Free Nacho Figueras Presents by Jessica Whitman

Hotel, and he remembered his hushed, elegant suite, the deep marble bathtub. He felt a shiver run down his back, imagining Antonia stretched out, naked and beckoning, across the snowy white linens of one of those large and sumptuous beds…
    “All right, sí ,” he said. “But I will book the hotel, okay?”

Chapter Ten
    A ntonia clutched Enzo’s arm as they stood outside the tiny, shabby gallery in the Bowery. She felt sick to her stomach. “This was a mistake,” she said. “You should have stayed at the hotel.”
    He squeezed her hand reassuringly. “Of course not,” he said.
    She shook her head. “My mother—” she began.
    “I know all about your mother,” he reminded her.
    “No. I mean, I know, but when I told you about her, you weren’t my…I mean, whatever you are yet. You know?”
    “ Sí ,” he said. “I understand, but surely we don’t have to tell her anything yet if we’re not ready.”
    “She’ll know,” Noni whispered. “She always knows. She’ll smell it on us.” She turned to him. “Let’s just go back to the hotel. I’ll tell her I got sick. She’ll understand. She’s a total hypochondriac.”
    He smiled at her. “Surely it won’t be that bad. Come on now, just in and out. It will be over before you know it.”
    She shook her head, defeated, as he opened the door for her. “You really have no idea what we’re getting into.”
    The space was small and crowded, with a mass of people milling around, drinking wine and examining the brightly colored, enormous canvases hung on the wall. Most of the people seemed close to Antonia’s mother’s age and were wearing head-to-toe black.
    Noni scanned the room, looking for her mother. “I don’t see her,” she said to Enzo. “Maybe we can leave early.”
    “I’m just going to pretend I didn’t hear that, darling,” came a raspy voice from behind her.
    Antonia turned to face her mother, who had come up behind her without them noticing.
    Benny Black looked gorgeous, as always. She wore a long figure-skimming bright red dress, cut shockingly low in the front, her blond hair braided into an intricate crown on top of her head and beaded earrings so large and heavy that they almost grazed her shoulders.
    “Mom,” said Noni, and gave her a hug.
    While Noni was growing up, people would constantly remark upon the resemblance between herself and her mother, but Noni could never see it. Her mother was a thousand times more striking and glamorous, and, of course, she had those enormous turquoise eyes, something Benny always made a point of mentioning when people said they looked alike.
    Except the eyes of course. Noni has her father’s eyes.
    Her mother extracted herself from Noni’s arms. “Darling,” she said, squinting at Enzo with interest, “you didn’t tell me you were bringing your…?” She let the sentence dangle, waiting for Antonia to finish it.
    “Friend,” said Noni with alacrity. “Mom, I told you about my friend Enzo Rivas, remember?”
    Benny smiled her brightest smile. “Of course,” she said. “You’re a groom, I think Noni said?”
    “No, Mom, Enzo is the piloto ,” said Antonia. She was already beginning to feel exasperated.
    Benny’s smile faltered. “ Piloto ? Now what is that again?”
    “He trains the horses, Mom. He runs the barn. He manages just about everything for the Del Campos.”
    “Oh,” said Benny, and her voice took on a knowing tone. “Oh well, that must be a difficult job. I mean, from everything Carlos used to tell me about Pilar—she was basically impossible to satisfy. I imagine any sons of hers would be the same, no?”
    “Mom!” hissed Antonia.
    Benny turned to her, all wide-eyed innocence. “What?” She smirked. “Oh, get your mind out of the gutter. I didn’t mean it that way.”
    Enzo cleared his throat. “It is very nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Black.”
    Benny turned her smile back on to Enzo and offered her hand. “Please, call me Benny.”
    Enzo took her