so poorly of the way she looks. The woman is beautiful, always has been. There aren’t two women in the world who could shine a candle to Lola and Mayte. My wife and sister, for all intents and purposes, are stunning, and everyone knows it.

Mayte waves Lola off, but I see the tears pricking the edges of her eyes. “Whatever. You with Ryder and Zeke would still be way hotter,” she says, her words sounding watery and choked up.

I gag. “Absolutely not. That’s disgusting,” I say, pretending to vomit into my fist.

Lola pats me on the back, picking up another card.

Who has a secret crush on someone in the room?

“I’m not sure it’s a secret. You might be fake married, but you’re real turned on by each other,” Mayte deadpans, and heat creeps up my neck, threatening to strangle me.

I cough. “Next question.”

Who would be most willing to kiss the person to their right?

We look around the table, and I smack down a three.

When I turn the cards over, they're straight threes.

I wink at Lola, seated on my right, and a rosy blush flashes on her cheeks. She leans across the table, grabbing another card.

Who has seen the most players in this room naked?

My eyes go wide, and I toss down a six. We turn them over, revealing a mix of two sixes and a five.

“ Tia and Mama Bee did get an eyeful when we were kids,” Mayte says with a chuckle, placing another card in the center.

Who isn’t wearing underwear right now? Prove it.

My eyes grow wide, and I scratch the back of my neck.

We each glance at one another. Lola nibbles her bottom lip, and I have the urge to pluck it out and suck on it for her.

Woah, calm down, big guy.

I set my card down, selfishly hoping I’m right. Mayte turns the cards over, and a wide grin curves her lips. She nods her chin at Lola and says, “Go on, hot stuff. Show us what you’re workin’ with.”

Lola rolls her eyes, standing. My lungs squeeze in my chest as her chair scrapes across the floor. Nugget jumps from his place on the floor, barking incessantly at the sudden break in silence. Saved by the bell, or the puppy, rather.

“I think that’s my cue to get out of here. I should probably get Isabela to bed anyway,” Mayte says.

I drop Lola and Nugget off at the house first, passing it on the way to Mayte’s, walking Lola in, despite knowing she can take care of herself. “I’ll be right back, Lola. Don’t answer the door, okay? I’ve got my keys. I’ll knock and let myself in,” I tell her with a pointed stare.

I’d never be able to live with myself if something bad ever happened to her.

“I’ll be fine, Ry. See you soon,” she says.

I nod, stepping out onto the porch, but I poke my head in one last time.

Lola holds my eyes, unspoken words traveling between us.

Her lips tilt, and as she turns, she lifts the skirt of her dress over her bare ass.

“See you soon, Ry,” she says, shooting a wink over her shoulder and dropping the dress in place, sauntering out of the living room.

My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth as I gape at her, unable to move yet.

“Everything okay?” Mayte calls out to me from the open truck door. I turn, shutting the door behind me, and jog over to her.

“Yeah, yeah, everything’s fine.”