Page 10 of Dina's Favorite Mistake

“Don’t make fun of me! If I don’t know, it’s your fault!”

“My fault? That you broke the rules about contacting your grandmother? About contacting your father? About how you’re supposed to use your internet access? Your phone? Your laptop?” Dina slashed her hand through the air. “That’s it. I am done coddling you. No more phone. No more laptop. No more extracurriculars. And noquince!”

“What!” Camila shot to her feet. “You can’t do that! It’s my party! It’s tradition!”

“Is it tradition for lying, scheming little girls to be rewarded with a fancy party?”

“I HATE YOU!” Camila shrieked. “I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!”

Dina gulped, obviously hurt by her daughter’s angry remark, and slowly crossed her arms. “Well, I love you, Camila. I love you, and I am not going to let you go down the same path as your father.” Dina sighed. “You’re grounded.” She held out her hand. “Give me your phone.”

“No!” Camila stepped back and clasped the crossbody purse banging against her hip.

“Give. Me. Your. Phone.”

“No!”

“Camila!” Rafael’s voice cracked like a gunshot, startling everyone. “Give your mother that phone right now.”

Camila swallowed nervously before reluctantly handing it to her mother. “Fine.”

“Beto,” Rafael kept his gaze locked on his niece, “take Camila to the library and sit with her until we’re done in here. I think we need to have a family meeting.”

Camila didn’t dare shout at her uncles. She quietly walked away with Beto who looked so disappointed and worried.

Rafael walked to Dina and gently rubbed her arm and back. He spoke softly to her, and Steve tried not to eavesdrop. Dinanodded and smiled up at her big brother. He was glad she had the support of her family in such a trying time.

The meeting continued for a few very tense and uncomfortable minutes. As Rafael began to escort Morales and Carson out of the office, Dina piped up. “Captain Morgan, will you stay? I’d like to have a word with you.”

Steve glanced at his counterparts and indicated they should go on without him. As she followed her brother to the door and secured it, she pretended she couldn’t feel his stare. Her cheeks were flushed, and she fiddled with a pair of gold bracelets on her wrist, hiding her nervous finger movements.

Look at me.

She fought his silent pleading as long as she could, but once the door was closed, she finally relented. Their gazes clashed, and he smiled triumphantly. She seemed torn between begging him to hold her again, to kiss her until she was dizzy and panting, and throttling him with the nearest heavy object.

“Why are you here?” Her voice was laced with anger and accusation, and she was clearly trying to keep her volume as low as possible. “How dare you show up at my home like this!”

“I’m here because your ex-husband escaped his prison transport and probably wants to kill you and your kid,” Steve replied matter-of-factly.

Startled by his coldness, she stiffened and lifted her chin. “I don’t need you to protect me. I have security.”

“I’m not here to protect you. I’m here on official Ranger business. The State of Texas has a long overdue debt to settle with your ex.”

Dina narrowed her dark eyes at him. “Did you know? Back at the hotel? Is that why you picked me up?”

“No, I didn’t know.” He should have known. He ought to have recognized her, but she had changed so much since that grainywedding photo in the file. “And, the way I remember it,youwere the one who pickedmeup.”

She clicked her teeth. “I did nothing of the sort.”

“You bought me a drink. You cozied up to me.” He took a step closer, invading her personal space. She didn’t step back, and he took that as a positive sign. Leaning down, he murmured, “I seem to remember your hand sliding up my leg first.”

“You were obviously drunk if you think that’s what happened.” She breathed sharply, as if desperate to convince herself of that lie.

“Not so drunk I forgot how you taste.” The vein in her neck jumped, and she blushed so heavily he could feel the heat radiating from her skin. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you since you left me.”

“I forgot you as soon as I walked out the door,” she insisted, her voice quavering slightly.

“I very much doubt that,” he argued with a playful grin. “Darlin’, that was some of my best work.”

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