Chapter 6
Chapter
Six
Alana
Standing in the doorway, I shift from one foot to the other and smooth my dress over my thighs for the nineteenth time while I wait for Alejandro’s mom.
Her car pulled into the garage a moment ago, and he went to greet her.
It surprises me to feel so nervous given that meeting people and being charming was kind of my thing in New York.
I’m accustomed to working on my father’s campaign, and he often wheels me out for interviews and PR events.
He says I’m his lucky charm, and I always liked hearing him say that.
It made me feel useful. Worthy. Today, I can be useful for Alejandro, and maybe that will make him more tolerable to be around.
He’s not exactly cruel to me, but he’s practically nonverbal, communicating in grunts and growls and fiery glares that make me feel hot under the collar.
Even this morning, I was convinced that I didn’t give a single hoot about impressing Alejandro’s mom, but it’s obvious from the change in his demeanor these past few hours that she means the world to him.
He’s eager to protect her and make her happy, and I suppose that at least means he has a heart inside his chiseled chest. From what he told me earlier, she believes we had a whirlwind romance and got married because we are madly in love.
The thought has me suppressing a snort of laughter.
She was on a month-long cruise with her sister when her only child got married. A way to ensure she wasn’t able to ask any awkward questions. But Alejandro and I are married now, and all the questions in the world aren’t going to change it.
I do wonder how we’ll manage to convince her that we’re happily married newlyweds when we’ve barely said a dozen civil words to each other, but I’m willing to give it a try if he is.
Maybe I can have a little fun while I’m at it.
Alejandro and his mom walk around the side of the house, her arm linked through his and a wide smile on her face.
Maria Montoya is a stunning woman in her fifties, but she could easily pass for ten years younger. Her dark hair is swept up into an elegant chignon, and she’s wearing a simple yet clearly expensive dress.
I’m now hyperaware of my own attire—a plain pink wrap dress that I chose because it suits my skin tone and emphasizes my curvier figure. I hope it’s appropriate.
I swallow my nerves as Alejandro and Maria draw nearer. What if she hates me? What if she’s one of those mothers who never thinks anyone is good enough for her son?
Why the hell do I even care?
“Mamá, this is Alana,” Alejandro says when they reach me.
I step forward and flash her a wide smile. “Hello, Mrs. Montoya, I’m delighted to meet you.”
She looks me up and down, and I brace myself for a rebuke. “So you’re the woman who has captured my son’s heart?” she says, but her tone is warm and friendly, and that huge smile remains on her face while she holds out her arms and beckons me to her.
This is it! I step forward and am enveloped in a cloud of her flowery perfume as she kisses each of my cheeks in turn.
Then she steps back and takes another look at me. “Please, call me Maria.” She grabs my hands in hers and squeezes, and I’m sure that I see tears in her eyes. I assume they’re happy ones.
“Maria,” I say, returning her warmth. “Come on inside. I’ve just brewed a fresh pot of coffee and there are cookies in the oven.”
She links her arm through mine. “Sounds delicious.”
I steal a glance at Alejandro, and he gives me a nod of gratitude before we all walk into the house.
Alejandro’s mom has been here for a few hours, and the three of us are sitting on the patio after eating the delicious lunch Magda prepared for us, during which Maria regaled me with dozens of stories of Alejandro as a child.
He rolled his eyes throughout and admonished her for the more embarrassing ones, but she simply laughed and told him not to be so grumpy.
It’s kind of sweet to witness the way he is with her, and I see a completely different side to him when she’s around—a side of him I could learn to like.
For our part, Alejandro and I have played the adoring couple, and I’m taking the opportunity to flirt outrageously with him every chance I get, which is a lot more fun than I expected it to be.
He fetched us a fresh jug of lemonade from the house, and when he sets it on the table, I place my hand on his forearm and rub my thumb over his warm skin. I feel him stiffen at my touch and bite back a giggle.
I smile up at him and bat my eyelashes. “Thank you, honey.”
He flashes me a scowl before plastering a fake smile on his face.
“Oh, you two are just perfect for each other.” Maria clasps her hands together and looks between the two of us. “So much so that I have almost forgiven you for depriving your mother of her only child’s wedding.” She gives Alejandro a withering look.
“I said I’m sorry, Mamá.”
As soon as we got into the house earlier, Maria spent a full half hour grilling him about our relationship and subsequent wedding and admonishing him for marrying in secret. His dressing down was a sight to behold, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling.
“So am I, Maria,” I add. “But we just couldn’t bear to wait a moment longer. Could we?” I gaze at him adoringly.
The wicked grin that spreads across his face makes me shiver.
Just what the hell is running through his mind right now?
“No. I couldn’t wait to make this woman my wife.
” He bends his head low and softly presses his mouth against mine, licks across the seam of my lips, coaxing them open, and slips his tongue into my mouth.
What else can I do but play along with his devilish scheme?
Against my better judgment and all logical reasoning, I melt into his kiss, letting him devour my mouth with his expert tongue as his hand glides down my back and onto my ass.
A lightning bolt of pleasure shoots through my body when he squeezes it hard.
I should be annoyed. Enraged even. But all I can think about is how good it all feels.
When he pulls back, I gasp, my cheeks heating with both shame and desire.
I want more.
So much more.
Then I remember his mom is sitting right here, and the fire in my cheeks burns hotter. Self-conscious, I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear before I pluck up the nerve to face her.
She laughs softly and shrugs. “Montoya men are very passionate.”
“Lo siento, Mamá.” Alejandro retakes his seat, keeping one hand on my shoulder. The heat from his touch burns me up from the inside.
“No need to apologize. Your Alana is a beautiful woman, son. I’m glad that you’ve finally found someone to share your life with. I was starting to worry about you.”
He takes her hand in his free one and kisses it tenderly. “You never have to worry about me, Mamá.”
Maria beams at us both. “Well, now that you have Alana to love you, I will certainly worry less.”
Despite the guilt I feel for lying to this lovely woman who clearly adores her son, happiness lights up my chest. This is fake, and I know that, but I can’t help wondering what it would be like if it were real.
And I suppose Maria believing that her son is happy and in love brings her comfort, especially when she lives a few hours away from him.
“I’ll look after him, Maria. I promise.” In this moment, I mean it.
Alejandro Montoya has let his guard down with me today, and although it doesn’t change who he is or the threats he made to my father, I cannot stop myself from seeing, and liking, the humanity in him.
Even when he is a devil, he’s still just a man, and a part of me can’t help but like the glimpses of the one I saw today.