“Worried about what? You don’t know anything about Romero. You’ve never even given him a chance. The moment you heard the words ‘he didn’t attend college’ you made up your mind. An education and a bunch of medals aren’t all that matter, Pat. I know to you it does, but not to me. He’s a good person and he’s good to me.”

Pat nodded, leaning over and placed her hand over Isabel’s. “I’ll admit that at first that’s the only thing I didn’t like about him. But you were there. You can’t tell me the way he snapped that night of the dinner wasn’t a bit worrisome. If this is what he’s like now, can you imagine how much worse he’ll be with time? He glared at me the entire night. He has abusive written all over him.”

“That’s ridiculous.” Isabel couldn’t help but think of the heat in his eyes the day he heard Michael’s message. And how Alex could barely hold him back the day after, when he looked ready to kill Lawrence. She’d seen that look in his eyes several times now, but not once had she felt threatened in any way. “He’s not like that, Pat. Trust me, he would never hurt me.”

“Not yet.” Pat squeezed her hand. “Belly Bell, I work these kinds of domestic abuse cases all the time. The relationships all started beautifully. But they all say the same thing. The signs were there from the very beginning. The women chose to ignore them because they were so in love. Then when family members stepped in to try to help, these men turned them against their family. They’re manipulative—”

“Jesus, Pat. You really think I’m that stupid? And what do you mean these kinds of cases? Nobody is abusing anyone in this relationship.”

“These women are not stupid, Bell. They were in love and desperate to believe these guys could change—would change—for them. But some people just can’t be changed. I have a bad feeling about him. Art said the same thing, too.”

“He did?” That worried Isabel. Art was much less judgmental than Pat. Worse yet, he never agreed with Pat about anything.

Pat nodded. “Anyway, that’s why I really came down here but I also was hoping you’d consider spending some time with Jacob.” Isabel began shaking her head and Pat squeezed her hand again. “Listen to me, not in a romantic setting or anything. Gary asked me to draw up the schedules for the volunteers. You wouldn’t even be alone with him. I could just schedule you on the same days. You’d be there with all the other volunteers making calls. He has so much to offer, Bell.” Pat put her hand up before Isabel could protest. “Not that Romero doesn’t. I just want you to be open to the possibility of staying friends with Jacob in case things don’t work out with Romero.” She gave Isabel a hopeful smile. “He said he didn’t realize how much he missed you until he saw you again.”

Isabel stared at Pat but didn’t return the smile.

“And,” Pat added, “I could’ve just done it without asking you first. You already knew he’d be helping with the campaign, but I wanted you to be with me on this.”

“That’s just it.” Isabel pulled her hand away from Pat’s. “I’m not. I’ll do what I have to, to help dad. If Jacob is there when I go in to help, then he’s there, but I won’t be trying to develop any kind of friendship with him.”

Pat smiled. “Fair enough.” She patted Isabel’s knee and stood up. “I’ll start working on the schedules tonight and give you a call in a few days to let you know when your first shift is.”

Isabel walked her chipper sister to the door, who said her goodbyes much too contentedly. On the surface, this little visit from her sister seemed to have gone Isabel’s way, but somehow she couldn’t help feeling like she’d been had.

CHAPTER 15

No one else

Waking up next to Isabel felt like something Romero had been doing forever. He couldn’t even imagine not waking without her in his arms anymore. He spooned her closely to him, kissing her cheek. She didn’t open her eyes but the corner of her lips rose ever so slightly. He smiled and whispered, “Don’t wake up.” To which she immediately opened her eyes and he frowned. “Izzy, you did just the opposite.”

“I was already awake.” She turned her body around to face him. “My eyes were just resting.”

“But it’s Saturday, you don’t have to get up this early.”

“Actually I do. Remember? I have to go in for a few hours and do some campaigning for my dad.”

Romero tried to hide his irritation as she sat up. Thoughts of Jacob were immediately on his mind. She said he’d be helping out, but he knew there was no way she’d know when, where or how. He’d already told himself he wasn’t letting Pat or Jacob be the cause of any friction between him and Isabel. They just weren’t worth it.

He ran a finger down her bare back, wondering if even in the winter they’d still wake up naked. “I love waking up next to you, baby.”

She turned to him. “I love it, too.”

He stared at her, the words at the tip of his mouth. Then she said them. “Why don’t you just move in already?”

Never in his life would he have imagined hearing those words from a girl would bring so much joy. He sat up. “Are you serious?”

She laughed. “You may as well. You’re always here anyway.” She caressed his face with her hand. “And I’ve been dreading hearing you say that you won’t or can’t stay some night.”