Page 7 of Loco

The second I laid eyes on that baby, it hit me like a freight train. It wasn’t just love at first sight—it was overwhelming, all-consuming, and so unexpected it nearly knocked me off my feet.

The past two days had been a whirlwind of emotions after learning who my new neighbor was. Roque Edwards, the one person I’d sworn to be done with and the one I had no intention of ever seeing again, let alone living across the damn street from. Under any other circumstances, if it was anyone else, I’d have vented to Evie. With everything she and Alex had been through and with the joy they were experiencing, I couldn’t bring myself to dampen their moment with my frustration.

Besides, I’d found out from Layla—who had heard it from Mark—that even Evie hadn’t known where Roque had bought a house, which made it easier to keep my mouth shut. Usually, I wouldn’t bring him up to her anyway. Dragging her into my issues with her brother would have been unfair, not to mention petty. Still, I probably would’ve indulged in at least a five-minute rant about my new neighbor being an asshole if it weren’t for the tiny, beautiful baby in her arms.

But standing there, looking at Elora, I realized something. Letting Roque’s presence ruin this for me would give him power, which was the last thing I would do.

Telling my client I’d be back in a second, I made my way over, unable to take my eyes off the baby watching me intently. “God, Evie, she’s just beautiful,” I whispered, taking in every tiny feature. Her face was framed by a wild mess of dark brown curls, her cheeks were soft and round, and her deep, soulful eyes seemed to hold a wisdom far beyond her eight months of life.

Before Evie could respond, Elora suddenly lunged for me, nearly giving me a heart attack as she reached out with surprising force.

Evie laughed, steadying her before she could fully launch herself into my arms. “Well, I think she likes you.” Then, looking downat her daughter, she smiled. “Elora, this is your aunt, Sayla. Sayla, meet your new niece.”

Something shifted inside me at those words, a warmth spreading through my chest that I hadn’t expected. I’d always loved kids, but this was different. This wasn’t just any baby, this was my best friend’s daughter. My niece. I felt the same way about Heidi’s kids, too. I loved them more than the clouds in the skies had raindrops.

“Hey, Elora,” I breathed, completely entranced as we stared at each other. She studied me momentarily as if deciding whether or not I was worthy before breaking into a wide, toothy grin. Well, almost toothy—one tiny tooth was barely poking through her bottom gum, and as she smiled, a thick drop of drool made a slow descent down her chin. And just like that, I was absolutely done for.

Reaching out instinctively, I wiped the drool away, utterly captivated by the tiny person in front of me. So captivated, in fact, that I didn’t hear the door open again, didn’t register the sound of voices calling out greetings, and didn’t sense the shift in the air—at least, not until I finally looked up.

And locked eyes with the last person I wanted to see.

Roque Edwards stood just inside the doorway, his gaze locked onto me, expression unreadable.

And the way he was looking at me was going to be a problem.

For a moment, the world shrank down to the unwanted, infuriatingly familiar presence standing in the doorway.

Roque Edwards.

I hadn’t seen him since discovering the cruel trick the universe had played by making us neighbors, and I’d done an excellent job of avoiding him until now.

There he was, standing in my salon like he had every right to be there, looking entirely too calm for someone who had just shattered the one place I thought I’d be safe from him.

His eyes flicked down to Elora in my arms before returning to my face, something unreadable passing through them. The weight of his gaze did annoying things to my stomach, and I hated that he still had that effect on me.

No, absolutely not. Not today. Not ever.

I swallowed down my irritation, my grip tightening slightly around Elora as if the baby could physically anchor me in place.

I lifted my chin, channeling all my focus into not reacting, not caring, and, most importantly, not giving him the satisfaction of knowing how much his presence irritated me.

“Well, don’t you look cozy?” he mused, nodding toward the baby in my arms.

“Roque.” His name left my lips flatly, utterly devoid of any warmth.

“Sayla.” His voice, on the other hand, carried way too much amusement, like he was enjoying this more than he should.

Evie, bless her oblivious heart, beamed as she turned toward her brother. “Hey, you made it! I wasn’t sure if you’d be back in time.”

Back in time? Back in time for what?

Before I could demand an explanation, Roque strolled forward, hands in his pockets, eyes still locked on me like he was waiting for me to crack.

Like hell.

I glanced down at Elora, who had completely betrayed me by curling into my chest, one tiny fist gripping my shirt like she’d claimed me as her favorite person. I was supposed to be giving off aloof and indifferent, but instead, I looked like a gushing, lovesick idiot cradling the cutest baby on the planet.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Don’t you have something better to do?”

---