Page 82 of Broken Grump

“That’s right.”

She smiles. “’Un trabajo de amor,’as he’d say. Gosh, what I wouldn’t do for some of that right now. I mean, I know I said I was stuffed, but a Latina—even a perceivedgringa,such as myself—can always go for some.”

With that, I try to be as stealthy as possible when I take out my phone, hold it against my thigh, and search for any vendors serving the dish around the city.

Perfect.

We pay for our meal, she thanks me profusely for picking up the bill, and then I ask her, “Care for a walk?”

Lionel is on standby to come pick us up, but I’m sure he won’t mind a little delay. Besides, he’s getting paid either way.

“I’d love that.”

Fortunately, it’s a gorgeous night, and the temperature is just right.

“Wow,” she comments after we pause on a perch overlooking the bright city lights. “I forget how beautiful this city can be.”

She has a pashmina wrapped around her shoulders, and I make the somewhat bold move of placing my hand on the small of her back. It’s been there before, but this time, it feels different.

Instead of the hot sensation, my fingers and palms feel cool. But in a good way.

We continue to admire the view until Addie pulls out her phone. “Do you mind?”

“Nope.” I release my grasp and instead cross my arms.

“I just want to say goodnight.”

“Hey, no explanation needed.” I’ve been around her enough at this point to know what I was getting into when I asked a young, single mom on a date.

“Hey, baby!” She walks a few steps away from me, but I can still hear her loud and clear. “How are you? Are you having fun with Sam?”

She eventually finishes the call and returns to my side.

“Sam is your friend?” I ask.

“Yeah. My best friend.”

All night, I’ve noticed how she hasn’t been as fidgety or restless as she was when we were out with Randall the other night.

“You really trust your daughter with her, huh?”

She nods her head. “Oh, completely.”

I yearn to get that kind of certitude from her when it comes to Luna.

“Anyway.” She puts the device back in the tiny purse that’s hanging from her arm, and then she looks up at me, with her blue eyes blazing.

I feel sweat pooling in my palms.

On the other side of us, there’s a beach. Remembering how much she loves the water; I ask if she’d like to check it out.

“I’d love to.”

But in order to get there, there are quite a few steps that have been carved into the mountainside. So, after watching her walk in front of me and noticing how beautifully the moonlight reflected off her alabaster skin, she stopped and took off her strappy sandals.

“There we go. The last thing we need to ruin a perfect night is for me to take a rolling tumble.”

Then, a memory floods my brain.

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