remembered. After she left him, he went to live in a different town for more work opportunities,” he said, unwilling to list all the kinds of menial jobs his father accepted and got fired from with the same easiness.
“Is there any part of him you miss?”
“He was fun to be around. When he was sober,” he said, and allowed happy memories to flash through his mind. His father picking him up and hugging him tight. Sometimes Bernardo held him so tightly it was like he didn’t want to let go of his son. A smile sneaked onto his lips before he realized it.
Alice submerged in the water, all the way down to her shoulders. “Maybe he had his reasons why he wasn’t there for you. That’s what I have to remind myself about my sister. She’s not a present mom sometimes; there’s only so much she can give.”
He cocked his head to the side. Wouldn’t it be easy to just assume his father was a functioning alcoholic? Maybe. Still. He could have fought for his family, for his kids. Lorenzo had wrestled his own desires and stayed married to Kristin, for Cara’s sake. “How is your niece in all of this? Brenda, right?”
Alice lifted her shoulders. “She’s a tough little girl. Loves my mom. Maybe even more than my sister. But my mom gets overwhelmed, too. She works too many shifts to keep up with the bills.”
“You have a lot of responsibilities. It’s not fair. You should be thinking about you a bit more. Be a girl about town.”
She splashed him. “You mean a girl about New York City?”
“Can’t blame me for trying.”
“It’s okay. I get to bitch about it once in a while, but I can’t complain much. I have a good life,” she said.
He tipped up her chin. “You’re a good woman, Alice.”
An adorable shade of red spread across her cheeks. Really, she was blushing now? Not when she took off her clothes, or had him skinny-dip? He licked his lips, the anticipation to kiss her expanding in his chest.
She arched against him, and he tensed. “A good woman who knows how to be bad.”
“Bad Alice is the best one,” he said, before dipping down to kiss her senseless.
Chapter Eight
Rachel missed Brenda’s recital last night. She’s been acting strange again. Love, Mom.
Alice kept her attention on her cell phone, half hoping that was a joke. Doubtful. She knew what it meant—her sister was possibly at the brink of another bipolar episode, either because she had stopped taking the meds or she was feeling more overwhelmed than usual.
Hope you’re having fun. Love, Mom.
Yeah, Mom. I’m super giddy after this message.
She typed the reply, but before she could read it out loud, she deleted the letters, one by one. Guilt poked her. Here she was, entering the large enclosure where dozens of birds tweeted, enjoying a nice luxurious vacation while her mother was shucking away back home. Ugh.
I’m okay. We should be back tomorrow night. Keep me posted if something happens.
Alice jammed the phone in her pocket. Tonight the big party would take place—when Viola would announce who she would be partnering up with, including who would get the paintings. The party theme was the color red, and men and women were expected to wear it. Lorenzo had promised to take her shopping for a super slinky dress, one she probably would never wear again after tonight. Her heart missed a beat. A lot of things wouldn’t take place after tonight. Kissing him. Making love to him—hard and fast, or long and languorously.
Yup. Reality would come knocking. Whether she wanted it to or not, one thing was for sure: she couldn’t go with him to New York. She was starting to care for him more than was smart, and the man just wasn’t the same wavelength.
The fact that Lorenzo was hotter, richer, and waaaay better in bed than any guy she’d ever dated didn’t help. With an accent that melted her underwear on the freaking spot. The G spot.
“Everything okay?” Viola asked, reminding her she was not alone.
Alice smiled. The birds flew from the small trees to the feeders hanging from the netted ceiling. Dozens of them, all different colors and sizes.
“I’ve always loved birds. My ex-husband didn’t enjoy them as pets. After the divorce, I created this sanctuary for them.”
Alice nodded, biting the inner part of her cheek. She and Cara had found Nibbles at a bird rescue place, to which captivity was a last resort.
“Why didn’t he like