“That’s what I’m saying. I believe her. At least, I think I do.” He hoped like hell that she was being honest with him now. “You’ve all seen her this time around. She’s completely different. Everything’s different.” He frowned when he saw the smirk on Diego’s face.
“I think someone likes her.” Diego grinned.
Mateo frowned. “I do like her now. I like the fact that for once I can relax in front of her instead of constantly being on guard.” She just caused him a different kind of tension now. “Look, I want her to stay this week and be here for the wedding. She doesn’t have any family. She’s due to graduate in May with a degree in business finance. She’s a total surprise and I can’t be angry with her.”
He ran his hands through his hair. “I’m angry about what she was asked to do, but she needed the money. I can’t blame her for that.”
His mom laid her hand on his arm. “She can stay Mateo, but the house is still full.”
He cringed, knowing that his brothers would have a field day with his next confession. “I’ve told her she can stay with me in my room.”
“Um, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” His mom frowned.
Mateo glanced at his brothers and saw shit-eating grins on their face. Diego looked ready to burst a gasket.
He shook his head. “Okay, you idiots. There’s no other way and I’m sure as hell not sharing a room with one of you. She’s too young for me at twenty-two. We’ll manage.”
“So she is younger.” His mom reached for a cookie while deep in thought.
“You really believe that other person wasn’t her?” Emelia didn’t look all that convinced as she held Dante’s hand.
His sister had hated Caprice from the get go, so he expected her to be the hardest one to sell what he hoped was the truth.
“I do, and her real name is Erin, which after seeing her now, really suits her.”
“Erin?”
“Yeah.”
“No,” his mom paused, “I meant, Erin.” She stood and as Mateo followed with his eyes, he realized that Erin had appeared in the doorway.
“Come.” She hugged her, surprise clear on Erin’s face. “Mateo’s told us everything, and we’d love for you to stay for the wedding.”
His mom led her over to where they were sitting around the kitchen table. Mateo stood and shoved Erin down into his vacated seat. She looked like she was hovering and he hated seeing her so unsure about his family.
“I owe everyone an apology.” Her voice wavered, so he offered support by moving in close and resting his hand on her shoulder. The move didn’t go unnoticed by his family judging from the looks on their faces.
What the hell though, she needed support. He wasn’t a total jackass. When she’d been in Caprice mode, he’d never offered it, which didn’t sit well with him now that he knew ‘Caprice’ had been all for show. They’d all been raised to act with respect and somewhere along the way he’d lost it.
“Go on,” he encouraged.
“I’m sorry for everything that I’ve said and done to make you hate me.” Her voice wobbled even more as she faced his brothers. “Kasey, Emelia and Mateo, I’m so sorry about the accident at Thanksgiving. I’m not going to blame Caprice for that because it was purely me. I didn’t think and just reacted. Stupidly, I know, but I’m really sorry.” She sighed heavily, wiped a tear from her cheek and offered a wry smile. “A lot of things have played heavily on my mind, but none as much as that.”
A few seconds ticked by before Kasey replied, “Let’s just put it behind us and start again, okay?”
“I agree with Kasey.” His mom smiled, and then added, “For once.”
The others chuckled, but it was Erin’s whispered, “I’d like that,” which kicked him in the gut, more so when she looked up at him as though she needed an escape.
He cleared his throat and yanked her up from the chair. “We’re going out for a bit.”
Before anyone could say anything, he had her outside and in his truck.
Chapter Ten
Erin felt shaky after being with Mateo’s family again, but she’d done the right thing by apologizing. It hadn’t been easy having so many eyes on her but Mateo’s encouragement had helped her get the words out. He’d also been in tune enough with her to realize she’d needed to escape again.
Which was why they headed toward town in his truck. Mateo had no reason to be nice to her or supportive with his family, but he had been, and for that, she was grateful.