Page 563 of The Winslow Brothers

Once Maria ends the call, most of her hope and all of her patience gone, she turns around to find me standing in thekitchen and nearly jumps out of her skin. “Oh my God, Rem!” One petite hand goes to her chest. “You scared the crap out of me!”

“Sorry,” I say through a smile. “But I didn’t want to interrupt the important meeting of the minds.”

“Oh yeah.” She snorts and drops her hand back to her side. “Some meeting of the minds.”

“I take it Claudia is still being Claudia.”

She nods, and then she moves her eyes down to the flowers in my hand. “Flowers?”

“For you.” I grin and hold them out toward her. The way her face lights up makes my heart feel like it’s playing bumper cars with my lungs.

“That was so sweet, Rem,” she says and steps forward to press a gentle kiss to my lips. “Thank you.”

But when she starts to step away, I wrap my hands around her waist, smooshing the flowers between our chests, and deepen the kiss. Maria giggles, but eventually, she falls into the rhythm and kisses me back with the same fervor.

Once I feel like she’s good and relaxed, I step back and prepare to reveal my big surprise. “So…I have some news.”

“Yeah?” Maria starts to turn around and put the flowers in a vase, but she stops with her hand in midair, seeking out a vase from the cabinet. “Wait…where’s my Izzy girl, by the way? Taking a nap?”

“Actually, she’s at my mom’s house.”

“What?” She tilts her head to the side. “Why?”

“Because of the surprise.”

A cheeky smile crests her mouth. “And do I need to be naked right now for this surprise?”

“Already loving where your head’s at, but…you’re going to have to stay dressed for our flight. The FAA strongly enforces clothing for at least takeoff and landing.”

“Our flight?”

“I’m taking you somewhere, and I’ve already made all the appropriate arrangements. My mom will keep Izzy. The cleaner is going to check on the fish. Claudia has been made aware,” I start to explain, but when she looks terrified, I add, “And Tonya is also aware. Which, I have a feeling, Tonya will be the one making sure Daniel and Brenda are holding down the fort while you’re gone.”

“Wait…you’re not joking,” she comments and sets the flowers down on the counter.

“Nope. This is the real deal, babe.” I step forward to wrap my arms around her waist again. “You and I are going to enjoy a little getaway for a few days.”

My words give her pause. “And Izzy is going to stay with your mom the entire time?”

I nod. “She is.”

Maria digs her teeth into her bottom lip. It’s the look of a woman who is at war with herself. The look of a mother who is tryingto decide whether she can be okay with leaving her baby in someone else’s care for a few days.

“You deserve this, Maria,” I reassure her. “You deserve to enjoy a few days in the Bahamas.”

“Wait…you’re taking me to the Bahamas?”

I nod.

“TheBahamas. Right now?”

“Is that okay with you?”

“Um…yes,” she says, and her beaming smile shows she’s finally come to terms with the truth that shedoesdeserve this, with a little help from the vision of conch, aqua water, and white sand dancing through her head. “Holy hell! You’re insane, but yeah, okay! Count me in! Let’s go relax in the Bahamas!” she squeals and jumps into my arms.

“And have sex, too. Lots of sex,” I add and punctuate that statement by squeezing her ass. “Lots and lotsand lotsof sex.”

She giggles. “How long have you had this planned, crazy man?”

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