So he’d tried to show Maria he loved her by helping her dry her beloved car. When she’d walked away, he’d almost left with his tail between his legs like a kicked dog. Instead, his feet decided they should follow her. Then his mouth and brain decided they should team up and speak his shame.
He was so messed up, but he was kissing her, and she was letting him, and there was someone tapping on his shoulder.
“Hey, take it somewhere else. My kids aren’t old enough for a birds and bees talk, but they are old enough to be fascinated by what’s going on here.”
Jake glanced over his shoulder to see a boy and girl staring at him and Maria. Something to remember—Maria had the ability to make him forget his surroundings. He’d been mere seconds away from laying her down in the surf and proving to her that she belonged to him.
“Sorry,” he said. “I just told her I loved her and things got a little out of hand.”
The man’s eyes flicked to Maria with more appreciation than Jake cared for. “Can’t say I blame you. The wife, she made me come over, but seriously, man, from what I’ve seen, a room’s in order.”
“I’m so embarrassed,” Maria whispered from where she had her nose buried close to his ear. “Did you just say you loved me?”
Well, he had, but it wasn’t how he’d wanted to. There were supposed to be flowers, an expensive dinner, maybe a two-hundred-dollar bottle of wine, and a moonlight stroll.
He tugged her face away from his neck so she’d look at him. “You weren’t meant to hear that.”
“You don’t love me?”
The hurt in her eyes tore at him and he almost caved. But dammit, he had something special planned. “I didn’t say that.” He stood and pulled her up. “I want to ask you out on a date. Saturday night. If you want to find out if I love you, you only have to say yes.” This was it. She’d either agree or tell him to go to hell.
“That’s four days away.”
Her impatience made him smile. “I know, but I promise it’ll be worth waiting for.” First, there was something else she had to decide before he talked about love and marriage, not to mention the possibility of a baby.
“Doesn’t sound like I have a choice.” After giving him an irritated little scowl, she turned to leave.
“You have lots of choices, Chiquita,” he said, catching up with her. Like the one she’d need to make in a few minutes. He took her hand and led them up the path. “Right now, we need to go talk to your brother. Although I wish otherwise, there’s something you need to know.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Maria made a quick call when Jake excused himself to go to the bathroom. Once everything was set up, she only wondered how to get him there and how to get him to agree. Then she went outside and took a seat across from Logan and Dani, Jake joining them a minute later. By the darted glances between the three of them, they knew something she didn’t.
“No,” she said after Logan told her Fortunada wanted to see her. Standing, she glared at them. “I can’t. I won’t.” Three pairs of eyes watched her pace across the back deck, and the only pair that appeared pleased with her announcement was Logan’s. “You two don’t agree?” she asked, flicking her gaze between Dani and Jake.
“I don’t want you anywhere near him,” Jake said. “But can you walk away never knowing if he’s your father? You don’t owe him a damn thing, so if you want to tell him to go to hell, that’s your choice. I just think you should take a few days to think about it.”
She never wanted to see Fortunada again, yet several times a day she thought of him and wondered. What she’d really like was for him to agree to a DNA test and for it to come back negative. Then she could walk away and never think of him again. In fact, the whole idea of finding her father had lost its appeal.
She turned to Dani. “And you?”
Her sister-in-law shrugged. “What Jake said.”
“If I decide to go, will you go with me?”
“Yes,” Logan and Jake said in unison.
Dani rolled her eyes on a sigh and stood. “She wasn’t talking to you, sweetie. Let’s you and me go watch our son sleep.”
“Come here,” Jake said when they were alone.
He’d moved to a chaise and she crawled between his legs, resting her back against his chest. They still had some talking to do, but she no longer considered him a jerk. Which was good because she’d hate being in love with a jerk. Pushing her hair aside, he pressed his mouth to her neck.