Page 39 of Love at First Ink

She gave him none. “Tonight was fun. Like, really fun. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” His voice was gruff, holding back emotion she couldn’t quite place. Did he not want this date to end any more than she did?

“Can I see you tomorrow?”

Cisco offered her an apologetic smile. She braced herself for rejection. “I can’t.”

Her body sank with disappointment. She felt like an idiot, especially when her eyes began to sting. “Right. Of course.”

“Marisol, look at me.”

She really didn’t want to, but he placed his hand under her chin and tilted it up. “I can’t,” he repeated. She opened her mouth to snap at him and let him know she heard him the first time, but then he added, “Because I’ll be meeting with my realtor tomorrow about the property we toured. The one by your father’s shop? I don’t know how long it’ll be, but I don’t want to keep you waiting. Let me see you this weekend. All weekend, preferably.”

There was no fighting back the smile and the relief in her features. “This weekend you’re mine, then.”

“Ah, Princesa, I fear I’m already yours.” He smirked and leaned in to kiss her. It was soft and quick. It still left her breathless when he pulled back. “Now, walk that pretty ass upto the door so I can make sure you get home safe. Tiny said your car is in the parking lot, and your keys are at the front desk.”

He truly did think of everything. “Thank you,” she said again. With great reluctance, she got out of the car. She turned back once to wave one last time before heading up to her front entry. The nighttime doorman smiled at her, opening the door.

By the time she retrieved her keys and checked the lobby window, Cisco was gone.

CHAPTER 18

Marisol

My feet are sore. You think it’s because of how many times you stepped on them?

Excuse me? That was one time, and it’s only because you have giant feet.

Well, you know what they say about big feet. Big d…

Finish that and I’ll block your number.

Big dumb shoes. What did you think I was going to say?

You’re lucky you’re cute.

Just cute?

……..

Okay,okay. Don’t admit it. I’ll admit I miss you, Princesa. I’m seeing you this weekend. Tell Snowball I’ll see her soon.

When the phone rang again, Marisol had just stepped out of the shower, tying her fluffy pink towel around her body. Snowball was curled up in her sink, sleeping soundlessly. Her white tail brushed against Marisol’s phone with each lazy sway.

She could only laugh. Didn’t she just finish talking to him an hour ago? It thrilled her that any spare moment he got, Cisco’s first instinct was to call her. Without checking, Marisol answered her phone, putting it on speaker so she could dry off.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in a meeting?” She laughed.

There was a pregnant silence on the other end of her phone before a very different voice than Cisco’s greeted her. “I’m not sure what meeting you’re referring to, but no.”

Marisol’s mother’s voice filled her bathroom. Not even Snowball was immune to the sound of Luciana Roberts’ contempt. She jumped off the counter and retreated into the bedroom, just as Marisol wished she could do. Silently, she cursed herself for answering the phone without checking to see who was calling.

“Mom. Hi,” she said breathlessly, wishing the cell phone towers all over California would spontaneously combust so she’d have an excuse to drop the call.

“Were you expecting someone else?” her mother asked in a way that hinted she knew more than she was letting on, but how was that possible? The only person in her family that sortof knew about Cisco was Lola, but even she didn’t know much. Not that she spoke to their mother much anyway.

“No, sorry, you just caught me off guard.”

---