“Sí,” Aleesa said with a giggle.
“Sí, I bet you are. Come with abuela. I’ll get you fed.” Paola swung her eyes to me, looking me up and down once again. This time, I swear she was looking at me with pure disdain. “Wake my son for me, yes?”
I nodded. “Will do.”
Catalina and I watched them go until they reached the door of the next penthouse suite. As soon as Paola opened that door and went inside, Catalina put her focus on me again.
“Long night?” She wore an amused smile.
I tried reading her eyes, but with those sunglasses on, she was unreadable. Hey, at least she wasn’t glaring at me to death like her mom.
“Sort of,” I answered.
“I bet.” She snickered before turning on her heels. “Come over for breakfast when you’re ready. And tell my bonehead brother to get up.”
Yeah. They definitely suspected something about us.
After a shower, I gathered my hair into an updo, then got dressed in a gray jumper and Nike Dunks. When I left the bedroom I wassupposedto share with Aleesa and carried myself into the living room, Javier was there.
He stood in the kitchen with a mug of coffee in hand ... and no shirt. Just boxers. God, this man was impeccable. Those six abs, that tan skin, the natural V-cut just below his abdomen. Those long, thick black lashes as he looked under them to find me. He had bed hair ... and I had never felt so attracted to a sleepy human.
“You are staring,” he said before taking a sip of coffee.
I shifted on my feet. “Kinda hard not to when you look likethat.”
He fought a smile. “Like what?”
“Like an Argentinean snack. I mean, really. God wasn’t messing around when he made you. Just gave you all the green flags.”
He laughed, setting his mug down on the countertop. “You flatter me, Octavia. You really do.” He walked across the room to approach me. “Where’s Leesa?”
“With your mom. They stopped by a little bit ago. She said she ordered breakfast from room service for everyone.”
“Oh, she ordered it, huh? Is she also paying for it?”
I laughed as he placed a hand on my waist. “Doubt it.”
“I doubt it too. That woman loves spending my money.”
“Hey, listen ... I think your mom and sister might know about us.” I tucked a loc behind my ear. “Like, they probably suspected something before, but now I think they know.”
“Why do you say that?” he asked.
“Well, your mom gave me a look when she stopped by. Kind of like she was annoyed with me. I was still in my pajamas, and I think she’s putting two and two together. And Catalina was laughing like there was some kind of inside joke happening.”
“Okay.” He seemed confused by my confession. “Did they say anything about it?”
“No, but what if they start hating me or something? They seem really protective of you and Aleesa.”
“They can be,” he said, “especially my mother. But I am a grown man who can make his own choices. Trust me, they know not to overstep.”
“So, you’re basically saying theywillend up hating me.” I rolled my eyes. Men truly did not understand how women operated. “Got it.”
“No. I am saying do not worry too much about it. When I am ready to tell them about you, they will respect it. In the meantime, let them think whatever the hell they want.”
“That’s a whole lot easier said than done, Valdez.”
“Fine. I will talk to them. Okay?”
