Page 70 of Urgent Vows
This is a whole different world for me. I wash my hair and let it dry naturally after I comb it into place.
"Use your fingers to separate my hair when the blow dryer is pointed at that section," she instructs me, finally breaking the silence. "It will dry faster. Don't start using the paddle brush to smooth it until it's at least half dry."
It sounds complicated, but I do what she says and find myself relaxing from the rhythmic movements.
My wife watches me intently through the mirror, looking away when I catch her eye. But then her gaze is back on mine a moment later. Eventually she stops looking away and I continue what I'm doing until her hair is dry and falls like a smooth caramel curtain around her shoulders.
"It's like silk." I lift it over her shoulders.
"You did a great job." She frowns at herself in the mirror.
"What is it?"
"Besides that awful bruise on my face? I just wish my hair wasn't so mousy brown. Maybe I should get highlights."
"Do not fucking dare."
Her eyes widen. "That's a strong reaction."
"Your hair is not mousy. It is like rich caramel. If you ruin it with highlights, I'll…" I try to think of a threat that would actually dissuade my strong-willed wife that I would be willing to follow through on. "I will invite the nosiest wives inla famigliaover to visit you every day until it grows out."
"All you had to do was say you like it this way," she says with a laugh. "I mean, if I really wanted highlights, I'd get them. But it was just a passing thought. I'm not big on spending a lot of time at the salon."
"Good. You don't need it."
"Even your compliments are bossy."
"Part of my charm."
"Okay, Prince Charming, as much as I enjoy being naked with you." Her eyes sparkle like she's proud of saying that. "We both need to get some clothes on so we can have lunch with your family. I guess I'll have to wear the dress from yesterday."
"Since it does a good job of hiding your braless state, you may wear it without the shawl."
Catalina opens her mouth like she's going to say something, but then closes it and her eyes, which are sparking with feisty resolve. When she opens them, her expression is tranquil. Even so, she inhales a deep breath and lets it out slowly.
She's showing circumspection.
I should be glad, but part of me wants to know what she intended to say.
Chapter 23
CATALINA
I want to tell Severu what he can do with hispermissionto wear the dress I came home from the hospital in, but I manage to bite the words back. My mom used to say, "Pick your battles, Catalina."
I had a tendency to mouth off to my father because I resented the way he treated my beloved mother, and I ended up in trouble most days because of it. That trouble didn't lead to him striking me until after her death. The first time he smacked me because he was angry at Carlotta, I wondered how many punishments my mother took because of my sass.
Knowing she took any is one of the reasons I refused to become the cowed creature my father wanted me to be. If Mamma could take pain for the sake of my character, so could I.
Remembering Severu's plans for me to go shopping with his mother and sister later, I decide that is a battle I'm willing to fight. No matter how much I learned to enjoy both women's company during my sister's engagement, Ihateshopping.
"I don't need to go shopping," I tell Severu. "I have clothes at home."
And I have my ballet flats by a designer that specializes in comfort. As well as a generic shoe insert I ordered online to help, at least a little bit, with the inch difference in the length of my legs.
"This is your home now."
So not the point. "My former home then."
