Page 75 of Dina's Favorite Mistake

“I think I got a clown a few days ago,” Steve admitted with a laugh.

Dina winced. “Do I even want to know the context?”

“Something to do with me not wanting to make a phone call.” As much as he enjoyed Camila’s messages, he tried to maintain boundaries. There were things he wasn’t going to discuss with her, including why he wasn’t calling her mother.

Dina shook her head and smiled. “I’m sure she wanted to send me the same message. She was rather irritated that I waited so long.” She hesitated before confessing, “She trusts you, Steve. She respects you. She thinks we could be—.”

“A family?” he asked hopefully.

Dina swallowed nervously. “Is that...? I mean...? Would you...?”

“I would,” he confirmed. “When you’re ready,” he added hurriedly. “There’s no rush. I can wait.” He trailed his thumb along her jaw. “You’re worth it.”

Dina trapped his hand between both of hers. “It won’t be easy, Steve. You’re here in Texas. I’m in Mexico. Your family is here. Mine is there. I’m a single mom to a teenager. I don’t know if you want kids or not? I mean is that what you mean when you say family?”

“Dina.” He tried to hide his amusement at her rambling but failed. “We’ll figure it out when the time comes.”

She huffed. “Just like that, huh?”

“Just like that.”

“But, Steve, surely—.”

He pressed his lips to hers in a lingering kiss, silencing her protest. “You Farias women have to be the most stubborn in the world.”

Dina sniffed indelicately. “Lola is more stubborn than me.”

“I think she’d disagree.”

“Of course she would.” Dina stepped aside as a pair of DPS troopers walked their way. “Can we get dinner? Have a drink and talk?”

Steve slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Come home with me. I’ll cook dinner. We can talk about anything you want, darlin’.”

“Well, I did promise Camila I would ask you to be one of thepadrinosfor her quinceañera.”

Steve flushed with surprise. “I’m honored that she’d ask. When is it?”

“A few months,” Dina said with a careless wave of her hand. “She wasn’t sure if she wanted one after everything that happened with Diego and at school. She changed her mind before we left for Paris. She and Mama talked about it nonstop on the trip back home.” She snuggled in a little closer to his side. “Gave me some privacy and time to think about us.”

“Yeah? And what were you thinking about?” He lowered his head until his mouth was level with her ear. “Something dirty, I hope.”

“Steve!” She blushed and swatted at his chest, but didn’t deny it. “Well, maybe some of my ideas were alittledirty.” She gave him a little tug toward the doors. “Show me to your truck, and I’ll tell you all about them.”

“I’d rather you show me,” he teased.

Dina laughed, and he didn’t think he would ever get tired of that sound. He couldn’t stop sneaking glances at her as he walked her to his truck and made sure to steal at four kissesas he helped her into the passenger seat. Her face was flushed, probably a mix of the cold and his kisses, and her eyes sparkled with excitement as she watched him get behind the wheel.

“What?” he asked, wanting to know what she was thinking.

She reached across the console and interlaced their fingers. “I’m so happy, Steve, and I love you so much.”

His heart thumped wildly. “I love you, Dina.”

She leaned over and initiated a sweet kiss filled with hope and anticipation. Then, with a wry shake of her head, she admitted, “I can’t believe I thought you were a mistake.”

“How so?”

“A hotel hookup with a cop? Me? With all my baggage?” She cringed. “It could have been a disaster.”

She wasn’t wrong. This could have gone sideways a million different ways.

“I’m glad I took that chance with you.” She kissed him again. “So glad.”

“Does that make me your favorite mistake?”

She laughed. “As a matter of fact, it does.”