“El Gitano, that Rafael Mondragon?”
“Is there another? I suppose I should ask him if he’d like to go with us to support his mother. Apparently she hid the fact she had a son in his twenties, but my father knew all along.”
“That’s an awfully important secret to hide.”
“She may have wanted to appear younger, although she must have been very young when Rafael was born. I never heard her mention she had Gypsy blood. Rafael is proud of it. The woman’s odd. You needn’t think of her as a possible mother-in-law. My mother would be the only one who matters.”
Ana sat back and folded her hands in her lap. “I don’t believe I’ve ever had such an unusual invitation, but I’d rather skip meeting your stepmother at such an unfortunate time. Once she’s over the initial shock of her husband’s death, we can get together. I have Maggie’s number if you want to contact Rafael. He’s rather difficult to get to know. Miguel thought highly of him, however. Whether or not he’d want to support his grieving mother, I don’t know. If she hid his existence, things might not be particularly good between them.”
“If you’ll give me Maggie’s number, I’ll invite them. Things couldn’t be any worse for Carlotta than they already are, and Rafael could help me raise the boys; they’re half brothers to both of us.”
“What do you plan to say when you scatter the ashes?”
He frowned, clearly perplexed. “Must I say something?”
“Isn’t some sort of personal good-bye expected? Perhaps your stepmother has something planned.”
“I’ll be happy to give her the honor. Could we talk about something else?”
While she ate slowly, he went back to the kitchen for seconds. “The weather has been lovely,” she remarked.
He laughed and leaned over to kiss her as he returned to his place. “We’re avoiding every other subject, aren’t we?”
“You avoid some, and I avoid others. Let’s take things day by day and see how we get along.”
He flashed a cocky grin. “And the nights?”
“We could live for the nights. We get along beautifully then. There, that’s a compliment for you.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” As soon as they’d finished dinner, she called Maggie Mondragon. “It’s Ana Santillan. How are you?”
“I’m thrilled to be pregnant, but the mornings are wretched. Otherwise, we’re both fine.”
“How wonderful, congratulations. You and Rafael will make beautiful babies.” Alejandro was pacing beside her, and while she smiled at him, she had no desire to disclose her own baby news. She explained why she was calling, and when Rafael took the phone, she handed it to Alejandro.
“I’m looking forward to meeting you,” he began. “We share two half brothers. Your mother is heartbroken over my father’s death, and I thought you and Maggie might want to come with us when we scatter his ashes on Saturday.”
Rafael cursed softly. “I’d not come if you were scattering her ashes, and she knows why. Good-bye.”
Alejandro returned the phone to Ana. “He sounds as though he doesn’t need a cape and sword to get the better of a bull. Maybe I’ll be better off not knowing him.”
“He’s had a difficult life, but Maggie adores him. I could invite them to come for dinner so you could meet him under better circumstances.”
His gaze narrowed. “What about Libby and Santos? Would you invite them too?”
After a musical giggle, she apologized. “I shouldn’t laugh, but he’s simply not an issue. Please don’t try and make him one. Did you bring some ice cream? I’d like to eat it off your abs, if you don’t mind.”
He caught her hands and pulled her to her feet. “I brought chocolate. Aren’t you worried about staining the sheets?”
“I plan to lick up every drop. If I miss one, we can wash the sheets easily enough, and there’s more than one set. Let me change while you get the ice cream.”
Once in her bedroom, she looked for something new and took out her red wig. It was long and curly, nearly the same seductive shade as Valeria’s. With a slinky black nightgown, she looked not only hot, but also like another woman entirely. She sprayed on a mist of a spicy perfume, turned off the lights and sat on the end of the bed to wait for him.
Alejandro flipped the light switch as he came through the door and nearly dropped the bowl of ice cream on his shoes. “My God, you’re better than a chameleon at changing your look. That is you, isn’t it, Ana?”
“Of course, it’s me. I wouldn’t share you with another woman. I’m going for a dangerous, sultry look tonight. What do you think?”