“I doubt that. You’ve been kind and patient. Those aren’t two qualities that anyone raised in your lifestyle seems to keep into adulthood. I’ve seen my abuelo’s men get it beaten out of them. Somehow, you managed to stay decent.” I chuckle at her choice of words.
“I’m not a good man, Rosario.” She smiles at me, and it feels like the sun warming my skin after the longest winter ever.
“Oh, I know that. But you’re not evil either. I don’t need a good man, Bruno.” I take her hand in mine and roll the wedding ring around her finger.
“What do you need?” I glance up at her, waiting for an answer.
“I don’t know.” Her words sound shy and timid, but the look of determination in her eyes, plus the way she grips my hand firmly, lets me know she’s willing to figure it out with me.
It’s honestly the best answer I’ve ever heard.
“Let’s get inside before you catch a cold. I’ll get dinner started while you change into something more comfortable.” I pat herthigh and jump out of the truck, landing on a sheet of ice that sends me sliding down the side of the truck.
“Wow,” I shake off the sudden boost of adrenaline and chuckle as I get my feet under me.
“Bruno, are you alright?” I put my hands up to stop her, but it’s too late.
She hits the ice in her heels and tumbles into me causeing us both to fall into the snowbank. Our thin clothes are soaked instantly, and I try to help her up but end up falling all over again.
“Hahaha!” Rosario belly laughs as I struggle to right us.
I get us up with no help from her, and hate the way she shivers not only from the laughing. It brings back memories from when she arrived that I would much rather forget.
“Look! We made snow angels.” She giggles as I help her into the house.
“Looks more like demons to me. I can see the horns from here. See, it’s even smoking.” I point at the steam rising from the two indents we left in the snow and damn near make us fall again, causing another burst of laughter from us both as we finally get inside the house.
I flip the lights on and curse.
The dining room table is set with fine china. Candles are set but not lit. The house smells of a perfectly seasoned beef, and I want to murder whoever has broken into my fucking house.
I edge over to where I have a gun hidden and take it out before turning to Rosario with my finger over my lips. But she’s not where I left her.
“Shit. Rosario!” I whisper-hiss as I go in search of my wayward wife.
“They left a trail of rose petals to the bedroom.” She drops the box of roses that were delivered to the church at her feet.
“Let me check the house, then we can get out of these wet clothes.” She lets out a laugh I don’t recognize.
“They want to make sure we, that we’ve…Oh God, did they put cameras up?” Her mind jumps from one bad conclusion to the worst as I grab the throw off the couch and wrap her in it.
“Stay here. Don’t move until I call you.” She nods as I watch her face morph from disgust to anger.
Kitten’s got claws, I see.
I check the house twice to make sure we’re alone and then retrieve my bug detector to check for listening devices. I find none. The house seems free of cameras as well. When I walk back into the living room, I’m pulling my tie free and undoing the buttons of my shirt as I enter, letting the words I was about to say die in my throat.
“Why are you naked?” The words come out garbled like I’m choking on them.
“They want us to,” she pauses, looking for the words, and I take a step slower to her, wanting to touch her so damn badly.
“Fuck?” I prove, and she shakes her head.
“Don’t curse.” I grin at her inability to understand my love for foul language.
“Make love?” I try again as I sircle her once to take her all in.
“Perform. Like cattle. They want me pregnant so they can have their precious heir.” I nod at her as I stop in front of her so close we could touch, but I hold back.
