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.Instead, she felt him move close.“Why the hell are you apologizing when it’s my fault?” He touched her shoulder.“I should have never left.”She turned.“No, Jose.” Biting back her tears, she tried to explain.“You had to go.I know that now.”He shook his head.“I loved you.I think I’m still in love with you.If we could—”“Don’t say that.” She put a finger over his lips.“Look, I love you, too.I will always love you, but it’s not the right kind of love.When I came here, I wanted so badly to be a part of this family.You were so…hot, and I was so young, and I thought that if we fell in love, then I would really be a part of this family.And I think when Estella died…” She had to think how to say it.“When she died, I was the person who understood you like she did.I think you finally opened yourself up to me because I represented everything you’d lost.”Jose blinked.“Mom told me not to let anything happen.That it would cause a ruckus.”Maria grinned.“She was a smart woman.”“What if she was wrong?” He touched her face.“She wasn’t.You belong in New York.I’ll never leave Precious.And right now I hate Matt, but what I felt for him…That was what love is supposed to feel like.”He cupped her chin in his hand.“I hate that bastard.If he doesn’t treat you right, I’ll rip out his heart.”“It’s over between us,” she assured him.“Have you two talked?”She shook her head.“No! And I don’t plan on it.”Speak of the devil, a knock sounded at the door.Maria’s insides started shaking, and she eyed the living room.Grabbing Jose by the arm she begged, “Answer it, please.If it’s Matt, make him leave.”Jose walked out.Maria turned back to the stove and refused to listen, afraid that she’d be tempted by his voice if it was Matt.She was afraid she’d be tempted to tell him she didn’t care that he’d lied to her, didn’t care that he was married, because she’d loved him with all her heart and probably always would.In spite of not listening, she heard the front door close.When Jose moved back into the kitchen she asked, “Was it Matt?”“Yes.” The voice wasn’t as deep as Jose’s, and it sounded too damn much like the man she loved.Closing her eyes, Maria sent up a prayer that she was wrong—a prayer to God, the Virgin Mary, to every saint she could remember, and just in case, she also added all the spirits Redfoot believed in.There was no reason not to cover all her bases.“Look,” Matt said, making her prayer futile.“If you’re going to hit me, let’s get it over with, because we need to talk.”Redfoot walked up to Ramon Cloud’s porch, his heart heavy and whiskey on his breath.Before he’d left the Funky Chicken, he’d doused himself with his last drink, hoping that too would help.Ramon’s zero tolerance for drunks was a little-known fact.Redfoot figured there was a reason for that, and the obvious suspect was the young man’s late father.Reaching up, he banged on the door.This felt morally wrong, but he had gotten Veronica into this quandary, and he would get her out.Ramon opened the door, and his gaze was filled with contempt—the contempt of a son who thought no man was good enough for his mother.Redfoot respected that.“You said for me to come and…we’d go to the council.” Redfoot drew his words out.“And I’m here.” Purposely leaning close, he hoped the smell of whiskey on him was overpowering.Ramon stepped back.“You damn well know the council has gone home for the day!”Redfoot gaped at his watch.“Damn.Guess I lost track of the time.”“We’ll go tomorrow.”“Sounds like a good plan.” When Ramon tried to shut the door, Redfoot put his hand against it.“You know, at first I was mad.No way was I going to marry your skinnyassed mom!”Ramon seethed.“Go home before I do something I’ll regret.”“But you’re not listening,” Redfoot argued.“I’ve changed my mind.While I was at the Funky Chicken, it occurred to me.She put up with your daddy’s ass for a quarter of a century, she can put up with mine for a while.I’m not much worse than your old man.”“You bastard!” Ramon stormed outside and threw him against the house.“I’m not a bastard,” Redfoot managed to say
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