Page 78 of Wishing for La Luna
He heads back through the room and down the stairs. The sky is quickly turning gray, with storm clouds hovering in the distance over the water. Lightning flickers like a flash of a camera, making me flinch. It’s going to rain. That sucks—I was hoping to go to the beach today. There goes that idea.
I walk to the other end of the balcony, which is furnished with an outdoor bed, a breakfast table set, and a fire pit. The balcony panoramic glass doors are open, and on the other side of the wall, there’s a huge spa bathroom with a large oval freestanding tub and a standing shower. It’s all modern, including the rainfall shower.
Everything is impeccable, as if new.
Man, he’s rich-rich.
On the other side, the double-sink counter spans half the wall. There's so much space and perfect lighting, thanks to the window between the sinks. It’s a makeup girlie’s dream. I’ll need to try getting ready here. Through the window, abohío, a small house in the native island style, catches my eye. The teal siding with reddish frames around the windows and door gives it such warm appeal. The roof is made of zinc planks, reminding me of my grandma’s house in thecampo. It looks like…wait, there’s a photo of that house at Rio’s place in New York. He walks through the door as I wave an imaginary makeup brush over my cheeks while staring at the little house.
“I love your bathroom. It’s like a dream.”
He walks up behind me and hooks his hands around my waist. “You’re a dream right here.”
Rio kisses me below my ear, and his body presses against mine. I feel every part of him as he molds himself to me. I let my head fall back and offer him my mouth. He indulges me with his lips, opening his mouth, brushing his tongue over mine.
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
He nods. “The press knows I’m here. They want me to do interviews. Maeven is on the job.”
“How did they find out you’re here?”
“They always find out, but it’s okay. It’s more respectful here.” His fingers trail along my belly. “What do you want to do today? Do you want to explore the town?”
“I would like that. I wanted to go to the beach, but that rain will be here soon.” I hook a thumb toward the water. Then my gaze catches the little house. “Hey, who lives in the casita?”
He lifts his head from my neck and looks at it. “It’s my great-grandmother’s house. She was the original owner of all this land. When she died, it became my grandma’s. Mami was born there.”
His voice is soft and colorful as he says it, the tenderness clear.
“It’s beautiful. It reminds me of the colorful traditional paintings similar to the photograph at your place. Which is beautiful by the way.”
“Thank you.” He stares at it for a minute, and shifts in his gaze when it meets mine. There’s something turbulent in his eyes, reminding me of the storm looming outside.
“Do you want to see it?”
“Yeah, I would love to.”
He takes my hand, and we walk down the stairs. Sel waves from the pool. Tito walks over with twoPresidentesin hand to join her.
His aunt is in the kitchen with another woman who is prepping food.
Rio blows her a kiss. “I’m going to show LunaAbuela’shouse.”
“No se estén mucho. La comida va a estar lista a las doce en punto.” His aunt tells us.
Tito pauses to look at us, and then he keeps going. His aunt’s eyes are rounded, but she smiles and nods.
Rio leads me out the back of the house. I want to ask what that weird reaction was, but along brown lizard, nearly as long as my arm, slithers quickly across the grass. My heart lurches and I almost jump on Rio’s back.
“I hate those things.”
He laughs. “Mariguanas? They’re harmless.”
“But creepy AF.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep them away from you.”
“My hero,” I say, breathless, without losing sight of the demon beast.”
