Page 94 of My Secret Bandit

“That last name looks good on you.” He winked and sent the butterflies in my stomach into overdrive. He looked over the book for the next few minutes, examining each picture all over again.

“You know the book is yours, right? You don’t have to memorize every detail tonight.” I slipped off the bed and moved to stand between his legs. “Besides… there’s one more thing you need to unwrap.”

My fingers played with the knot on the front of my robe.

His smile took on a seductive curve as he eyed the lavender bow. With a soft touch, his fingers smoothed down the material to the end. With a slow and gentle tug, he pulled. The knot gave way and the robe fell open, showing off the full sexiness of the scalloped lace bodysuit. His fingertips dug into my hips, dragging me closer to him, his mouth meeting my lace covered breast.

“Best fucking birthday ever,” he growled quietly, moving one hand to push the lace aside and taking my sensitive bud into his mouth.

I relinquished control of my body, giving it over to the sensation of his touch, his lips, his tongue, his fingers.

All caressing me, filling me, loving me.

“Goodmorningbeautifulfamily!”Mateo beamed as we walked hand in hand into the little diner where his family waited for us. The only person missing was unfortunately my favorite one. The curly headed cutie that just had to go to school.

“Alguien se ve extra animado esta mañana.“ Mariana smiled naughtily, glancing from her brother to me while nudging their mom with her elbow.

“¡Ay dios mío!“ Benny shook her head as Mateo confirmed with bouncing brows.

After giving out hugs, we sat down and immediately had someone posted near our table waiting to get Mateo’s attention.

“You have a visitor,” I whispered in his ear when he hadn’t noticed the teenaged girl standing by our table.

“O.M.G! You’re Jamie Flynn!”

Wait. What?

Mateo turned back to me, a surprised smile lighting his features.

“I’m sorry! I can’t believe I’m standing in front of you right now,” she gushed, her full cheeks lifting and pushing her glasses up a little.

I blinked. My surprise doubling Mateo’s. The girl stood there, bouncing excitedly while she, Mateo, and his family watched me. Waiting for me to respond.

“Don’t be sorry, love. What’s your name beautiful?”

Her cheeks blushed a deep pink. “Holly.”

“Well, Miss Holly. You wanna take a picture with her?” Mateo asked when I failed to find words on my own.

“Can I? With both of you?” She beamed, her phone held out toward Mateo.

“Of course.” My vocal chords finally found their footing and when I stood, the girl’s arms wrapped around me.

Hugging her back, Mateo winked then handed her phone off. “Mari, can you?”

Gathered together, Marianna took our picture before showing it off.

“Thank you so much.” She smiled. The lights overhead twinkled off her eyes a little more than they did earlier. “I’ve been following you since that article came out. And then that speech he gave the other day. When they showed you, you weren’t afraid that everyone was watching you, or what they might say. You looked fearless. I want to feel like that one day.”

When her eyes fell to the floor, I felt her pain, identical to what I experienced at her age.

I lifted her chin and brushed her hair away from her glasses. “Can you do me a favor, Holly?” When she nodded, I continued, “Please don’t waste another second letting others determine your worth, okay? You are beautiful. You don’t need anyone else’s love or validation but your own.”

She sucked in a breath and nodded again, this time with added determination.

“Thank you.” She smiled, hugging me again. “Thank you both for being so nice.”

She skipped away, throwing a wave toward us before slipping out the door.

---