Armando Returns (Barboza Brothers) (21 page)

Remove the card.

Toss the flowers in the trash.

Rip up the card and toss into trash next to flowers.

She had kept her phone off all day as well. Surely, if Mitch had sent three apology gifts to her place of work, he was probably trying to call her. But her stomach couldn
’t handle the thought of talking to him. It wasn’t so much about the girl he kissed, or the fact that she suspected he was cheating.

Katie
’s heart belonged to someone else.

But was she ready for the fallout? She contemplated waiting a few days before telling her well-meaning sister Chelsea, who would probably—for the billionth time—just tell her to give Mitch another chance.

The obvious choice was to call Armando and let him help her sort out her feelings. But he had already made his own feelings clear.

Katie stuck her palm to her forehead in a futile effort to stave off the impending dizziness that accompanied her nervous lack of eating, and the constant swirl of thoughts that left her mind spinning. All she wanted to do right now was get rid of those roses and get the heck out of that restaurant before Mitch showed up in person, causing every single employee to take up for him without knowing any of the facts.

As Katie charged through the kitchen, she was met by a pouting Jennifer.

“What?” Jennifer glared at the box tucked under Katie’s arm. “
Another
one?”

Katie
’s tone was flat and cold as she brushed past the sulking blonde, hoping today wouldn’t be one of those days when she would have to fix something for Jennifer that required working late. “Yeah. It’s not a big deal.”

Jennifer scowled at the back of Katie
’s head as she went by. “Maybe not a big deal to
you
. But most girls would
love
a man who sends flowers. Geez. What happened with you guys, anyway?”

“
Don’t worry about it,” Katie replied over her shoulder.

Jennifer huffed and said something else Katie didn
’t hear as she pushed the loud metal door open and descended the stairs to the back parking lot.

Katie tore the card away before hurling the box into the dumpster. As she was about to rip it apart, she rolled her eyes and decided to read this one. After all, he had sent three bouquets. Maybe she should at least glance at one of the cards.

“
You’re the only one who matters, Katie.

You
’re the only one who will ever matter.

Love, Mitch
.”

A deep grunt of disgust escaped Katie
’s throat. That’s the best he could do? She tore up the card and let the pieces float over the lid of the dumpster. From the light tone of his sentiment, he was completely clueless they were over for good.

Suddenly trembling, she pulled a hand to her unsteady stomach.

She knew she needed to talk to him. Break up officially. But she may need a few days to let the notion simmer. Summon the strength to break the news to her parents.

Then hope there was enough strength left over to deal with the repercussions.

Katie would have stayed outside to take some deep, calming breaths, but the air reeked of a garbage, so she rushed back inside and filled her lungs with the pleasing smells of the kitchen. Tonight’s dinner special would be what Katie considered timeless comfort food—mashed potatoes and beef tenderloin—and thankfully the smell of it didn’t make her wretch, even though her appetite was nowhere to be found.

She stayed there for a few more seconds before heading out of the kitchen to check on a few things before leaving work for the night.

But on Katie’s way through the dining room, she was met by a wide-eyed Jennifer, and her jaw tensed. “What is it?” Katie asked.

“
Someone’s here to see you. He’s sitting at the bar.” Jennifer’s lips snapped shut and she turned away for a second, then quickly turned back. “Oh, and it’s not Mitch.” Then Jennifer sauntered off to a nearby table where a customer was flagging her down.

Trying to appear professional in front of the diners, Katie swallowed her complaint about Jennifer
’s lack of detail as she straightened her suit jacket with a big smile. She then rushed through the dining room, hoping whatever nuisance awaited her would go away quickly.

The bar was a little more crowded than usual this time of day. It took her a moment, but when she saw the back of Armando
’s head, her heart swelled...then quickly ached. She inhaled deeply through her nose and gingerly slid onto the bar stool beside him.

Armando
’s brows went up and he gently turned to her with a mischievous smirk. “So, you decided not to call me?”

She shrugged.
“You could’ve called
me
.”

His head slowly shook as his eyes fixed on hers.
“No, you never gave me permission. I’m determined not to overstep my bounds again.”

Katie rolled her eyes and tried not to let her insides melt from his sexy, searing gaze
...or the way his tight body filled out that perfectly fitted Italian suit. “So, you just show up here where I work and ask for me? Is that not overstepping?”

One side of Armando
’s mouth quirked up in a playful grin. “No. Maybe I’m just a customer who needs to plan a party here at the restaurant. I told you to call me for a reason. It means the ball’s in your court.”

Armando then shifted his knees toward her. As soon as she felt them touch the outside of her thigh, without thinking, she shifted around in her seat until they were facing each other.

Her heart hammered inside her chest as Armando
’s eyes fell to her lap where she smoothed her palms anxiously against her skirt.

He inhaled sharply.
“What’s this?” He covered her left hand, his dumbstruck eyes rising to meet hers. “Do my eyes deceive me, or do I feel a naked ring finger?”

A shiver passed through Katie as the word
“naked” passed Armando’s lips. Somewhere inside her was a teenager, giggling inappropriately at naughty words. But right now, Katie was nowhere close to giggling. She was caught up in the feel of his warm skin against hers, and the way the words “naked” and “Armando” melted together and tickled her brain. She stared into his penetrating brown eyes and barely choked out, “I didn’t wear my ring today.” Then she swallowed and softly added, “I may never wear it again.”

Armando
’s lips slowly spread into a broad smile. His eyes crinkled at the sides in a way that flooded Katie with memories. In high school, Armando was mysterious. Not quiet, but brooding, and very serious on the surface. But she quickly got to know who he really was. He was mature for his age, but he still possessed a sweet, boyish transparency. He loved with all his heart, and with reckless abandon. He was never shy to let Katie know how happy she made him.

Right now, she knew Armando was overjoyed—because of
her
. That smile was genuine and unassuming. He wanted her. He had always wanted her. And it would be so damn easy to give in and walk hand-in-hand with him out of that restaurant to a new life together…

But the cleared throat of Jonny the bartender plopped her right back down to Earth.

Jonny leaned across the bar with a sly nod as he asked Katie, “So, what’ll the lady be drinking tonight?”

Katie gasped and pulled her hands away from Armando
’s, then looked around the restaurant. Several of the wait staff, including Jennifer—who should have been finishing up her shift in the dining room—were casting smug glances her way. Some were whispering to each other behind their hands. Her love life was definitely the talk of the restaurant today.

Katie
’s eyes were huge. She stood up and said to the bartender, “I’m not drinking,” then to Armando, “I’m sorry. I…” Her mind went blank. She just knew she had to flee.

“
What?” Armando gently grabbed her arm, his eyes sweetly pleading with her to stay. “Calm down. What’s wrong?” He looked around the restaurant, following the paths of her frantic eyes. “Are we being watched?”

She waited for Jonny to walk over to another customer, then lowered her voice.
“Yes. The whole restaurant’s been talking about me all day. Mitch sent me flowers three times since I got here.”

Armando shrugged.
“So? Fuck ‘em. Let ‘em talk. You get off work soon, right?”

“
It’s not that.” A thin layer of tears filled her eyes, burning her nose. “I just...I can’t be seen with you.”

Armando closed his eyes, his lips flattening. He shook his head slowly, then said,
“Your parents.”

Katie sniffled.
“They know everyone.”

He rolled his eyes then let out a single, solemn laugh.
“God. After all this time.”

She tucked her face down to hide her tears from her co-workers.
“I know. It’s like we’re eighteen again. That same old crap with my parents.”

Armando sighed heavily.
“It’s okay.” Then he surprised her with his lighthearted tone. “I always wondered what it was like to travel back in time. Now I know...I guess.”

Katie laughed as she wiped her tears away.

Armando wanted to touch her but he maintained his distance on the bar stool. “I probably shouldn’t have come here but I didn’t wanna just show up at your door.”

Her voice was weak.
“I secretly hoped you would, though.”

“
Aw, Katie,” he whispered. His fingers knitted tightly together to restrain himself, he said, “I Googled your address. Vista Glen apartments? Unit 522?”

She nodded vigorously.

“See you there in an hour?”

“
How ‘bout twenty-five minutes?”

Exactly twenty-five minutes later, with a smile on his face and a spring in his step, Armando bounded up the stairwell to Katie’s apartment. His heart raced with more feelings than he could possibly decipher. His thoughts were chaotic, knowing full well the issue of her parents still hanging over their heads. But that problem was the least of his concerns right now.

Armando knocked on the door.

In an instant, the lovely Katie—still wearing her clothes from work—opened it, waving him inside.

As Armando stepped through the doorway, he looked in
to her eyes and said, “I feel like I’ve waited a thousand lifetimes for this.” Then he put his hands on her waist. In one move, he leaned down to kiss her and kicked the door closed behind him. Suddenly his hands were everywhere, roaming her back. Grabbing her hair. His body pushing hers backward in the direction of the sofa as his kiss strengthened.

When the backs of her calves touched the
couch, Katie pulled away, blinking up at him. “Don’t you wanna know what happened with me and Mitch?”

In a flat tone, Armando
’s quick reply was, “No. I don’t give a fuck about Mitch.” Then his mouth covered hers again.

She wiggled away, breaking the kiss.
“We’re not officially broken up yet. He thinks we just had a fight. He could even show up here this evening.”

“
Well, you wanna make it official, then? Give him a call. I suppose I can wait.” He leaned down to nibble on her ear, whispering, “I’ll give you exactly one minute to take care of that little issue before I rip your clothes off. Remember, sweetheart: you were mine first.” He made Katie shriek with pleasure as he gave her neck a hard massage with his tongue, then went back to her ear. “This ain’t cheating. I don’t care what anybody thinks or says or sees. I don’t care if he opens that door and gets an eyewitness account of everything I’m about to do to you. You were always supposed to be with me.”

Katie let her head fall back as he kissed her neck again, then he reached for the top of her blouse to unbutton it.

As he reached the last button, Armando let out a light chuckle. “So I guess you didn’t need that minute I was gonna give you?”

Katie shook her head as she reached up to his shoulders to take his jacket off.
“No.”

“
Good. ‘Cause I couldn’t wait that long.” Armando shrugged out of his jacket and let it fall off, then reached behind Katie, rubbing her ass until he found her skirt to unzip it. It quickly fell to the floor.

As she stood there in only her bra and panties, she reached out to unbuckle his belt and said,
“I swear I didn’t think we’d rush into this when I invited you over.”

“
Me neither, baby.” He unzipped his pants as he crooked an eyebrow at her. “But you gotta remember, I was promised a honeymoon and I never got it.”

Katie blushed, making no effort to hide her smile.
“Yeah. Me too.”

Armando pushed his pants and underwear to the floor then began unbuttoning his shirt.
“Shit, I remember calling half the state of New Mexico looking for a honeymoon suite. No credit card. Too young. One guy told me I sounded like a drug dealer and he didn’t trust me.”