Love in Bloom (De La Fuente Family 3)

“You’re an ass, Bro.” Diego grinned at Kasey.

“You’re not too old to have your mouth washed out with soap and water, Diego,” their mom threatened but there was laughter in her eyes.

Diego wasn’t bothered and his grin deepened. “I was only pointing out what Mateo wouldn’t.”

“I’m well aware of why Mateo had a thing for her in high school. I’m not stupid, which is why I’m going to finish this conversation by saying to you,” she looked straight at Mateo, “be careful because she has her eyes set on getting together with you.”

Mateo nodded and watched her silently as she walked out of the room before he let out a string of curses that had Diego’s eyes widening.

“I hope to fuck she stays away. The last thing I need is for Caprice to get wind of Allie.” He leaned back in the chair and wondered where the fuck that had come from. He shouldn’t give a damn about Caprice’s feelings considering there really wasn’t anything between them, but he found he did care what she thought.

He needed to see a doctor because he’d started to wonder if he’d banged his head a little too hard in the crash.

Chapter Four

Erin was packed, her bags waiting to be picked up on the way out the door in the morning and she had nothing else to do before the flight. Except chill with her best friend, Sadie, who currently tinkered around Erin’s kitchen. She loved it when Sadie came over to her apartment because she’d make lasagna, which would smell amazing and taste even better.

Sadie had always been the voice of reason, which was why her question had been expected. “Are you sure it’s a good idea, Erin? Usually you come back in tears.” Sadie had been there for her through the past months and she knew how much being someone else took out of Erin.

She followed Sadie into the living room and slid onto the sofa next to her. She picked at the black, fraying fabric and frowned at how Mateo would be surprised by her cheap one-bedroom apartment and cheap furniture. Caprice didn’t belong here but her shadow had been on it for over a year. She sighed before she answered, “I honestly don’t know. But what I do know is that Mateo is giving me a chance when there isn’t any need. We could have broken up at his apartment but, instead, he asked me to his brother’s wedding, which I do want to attend. I’ve never been to a wedding before so I was kind of excited about it, when he offered.”

“I’m just worried about you.”

“I appreciate that.” Erin took her friend’s hand in hers. “I’ve promised Mateo that I’ll be on my best behavior, but what he doesn’t know is that I’m going to go as Erin and not Caprice.”

Sadie sat back and looked at her. “You’re serious? You’re going as the girl next door, instead of queen-slut-bitch.”

Erin rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t a slut.” She sighed. “Look, I’ll have to keep the name Caprice, but everything else will be me. I want to enjoy the wedding and I certainly don’t want to upset anyone when it’s a joyous occasion.”

“Won’t they think that’s odd? One minute you’re queen bitch and the next you’re…well…you.” Sadie took her hands back and waved them around in front of Erin. “I mean, there’s nothing wrong with you and everyone will love you, but won’t Mateo have a lot of questions?” Sadie gave her a once over and then laughed, “I bet the hunk of a man won’t be able to keep his eyes off you.” Sadie laughed again as she moved to the kitchen as the oven timer called her.

Erin wondered about Mateo because she’d certainly felt his reaction to her being on his lap. He’d been hard and solid, which had surprised her as much as it probably had him.

She’d dreamed about him lots of times before, but after his erection had poked her in the ass, she hadn’t been able to think about anything else. She’d wondered what he’d look like naked. Wondered what his penis looked like when fully aroused—what it tasted like.

“Oh,” Sadie chuckled, “this is going to be good with how red you are.” She popped the lid on two beers, setting them out on the countertop. “C’mon, spill.”

“Nothing to tell.” Erin looked everywhere but at her friend.

“Like hell there isn’t. Give it up Erin, you know I’ll get it out of you eventually.”

“If you must know, I was thinking about Mateo,” Erin admitted. “And things.”

“Hmm.” Sadie passed her a plate of steaming lasagna and a beer before she retrieved her own. “That’s telling.”

Erin hid her face and then shoveled some food into her mouth so she had an excuse not to talk. As she chewed, she asked, “Did you finish that report?”

Sadie waved her fork at Erin. “No way are you changing the subject…I want to know about Mateo and why you went bright red.” She grinned.

Erin moaned, she might as well tell her, and then they’d be able to eat in peace. “At his apartment,” she winced, “I got carried away when he said I could go to the wedding. I may have, um, thrown myself onto his lap and hugged him. Maybe I kissed his cheek…twice, as well, all while sitting on his lap.”

“Oh, my.” Sadie picked up a magazine and fanned herself. “More… What did he do? Say?

Erin laughed even though she was embarrassed. “He didn’t really do anything, but he may have gotten hard with me wiggling around on his lap.”

There! She’d said it.

“He poked you in the ass with his dick.” Sadie chuckled and placed her plate of food on the coffee table in front of them while she continued to laugh. She was clearly finding it amusing. “So, what did you do?”