Love in Bloom (De La Fuente Family 3)

Erin was naive about a lot of things, having never experienced them, but she’d read enough books to realize that Mateo had just brought himself off. At least, it sounded like he had.

Was she to blame? Was it her touch that had aroused him to bursting?

The more she thought along those lines, the more she liked the idea. She’d always been attracted to him even though he was ten years older than she was. Since she’d been in the role of Caprice, she’d kept that to herself, but up until a few minutes ago, they’d never been so close.

She smiled to herself, even as her face flamed at the thought of seeing him again, but she was no coward. She also had nowhere to run off too. Her only friend, in a way, was Mateo.

He’d want answers when he came out of the bathroom because she’d never once touched him. How she’d gotten up the nerve, she didn’t know. She knew that he was in pain and that did it. She’d been the cause and it brought tears to her eyes to see up close and personal the damage to his knee.

She could now tell him what had been going on because the non-disclosure agreement had ended with the contract. So, there really was no reason for her to stay quiet other than to give Mateo the breakup he needed for his family.

She didn’t know what to do for the better and it annoyed her. Her cell was on the dresser by the window, which gave her the option to quickly call Roger, but something told her to not make contact with him. He’d always made her feel uneasy and she was glad to have nothing to do with him anymore.

Her head needed to be on straight and with how long Mateo had been inside the bathroom, she figured she didn’t have long to come up with something.

Stretching out on her side of the bed, her belly quivered with the knowledge that Mateo would be sleeping beside her. There wasn’t anywhere else in the room for either of them to sleep so she’d enjoy torturing him.

She was a woman after all and Sadie had made her pack her Victoria’s Secret sleepwear instead of the usual yoga pants and T-shirt. Would she have the courage to wear it though?

The bathroom door opened, which snagged her gaze. Mateo paused before he moved toward her. A fine blush coated his cheekbones and he wouldn’t meet her gaze.

If she weren’t embarrassed herself, she’d have burst out laughing. It was so obvious what he’d been up to, she just wanted to know if she’d been the cause.

“We need to talk.” He hesitated before he spread out beside her. “I don’t mean to be rude,” he continued, “but why are you different? You don’t dress like Caprice, talk like her or even act like her. Nothing’s the same and I hate head games.”

While she stared up at the ceiling, she felt his angry gaze on her face, which continued to heat.

Clearing her throat, she closed her eyes and inhaled. “Erin.”

“What?”

“

My real name is Erin Thomas and I’m a business finance student at the University of Texas. I applied for a job at the stadium and ended up being coached as your fiancée.” She sighed and knew she had to continue, “The money they offered was more than enough to finish my program of study. The extra I’ve saved for when I graduate in May. I don’t have anyone else to rely on as my mom passed away three years ago. I was afraid, Mateo.”

She felt tears gather in her eyes so she rapidly blinked them away before they could fall. She rolled to lie on her side so that she could see how Mateo reacted to her words. His eyes were fixed on her so she continued, “I needed the money because it meant that I wouldn’t lose the roof over my head if I couldn’t find work after graduation. My mother always struggled and I didn’t want that for myself. I needed security.”

“I’m sorry about your mom, Erin…and to be honest, I wasn’t expecting that kind of explanation.” Mateo looked surprised more than anything else. “I mean, I guessed Caprice wasn’t your real name because, in the beginning, you’d act like it wasn’t you when I’d call you over to me at an event or something. I just let it ride.”

“You weren’t interested so you let it ride.” Erin smiled as Mateo frowned hearing the truth. “Mateo, it’s okay. You weren’t happy with what the PR team had you do. I get it. Someone there wanted your life to be miserable and they told me that I’d get the money in installments providing I acted ‘queen bitch’ as your family like to call me.” She shrugged, but couldn’t hide the hurt.

Mateo blew out a breath and sat up, facing away from her.

“Are you telling me that the whole Caprice thing was a farce? That you aren’t that bitch? That Roger and Donny put you up to it?”

She cringed but answered, “Roger was the one who told me what was expected of me and if you mean Donny, your agent, then he wasn’t involved. As far as I’m aware, anyway.” She shrugged. “Honestly Mateo, that wasn’t me. This, right here, is the real me. These are my clothes that I’m wearing. I only packed my things. In fact, the only Caprice item I’ve brought with me is the cell phone.” She sighed, softly. “I’m kind of attached to it…but that’s it. Everything.”

Silence followed the truth about the whole thing until Mateo started laughing.

He stood and stalked to the window before he faced her. “Seeing you like that, you suit Erin.”

“Thank you…I think.” She offered him a wry smile and sat up to face him. It felt odd having the conversation while she was still sprawled on the bed and Mateo stood.

“They wanted to punish me for all the shit I’d caused them up to gaining a fiancée. Didn’t they?”

“I guess. No one ever told me why. I just needed the money. It was my last chance of employment before I had to drop out of college. I would have pretty much said yes to anything so I could finish college.”

“How did you work around the events and visiting with my family? I never even asked if you were free. I just presumed.”