Reckless Kiss

Angel looks up at me, adoration shining in her eyes. “This is Sofia, my littlest cousin.”

“I’m not little.” Sofia’s brows pull together. “I’m four.”

“Wow.” I step back, putting my hand on my chest. “Think you might dance with me after while?”

Her eyes widen, and she looks to the side like she’s considering my request. I think I might adore her, too. “I don’t know. You’re a stranger.”

“Sorry. My name is Deacon. I’m a friend of Angel’s.”

“Who’s Angel?” Her nose scrunches, and she looks around.

Angel leans close, pretending to whisper. “Deacon calls me Angel. It’s short for Angelica.”

“Oh…” Sofia leans towards me like she’s telling me a secret. “We all call her Carmie. Except sometimes mamma calls her Carmelita.”

“I’ve heard that.” I make a face like of course she’s right. Then I hold out my hands. “What do you say? Will you spare me a dance?”

“I guess so.” She reaches for my hands, and I put her on my hip, swaying to the beat of the song. Angel watches us with shining eyes, and I lean towards my little partner. “I think you look like Angel.”

“Her hair’s more curly. I wish mine was more curly.”

“You’re beautiful.” Angel puts her hand on Sofia’s back.

The song ends, and we hear a woman’s voice calling her name. We all look around, and Sofia’s head drops back.

She exhales dramatically. “Mamma’s taking another picture.”

She hops down and runs across the floor in the direction of the teens, and I step closer to Angel, putting my hand on her waist. “She’s a doll. She looks like she could be yours.”

“Well, I was in the room when she was born.” Angel’s chin lifts, and she smiles up at me. “That’s one relative down…”

“The rest of the party to go.” I’m about to kiss her, when a friendly voice interrupts us. “What do we have here?”

Lourdes trots up in a filmy black pantsuit that swishes around her legs and arms when she moves. She gives Angel a hug and a kiss on the cheek before holding out her arm to me.

“You are wearing that suit, sir. You know that?” She rises on tiptoes to give me a hug, and I shake my head.

“Great party.”

She holds Angel’s hand, giving it a squeeze. “Our girl here did pretty much all the heavy lifting. She even made the quince’s dress.”

My eyebrows rise, and I quickly scan the room. “Which one is that?”

Lourdes steps closer pointing at the group of teens. “The one in the middle. Tiara, burgundy ball gown.”

I see a girl in an elaborate dress with a tiered skirt an

d gold embellishment from the waist to the strapless top. “You made that?” Angel’s cheeks flush as she looks down. I pull her against my chest, kissing her nose. “Is there anything you can’t do?”

“It’s nothing.” Angel blinks away, glancing over her shoulder again.

Her eyes flicker around the room, and I wish she wasn’t so edgy. I’m ready to meet her family and turn on all the charm, tell them the extent of my feelings for this girl at my side, all the things I have planned for us.

“You picked a good time to spring the gringo on the family.” Lourdes gives her a playful elbow to the side. “Nobody’s going to cause a scene at Lo’s party.”

“I hope you’re right.” Angel’s lips tighten, and I don’t really like being the fly in the buttermilk. Or however that goes.

“Hey, I thought I was one of the good guys.”