“My name is Aria.”
“We know, ma’am,” Becky said. “We’ve caught glimpses of you over the years.”
“How long have you worked here?” she asked.
“I’ve been here four years,” Becky said.
“I’ve been here three years, ma’am.”
She stood to face them and took their hands. “I want to apologize if my husband abused you. From the expressions on your faces, he did. Please tell me he didn’t force you to have sex?”
Becky shook her head. “He said we were too ugly. But he would slap or kick us for no reason or if we got in his way.”
“That bastard.” She almost smiled at the way the girls’ eyes widened.
“Well, that will never happen again in this household. Lorenzo has gone … on vacation and will never be back. If you have a problem with anyone, come find one of us.”
Aria squeezed the girls’ hands. “I hope you stay on with us.”
They both nodded enthusiastically.
“Good. We’d hate to lose you. By the way, neither of you is ugly. You’re both very pretty, in fact.”
Becky shook her head. “No—”
“Do you think I’m ugly?” Aria asked them.
Their mouths dropped open, and they shook their heads.
“No, God, no. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” Becky said.
She smiled. “Lorenzo liked to tell me I was ugly and stupid all the time.”
“Really?” Becky asked in shock.
“Yes, so unless you think he didn’t lie to me, then he also lied to you.”
She loved the way the girls’ expressions lightened, and they smiled. “Between the three of us, I always thought he looked like a goat.”
The girls laughed and nodded.
“Good. You better go back in. Tell Maddie I kept you out here.”
“Yes, ma’am.” They both curtsied, grinned, and ran off.
“You know, Trent, sometimes I think our woman can’t get any better, and then she pulls this shit on us. She’s doing it on purpose to keep us on our toes.”
She laughed and sat back down. “Stop.”
Mateo picked up her hand and kissed her palm. “I’ll never stop, baby.”
She leaned forward and kissed him. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
She giggled when Trent lifted her away from Mateo and into his lap.
“Now it’s my turn,” he said and took her lips. When she was breathless, he raised his head. “I love you so much, pet.”
“I love you, too.” She never thought she could love anyone as much as she loved her daughters, but she was wrong. What she felt for them was a different kind of love but deeper since they’d bonded with sex and loving.