“No. Technically, we are being represented by Camdyn’s grandfather, though she’s doing most of the work for him. She just transitioned back to her family’s law firm from the company she interned for and worked for straight out of college.” His mother didn’t need to know that Cami’s ex’s father owned that firm.
His mother huffed. “Well, her brother has more money than you, so maybe she’s not using you for yours.”
Cami was close enough to overhear his mother and covered her mouth to keep from giggling, but Javi couldn’t contain his laugh. “Mamá, she’s successful in her own right. She doesn’t need my money.”
“I guess not. But what does her brother think? You don’t need an issue with a teammate.”
“He’s okay with it. I told him my intentions right after we first met with her about Lola. I knew I wanted her to be mine.” Camdyn rolled her eyes as she slid her arms loosely around his neck, but one side of her lips was also quirked up. She looked pleased, even if she was trying to suppress it.
His mother was quiet for a moment. She sounded hesitant when she spoke again. “You sound so certain, but you haven’t known her long.”
“The time doesn’t matter. When you know, you know. I want her to move in with me.” He looked directly into Cami’s eyes as he said this. It was the first time he’d spoken like this in front of her. Kind of underhanded to tell his mother before speaking with Cami, but his woman was so independent that he’d use coercion if that’s what it took to get what he wanted. As they say in Cuba, he could do thingsby the left.
“You sound like your father.”
“There is no greater compliment. It’s late there and you need to rest,mamá. Call me earlier tomorrow and we’ll talk some more. Maybe we can make those plans for you to come visit.” Cami was now nuzzling his neck and he was more than ready to end this call.
“Okay,hijo. We’ll speak tomorrow. I love you.”
“Love you, too,mamá,” he replied before clicking to end the call. He tossed his phone onto the bedside table and then lightly smacked Cami’s rear.
“You like being naughty,hermosa,” he said, more as a statement than a question.
She started laughing, so he smacked her again a little harder.
She leaned up and looked into his eyes while running her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. “I can’t move in with you. The commute from Oasis to Phoenix is too far for me.”
“I know,” he responded, “but during the offseason, I’d like us to get a place together in Oasis.”
“I’d like that,” she said before she lowered her mouth to his.
The next morning a sleepy Cami came into the kitchen where Javi was making them breakfast. It was too early and his woman had a three-hour drive back to Oasis ahead of her before even starting her nine-to-five.
“You should get one of those pod coffee makers,” she said.
“You don’t like what I make?” he asked as he watched her settle on a barstool. She had already done her hair and makeup but was still wearing his T-shirt and probably nothing else. It swallowed her frame and hung from her left shoulder like an oversized minidress.
“It just seems faster. Simpler,” she mumbled.
“Sacrilege,” he replied with a tone of disapproval.
“What?” she retorted defensively. “The brand you like makes the pods. I looked online.”
Javi flipped off the burner where he was cooking eggs. Then he moved to pour her a cup from the Moka pot that was also on the stove. He’d already frothed sugar in their cups with the initial drops. “While I appreciate you thinking about me, I don’t plan to ever change my routine. Morning coffee is something I shared with my dad from the time I was a small child right up ’til the day he died. He taught me how to make it, and we always had this same brand, though I took it with less milk as I grew older.”
“Oh,” she replied with her head cocked to the side like she was studying him.
He dished up their breakfast then took a seat on a stool next to Cami.
“You miss him,” she stated softly.
His heart wrenched becausemisswasn’t a strong enough word, but he nodded while he finished a bite, then answered, “I always will.”
She placed her hand on his upper thigh and lightly squeezed before turning her attention back to the meal he'd prepared for them. “You’re a good cook.”
“Well, that's all because of mymamá. We mostly ate at home when I was a child.”
“We did, too, but that probably has more to do with the lack of options in Oasis. However, I'm not much of a cook,” she admitted.
