Say You Love Me Read online

  Sara patted Irma’s hand as the two shared matronly smiles. Sara turned to me, clearing her throat. “You will never find a more honest, hardworking, and God-fearing woman to manage your household.”

  She had already told me Irma was a great cook and an immaculate housekeeper, but most importantly, she was the most devoted student in Bible study. That alone, Sara thought, would endear me to the lady.

  It’s not that I minded Irma being religious. Sara had taken me to mass with her my entire childhood, until my asshole father had insisted I stay home on weekends to shovel shit out of the horse stalls. Going to church had been a nice reprieve from dealing with my father’s moods, and after losing my mom at an early age, my faith was one of the few positive things I’d had in my life.

  I led them into the kitchen, directing them to the barstools while I poured everyone a glass of lemonade. I warily eyed the garage. How long did it take for Cesar to cover the car?

  “Where’s Ariana?” Sara asked, looking up at me from her stool.

  I froze, my glass halfway to my lips. I swallowed hard, nervously eyeing the faces that were focused on me as I set the glass back on the counter with a trembling hand. “She’s not here.”

  Angus coughed into his fist. “I thought she stayed over last night.”

  “She ended up going home. I’m sure she’ll be by later.” Unable to look Angus in the eyes, I checked the stairwell for Jake and then the side door for Cesar. “The guys will be out in a minute.”

  “Guys?” Angus frowned. “Is that boyfriend of yours living here?”

  “Cesar?” My voice shook as heat flushed my cheeks. “Not officially, but he stays here a lot.”

  Angus folded his arms as his frown deepened. “Hmmph.”

  Well, shit. Whenever Angus grumbled, it usually meant he was holding back something far worse.

  “These kids nowadays.” Sara turned her eyes heavenward and threw up her hands. “Sex and babies before marriage.”

  Irma’s lips twisted into an unnatural scowl, as if the lemonade had gone sour.

  Ugh. I loved Sara and Angus, but I sure as hell couldn’t wait until they left.

  I clenched the sides of the counter. “No babies, Sara, but Cesar is wonderful with Jake.” I heard my nephew stomping down the stairs. For such a little kid, he sure made a lot of noise, and boy, was I grateful he’d shown up. “There he is.” I walked around the counter and eagerly waved him forward. “Jake, come here.”

  I worked a tic in my jaw while he slowly slouched his way toward us. He flashed me a bashful look, and I clutched his bony shoulders and spun him around. “Jake, this is Angus, Sara, and Irma.” I smiled so hard, I feared my face was going to split open.

  Irma stood up, clearing her throat. “I’d prefer the boy called me Señora Gonzales.”

  I arched a brow, doing my best to keep that smile in place. “All right. Señora Gonzales will be helping me with the house.” I looked back at Jake, squeezing his shoulders perhaps a little too tight. “And with you.”

  Jake squirmed out of my grasp. “Hi.”

  “Hmmph,” Señora Gonzales mumbled. “His manners need improvement.”

  Excuse me? Jake was acting like a seven-year-old kid.

  Sara bent down in front of Jake, patting his cheek. “What a handsome boy you are.” She looked up at me and winked. “You have your auntie’s eyes.”

  “Uh, thanks.” Jake shifted from foot to foot, looking up at me. “Auntie, I’m hungry.”

  Sara laughed as Angus helped her up. “A typical boy.”

  I didn’t mind. I was glad to have Jake distract me. Maybe if I doted on him the rest of the afternoon, Angus and Sara wouldn’t ask me anymore questions. “I have snacks and sandwiches.”

  I pulled him toward the breakfast table, my back stiffening as I felt the weight of their stares on me.

  “I want cookies,” Jake whined.

  I cringed, then pulled the platter of tiny sandwiches out of the fridge, setting it on the island counter with a thud. “No cookies, Jake.”

  Irma cleared her throat. “The boy eats a lot of sugar?”

  Though it was a question, I knew she meant it more like an accusation. I wasn’t so sure I would like my new housekeeper if she was going to criticize the way I raised my nephew. I glared at Irma from under my lashes, doing my best to keep my composure while I arranged Jake’s sandwiches and a few pickles on a plate. “I limit him to one sweet per day.”

  Irma crossed her arms, swaying on the barstool while looking down her nose at us. “When I was a child, we only got sweets on Sundays.”

  Well, la de fucking da.

  “A few cookies a day won’t hurt him.” I handed Jake his plate and a lemonade before sitting him down in the breakfast nook. “He burns it off playing with the dogs or swimming.” I grabbed two cookies off the platter on the counter and set them beside Jake’s plate with a wink. That ought to show Señora Gonzales.

  “You have dogs?” Irma’s pitch turned shrill.

  Surely she’d heard Nacho and Macy barking in the backyard. They barked so often, I’d conditioned myself to ignore it, but I knew they’d announced my guests’ arrival. They barked at everything.

  I cocked a hand on my hip. “Of course I have dogs.”

  I looked into the living room and nodded at the French doors leading out to the patio. Cesar’s big yellow Lab and my small white Terrier were looking right at us, watching people TV with their tails slapping the concrete and their tongues lolling. How could she have missed them?

  Irma clucked her tongue as she watched Nacho stop fogging up the glass long enough to lick his butt. She turned back to me with a scrutinizing glare, as if I was on the stand at my own trial. This was my fucking house, and Irma was supposedly going to be on my payroll. I’d feed my nephew cookies and have butt-licking pets if I wanted.

  “They’re not house dogs, are they?” she asked.

  I clenched my hands, doing my best to hold back a curse. “Sometimes, though they play outside a lot.”

  I shifted uncomfortably as Irma and Sara exchanged knowing looks.

  “So they must come in dirty?” Sara asked.

  Ugh. I knew what she was getting at, and no fucking way was I going to make Nacho and Macy permanent outside dogs. None of the many dogs we’d had at the ranch were allowed inside, and I’d respected Sara’s rules, but this was my damn house.

  “No, they don’t come in dirty,” I gritted. “I have an excellent landscaper.”

  The entire backyard was covered in luxurious, thick grass or rock. Not a mud puddle in sight. I didn’t bother mentioning that sometimes Nacho liked to take dips in the pool, dropping his ball in the deep end, then climbing down the steps and swimming across the pool to retrieve it. Then he’d roll around in the grass while Macy ran circles around him. Later, when he begged to come inside, I’d have to let him in through the mud room and dry him with the power dryer. It was a small effort, considering this dog had helped save Jake and me from an intruder last month.

  Relief washed over me when Cesar walked in through the garage door, dusting his hands on his jeans. What had taken him so long?

  I waved him forward while plastering on another smile. It was getting harder to force my enthusiasm. “Come say hi to everyone. This is Angus and Sara, and that is Señora Gonzales, the housekeeper Sara brought for us to meet.” I didn’t announce her as our new housekeeper for a reason. Irma wasn’t going to work out. I knew if I had to live with that woman day in and day out, challenging my every move, I’d go mental.

  “Hello,” Cesar said, his smile appearing to be more genuine than mine. “Nice to meet you all.”

  Angus stood, bowing out his chest like he had to prove he was the biggest rooster in the chicken house. I almost expected him to start crowing. I didn’t know why Angus had to posture himself. He was a few inches taller than Cesar and a bit wider. He hovered over Cesar like an angry old bear. Cesar didn’t back down. He shook Angus’s hand, calling him sir and making me proud.<
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  Angus crossed his arms, the lines around his mouth deepening. “Savannah tells us you stay over.”

  “Oh, God,” I groaned, though I didn’t mean to do it out loud. I was so ready for this day to be over.

  “Yes, sir, I do, and just so you know.” Cesar paused and looked each one of them in the eye. “I think the world of Savannah and Jake, and I cared about them before I knew about her inheritance.”

  Sara leaned back in her chair, casually assessing Cesar. “I bet that was a shock.”

  “It was.” Cesar gave me such a tender look, I nearly melted on the spot. “But if anyone deserves the money, Savannah does after what she’s been through.”

  Sara lifted her glass. “Amen to that.”

  “It must be nice having a girlfriend who can afford so many luxuries.” Angus leered at Cesar, arms still crossed, grudge clearly sitting on his shoulders like a two-ton brick.

  Cesar didn’t blink. “Yes, sir. It’s nice knowing Savannah is comfortable.”

  This was ridiculous. I turned up my chin, summoning a confidence I didn’t feel. “Cesar’s dad gave him an early inheritance, plus five businesses.” I stopped to clear my throat, which was cracking for some reason. Why was I letting them get to me? “He’s been running them for several years and has doubled the profits.”

  I smiled at Cesar, proud of my boyfriend’s accomplishments. He worked long hours, sometimes too long, but I respected him for it. He’d been raised by two parents who cared about him, and he worked hard, not because he had to prove his worth, but because he showed appreciation for the things he’d been given.

  “Is that so?” Sara clasped her hands together, beaming at Cesar. “Savannah said they are repair shops, right?”

  Well, at least Sara had come around. If only Angus would back off and trust my judgment.

  Cesar politely nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Angus arched a bushy brow. “Any plans on expanding?”

  Expanding? Cesar worked long enough hours. I couldn’t imagine him opening more shops. I’d never see him.

  Cesar shook his head. “Not at the moment. My dad and brothers own the other shops. There are over twenty Cruz Automotives across Texas.”

  “Cruz Automotive?” Angus narrowed his eyes, scratching the stubble on his chin. “There’s one by us.”

  “Yes, sir.” Cesar tilted his chin, beaming. “We have a few rural shops.”

  “They tried to charge me $3500 to change out fuel injectors,” Angus boomed. “I changed them myself for $1500. No wonder your business is doing well.” There was no mistaking the accusation in Angus’s voice. He was accusing my boyfriend’s family of being ripoffs.

  I had no idea what honest repair rates were, but I knew Cesar had a lot of overhead, plus he had to pay his employees a livable wage.

  Cesar flushed all the way to his roots. “We only use the best parts and labor.”

  “That’s what they all say,” Angus grumbled, sounding too much like a grizzly bear that had just been woken from his nap.

  I slapped my hands together, perhaps a little too forcefully, and did my best not to cringe at the stinging sensation in my palms. So far Cesar’s meeting with the only family I’ve ever known wasn’t going too well. I could tell by the way Cesar’s cheeks were flaming that he was holding his tongue. Angus could be abrasive. He’d made it clear from the beginning he didn’t approve of Cesar.

  “Who’s hungry?” I lifted the tray of sandwiches off the island and set them on the counter in front of my guests. Then I got more food out of the fridge, piling it in front of them in hopes that good food would lighten the mood. “Cesar’s cousin is a chef. He made us an amazing fondue dip, fruit trays, and finger sandwiches.”

  Sara frowned. “We ate breakfast on the way over. I want to tour the house.”

  I absently rubbed my elbow, flashing Cesar an apologetic grin. “Okay.”

  Touring the house meant talking, and talking probably meant judging. What would they say when they saw the walk-in closet full of Cesar’s clothes? I made sure Jake’s lemonade was full, and he had enough vegetables on his plate, before Cesar and I left the kitchen.

  For some reason, Irma took charge, deciding which rooms to tour first. Cesar and I exchanged puzzled looks when she pulled a vial out of her purse and sprinkled liquid on my carpet, mumbling something in Spanish.

  I tapped Sara’s shoulder. “What’s she doing?”

  “Purifying the house,” Sara answered with a straight face. “Our priest blessed that water.”

  “Oh?” So my house wasn’t pure? Was she trying to excise Jake’s sugar demons or atone for my premarital sex?

  I held my breath and Cesar’s hand when Irma led us to the garage. Fortunately, Cesar had done a good job covering Ariana’s car, and my guests didn’t seem interested in exploring.

  Irma and the others had already returned to the house when I heard a rustle. Ariana pulled herself up from behind her car, wearing the same tight black dress she’d worn last night, looking ten degrees of hung over, with major bed hair and mascara-smeared raccoon eyes.

  I motioned to Cesar to go ahead and then shut the door behind them. “What the fuck, Ariana?” I hissed.

  She jerked as if she’d been electrocuted, then worked on pulling the cover off her car. “Shhh. I don’t want them to see me.”

  “Where are Cesar’s brothers?” I demanded.

  She answered with a slow, sultry smile before licking her lower lip. “They’re tied up at the moment.”

  “Christ, Ariana!” I jutted a foot forward, angry. I gasped when the door opened.

  Cesar poked his head through the crack. “Savannah. They’re asking for you. Come on.”

  Awww, shit. My lecture would have to wait until later. Not that I wanted to know where Cesar’s brothers were or what she’d done with them, anyway. I was sure there was a sordid story behind Ariana’s smile. What was I going to do with her? If her lifestyle didn’t kill her, her parents certainly would. I was surprised they hadn’t caught on to her by now. I imagined the steaming pile of manure hitting the fan during that little family intervention.

  I turned to her with a scowl. “Go clean up and get back here. Do not leave us alone with them all damn day.” I ducked under Cesar’s arm, wishing I could smash my fist through the wall.

  “Do I need to kill my brothers?” Cesar whispered.

  “Not if I kill them first,” I huffed, marching to the living room, where they’d congregated, gazing at the back patio.

  “Oh, look at that pool.” Sara tapped on the glass. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

  Irma’s eyes widened. “Is that the guesthouse?”

  “Yes,” I answered gruffly.

  Sara beamed at her friend. “That is where you’ll be staying, Irma.”

  Uh, not likely, I wanted to answer. I needed to tell Sara her friend wasn’t going to work out, but I didn’t want to do it in front of Irma. I chewed on a nail, trying to think of a way to get Sara alone. Maybe I could let Irma explore the guesthouse and then ask Sara to hang back.

  Irma clasped her hands together. “Let’s go see it.”

  I did not like how Irma assumed control of the situation, as if she’d already been guaranteed the job and was running my household.

  Cesar stepped ahead of them and opened the door, ushering the dogs back as they hopped around on all fours.

  As soon as Irma stepped onto the porch, she waved wildly at Nacho when he tried to sniff her leg. “Shoo!”

  Nacho shrank back, whimpering, and Macy ran behind my leg.

  “They’re just being friendly,” I grumbled, scooping Macy into my arms and kissing the top of her head.

  “They’re acting like wild animals.” Irma made a face, looking at me as if I carried a plague.

  The more I thought about Irma’s behavior, the more irritated I became. Ariana and Cesar’s brothers had already put me in a bad mood. I did not need to deal with this woman’s shit, too. I wanted all these people out of my house, so I c
ould sulk in private.

  Again, Cesar and I exchanged looks. I could tell he was equally pissed off. Cesar hung back with Nacho, leaving me alone with my annoying guests. I hugged Macy and made sure to give Cesar a look of despair as I followed the trio up the stone path toward the guesthouse.

  An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of my stomach when I noticed the front door was cracked open. Weird. Our guests last night had stayed in the main house. I’d wanted the guesthouse to remain clean in anticipation of Irma’s arrival. That was before I knew she’d be an annoying bitch.

  I stumbled and stopped as if I’d struck an invisible wall when I recalled Ariana in the garage wearing last night’s clothes, telling me Cesar’s brothers were tied up. Oh, dear God! Had they snuck into the guesthouse? No, they wouldn’t dare!

  But the more I thought about it, the more I realized Ariana certainly would dare. She was always pushing boundaries. Always.

  I set Macy down and bounded in front of my guests as Angus was about to push open the door.

  “You know what I just realized?” I let out a nervous laugh as I pulled the door shut. “I forgot to clean up in there. I don’t want you seeing the house yet.”

  Irma pushed Angus out of the way, wedging her shoulder against the door. “Cleaning up messes is what I do.”

  “I’m sorry, Irma.” I held the knob firmly, struggling to keep it closed. “The house is not ready.”

  “Help!” a man’s voice echoed from inside.

  Holy fuck!

  Irma’s eyes bulged. “Did you hear that?”

  I feigned stupidity. “Hear what?”

  Angus pushed me out of the way. “Someone’s inside, Savannah.”

  Before I could stop him, he jerked open the door and stomped across the threshold. “What the devil is going on in here?” he hollered.

  Oh, dear Lord.

  I stood rooted to the spot, too terrified to move as Irma uncorked her holy water and followed after Angus, with Sara right behind her. Sara’s blood-curdling scream ricocheted through me, pinging across every nerve ending from my head to my toes.

  Cesar ran up the walkway. “What happened?”

  I gaped at him before peering inside. The first thing I noticed was what looked like a leather and velvet swing with stirrups, hanging from the ceiling in the center of the small living room. I followed a trail of clothes to the bed at the other end of the room, where Esteban, Cesar’s youngest and very naked brother, had one hand handcuffed to the rails of the bed while he strained with the other to reach something on the floor.