“Awww. That’s so romantic,” Isabella said.
When Drew squeezed Rosie’s hand under the table, her arms prickled with goose bumps. Sure it was an act, but he was crushing it.
“Sorry I didn’t mention Drew sooner,” she said. “I wanted you to meet him because things are going great. In fact, he might be coming to a few of our holiday gatherings.”
“Por supuesto.” Mamá smiled at Drew. “Look how happy you’ve made my daughter. She’s glowing.”
While Rosie didn’t love being the center of attention, at least she and Drew had successfully convinced her family they were together. If she was lucky, they’d move on to another topic of conversation.
For a few minutes, all was quiet as everyone focused on the food. To Rosie’s delight, Drew eagerly accepted a second helping of enchiladas. Mamá always appreciated it when her guests ate heartily. Rosie bumped her thigh against his to get his attention, but when he turned to look at her, his tender expression made her melt inside.
“Everything okay?” he whispered.
She kept her voice low. “Just checking to make sure you’re doing all right.”
“I’m great. The food is awesome, and your family’s so welcoming.”
“Hey, you two, no love talk,” Isabella said.
“Hush,” Mamá said. “Just because you and Peter aren’t in your lovey-dovey stage anymore doesn’t mean your sister can’t enjoy it.”
Isabella responded with another of her eye rolls. “It’s hard being lovey-dovey when you’re looking after a needy toddler and the next baby’s due in two months.” She turned to Drew and asked sweetly, “So, how do you feel about kids? Do you want any?”
Rosie choked on her rice, then quickly washed it down with a drink of water. She nailed her sister with a flinty glare, but Isabella plastered an innocent smile on her face.
“Eventually, I’d love to have a family, but I’ve got time,” Drew said. “I’m only twenty-seven.”
Mamá directed her gaze at him with the intensity of a laser. “You know Rosie’s already twenty-nine, right? She doesn’t have many fertile years left.”
For the love of God.
If Mamá kept this up, she’d scare Drew away. Even though Isabella was pregnant with her second child, and Jamie and Camila were expecting their first one in May, Mamá acted like she wouldn’t be truly happy unless all three of her children provided her with grandkids.
Rosie pivoted quickly. “Speaking of kids, Drew’s great with them. He teaches a speed training class at the gym for middle school students, and he also volunteered to play Santa at the Duchess. We’re starting a new holiday tradition. Every Saturday in December, we’re going to offer events geared toward families staying there.”
“I was glad to volunteer,” Drew said. “It was the least I could do, seeing how Rosie’s boss expects her to increase the hotel’s occupancy rate during the holidays.”
No. Though Drew didn’t know better, any hint that Rosie’s job was on the line would put her mom on full alert. Like a shark smelling blood in the water, Mamá zeroed in on Rosie. “Why do you need to increase the occupancy rate? Isn’t the hotel usually full in December? What with all the holiday events going on in Victoria, there must be a lot of tourists visiting, no?”
“I would think the Duchess would be at full occupancy,” Jaime added.
“Like you’re an expert on the hospitality industry?” Camila said to him. “You deal with teeth all day.”
“I’m not surprised you’re having trouble attracting guests,” Isabella chimed in. “The last time I looked up the Duchess on Tripadvisor, it was only ranked number twenty out of all the hotels in Victoria. Even the Days Inn had a higher rating.”
Rosie gritted her teeth. “Why were you checking on our ranking?”
Her sister shrugged. “Just curious.”
Or because she liked being up in Rosie’s business.
“I didn’t realize the hotel was struggling that much,” her dad said. “Do you think you should look for another job?”
“I wish you’d ended up at the Grand Duke,” Mamá added. “It’s such a classy hotel.” She turned toward Drew. “Did you know Rosie applied there after she finished university? It was her first choice, but they didn’t hire her.”
“Rosalina always dreamed of working for the Duke,” her dad said. “Her great-aunt spent ten years in their housekeeping department and used to tell us stories about it.”
Though Rosie had gone through two rounds of interviews at the Duke, she hadn’t gotten an offer. At the time, she’d been devastated, but once she’d gotten hired at the Duchess, she’d never considered leaving. For all the ups and downs she’d experienced there, she had no desire to give up her role as assistant manager or lose the support she’d gotten from the Damsels.
