Page 41 of Along Came Amor
“Working on the book?”
He latched on to the excuse. “Precisely.”
“Excellent. I’m already lining up late night talk shows for when it comes out.”
Roman’s back prickled with sweat. “You’re the best, Ni.”
“Don’t mention it. Say hi to Camille for me.”
“Will do.”
He hung up, then put his reading glasses back on, the better to ignore the speculative look his mother was casting in his direction.
“Was that Nigella?” Dulce asked, all innocence, as if she hadn’t been sitting right there when he said the publicist’s name.
“Yes.” He opened his email, although he barely registered the new messages flooding in. He tensed, like a mouse in a field who’d seen the shadow of a predatory bird overhead.
His mother’s voice was sly. “Is this about adate?”
The raptor’s claws clamped around him.
“No.”
“Román.”
The way she said his name—the way she’dalwayssaid his name when he was trying to pull a fast one on her—awoke his inner teenager.
He tore off his reading glasses and sent her an exasperated look. “Go ahead and ask. I know you want to.”
And he wouldn’t have a moment’s peace until she did.
A spark of glee lit her eyes, and she dragged it out, likely just to annoy him. “Are... you...seeingsomeone?”
He huffed out a breath and cast his gaze at the ceiling. “Mami—”
“Because if you are—”
“I’m not—”
“Ay dios mío, youare.” Delight transfused Dulce’s features. “Tell me all about her.”
“There’s nothing to tell,” he mumbled, annoyed at having somehow given something away. “It’s not serious.”
Her brows snapped together and the corners of her mouth pinched in disapproval. “Mijo, you’re too old to be pulling that shit.”
He sputtered. “But it’snot.”
“You’re forty, Roman. When is it going togetserious?”
“She doesn’t want it to be,” he muttered, irritated at himself for falling into his mother’s trap.
“What’s her name?”
“I’m not telling you.” He realized immediately how immature that sounded, and sighed. “It doesn’t matter. I’m probably never going to see her again.”
Dulce returned to her magazine. “Well, you let me know when you do.”
“I will not.”
