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. Your friends are looking at me. I m sure. Chuito laughed. Practice your Spanish.Tell them not to look too hard.It ll be badfor their health.She would have said something sharp and sarcastic if the front door to the big pink house hadn topened.A woman walked out, wearing white shorts that looked very pressed and perfect against hertanned skin.She had on a bright blue top that clung to her in all the right places, though it wasn tdemeaning.She actually looked like one of the most put-together, elegant women Katie had ever met in herlife.Like a runway model or a movie star.Oddly enough, she sort of reminded Katie of JulesWellings.With that crisp, perfect air to her.The way her dark hair fell past her shoulders in perfectwaves.She was one of those women who probably woke up looking gorgeous. Do you have a sister? Katie asked as the woman walked toward the car. No. Chuito sounded annoyed. I m at the wrong house. No, you re not.That s Sofia. How old was she when she had you? Katie asked quickly. Sixteen. Oh my God, she said and then smiled when Sofia actually opened the door. ¡Hola! Hi. Sofia gave her a wide smile, making her eyes glow.They were the same light shade asMarcos s were and every bit as stunning on her. Why are you sitting in the car, chica? I m, uh  Katie was completely thrown off as she turned to the passenger seat, half expectingChuito to be sitting beside her. I got lost.Chuito gave me directions.We were just finishing up.He son speaker. Hi, chico. Sofia s voice was warm and loving. She s so pretty.You didn t tell me.And she sgot big  Ay Dios mio, Ma! Chuito shouted. No, you promised. What? She likes to hear that.All women like to hear that, Sofia argued with an invisibleChuito. If you d listen to me about these things, then you d have a woman and give me nietos. Sofiaturned to Katie. He s rich and handsome.I should have nietos by now, right? I have to go, Katie, Chuito said rather than answer her. Good luck.The phone clicked off.Sofia stood back and threw up her hands. I don t know what s wrong with him.Anyway, come.Let s go in. Sofia stepped back and opened the door. Are you tired? Such a long drive.Too bad youcouldn t fly. Well, I needed my car. Katie stepped out and brushed at her skirt, feeling very plain next toChuito s mother. It s nice to meet you, Sofia.Thank you so much for letting me rent the apartment. Rent? Sofia gasped. Is he making you pay? No. She waved her hand as if she had answeredher own question.Then she wrapped her arms around Katie like they were the oldest of friends andkissed her cheek. It s nice to meet you too. She pulled back and wiped at the lipstick she left onKatie s cheek. Don t call me Sofia.Tía is better. Tía, Katie repeated and then looked ahead, thinking. Aunt? Sí, muy bien.They said you were smart. Sofia opened the back door. They said? Ay, this is all you have? Sofia asked rather than explain. To move here? I have more in the trunk.I don t need much. Dios mío, if I had to move, it d take ten moving trucks. Sofia turned and yelled across thestreet,  Don t just stand there.Come help! I can carry it, Katie argued. What, why? Sofia looked horrified. They re just standing there staring.Sofia turned back and yelled in Spanish, and Katie only caught half of what she was saying.Shewas still a little too rattled to make her brain work properly. Why would a snake bite them? Katie asked curiously. If they keep staring at your tetas a snake will bite them. Sofia looked pointedly at the two menwalking across the street when she spoke, obviously making sure they heard her before she gesturedto the car. Move it into the apartment in the back. ¿Qué? One of the men gaped at Sofia. In back, but  No arguing. Sofia hit his bare chest to make her point. Luis. She gestured to the other man. And Neto. She turned back to Katie and smiled. This is Katie.She s moving into the place outback.She s a teacher.And Chuito s friend.We re supposed to be on good behavior.They both exchanged confused glances.Katie decided to break the ice by sticking out her hand. It s nice to meet you, Luis.Luis shook her hand as he tilted his head and studied her uncertainly. Nice to meet you too.She shook Neto s hand next, noticing that both men had a snake tattoo on their arms. Thank you,Neto, for helping. In the place out back? Neto repeated. That s where we re taking this stuff? Sí, Sofia announced before Katie could. Chica, give them your keys.They ll put the car in thegarage when they re done. Oh, okay. Katie leaned into her car and grabbed her phone off the front seat.She put it in herpurse. Ay, Luis, I already told you!Katie turned around to see Sofia hit the back of Luis s head. He needs to find his own woman.Desperately. Sofia rolled her eyes at Katie and thengestured to Luis. Give them to him.Make him useful.Katie handed Luis the keys. Thank you.Luis nodded. Sure. Be careful with her stuff, Sofia warned. Don t be tossing it around. Where are we gonna put it all? Figure it out. Sofia linked her arm through Katie s and forced her to walk back to the house. It ll be nice to have a woman around.So many muchachos around here.This place is drowning inthem. I see, Katie agreed, as she turned around and watched Luis and Neto start unloading the car.She d never seen a woman handle a whole pack of men like that.Well, she knew one woman whocould. You remind me of my friend Jules Wellings [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ]