“What show?” Dulce asked.
“Yeah.” Nine couldn’t help but grin, despite his growing discomfort. “What show?”
“Here we go” Tay laughed, reaching for the salsa caddy. “He’s gonna make us go through a whole song and dance before owning up to it.”
“Owning up to what?” Dulce asked Tay then turned to Nine.
She hadn’t even begun to serve herself; she was now more concerned about this.
Tay turned to address Dulce. “While you were busy admiring and talking about the different centerpieces on all the tables, the first dance was going on.”
“I saw that,” Dulce protested.
“Yeah, at first, but then you and that other woman next to you started chatting about the flowers, the bride’s dress, the cake, and everything else that was so pretty.” Tay smirked, shaking her head. “You missed the rest of the dancing. The rest of the couples in the wedding party got on the dance floor too and put on quite a show.”
“They did?” Dulce turned to Nine in question then turned back to Tay. “I did see when they walked out there to dance. I didn’t see a show.”
“You see?” Nine said as Tay rolled her eyes because they both knew how dimwitted his other mom had always been when it came to noticing stuff like this or catching on to sarcasm and jokes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I thought maybe I was reading more into it until her boyfriend . . .?” Tay paused and Nine finally conceded to at least this with a nod. “Good ’cause I was gonna say don’t let me find out you’re messing with married women. That’s no joke,” she added when Nine laughed humorlessly. “It’s a good way to get yourself killed, but even one with a boyfriend is playing with fire. That guy looked ready to spit when he walked up and cut in. For a moment there, I was afraid it might turn into a scuffle.”
“I still don’t understand—”
“Rudy and the woman he was partnered up with at the wedding danced longer than any of the other couples,” Tay explained to Dulce. “They didn’t even seem to notice all the other couples walk off the dance floor, they were so consumed with each other. But she’s spoken for.”
Dulce’s eyes opened wide when she turned to Nine. “Is this true?”
Nine wiped his mouth. “That I was dancing with her? Sure, it is. She was my partner, and we’d rehearsed it that way.” He turned back to Tay. “They were slow songs. And no one said we had to all get off the dance floor at the same time.”
“So was the entire wedding party told to compete with the bride and groom to see which couple could look even more hopelessly in love than them?” Tay laughed as she lifted a spoonful of beans but stopped short of putting it in her mouth. “Because I gotta say you two won hands down.”
Nine stared at his mother as she chewed her food, still chuckling, and Dulce glanced between them. Hopelessly in love? He knew it’d been pretty bad—bad enough for Brad to get up there and practically get in Nine’s face about it. But he wouldn’t call what he’d felt holding her in his arms that night love.
“Mijo, I know you’re competitive,” Dulce said, turning to face Nine. “But if they said it was a contest—”
“It wasn’t a competition, Mom,” Nine said, still looking at Tay. “She thinks she’s being funny. Ha-ha.”
“But it’s not funny.” Tay went all serious now. “I saw them walk in together. It’s why at first I thought you were just doing what you normally do, throwing your moves on the girl but maybe weren’t aware she was spoken for. I saw how quickly you moved on to the next girl once the first one went and sat with her boyfriend. It’s why I hadn’t bothered calling you to ask about it. But you just confirmed that you did know. Don’t think I didn’t noticed how utterly consumed you were with her the whole day, not just on the dance floor, and now you’re here. So let’s have it.” Her expression softened, and she reached out to him, placing her hand on his on the counter. “Are you in love, Son? With a woman who’s unavailable?”
Jesus Christ! Was he really that transparent?
“Tay?” Dulce’s eyes went from Tay to her hand on Nine’s. “Why hadn’t you told me any of this?”
Tay’s shoulders dropped a bit, and she exhaled. “Babe.” She turned to Dulce, giving Nine a chance to breathe. “Didn’t you hear what I just said? I’m just now putting it all together.”
“There’s nothing to put together.” Nine took a nervous swig of his soda. “Yeah, she’s cool, and I’ve probably never enjoyed hanging out with any other girl like I do with her. But I’m not in love with her. I’ve known from the first day I met her she had a man, and she also made it clear I’m not her type.”
Tay scoffed. “She sure as shit wasn’t acting like you weren’t her type that night.”
“She said that?” Dulce asked, sounding scandalized. “Just out and said you’re not her type? If she has a boyfriend, why would that even matter?”
“It just came up in the conversation,” Nine explained, feeling strangely relieved to be able to talk about this finally. “She has a kid and is looking for someone to settle down with. I’d already mentioned I don’t do committed relationships. Not now anyway,” he added when Tay shot him a nasty look. “Not with me just getting this business going and all. I didn’t think it’d matter at the time.”
He stopped there because, as relieved as he was to be able to let it out, he was afraid to say too much. Despite being glad to be able to talk about this, he was certain they’d dig into his feelings, and even he wasn’t sure what he was feeling.
“Keep going,” Tay said.
Nine shook his head. “That’s it.’
“No, it’s not,” Tay said immediately. “Why are you really here, boy?” She paused for a moment, but when he didn’t respond she went on. “We’re your mothers. You can tell us. You didn’t think it mattered at the moment, but what about now?”
Nine swallowed harder, glancing away. It took a minute for Dulce to catch on to what Tay was getting at, but when she did, she reached out and touched his arm. “Oh, Mijo, are you in love with her?”
“No.” Nine shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t know.” He let his head fall back in exasperation. “Doesn’t matter. She’s getting married. That guy’s not just her boyfriend; they’re engaged.”
“When are they getting married?
“I don’t know,” Nine said, picking at his food. “They haven’t set a date.”
“You said she has a kid,” Dulce said. “Is she marrying her kid’s father?”
“No.” Nine shook his head then chuckled. “Her daughter’s dad is gay. He was at the wedding too. He was the guy filming everything.”
“He’s gay?” Tay asked.
Nine explained about Phoenix, glad for the break in what was beginning to feel a little heavy. They asked more about Dee, and he told them about knowing her long before this whole wedding business. How the chemistry between them was so natural he’d never felt anything even close to it with any other girl.
For someone who wasn’t planning on saying shit about this to his moms, by the time they were done grilling him, they knew about the night they broke down on the freeway, how he’d gotten stuck in the wine cellar with her, the rehearsal dinner, most of pertinent things they’d discussed on each occasion, and even how they’d begun to exchange texts—up until the day of the wedding.
But he did keep a couple of things to himself. He’d been surprised that it’d only been a week since he’d last heard from her, but it felt like the longest week of his life. Longer even than any of the stints he’d done in county.
It was why he was really here. With each passing day, it’d gotten harder and harder to concentrate on anything. Everything made him think of her, even when he was trying real hard not to. Just last night, he couldn’t sleep, so he decided to watch a movie, something that didn’t have any kind of romance and minimal hot chicks. He settled for Pirates of the Caribbean. It felt safe until the chick with the perfectly imperfect teeth came on screen. After rewindin
g it several times to see her teeth again because it reminded him of Dee, he turned the damn TV off.
Even the radio on at the shop was annoying as fuck sometimes. Ever since he started paying attention to lyrics, he couldn’t hear any song that talked about love now that didn’t make him think of her.
There was something else he’d kept from them because he had a feeling they’d be pissed. As stupid as it sounded, since they’d likely never have reason to meet her, he didn’t want them to dislike anything about her. He left out her douche-magnet comments and how she’d compared him to those types of guys on more than one occasion.
Bottom line was she was unavailable, and he’d already accepted it. Both moms tried to argue that it sounded as if maybe there was still a chance for them. That from what he’d told them so far their chemistry did sound amazing. “She’s not married yet, Rudy,” Tay had insisted. “I personally would at least try to reach out and let her know how you feel.”
“I have reached out,” Nine countered. “She’s not responding to my texts, and I don’t wanna risk her asshole fiancé picking up if I call. Don’t worry. I just needed to vent,” he assured them as they walked him out. “I’ve got plenty of distractions to keep me busy. I can’t waste my time on delusional shit, and that’s all I’d be doing if I didn’t let this go. Already done so. She’s engaged, and even if she wasn’t, she made it clear I’d never make the cut.” He shrugged after hopping on his bike. “I’ll be fine. Trust me,” he added with a evil grin. “I’ll be more than fine.”
“Rudy?” Dulce said before he could start up his loud bike.
He began undoing the strap on his helmet so he could put it on. Already smirking, he continued to work on the strap, fully expecting to get scolded about his plenty of distractions and more than fine comments. “What, Madre?”
“I noticed you didn’t step outside for a smoke the whole time you were here. That’s not like you.”
Nine glanced up at her. It took a moment, but she smiled suddenly as if, even during his entire good-bye speech about letting this go, she’d known he was full of shit. Tay was smiling now too. He knew he should’ve left the part out about Dee not wanting smokers around her daughter. But it’d slipped. It only surprised him it was Dulce who’d picked up on this. Of course, he wouldn’t be admitting he’d been wearing a patch for weeks.
He shrugged, getting the helmet on so he could get the hell out of there already. “I’ve been cutting down.”
Chapter 16
Drew
Of course Ali and Leo would be the only ones who hadn’t noticed Drew and Nine’s love fest on the dance floor the day of their wedding. They were too enthralled with each other to notice much of what was going on around them. It’s why neither one of them thought much of requesting her services in setting up the auto shop’s website.
But after breaking off her engagement to Brad, Drew wouldn’t have had a valid enough reason to decline taking the job even if they had noticed.
Drew had managed to put something together in a couple of days to get them started. She figured this would be painless if she worked on it virtually from her office. She’d purposely written up a very detailed manual, one that explained everything they could handle themselves, and if they needed to add something too complex, all they had to do was shoot her an email, and she’d take care of it. She figured that would be the extent of it, and she was home free.
Not.
Just days into it, Orlando had emailed her to ask question after question. Then later she’d gotten an email from Nine with more inquiries. His issues were all legitimate, not some ploy to start up their back and forth. He didn’t even ask her anything personal. Clearly, he’d gotten the hint. After ignoring the several texts she’d gotten from him after the wedding, he kept the emails solely about the website troubleshooting.
There was no way he could know about her broken engagement unless Brad had told someone down at 5th Street and it’d gotten back to him that way. Drew had yet to tell anyone aside from her mom, Charlee, and Ali, but she’d sworn Charlee and Ali to secrecy. She knew she could trust them, and anyone her mom might tell wouldn’t matter. She also knew Nine would’ve brought it up if it had gotten back to him. There was never a shortage of questions from that man, especially when it came to her personal life.
Drew hadn’t even told Phoenix. After the wedding-dance fiasco, she was certain he’d blame Nine for her decision, and that just wasn’t the case. Yes, her feelings for Nine had brought to light just how lacking her feelings for Brad really were. It was also an eye-opener on how hard it would really be to continue to pretend she could just make the best of it. Phoenix would know soon enough; she just hadn’t found the right moment to tell him.
Being enlightened by her mom, she’d realized, especially after the wedding, that she too might someday be incapable of fighting any feelings for someone who may come along later and make her feel what Nine had. It’d made Drew even more adamant about not settling. She was determined to find a man who could make her feel everything Nine had but at the same time give her what Brad had been willing to. But she hadn’t broken things off for Nine, even if she had done it just days after the wedding. Nor did she have any silly illusions that something between her and Nine could ever be. It just wasn’t fair to either her or Brad to continue the façade.
The only reason she’d been forced to tell Ali was because of this damn gig she had with the auto shop’s website. When she first accepted the job, she kept to herself about the breakup. But it’d been weeks since Ali had mentioned Orlando’s comment to Leo about how it’d be nice if Drew came into the shop and explained the website in person.
“They’re just more hands-on people, I guess,” Ali had said. “I’m the same way. They’re having a hard time grasping written instructions. He said, if you’re ever in the area, maybe you could just go in and give them a quick and dirty how-to lesson on the basics.”
At first, Drew panicked and started with excuses why right now she just couldn’t. But when Ali left it open for Drew to get to it whenever she could, Drew figured she might as well come clean. She’d obviously be forced to do it eventually. Maybe Ali could help her get around having to deal with facing Nine again. So she’d just been honest. She told her about the breakup but made her promise to not even tell her husband. Of course, Ali had questioned why, so it was Drew’s cue to spill it.
“Nine and I made this sort of connection. It’s what made me realize how little chemistry Brad and I had. But he made it clear he doesn’t do relationships. He was really upfront about it, and I’m more than fine with that. Only I know he’d be all for just a good time. If he hears about the breakup, he might reach out, and the last thing I need in my life right now is to get caught up with someone who’s not emotionally available, ya know?”
She even went so far as to admit she didn’t trust herself to be around him and not just give into her body’s desire now that she was single again.
“But you said there was a connection. Maybe he’d be different with you.”
“No.” Drew had laughed. “Trust me. I’ve been with plenty of guys like him. I know the type too well. While I have no doubt we’d both enjoy giving into something just physical, I have Chelsea to think about now. It’s why I was settling for a relationship with a man I deemed suitable to bring around her and I could be content with. But I know I need more now. Just not with someone I can’t bring around my daughter because I have no idea how long he’ll stick around. I’m already mad at myself for having brought Brad into her life, and now I have to explain why he’ll no longer be around. I refuse to parade man after man into her life, especially ones I know I have no expectations of having a real future with.”
Drew stopped short of admitting she was also afraid of Nine breaking her heart. After feeling what she had at the wedding and every other time she’d been around him, she knew the possibility of that happening was absolutely real. She just said she’d prefer not to be around him to avoid the temptat
ion of doing anything that would make things awkward later. With Leo being so close to Nine, running into him again later was sure to happen.
So last night when she got the call from Ali, she jumped on the opportunity. “Just letting you know in case you’re out in that area tomorrow afternoon,” Ali had said, “Leonardo and Nine are attending an auto show in Vegas tomorrow. They’ll be leaving before noon and won’t be back until the next evening. So you wouldn’t have to worry about seeing Nine.”
There was no reason for Drew to be out in that area today, but she agreed to doing this in a heartbeat since it’d been hanging over her head for a while. The sooner she took care of this, the sooner she could stop dreading it. She drove up the street, reading the sign of the shop as she passed it.
Bad Boys
Auto Repair & Custom Designs
Shaking her head as she drove into their parking lot, Drew remembered thinking of the irony as she’d worked on the website. She’d been too preoccupied the first time she visited the shop to even notice the name. So when she opened the email with all the info she’d need to put the website together and read the name of the shop, she took it as a sign. No more bad boys for her.
Not that she’d be swearing them off completely. She absolutely meant it when she’d said she was all for a just-for-fun time with some hot man-whore piece of ass. And she still could indulge on the down low if anything that tempting ever beckoned. Just not with one who she already knew had such potential of shattering her heart.
As Ali had mentioned, the shop looked busy. All six car lifts were in use, and there were several more cars that looked to be waiting their turn. Fast-paced mechanics walked around, looking real busy.
Drew smiled. She really was happy for Nine. Even before she’d ever met him, Ali had shared with her about Leo and his roommates’ longtime dream of opening up their own shop. They were finally living their dream.