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“True”

“Let’s unpack a littleto eat”

The nice thing about the neighborhood, there were several tortillerias and taquerias within a couple of blocks, where I could buy rice and beans The taco joints stayed open super-late, too, as they were a favorite of the college drinking crowd

“Will you sleep over?” he asked

I laughed “You don’t even have a bed But nice try” In truth, he had little furniture The Mustang carried his personal belongings, his books and clothes, but it couldn’t hold a sofa “I’ll take you shopping tomorrow in the El Camino I should be able to fit what you need, if we make multiple trips”

“Thank you, Corine”

I didn’t knohat he was thanking me for—the offer of help or the second chance between us—but when he leaned down to kiss ot to wonder His mouth tasted of tea and le of a kiss, full of hope and expectation Happiness swirled throughI’d lost

I forced myself to sound brisk “If you had your e’d ht Get to work”

He grinned, shameless and beautiful, and ht shone on his raven-dark hair, li I’d ever seen I didn’t want to love hiain; I feared it, but he had a siren’s call bound up in his tiger eyes and tawny skin With Chance, I suspected—in the end—I would walk into the water, s, and let it close over my head

An hour later I finished putting away his kitchen things, so at least we’d have cups and plates The previous tenant had left soht-iron patio furniture on the balcony, so we’d eat there, watching the sunset I letin the bedroohtly down the stairs; the hundred pesos in my pocket would more than buy our dinner

The taqueria o blocks down the hill After passing the gate, I jogged the Escobar’s test, I was fitter than I had been in years

Because the food was good, there were a few people waiting outside The man at the counter took ot tacos al pastor, rice, and beans Takeaway came in siainst nized ate just wide enough for h and then I headed for Chance’s flat Heit out to the balcony without being asked

I guessed he realized there was nowhere else to eat But in my absence, he’d fixed up the area with a couple of potted plants, cushions Min had e over the

“You approve?”

“Absolutely I can’t believe you ed all this so fast”

He winked “Not a problem I just unpacked the box labeled ‘Seduction’”

“And you were doing so well too” But I was s out with Chance

Oh, goddess When I agreed to a second try, I didn’t realize how hard it would be to keep froed old patterns

To my relief, he accepted the i tomorrow?”

“In the ress they’ve made on the reconstruction Then I’ll practice my spells with Tia”

“She’s a slave driver”

“I have to ick” It wasn’t open to debate

“Are you free in the afternoon? Shopping?” he reminded me

“Yeah, absolutely I’ll pick you up at three?” There were a number of furniture stores in the area, and soet a mattress first, and then a sofa and a table”

“Sounds good”

After dinner he spread soether He’d truly given up everything for ht passed in sweet conversation and tentative plans There was kissing too, of course, but I backed off before it got too intense That didn’t seem fair to either of us when I would return to Tia’s place at the end of the night At eleven, Chance walked ain, and I went inside

My one to sleep an hour before; she rarely stayed up past ten The wo a little at night We had no television, but I didn’t ht as I put my purse on the bed I hadn’t put my mark on this space—a simple roo, if the weather held and the work crew remained reliable I’d hired an excellent foreman named Armando as opposed to physical labor on his own behalf but excelled atothers buckle down

Butch trotted to otten a little pudgy since our return He preferred staying with Tia while I worked at Chance’s place, as she had a nice courtyard where he could nap in the sun or chase birds Usually it was the former—hence the Chihuahua spare tire