Page 43 of Never Finished

I would have stayed with her all night, holding her, and making plans for the future except for the insistent ringing of my phone.

I ignored it the first two times, but then Emma said, "Maybe you should answer that. What if it's Maria or Sofia?"

I dug my phone out of my pocket and answered. "Jaime," Maria's voice sounding strained, "I need your help. Mama doesn't recognize me and she's freaking out, trying to lock me out of the house."

"Shit, hang in there. I'll be there as soon as I can."

I hung up the phone and glanced at Emma, concern etched on her face. "Mama doesn’t recognize Maria," I explained while I quickly rearranged my clothing and fired up the engine.

She stayed in the center seat next to me, instead moving over to the passenger side, rubbing my arm as I rushed back to the resort. "I hate that you have to go through this with your mother, Jaime, but she's lucky to have kids who are so patient and determined to stick by her side."

I laughed. "That's how we were raised. No one gets left behind."

Emma's touch stiffened slightly, and I grimaced internally. Before I could clarify, she said, "That's a good quality to have."

We pulled up to the front of the resort and I was about to open my door and walk her to her room, but she stopped me. "Jaime, that sounded pretty urgent. I can get myself to my room, though I appreciate your chivalry."

"Are you sure?" I inquired, and she huffed out a laugh, kissing me sweetly. "Jaime, I can manage, but call me any hour of the night if you need to talk," she said, kissing me again, deeper this time. I wanted nothing more than to follow her back to her room, but she was right. I needed to get home to Mama.

"Goodnight, Bella," I whispered against her lips.

"Goodnight, Jaime, sweet dreams."

I didn't pull away from the curb until I saw her disappear behind the double doors of the resort. I thanked my lucky stars this brilliant woman understood how important my family was to me.

I rushed home uncertain of what I was waiting for me, but it couldn't dampen the warmth in my chest when I thought of the time we just spent in each other arms.

Emma

Even though I immediately missed Jaime's touch, I knew he needed to get home, and I prayed Jaime and Maria could calm Mama Acosta swiftly. I couldn't imagine how difficult it must be to watch someone you love gradually disappear before your eyes.

I was lost in thought, reliving our time in the truck and the words he'd said in the heat of the moment…

Except it wasn’t in the heat of the moment. Jaime doesn’t say things he doesn’t mean.

That reminder made me smile wider, even as it twisted at my heart. Jaime was never one to mince words, so when in the heat of passion he announced he loved me and always has, I knew in my heart he was speaking his truth just like I had when I told him I loved him too.

Now that the truth was out there, I needed to face my father—and I wouldn’t let him take Jaime away from me a second time.

I let out a sigh as I ambled down the hall towards the elevator. First thing tomorrow, I would send an SOS text to Caroline and Abby for an emergency meeting. They offered to help me figure out this thing with my father and I was finally going to take them up on it. Not that I couldn't figure it out for myself, but I was eager to move on with my life with the man I loved, and in that moment, I couldn't believe I’d put it off for so long. It was now or never.

But for tonight, I wasn't going to dwell on my father and allow him to dampen the afterglow of my evening. It had been a beautiful night, and I was going to relish every moment.

I had just pushed the button for the elevator when I heard a slurred voice behind me say, "Well, well, well, look who decided to spend the night in her own room."

I turned to see an obviously drunk Andrew.

"Andrew? Are you okay?"

He ignored my question. "You know, I heard rumblings you were running around with the bartender, but it's a sight to behold to see you stumbling out of that dirty old truck—you look like you had a good time tonight, Emma."

"Andrew, you've obviously had too much to drink. Why don't you go back to your room and sleep it off?"

"No, not until you tell me why?"

"Why what?"

"Why you picked him over me? I know I look like a buttoned-up guy, but I could be just as wild as him. Is that what turns you on? The Latino heat? Why don't you come over here, and I'll show you what kind of heat I can give you," he said, lurching towards me.

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