Page 68 of Hidden Memories

Luis throws his hand in the air. “Ah. Look at those two. So sad my son isn’t a father. He’s so good with kids.”

I smile politely, somehow knowing exactly where his thoughts are going.

He proves me right. “How old are you, Kat? If you don’t mind me asking.”

Ava slaps his arm gently with the back of her hand. “Luis! You can’t ask that!”

I bite my smile down, knowing what he meant by it. I’m flattered. Santi is a catch by any measure. It’s a compliment he’d set me up with a man of that quality. A man who means the world to him.

Ava sighs. “There will be no end to Luis wanting all hissons settling down. If he sees any opening,” she claps her hands together like they’re diving into home base, “he’ll go for it. I’m sure he’ll be making bids for Gabriel and Rio with you next.”

She hitches her thumb toward four men behind her shooting the breeze with beers in their hands. It’s obvious who Rio is, a replica of Enzo, but with tattoos, no glasses, and an even bigger scowl. He stands with another handsome man who looks related—Gabriel, I suspect—and then another big, burly beefcake. It’s like I just walked into a hot guy convention.

Is there some prerequisite that a man has to be handsome to live in this town? Or am I noticing because, for the first time in years, lust reignited? Thanks to one kiss with Santi, my radar for hot guys is on again.

I glance over at Santi and he catches my eye. Until we talk again it’s going to be all tight-lipped smiles between us. If we’re going to be friends, we’ll have to break the ice again. Who am I kidding?

We’ll have to walk through fire.

Ava asks, “Do you want me to see if I can get Theo interested in those fractions?”

“You’d probably be better off trying to teachmeright now,” I laugh lightly. “Actually, I’ve been thinking about that. Maybe it’s better if you teach a man to fish, you know? If you can help me get up to speed with algebra and fractions again, maybe Theo and I will get through the next few months.”

“I’m sure you can handle it. You went to college, right?” Her eyes are wide.

Wait, how would she know that?Did Ava snoop on me?

“Sorry,” she says, quickly reading my furrowed brow. “If Luis’ toxic trait is setting up his sons, mine is cyberstalking.Plus…” She hauls Enzo to her side from behind her. “He made me do it.”

Clueless as to what he’s being blamed for, he simply raises his eyebrows and takes a pull of his beer.

“Enzo likes to know who’s coming through the gates. Don’t you, boss?” She winks.

He squints one eye at her, neither confirming nor denying; he simply gathers her under his arm and kisses her hair.

They’re cute.

“Mom! Can you come here a sec?” Theo calls.

Saved by the kid. The last thing I want to do is tell Ava, Enzo, and Luis I was a dropout. Once the news broke about my pregnancy, my dad didn’t think college was a good idea anymore. I get the impression this family isn’t judgmental, and I know Santi didn’t go to college, but that period of my life was one of the darkest, and it’s not something I want to pretend was fine over burgers and beers.

I excuse myself and join my son, instantly enveloped by Santi’s aura.

Theo points to the project he’s been watching Santi work on.

“Mom, Santi said he’ll show me how to do whittling if you’ll let me use a sharp knife.”

“A knife?” I ask. “I don’t know if you’re old enough to use a knife.”

“I’m ten, Mom. Santi said that he started whittling when he was nine.”

I think of a nine-year-old Santi, and somehow, he was probably a lot more worldly than my ten-year-old. Theo has been sheltered. I bet Santi was roping calves by the time he was Theo’s age. Probably chopping wood with a ginormous ax, too.

But then, I suppose a person only gets skills bypracticing them, and we escaped our fancy town for just this kind of thing.

Santi reads my hesitation. “I have a beginner’s knife with a rounded edge, and it’s pretty safe.”

That he’s willing to show my son how to whittle is very endearing.

---