Page 35 of What She Wants

“I know that. That’s the point. My ex relationship is so insignificant that it is on the same level of the relationship you never had. There isn’t anyone to worry about.”

My expression is disbelieving because these seductive men can be full of shit.

“Oh, really? It’s hard to look like you do and not have an ounce of hoe inside of you.”

I must be a comedian because he’s laughing again. “It’s adorable how much you’re attracted to me,” he points out. “Just think, you can fire me as your doctor but not as your man.”

I sit up and smack his chest. “This better not be some elaborate revenge plot.”

“It’s not. We’ll both be at that damn altar, Esme. I never said I was a saint, I had my ‘hoe’ moments when I was younger but at some point a man needs to grow out of that. I’ve been over it for years. You see how busy I am, I don’t have time to play with anyone's emotions.” He props himself up on his elbow. “Now the Yasmin stuff is simple. My mom liked her after she interviewed her for the magazine. She kept trying to set us up until I took the date. She’s pretty but that’s it. Not realizing what I can see so clearly now, I’d gone on dates and fell into a routine where I could say she was my girlfriend. My schedule settled a little and I started to notice things like her referring to me as her fiance while wearing my grandmother’s engagement ring. It all fell into place. I wasn’t being present in my personal life and was being pushed into a marriage I didn’t want.”

I roll my eyes. “That must have been so terrible for you. I can only imagine what it’s like to wake up with a fiance you didn’t know you had…”

Marín kisses me just before he dismisses my statement. “We’re being serious right now, don’t interrupt the story. Anyway, she was about to go on a photoshoot that would require her to be gone for a few months. I told her we were over and don’t expect me to be waiting for her to come back. I took the ring from her and gave it back to my grandmother and told her the same. I never loved Yasmin. What you saw was her trying to seduce her way back into my life. I turned her down.”

“She didn’t seem upset when she walked away.”

“It’s because she didn’t believe me when I said I was in a relationship with you.”

“You weren’t.”

He rolls his eyes like I’m the delusional one. “From the moment we kissed, you were mine.”

I don’t say anything because I’m not sure if I should be scared or flattered. Both, I’m a little of both.

“That makes you sound a little crazy, Delgado.”

He shrugs. “No. I’m just honest with myself. You’re the one running from what’s in front of you.”

“Oh really? What’s that?”

He pulls me closer, cupping my hip with his hand. “You know you feel stuff with me that you don’t feel with anyone else. It’s the same for me.” He steals a kiss before changing the subject out of the blue. “Who are some of your favorite musical artists?”

“Beyoncé, I’ve seen every tour. Drake, P!nk, almost every late 90s/early 2000s R&B group, and my Latin baby daddy Nico Santiago.”

Marín’s amusement spikes again. “Nico Santiago? Baby Daddy? He’s 60.”

“I’ll accept the age gap. I may not know the majority of what he says but his voice…and he looks damn good for any age. Leave my man alone.”

I have no idea what I said to bring this man to tears but I’m about to kick him out at any second.

“Don’t tell me you are one of those haters of male latin pop stars.”

He shakes his head. “No, it’s not that. I have all of his albums.”

“Is it because I don’t know Spanish?”

“No, you’ll learn. He’s just an outlier in everything you just named. Caught me off guard.”

I think about the sexy singer with the voice of an angel. “It’s fine, he’s special.”

Crazy ass Delgado pulls me close while still chuckling.

“And if you plan to go through with this, you better not be boring. We’ll have karaoke. Doesn’t that scare you?

Again, he laughs like I tickled a funny bone from an inside joke.

“Not at all, Chispa. In fact, leave the music portion of the reception to me.”

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