Page 180 of Most Eligible Billionaire CEO

“Sofia’s boyfriend—”

“Boyfriend?” Dad asks.

Mom pinches her lips, throwing a Michelle Rodriguez right before she’s about to kick ass stare at him.

“Yes, my boyfriend,” I say.

He gives me a we’ll see about that look.

I lift a defiant chin.

Mom keeps talking. I should say, lecturing. “Am I the only one who heard Bryce say he has something important he needs to talk to Sofia about?”

Ciara and Dad stare at Bryce, mistrust shining bright in their eyes.

“I do, but you guys should clear the air first,” he says.

“Don’t worry about us, young man—”

“I’m guessing you’re both in your late forties,” Bryce says.

Mom flinches.

“With all due respect, ma’am, I’m in my mid-forties, So, I’m closer to your age than your daughter’s.”

“¡Hijo de las mil putas!” Dad clenches his fist as if he’s angry at God.

Bryce’s eyes meet mine. “What did he say?”

“He wasn’t expecting there would be such an age difference between us.”

Bryce shoots me an incredulous look. “That’s not what he said.”

Busted!

“Not in so many words, but close enough.”

Mom, Dad, and Ciara chuckle.

“It means son of a thousand whores,” Mom explains. “Spaniards and Hispanics are far better than you Anglos at insults.”

Another round of chuckles.

Mom pushes the glass around with her flip-flop clad foot, steps over the broken bowl, heading towards Bryce. She laces her arms with his. “Welcome to the family, Bryce. What a great introduction!”

Bryce’s brows hit his forehead. “You think?”

She nods. “You had your chance to walk out that door when Emilio told you to get the hell out—twice—but you didn’t. It says a lot about the kind of man you are. It also suggests my daughter picked a good one.” I blush from the tips of my ears to my roots. “On the plus side, you know how passionate the Herrera family is.”

He nods. “Indeed.”

Mom gives him her I like you smile. “We were about to have a second piece of Dulce frío.” We were? “Have you ever had Dominican peach trifle before?”

“No, ma’am.”

“If you and I are going to be friends, you’re going to have to stop calling me ma’am. My name is Julia. Got it?”

“Yes, I do, Julia,” Bryce says.

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