She chuckles, and her eyes crinkle with her wide smile. “We are the perfect combo, aren’t we?”
She puts on some rubber gloves and begins washing the dishes. I’ve learned very quickly tonight that it doesn’t matter that Rosa and Javier are abundantly wealthy. Rosa likes to take care of everything herself and only hires part-time help.
Their brownstone, which probably cost twenty-plus-million dollars, has been decorated with top-of-the-line furniture but still has a homey feel in every room. Javier uses his favorite chair in the living room, which is thirty years old, and no one is fazed that it’s ripping at the seams and the fabric is completely worn out. Each room is designed with rich color and character, showcasing a plethora of family pictures that line the walls and tables.
You can tell people are very much loved in this house.
“Rosa?” I call to grab her attention.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Thank you.” She turns her head to look at me over her shoulder. “Thank you for welcoming me into your home and your life. I’m so very grateful.” I won’t elaborate more. She knows exactly what I mean.
If you’reinwith this family, you’re in…but if you’re not, you’re screwed, and I know if the matriarch of this family didn’t approve, it would be much worse than Sebastian and Harrison not talking. The thought of it alone makes me sick to my stomach.
A life without Harrison and Claud would feel like Hell on Earth, and I never want to experience it.
Rosa removes her gloves and walks over to me, taking my hands in hers. “Juliette, I’ve dreamed of this day for a long time, and you’re even more wonderful than I could have ever imagined. My son and granddaughter deserve to have a complete family. It’s what my daughter would have wanted. She was selfless and only wanted the best for everyone. So, I’m the one who is grateful they met a woman with confidence who isbeautiful inside and out. I can tell you love them very much and that you will be a role model my granddaughter can look up to. That’s all I can ask for.” Without another word, she squeezes my hands and walks back to resume her cleaning.
Claudina walks into the kitchen, quietly saunters to me, and climbs onto my lap. “You tired, sugar plum?”
She nods and snuggles closer.
Leo is behind Claud with Skye, who pushes her way under my legs and flops down, making herself comfortable. Leo grabs one of the chairs from around the kitchen table, pulls it up close to mine, and drapes his arm around me, pulling me into a side hug.
I lean my head on his shoulder, just as tired as Claud, and ask him how his date went yesterday.
“It was fine. She wasn’t the right one.”
“Oh please.” I laugh. “You don’t care about the right one. You only care about the right now.”
He shrugs under my head. “I don’t know, you guys look happy. Maybe it’s time I settle down.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it, playboy.”
“What’s a playboy?” Claud asks over her yawn.
“Nice one.” Leo chuckles.
“Umm…”
“Hey.” Nate walks into the kitchen, luckily distracting Claud, then takes a seat in front of me. He lifts my legs and puts them on his lap so Claudina has more room to sprawl on top of me.
“Is Skye friendly with other dogs?”
“Yeah, why?” Nate answers.
“No reason.”
No reason except trying to convince Harrison that Skye needs a sibling who lives at the penthouse. My dad was severely allergic, so we never had a dog, and now, after hanging out with Skye for the last few months, adopting a dog is all I can think of.
Leo squeezes his arm that’s wrapped around me. “He’ll never go for it.”
“We’ll see…”
“We’ll see what?” Harrison asks as he walks into the kitchen, then stops dead in his tracks, glaring at Leo and Nate.
“Can you two get your dirty paws off my girl?”
