Love in Bloom (De La Fuente Family #3) Read online

Her surprise was evident in the way her eyes widened. “You do? I mean I’d like to be at their wedding, but, why? Why would you still want me around them?”

  That was the question he’d probably be asking himself once she’d left his apartment, but right then it seemed like the right thing to do, which he couldn’t make sense of. After the way she’d treated him and his family, why was he opening himself up for more? It didn’t make sense.

  “I’ve seen your enjoyment when their wedding was discussed, until you hid it. I’m not sure what’s going on, but providing you keep your mouth shut, then you can be my guest at their wedding.”

  Caprice bounced up from the chair and jumped on his lap, her arms slid around his neck before she slapped a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you,” she said in a breathy whisper.

  His cock twitched behind his zipper, shocking the life out of him. He may have kept it zipped while they’d been pretending to be engaged, but apart from the day he’d met her, he hadn’t been affected since. What was going on?

  She kissed him again. The heat of her lips branding against his cheek caused his cock to twitch again. Then, she must have realized what she was doing. “Crap…Sorry.” She blushed, jumped back up, glanced at his lap, blushed even more and moved to retrieve her shoes.

  If he weren’t so uncomfortable he’d laugh. While her back was to him, he discreetly adjusted his erection, which was solid, wanting more action than it had gotten from his fist.

  He asked, “I take it that’s okay with you?” Anything to take his mind off his hard body part. But he laughed, which surprised him, at her excited reaction.

  “Yes.” She bit her lip again and asked, “Please tell me you won’t change your mind.”

  He shook his head. “I won’t. Best behavior. We’ll break up a couple of days later.”

  “That’s fine. When do we leave?”

  “I’m leaving later today. You’ll leave in a couple of days. I’ll get your ticket sorted and I’ll meet you at the airport on the other side.”

  She continued to smile and it lit up her whole face, something that kept him looking—and wondering what she’d look like under all that makeup?

  “Thank you.” She hesitated on her way to the door, turned back to look over her shoulder at him and said, “I promise to just be myself and not let you down.”

  She ran out of his apartment and slammed the door behind her.

  Mateo was left to wonder what the hell had just happened. He’d intended to end it all today, but he couldn’t do it. When he saw her standing at his window, she’d looked lonely. Regardless of her antics of the past, he just couldn’t bring himself to end the charade.

  He was a sucker!

  Every time she’d heard Sylvia and Eric’s wedding mentioned, her face had lit up with joy before she’d quickly hide her reaction.

  There was a real woman under all that makeup. He’d caught glimpses now and again, and perhaps, before they went their separate ways, he’d get to see her, instead of the one that he suspected had been created by Roger and Donny.

  The only question was why had she been created?

  Chapter Two

  They said it wouldn’t be for more than six months: it’s been eighteen.

  They said the only difference to her life was that she’d have the money to finish college: the first part was a lie and the second was true.

  They said she had to have attitude to prevent Mateo and his family from liking her: that worked, but she’d never understood why they couldn’t like her.

  She had learned to hate the name Caprice—it was the name they’d chosen for her acting debut and it went with the background they wanted her to have. Even Mateo called her Caprice, having no clue as to her true identity. He’d never asked. Since she’d signed on the dotted line of the contract, he’d made it known to her how much he hated what he’d been forced into, which probably included her as well.

  His family had been especially difficult for her. She hadn’t been part of a family for so long that in other circumstances she’d have loved to be part of the De La Fuente’s.

  It hurt being there but not included in the family. Hurt that his family sneered at her and laughed behind her back. They were civil but she could feel the tension, the animosity, from them whenever she walked into the room.

  She’d done what she’d been asked, but it hurt having the people she’d spent time with thinking that she was a horrible person. Mateo hadn’t taken her around them often and she couldn’t blame him. There had only been a few incidents where she’d been horrid, but the rest of the time, she’d acted an idiot. She’d shed so many tears behind closed doors over the hurt that she caused for everyone: Mateo, his family, and even herself.

  His family thought that she was a spoilt princess with no common sense, which couldn’t be further from the truth. She’d grown up with a mother who’d worked three jobs just to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Everything in Erin’s life had turned into a financial struggle, more so since her mother had died of a heart attack three years before.

  Erin wished that things had been different between her and Mateo because he was a handsome man, but he’d only ever known her as Caprice, the woman the PR hotshot had wanted her to portray. A glamorous young woman who’d won the partying-bachelor. And because they’d wanted her to be unpleasant, Mateo hated her, but he had no idea that it wasn’t really her, even though she’d slipped up a few times.

  Her friend, Sadie, knew of the contract between her and the PR team and she’d been there every step of the way with helping Erin’s transformation into Caprice, the bitch. She’d practiced on Sadie and had found it so much easier after she’d had a bottle of wine. Unfortunately, she hadn’t been able to get drunk before appearing on Mateo’s arm, or when she’d had to stay with his family.

  Mateo had no idea that she was usually fun to be around, and he’d only ever seen her as Caprice; full of make up, wearing clothes that she was really uncomfortable in.

  Her own clothes of yoga pants and jeans were what she felt the most comfortable in, but of course, Mateo had no idea. He also had no idea that her favorite food was Chinese, just like his. She’d turned her nose up when he’d once offered to share because others had been watching at the time.

  There was so much about her that she wished Mateo knew and she longed for him to find out about the clause that had been put into the contract she’d signed.

  Sighing, she continued to pack for the trip to join Mateo in Montana, which filled her with a strange mixture of apprehension and excitement. His family wouldn’t be looking forward to her being there. But she’d have a week before the wedding to be herself and hopefully win them over.

  But was that what she wanted? After all, her relationship with Mateo was going to end after the wedding, winning them over would only hurt her in the end.

  She just knew that there was no way she could carry on as Caprice because she hated that person. She hated the clothes that made her Caprice, hated the way she talked, the way she looked down at everyone, hated that she was a bitch and basically every other thing about her persona.

  Regardless to what others thought, she actually respected Mateo. She’d been on his arm while he’d spoken with the media and others who wanted to talk business ventures, and he’d been knowledgeable. A few times she’d nearly given herself away by adding to the conversation, as Erin, which had drawn a frown from Mateo.

  Every time she’d slipped, she’d shrug off the silent question in his eyes, as she’d excuse herself to use the restroom. It would take minutes of silent panic, locked in the stall, as she tried to get control of herself—tried to take on the second life of Caprice even though stepping into her skin made her feel dirty.

  Sometimes, she could pull it together quickly but often, it would take an excruciating long time as she worried about someone witnessing her panic. Thankfully, by the time she’d get back to Mateo, he wouldn’t mention anything, although she’d caught the odd look from him. It was
as though he couldn’t quite figure her out.

  His family, on the other hand, were positive that she was nothing more than Caprice and they would probably have a party to celebrate their break up. She just wished that Roger would tell her why she’d been told to be a bitch. She’d asked but, so far, she’d never received an answer, only a pat on the head for a job well done.

  But this visit to Mateo and his family was going to be different, she was going to be herself and she looked forward to it. She’d only packed her own clothes and nothing of ‘Caprice’s’ had made it into her case.

  She had some good clothes and the outfit she’d bought for the wedding was so different from anything Caprice would wear. Instead, she’d gone for a dress that was Erin. It was lilac with a fitted bodice with purple pansies embroidered around the square neckline and a flared lilac skirt that stopped just above her knee. She’d matched her high heels to the dress and Sadie had approved of the outfit, telling her that she looked sweet and innocent…which she was.

  Twisting her lips, she frowned at the only part of Caprice she couldn’t get rid of…her name. She would have to answer to Caprice and allow Mateo to end their relationship without his family knowing that he’d been out of control in Dallas.

  Hopefully they’d both be able to put the past eighteen months behind them…she’d miss him though.

  Chapter Three

  “When does your fiancée arrive?” Diego asked the question with an edge to his voice as he sat opposite, his socked feet up on the coffee table.

  Mateo felt tired with everything running around in his head and he couldn’t wait for the whole fiancée thing to be over with, or could he? Since she’d been in his apartment, he’d discovered a need to get to know the real woman underneath. Why though?

  He shook his head and answered the easier question, “Tomorrow,” and hoped that would be the end of it.

  Caprice had been so different the last time he’d seen her that he’d wondered if it had been the same woman. She’d seemed young and…sexy. God, every time he closed his eyes, he saw her legs and remembered the feel of her in his arms, the feel of her as she wiggled on his lap. His cock had certainly enjoyed that.

  “Earth to Mateo.”

  He snapped his eyes open and he wanted to throw something at Diego to wipe the smug look from his face. “You were dreaming.” He grinned. “She’s obviously doing something right.”

  Mateo growled. “Leave Caprice out of this.” He sighed and breathed heavily wanting the frustration he felt to disappear. “Why are you here so early? I thought you had to work until the day before?”

  Diego’s expression darkened, which made Mateo feel sorry for his younger brother. Something was obviously up with him and until Diego was ready to talk, it was pointless expecting him too.

  “Took some vacation time.” Diego had never been good with lying and it was clear by the way his eyes slid around the room that he was doing that right now.

  Mateo let it go. “So, do you know what babe you’ll be walking down the aisle?”

  Sylvia insisted that there was a bridesmaid on each of their arms when they walked up the aisle on her big day.

  Dante would walk with his new wife, Emelia, he’d be walking Lily, his cousin Michael McKenzie’s wife, which left Diego, Kasey and Aiden. He’d overheard Kasey talking about the ‘babe’ he was set to walk with so no doubt he’d be doing more than just walking.

  “I’ve no idea but Sylvia said she was a curvaceous beauty. Not sure if Sylvia was serious or teasing. In truth, I’m not all that bothered as long as Sylvia and Eric are happy. It’s their day.”

  “I hear you.”

  Diego sat forward, arms on his thighs and met his gaze. “Can I ask you something? And will you be honest with your answer?”

  Mateo kept his brother’s intense gaze and nodded slowly. “You can ask me anything.”

  His nerves jumped and he fought the urge to run before the question was asked. He had a feeling about what the question was going to be but he didn’t want to know what was going on in Diego’s mind…at least not about her.

  “What’s really going on with you and Caprice?”

  Anything but that.

  Mateo closed his eyes and sighed. He couldn’t be honest, not right now, or ever. “Caprice and me…” he paused as he tried to come up with an answer. It wasn’t easy because he wasn’t sure anymore what was going on between them. He scowled as he continued, “we’re complicated. You’ve no idea how much I wish I could tell you everything but I can’t. Not yet anyway.”

  “Hmm.” He sat back. ”I’ve been on to you for a while, but I’ll leave it…for now,” he drawled.

  “Just like I’m doing with you,” Mateo commented.

  Diego frowned, but then nodded as silence descended on the room. They sat like that, each one lost in their own thoughts until Kasey joined them.

  “You two know that Mom will go nuts if she catches you with your feet on the coffee table, right?”

  “Mom’s out,” Diego grinned.

  “No, she isn’t,” their mom countered, walking into the living room.

  Kasey laughed as both him and Diego quickly dropped their feet to the floor. They might be adults, but their mom was still the boss.

  “It’s so nice having my boys under the same roof, chilling out together.” She moved and kissed each of them on their heads, something she did even before his birth mother had died, or so he’d been told.

  Lucia, his stepmom, had known him since he was born…known his parents even longer. She’d been his mom’s best friend for years. When his mom had been dying, she’d begged his father, Emiliano, to marry Lucia, who’d been pregnant with twins, Emelia and Diego, at the time. Needless to say, everything had worked out in the end, which was why he’d grown up calling her mom. His elder brothers, Dante, Eric, and Aiden still called her Lucia, but he knew that she meant everything to them as well. They’d been older when everything had happened so they found it more difficult to suddenly call her mom with their actual mother being fresh in their minds.

  Lucia had fit into the family, although there’d been times when he was younger that he’d have given anything to have his mom back. But Lucia, mom, didn’t miss anything and even with age, they still couldn’t get things by her. Except Caprice, his mind whispered and he cursed silently. The guilt of lying to his family for so long overwhelmed him again…the sooner he ended things, the better for everyone.

  “So, Mateo,” She sat next to Diego, who got tapped on his thigh for the smirk he hadn’t concealed quickly enough, “a young lady in town was asking if you were home.”

  He frowned because he hardly knew anyone in town anymore. He’d lived in Dallas for years and he’d fallen out of touch with friends from high school. “Are you going to tell me who?”

  “She was interested in knowing if you were alone or if your fiancée was with you.” His mom frowned and her eyes filled with worry. “I don’t like Allie, she’s no good for you.”

  That’s all he needed.

  He’d dated Allie all through high school and he’d seen her a few times since for old times sake but he had no interest in her anymore. She liked money, which was why she tried to hook back up with him, but he’d seen through her. The majority of his hook-ups wanted to be with him because of his name. They saw dollar signs instead of the man behind the name.

  “Don’t worry. I’m well aware of what Allie is like and I’ve no interest in her. I never really had any to begin with.”

  “It was more about what she’d give him,” Diego snickered.

  Mateo narrowed his eyes at his brother as Kasey hit Diego over the head on his way out of the room.

  “You’re an ass, Bro.” Diego grinned at Kasey.

  “You’re not too old to have your mouth washed out with soap and water, Diego,” their mom threatened but there was laughter in her eyes.

  Diego wasn’t bothered and his grin deepened. “I was only pointing out what Mateo wouldn’t.”


  “I’m well aware of why Mateo had a thing for her in high school. I’m not stupid, which is why I’m going to finish this conversation by saying to you,” she looked straight at Mateo, “be careful because she has her eyes set on getting together with you.”

  Mateo nodded and watched her silently as she walked out of the room before he let out a string of curses that had Diego’s eyes widening.

  “I hope to fuck she stays away. The last thing I need is for Caprice to get wind of Allie.” He leaned back in the chair and wondered where the fuck that had come from. He shouldn’t give a damn about Caprice’s feelings considering there really wasn’t anything between them, but he found he did care what she thought.

  He needed to see a doctor because he’d started to wonder if he’d banged his head a little too hard in the crash.

  Chapter Four

  Erin was packed, her bags waiting to be picked up on the way out the door in the morning and she had nothing else to do before the flight. Except chill with her best friend, Sadie, who currently tinkered around Erin’s kitchen. She loved it when Sadie came over to her apartment because she’d make lasagna, which would smell amazing and taste even better.

  Sadie had always been the voice of reason, which was why her question had been expected. “Are you sure it’s a good idea, Erin? Usually you come back in tears.” Sadie had been there for her through the past months and she knew how much being someone else took out of Erin.

  She followed Sadie into the living room and slid onto the sofa next to her. She picked at the black, fraying fabric and frowned at how Mateo would be surprised by her cheap one-bedroom apartment and cheap furniture. Caprice didn’t belong here but her shadow had been on it for over a year. She sighed before she answered, “I honestly don’t know. But what I do know is that Mateo is giving me a chance when there isn’t any need. We could have broken up at his apartment but, instead, he asked me to his brother’s wedding, which I do want to attend. I’ve never been to a wedding before so I was kind of excited about it, when he offered.”