“Who?”

“Jacob.”

“What Jacob?”

“Your ex, silly. Your first love—high school sweetheart.”

Isabel thought about it for a moment. She hadn’t been sure before but now she was certain. She’d never been in love with Jacob. What she felt for Romero was a first. No one, not even Jacob, came close to making her feel like Romero did. “Oh, really?” She sounded as unenthused at the news as she felt. “Where?”

“Charles and I had dinner with a few of his friends and their wives on the base and he was there having dinner with a few buddies. Did you know he’s on his way to make Lieutenant Commander?”

Isabel rolled her eyes. “I haven’t talked to him in years, Pat. So, no, I didn’t know.”

“He’s still single you know.”

“Well, I’m sure now that he’s making Lieutenant Commander, he won’t be for long.” Isabel pulled into the teacher parking lot at the school.

“He asked about you.”

Isabel didn’t say anything as she gathered up her things.

“I told him we should all get together and catch up. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

Isabel almost laughed. Her sister was too much. “Oh, yeah. I’ll bring Romero. I’m sure it’ll be just lovely.” She heard her sister huff. “Don’t even think about it, Pat. I gotta go. I’m at work now. I’ll talk to you later.”

Isabel hung up before Pat could protest much. She should’ve known her sister wouldn’t give up that easily.

CHAPTER 11

Manny and Max

“What’s wrong with my tie?” Manny looked down at it.

Romero stared at him through the rear view mirror. “Nothing, but we’re going to Moreno’s. It’s not that fancy. You don’t need a tie.”

“I think purple suits you.” Aida just had to put in her two cents.

Ever since they’d gotten hitched, where Manny went—Aida went. He wasn’t having it any other way. So Isabel would be meeting the whole lot of them tonight. Max was meeting them there, since he was working a little late.

“Yeah, I think so, too.” Manny agreed with Aida. “And it matches my belt.”

Romero sighed. Manny and Max wanted to go the Lucky Dragon but he managed to convince them to go to Moreno’s. His uncles knew this was Romero’s friend’s family restaurant so they at least attempted to tone down the language when they ate there. They still slipped but if they started getting carried away and Romero had to remind them to knock it off, they’d think it was because of the restaurant and not Isabel.

When they got to Isabel’s apartment he opened the door. “You guys don’t have to get out. I’ll be right back.”

“Just remember, I’m a fat man and it’s f**king hot back here, so hurry up.”

Romero slipped the keys back in the ignition and started up the car again, blasting the air. The last thing he needed was to come back to the car to his sweating uncle cussing his ear off. “There—air’s on. I’ll be back.”

Isabel was at the door when he got there. He loved seeing her in a dress. Not that she didn’t look sexy as hell in jeans but there was something so feminine about her in a dress. The one she wore tonight was simple white cotton dress that hugged her just below her br**sts, then flowed down to her knees. Seeing her in white made Romero wonder just for an instant what she would look like in a wedding dress.

He kissed her. “You’re beautiful.”

“Thank you.” She turned around and locked her door.

It had been a week since he’d met her mom and sister and he still wasn’t quite over Pat’s comments. But Isabel hadn’t brought up her sister since then so maybe everything would work out as long as he didn’t have to be around her too often. “My uncles are a lot different than your family.” He’d already told her this but for some reason he felt the need to remind her.

She squeezed his hand. “I don’t want them to be like my family.”

“And they call me Moe. Just so you know.”

“Moe?”

“Monie was short for Ramon. Over the years it got even shorter. Now it’s just Moe.”

“You never did tell me why you don’t go by your first name.”

“I’ll tell you another time.” The more he knew about Isabel the more he wondered if she should know everything about him. Some things didn’t need to be said.

Just as they reached the car, the back window went down and Aida’s gum flew out, missing them by inches. “Oops, did I gitcha?”

“No, you didn’t,” Isabel said with a smile.

Romero muttered under his breath. “Aida, this is Isabel. Isabel this is my Uncle Manny’s wife.” He leaned over a bit. “And that’s Manny back there.”

Isabel reached over to shake Aida’s hand and she waved at Manny who was too far. “Nice to meet you both.”

“Likewise,” Aida said.

“Yeah, nice to meet you, too. Moe’s got it bad for you,” Manny said, then added, “I can see why.”

Nice. Let her know you were checking her out. Isabel got in the car and Romero walked around to the driver’s side, wondering if this was such a good idea after all.

“So Moe says you’re a teacher?” Manny asked.

“Yes, middle school—seventh grade.”