He shrugs. “Probably because she didn’t want people to know her real name. She said the name ‘Wisteria’ was a dainty mouthful that didn’t fit her personality.”
I clutch his arm. “What else did she say?”
“She had a lot of great things to say about her oldest brother, including how much heart and love he poured into every house.”
“Sounds like one of us.”
Julian brushes his fingers over a spot that has me bucking and laughing against him.
Once I calm down, I trace invisible patterns across his chest. “Anything about Francesca?”
“She was from their old town.”
“Oh no.”
“It gets worse. Turns out she was the mayor’s daughter.”
My bottom lip wobbles. “No.”
“It explains why Gerald never got married to her or anyone else.”
“That’s so unfair. Gerald and his family sounded like good people.” My voice shakes with outrage.
“They were, but what can you do? Not everyone was as progressive during that time.”
“It’s a shame you’re tearing down his legacy, one house at a time, especially after learning why he started this town to begin with.”
His scowl makes me shiver. “What else do you expect me to do?”
“Find whatever town shunned his sister and take a wrecking ball to those houses instead.” I smile.
His eyes sweep over me. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“Of course. Lake Wisteria needs to be protected at all costs from people like you.”
“And who will protect you from people like me?” Julian climbs over me, locking my hands above my head as he traps me beneath him.
I lock my legs around his waist and pull him closer. “You’re the one who will need to be protected from someone like me. Mark my words.”
Julian shuts me up by kissing me until I can no longer remember anything about Gerald, the towns, or my own name.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Dahlia
A doorbell chimes in the distance after another round of unbelievable sex. Julian has more stamina than ten triathlon winners, and although I want to keep up with him, my pussy officially tapped out for the night, and no amount of lube or oral sex will change my mind.
“Expecting someone?” I roll off him so he can get up.
“No.” He reaches for his phone and curses.
“What?”
“It’s my mom.”
I jolt upright. “What is she doing here this late?”
Loud banging against the front door has both of us staring at each other with wide eyes.
“My car is outside.”
He nods.
“Do you think she will suspect something?”
“I’m pretty sure she jumped to conclusions the moment she saw that you were here.”
I throw the comforter over my head. “Don’t mind me. I’m going to stay here forever.”
He chuckles as he pulls the comforter down. “I’ll tell her not to make a big deal of it.”
“This is your mother we’re talking about. I’m pretty sure she is already calling the Wisteria Weekly to announce the news.”
“I’ll swear her to secrecy.”
“It’s cold out here!” The doorbell app echoes her shouting from downstairs.
He presses a button on his phone. “I’m coming now.”
“And Dahlia?”
Good luck getting out of seeing her.
“I heard that,” his mother responds, startling me.
I said that out loud?
Julian muffles his laugh with his fist while I glare at his phone screen.
“Be right there.” My attempt at a cheery voice falls flat.
Julian collects our clothes and helps me get dressed in record time before leading me downstairs. I smooth out a wrinkle running down the center of my dress while he opens the front door.
“Ma. What are you doing here?”
“Dahlia!” Josefina brushes past her son and throws her arms around me. “What a nice surprise.”
I give Julian a look.
She holds me at arm’s length. “Are you okay?”
“Sure? Is there a reason I shouldn’t be?”
She shoots her son a terrifying glare. “I saw Rafa’s video.” She turns back to me. “I came here to give Julian a piece of my mind, but I see it’s not necessary.” The grin on her face should come with a warning label.
“Oh, I won’t stop you from giving him hell.” I gesture toward the man standing off to the side with his arms crossed.
“Don’t tempt me.” She plants her hands on her hips. “Luis Julian Lopez Junior, what were you thinking, scaring her like that?”
He doesn’t speak.
I place my hand on her shoulder. “It’s fine, Josefina. Julian and I talked it out.”
She turns toward me with hearts in her eyes. “Did you?”
“Yup.”
“I was wondering why your dress is on inside out…”
“What?” I turn my neck to check for a tag.
“Kidding!”
“Ma,” Julian groans.
She shrugs. “What? I wanted to confirm something.”
“The fact that you’re crazy?”
She cackles.
Julian shoots me a look over her shoulder.
“Josefina,” I say.
That seems to sober her. “Yes?”
“Do you mind keeping this between us?”
She winces.
“Who did you tell?” Julian grumbles.
“Rosa.”
I want to get annoyed, but Josefina truly can’t help herself. The woman was born with a big heart and an even bigger mouth.
Julian glares at his mother.
Her arms shoot up to her sides in submission. “That’s it. I swear.”
Julian reaches for the door. “Call Rosa on your way home and tell her not to tell anyone else.”
Her left brow curves into a perfect arch. “Don’t tell anyone what?”
“What you saw.” He kisses the top of her head before yanking the door open.
Josefina walks outside. “And what exactly did I see?” She bats her lashes at her son.
“Too damn much.”
“Don’t—”
“Te quiero. Cuídate.” He swings the door shut, closing us off yet again from the outside world.
Just how I like it.
Julian tried his hardest to have me stay over, and I nearly caved to his request, but then I remembered our agreement. If I want to protect myself from getting hurt by him again, I should steer clear of cuddling, late-night pillow talk, and sleepovers.
When I wake up the next morning, I find my mom waiting for me in the kitchen.
Te quiero. Cuídate: Take Care.
“Mami?” I rub the sleep from my eyes. “Shouldn’t you be at work?”
“I wanted to be here when you woke up.”
Ah, shit. I knew this conversation was coming once Josefina found me at Julian’s house last night, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon.
I place a coffee pod in my mom’s Nespresso machine before turning around. “I’m sorry you had to find out about everything the way you did.”
“You think I’m upset?”
“Yes?”
“No, mija. I’m worried.”
Unlike my mom’s usual bouts of anxiety, this feels different.
“You came back…so sad. I don’t want to see you like that again.”
I drop a teaspoon of sugar in my cup. “I’m doing better.”
“I know, which is why I worry.”
“This is different.”
“How so?”
“Um…” Yeah, it’s a hard pass on talking about my sex life.
“It’s not too serious yet,” I say.
She makes a noise in the back of her throat.
“We’re seeing how things go,” I add.
She nods. “You’re old enough to make your own decisions.”
I’m stunned into silence. I expected my mom to be rattling off about sex before marriage and rushing to have a church wedding to save my soul, not this.