Free Double Tap by Lani Lynn Vale Page B

big deal that caused nearly every one at the table to freeze.
    “What?” I asked.
    Nikki had looked like she swallowed a bug.
    “What?” I asked again, louder this time.
    “Michael’s never had any of my hot tamales,” Lolita said with confusion.
    Uh-oh.
    “Lucy, you got some ‘splainin to do!” I teased.
    The sisters cracked up with me as Nikki and Nico glared at me.
    I held up my hands and proceeded to stuff my face with more tamales.
    I couldn’t wait to know more about this Michael and Nikki story!
    I could also tell that Nikki didn’t want to have anything to do with any talk that was going to come. She kept giving me covert glances, and when she’d catch my eyes on her, she’d look down again.
    Oh, she was going to talk. Even if I had to torture the information out of her.
***
    “Who’s ready for dessert?” Lolita asked a few hours later.
    I moaned, not able to think about dessert.
    I’d had so much food that I’d have to roll myself home.
    “Oh, my God. I think I ate so many tamales I might very well blow up. This heartburn is going to be a bitch later. But it was so good to have those again,” I gushed to Lolita.
    Lolita grinned at me. “You’ll be happy to know that I made extra for you,” she said.
    I blew her a kiss. “You’re the best woman in the world.”
    She smiled sadly.
    That hadn’t been true when my mother had been alive, and she knew that. My mother had been the best.
    I remembered the way my mother used to bake bread every other day. She used to sell it at the local butcher shop in town. She made so much that it took up nearly her entire day.
    She used to love to bake, and I used to help her when I wasn’t needed with the cattle.
    At one point in time, my mother was my whole entire world, and although Lolita was a wonderful woman, my mother was better.
    And being here, it reminded me of what I’d been trying to forget for the last eight years.
    To get my mind off of my sorrow, I pushed down into my chair and groaned as I rubbed my hands over my belly. “Next time, I want enchiladas.”
    I’d already unbuttoned my pants, which Nico had zeroed in on the moment I’d done it.
    “You could…” Lolita started.
    “No, mom. Georgia and I are going out tonight. Can’t stay much longer or we won’t make it on time,” Nico said, standing.
    He moved quick, totally disregarding his mother’s disapproving look.
    “But…” Lolita said, but he was already pulling me to my feet and throwing my bag at me.
    I caught it with a small oomph and started walking with him. Mostly because he was dragging me again. He seemed to like doing that.
    “But…” Lolita tried again.
    However, he was already giving her a peck on the cheek and strolling out of the door before I’d even had the chance to say goodbye.
    “Oh, my God, Nico. What the hell?” I asked, glaring at his back.
    He didn’t answer. Not that I expected him to.
    “I drove here,” I said as he opened the passenger side door of his truck.
    “We’ll get it later,” he muttered, picking me up when I refused to get in.
    I squeaked as his palms went to my hips and he set me down on the seat without the least bit of effort.
    “But my car’s behind theirs,” I yelped when he started to slam the door.
    I swung my legs inside just in time for him to close it.
    He walked around the truck quickly, eyes blank. Jaw hard.
    “Nico…” I trailed off when he looked at me.
    It allowed no room for argument.
    Was he mad at me?
    “Are you mad at me?” I asked.
    He didn’t answer.
    In fact, he didn’t answer at all until he was pulling into his driveway twenty minutes later.
    Well… answer wasn’t really the right word for it, per say.
    When I released my seatbelt and turned to look at him, it was to find him staring at me.
    Without another word said, he reached for me, dragging me bodily over the center console and slammed his lips down onto mine.
    I gasped at the sudden movement, melting into him willingly.
    Once his tongue hit