She started to laugh louder. ‘I don’t mean like that. I mean look at you now. Your shoulders and hips are touching. Alejandro has brushed your hand or your arm at least half a dozen times. Most couples don’t sit that close together at a restaurant, you know. At least most that I’ve ever known. I just think it’s sweet how much you guys are into each other, that’s all,’ she said with a shrug.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever been called sweet before in my entire life,’ Alejandro said as he picked up his glass and took a drink of his wine. Then he sat back against the seat and put his arm around me.
‘I never saidyouwere sweet,’ Lucia said with a roll of her eyes. ‘I’ve just never really seen a couple like you two before.’
‘What about your mom and dad?’ I asked and I felt Alejandro tense beside me.
‘No way,’ Lucia shook her head and picked up a bread roll. ‘They …, well, they weren’t like that at all.’ She sniffed before taking a bite from her bread.
‘Wait until you taste the lobster here, Lucia. It’s incredible,’ Alejandro said in an obvious attempt to change the subject.
We had finished our meal and were waiting for dessert when the waiter brought over a bottle of champagne to our table and placed three flutes down in front of us.
‘Gracias,’ Alejandro said as though he was expecting it, and the waiter smiled and walked away.
‘What’s this for?’ I asked.
‘I have something to tell you both,’ he grinned as he lifted the bottle from the bucket and popped the cork. ‘And before you get too excited, Lucia, this is practically alcohol free,’ he said with a flash of his eyebrows.
‘Damn!’ she said with a smile as Alejandro filled our glasses.
I watched him with a smile on my face. Whether he would admit it or not, Lucia’s presence in our lives was bringing out a softer side of him.
When our glasses were full, he handed each of us one. ‘I got a call from my lawyer today. The paperwork making you and I Lucia’s legal guardians has all been signed off. It’s official. You’re stuck with us for a few months yet, kid,’ he said.
I opened my mouth in surprise and Lucia gave a squeal of delight.
‘Wow! That was quick,’ I said.
He shrugged. ‘I pulled some strings.’
‘Thank you,’ Lucia said, her face shining with happiness.
I swallowed the lump in my throat as we raised a glass in a celebratory toast.
‘I’m so excited, I think I’m going to pee,’ Lucia said with a grin as she stood up from the table. ‘Be right back.’
I watched as she walked to the restroom, with Hank keeping a close eye on her from his vantage point near the front of the restaurant. When she was out of our sight, I turned to Alejandro and placed my hand on his thigh. ‘That was very sweet of you to rush those papers through.’
He scowled at me. ‘That’s the second time tonight I’ve been called sweet, princess. Don’t go making a habit of it.’
‘Well, it was,’ I said as I leaned closed to him. ‘I love seeing the softer side of you.’
He edged his face closer to mine. ‘Don’t get used to it, Alana,’ he growled. ‘There is nothing soft about what I’ll be giving you as soon as I get you alone.’
I opened my mouth in mock indignation. ‘Is sex ever far from your mind?’ I whispered.
‘Not when you’re sitting next to me in that dress and see through panties, princess,’ he leaned even closer until his lips were brushing my ear. ‘If Lucia wasn’t with us, I’d have fucked you in the car on the way here and took those panties of yours hostage. Then you’d have had to sit here eating your meal with my cum dripping down your thighs,’ he growled.
My insides turned to hot liquid as he planted a single, soft kiss beneath my ear.
‘You’re a devil,’ I whispered and he laughed softly.
‘That’s better,’ he said in his low, growly voice that reverberated through my body.
‘But, seriously, thank you so much for what you did for Lucia. I would have hated her to go back to the Bakers.’
‘I know.’