Sofía glances at my screen. “Ah, you have finished?”
“Sí.” I give her a smile. “It ends on a cliffhanger.”
She covers her mouth with her hand. “He won’t like that.”
“No, he won’t, will he?”
“You’ll be writing another one, or he’ll spank you.”
I give her a mock offended gasp, but she only laughs in her matronly way, eyes dancing mischievously.
“I always intended to anyway. I have the writing bug, now.” I gaze down at Alejandro, who I’m delighted has his father’s gorgeous eyes. He smiles up at me, leaking milk from the corner of his mouth.
“You can’t look at that baby while he eats,” Sofía says. “He loves you more than his food.”
“Just like his papa.”
“Sí.” Sofía reaches out and strokes his soft, darkhair. “Oh, I didn’t mention. Carmen came by while you were at the market. She and Clara want to take you out tomorrow night. Keep you distracted until Alex returns.”
“That’s not necessary,” I say. “I’m capable of managing a few nights without him.”
“Apañármelas,” Sofía corrects. “Notmanejar.It means…” She switches to English. “‘get by’, andmanejarmeans ‘to handle.’”
“Gracias,but I can do both: get by andhandlehim.”
She giggles. “Only you can, señorita.”
I switch back to Spanish. “You’re wicked. Do you know that?”
“So my husband tells—”
My phone rings, and Alejandro comes off the nipple to yell his protest. Sofía is quick to take him from me.
“It’s his bedtime anyway,” she says.
I give her a distracted nod. It’s Alex’s number on the screen, and I hit accept. “Why are you calling me?” I say. “You’remuchtoobusy and important.”
“Far from it,” he drawls. “The auction was a disaster. Nothing of interest at all.”
“There are still two days left. You might yet find something.”
“The rest of it is breeding stock, and I don’t need more.”
“Well, quite. You have me.”
“That, I do.” He chuckles. “The dressage geldings were all too old, and fully trained.”
“Alas,” I tease. “How boring for you when there’sno fight left.”
“You would know,” he says pointedly.
Sofía cackles, clearly able to hear him, and I glare at her through my blush and shoo her out. She leaves with Alejandro, pulling the door closed behind her with a trailing foot.
“Still, there are two more days. Make new contacts? Go for a dinner? Find a nice wench to torment?”
“No, I have a better idea.” A pause. “I’m coming home to my wife, instead.”
I straighten in my chair, my heart rate picking up. “When will you be here?”
“That’s why I’m calling you,” he says. “I’ve just passed Marbella.”
An hour away.“Wonderful. You’ll be home in time for dinner.”
“Mmm hmm. But that’s not what I’m hungry for,” he says, his voice lower. “Take a bath, Tink.”
