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what was behind his insistence on paying for everything?
Was that a machismo throwback from his culture as a Hispanic
man?
    She picked up a zippered pencil pack, forcing
her mind back to Luisa and away from her dark, brooding brother.
“Hey, Luisa. What do you think of this?” She grinned at the girl’s
reaction.
    “It’s got three holes on the side! I could
store it in my three-ring binder!”
    Monica tossed it in the plastic carrier Luisa
held on her forearm and glanced back at Carlos before moving to the
next aisle. Was that a vein popping out on his forehead?
     
    He had to put his foot down sometime. After
all, how long could this shopping excursion last? They’d been to
the school supply store, and came away with bags of goodies, much
to his sister’s absolute ecstasy.
    Then, they visited a store heavy with female
accessories – hair bows, cheap jewelry and stickers. Luisa
screeched her way through that store, too.
    Off to the Smoothie store for a frosty drink
before heading to the shoe store, not to buy this time, but just to
look.
    What a waste of time. His time. He’d almost
protested on several occasions.
    And then he remembered he wasn’t exactly
invited on this outing to begin with. He’d pretty much manhandled
his way into the evening with Luisa and Monica. Who was he now to
ask for an early end?
    As he counted the minutes, the ladies
chatted, tried on shoes and had fun. Monica enjoyed being with his
sister, and it was no act for his benefit, he was sure of that.
Luisa glowed in the older girl’s attention.
    For a split second, he found himself
wondering what it would be like to bask in Monica’s attention and
approval.
    She wasn’t a typical beauty. She wasn’t as
show-stopping gorgeous as Angela. But there was something about
her. Maybe her creamy skin that glowed without artificial
enhancement. Or maybe her mouth that was just a little too full for
her face. Full, red lips he could make good use of as his own lips
devoured hers.
    Or her eyes. Guarded around him, always
watching, taking notice of where he was and what he was doing. Was
she interested in him or did he intimidate her? Did he want to
scare her off? Or interest her enough to get to know him
better?
    He’d have to consider it later.
    For now, he dragged himself to his feet and
followed them to the next store: oh Lord, a pet shop?
     
    Monica pulled into the driveway in front of
Luisa and Carlos’s house and shut off the engine. Luisa jumped out
from the backseat and Monica was about to follow when Carlos
reached out and placed his hand on her wrist. The gasp that escaped
from her mouth, as well as the quake that traveled through her
entire torso were unplanned and unstoppable. There was something
about Carlos – despite the fact that he seemed so suspicious of her
– and the fact that he was so totally unlike every man she’d ever
dated – and the fact that he seemed to be in a bad mood every time
she was around. Despite all that, there was a chemistry that
sizzled within her each time he was near. Call it hormones. Call it
puppy love. Whatever. But it was intense, and it was
undeniable.
    Embarrassed by her unbidden response to him,
she tried to quickly pull herself together. She turned to him.
“Yes?”
    He cleared his throat and let his hand drop
from her skin. “I just wanted to say, you were great with Luisa
tonight. She really had a good time.”
    Caught by surprise by his compliment, Monica
was speechless. Her mouth dropped open and she was probably staring
at him like he was an alien. Again she recovered with some effort
on her part. “Well, thank you, Carlos. I had a really good time,
too. I always do when I’m with Luisa. She’s a really great little
girl, you know that?”
    He nodded. “I do. And I only want what’s best
for her.”
    “Of course you do.” But he acted as if he
suspected she wasn’t best for her. Monica wondered how she
could broach that subject without spoiling the moment of truce
they’d