Page 13 of Redeemed

A moment later, she was locking her front door and turned to him. He held out an elbow for her to take. "Your chariot awaits, milady," he said in a mocking tone, recovering just a bit of his old swagger.

She took his arm and giggled. The sound shot straight to his groin.What the fuck?"Thank you, kind sir," Sofia replied, playing along.

When they had gotten settled in his Jeep, she turned serious. "I'm afraid I have some bad news," Sofia said.

JT stiffened at the sudden change in her demeanor. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Sofia lips tightening into a straight line, and she rolled her eyes. "My mother called right before you got here. We have to make a command performance at my parents' house at six." Sofia looked at him with regret. "Tia Magda, and her daughter are visiting, and I'm required to go say hello. I'm really sorry, JT. I told her I had plans but she wouldn't take no for an answer. We can just pop in, say hi and leave. I promise."

JT's shoulders visibly relaxed. Parents loved him. He was confident he could win Mrs. Benevides over. "No worries. We don't have to be at the restaurant until 7:30. Plenty of time to stop by and do your duty. We'll have to forgo the pre-dinner stroll I had planned but we can do that another time."

She gave him a rueful smile. "Thank you. I'm so sorry to have to make you change your plans, but Mama is impossible when she sets her mind to something. I'd much rather have been on a walk with you than having to see Magda and Marguerita."

"It's okay, really," JT assured her. "It's another opportunity to convince everyone we're a couple. Especially Magda. Maybe she'll put her magical database of available men away. That's what this is all for, right?"

Even as he said it, the words felt hollow in his throat. Why did that feel so wrong?

"Exactly," Sofia answered with forced brightness. "That's the goal."

Consensus reached, JT pulled away from the curb and headed to Sofia's parents' house.

Chapter twelve

Red Lipstick

Fiveminuteslater,theywere walking up the sidewalk to Sofia's parents' brick ranch on the edge of town. Sofia looked up at him in concern when he reached for her hand. He didn't have time to question the look before she was reaching for the doorknob and calling into the house.

"Hello! We're here," Sofia called, pulling JT behind her into the small, tiled foyer.

"In the kitchen!" she heard her mother call out.

JT followed along with her glancing around as he was towed through the house in Sofia's wake. Family pictures lined the walls and every available surface in the living room. Sofia, her sister, Selena, and her brother, Tomas in all stages of their childhoods. He wanted to take more time to study the ones of Sofia, but she was unrelenting in her coverage across the house heading for the kitchen. As they got closer, the heard female voices whisper-yelling to each other.

He could only make out a few words. "I told you….", "No, you need to…", "…doesn't matter."

Sofia squeezed his hand and dropped it before they entered the kitchen. Her mamá, Tia Magda and her daughter were in the small space between the island and the sink. She could tell her mamá was upset.

"Hi, Tia. Mar," Sofia started. "Are we interrupting something?"

"Magda was just saying how she wanted to apologize to you, mija," her mamá said in a tight voice.

Magda cleared her throat and gave her a tight smile. "Yes, Sofia. I'm sorry you were upset by my matchmaking efforts, but, you know, desperate times call for desperate measures."

"Magda!" Mrs. Benevides cried. "What is wrong with you?"

Sofia turned a color of red JT had never seen before. He waited for the steam to come pouring out of her nose as he was sure that pressure had to go somewhere. JT squeezed her hand. He started to lean down to whisper to her that it was okay but before he could say a word, she had his face in her hands and was kissing him stupid. Without thought, he immediately pulled her into his body and returned the consuming kiss. He completely forgot where they were and lost himself in the feel of those red lips on his and her soft curves melting into him. After several long moments, Sofia broke the kiss. JT blinked and tried to catch his breath. He couldn't believe the sight of her. It was better than his imagination earlier–lips swollen, red lipstick just a stain, and fire in her eyes.

She gave him a short nod before she turned back to her aunt and announced, "Tia Magda, this is JT, myboyfriend." JT gave a little wave at the women's stunned faces around the kitchen. Sofia continued, "Sorry we can't stay to visit but we have reservations and weren't told about this little gathering until about fifteen minutes ago. See you next time you're in town!"

Sofia glared at her aunt and, grabbing JTs hand again, turned to go. "Sofia!" her mother called after her, clearly upset by the little show she had just witnessed. "¿Qué estás haciendo?"("What are you doing?")

Sofia threw up a hand to forestall any more of her mother's questions. She didn't want to see the worry in her eyes. "Nos vamos, Mamá!" ("We're leaving, Mama!")

JT threw up his own hand to wave goodbye to the ladies, a smile dancing on his lips. He'd rarely seen this fiery side of his normally sweet-natured Sofia. He had to admit he liked it. He still didn't get to look at any of the pictures as Sofia hurried him back through the house to the front door. She didn't stop marching until she reached his Jeep down the block. When they were back in the vehicle, the fight seemed to rush out of her all at once.

She bent over and put her face in her hands, her elbows resting on her knees. "I'm so sorry about that, JT," she said, still covering her face. "I couldn't believe she said that to me! After everything else she's put me through and she's calling me desperate? I just lost it."

When he didn't respond, she peeled her hands away from her face and stole a glance at him. JT was grinning widely at her. "Why are you smiling like that?" she asked, frowning at him.