“That’sRafa?” Carolina asked. Thismanwas not the gawky boy she remembered.
“Shh, Carolina,” Mamá hissed. Her grin widened. “Rafael.” She leaned up and let him kiss her on both cheeks. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.”
Carolina’s brow furrowed. Why had her parents sent for him?
“I should be thanking you, Señora Fuentes.”
“Please, call me Doña Victoria.”
Why would Mamá ask him to speak to her so informally?
“It would be my honor.” Rafa bowed low with a sweep of his massive arm.
Mamá blushed, most irritatingly.
“You remember my daughter, Carolina.” Both sets of eyes turned on Carolina. She was almost too stupefied by Rafa’s size and chiseled chin to remember what she was supposed to do. But she saw the glint in his gaze. Clearly, he knew what a striking figure he was. That annoyed her beyond measure.
“Wonderful to see you again, Carolina. You have blossomed into quite a woman.”
What a strange thing to say to a person.She crossed her arms, noticing his eyes traveling up and down her figure. “I hardly remember what you looked like back then so I cannot gauge whether you’ve improved or not. My apologies.”
His smug smile faded a fraction. Carolina smirked. She had been around powerful men all her life. Thus, she understood they hated nothing more than a confident, sharp-tongued woman, which was exactly who she was. She wouldn’t change that for anyone.
“How have you been, Rafael? I heard you have just returned from Los Campos,” Mamá said, trying to lighten the conversation. “Will you be staying in these parts for long?”
“I have been well, Doña Victoria. I will be returning to theciudad once father is back on his feet. You and your family should visit sometime. The ciudad, I mean. You would love to see such a splendid place, I’m certain of it.”
“Oh yes,” Mamá said. “And so would Carolina. Wouldn’t you, Carolina?”
Carolina nodded numbly, though she really couldn’t care less. Her attention was focused on the door. That sediento was like nothing she’d seen before. Every monster to attack el pueblo, at least while she had been alive, was inhuman. They had claws and piercing fangs; their eyes glowed blood-red. Thirst controlled their every move. Eduardo Montéz had seemed—
Her mamá’s heel dug into her toes. Carolina hissed.
Mamá glared at her before quickly masking her irritation with a polite laugh.
“The clothing boutiques in the capital city are divine,” Rafa continued, oblivious to the silent argument between mother and daughter. “I am welcome at the finest places. There isn’t a single retailer that would turn me away.” He chuckled. “Or should I say, they wouldn’t turn my pocketbook away?”
“Now you have piquedmyinterest,” Nena said, scooting her way between Rafa and Carolina. She wore beautiful poppy-colored skirts and a lacy bodice cut low in the front. Her mass of curls hung in tight tendrils around her shoulders with a single sunset-orange rose tucked behind her ear.
Her rump bumped Carolina farther from Rafa. Nena glanced over her shoulder and winked. Carolina mouthed her thanks.
Rafa’s eyes flicked to Nena’s cleavage before snapping up to meet Carolina’s gaze. He had the nerve to appear as unabashed as ever.
“When Carolina and I are…” He stopped when her mamáshook her head. “Ifwe become more acquainted, I shall take you and your cousin here to see whatever you like. I have been told I am a generous host.”
Wait,Carolina thought.What did he mean by “when Carolina and I”? When we what?
Did her parents call upon him with an ulterior motive? Rafa’s family owned one of the largest tanneries in Abundancia. A union between the two families would make for a profitable business opportunity. She’d heard such a thing said before growing up but paid the notion little mind. Carolina assumed everyone knew she’d never marry for anything other than love.
She turned toward her mamá, sneering.
“There are my girls,” Papá’s voice boomed. He gave Mamá a kiss on the cheek. He shook Rafa’s hand. “Rafael.”
“Señor Fuentes,” Rafa said stiffly, as any caller would do to a potential father-in-law.
That had better not be the case. There would be hell to pay, if so.
“Mija, I have found your esteemed guest,” Papá said to Carolina.
