Every. Single. One.
He even threw in a bunch of tulips for good measure. What was he thinking? It’s a wonder we managed to fit all the plants in his car. My only consolation is that we ended up using his backseat to squeeze in all the seedlings. The dirty smudges on his posh upholstery aren’t likely to go away, even if he gets three employees to scrub at it. It might teach him a lesson about controlling his unasked generosity. Or not…as he can just purchase new upholstery for his seats. Or a new car.
Nathan fidgets with his car key. “Your friend Cathy said—”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t even get me started on Cathy. I’ll need to have a private chat with her. It’s a pity I couldn’t do it because of the customers that came in as we were leaving. How could she even—”
Nathan puts up both of his hands. “I beg you, Eva. Stop. We’ve been over this. You spent the whole car ride huffing about your friend. Cathy made a great business deal today. Be happy for her and just accept my present as a gesture of courtesy, will you?”
I don’t know how much Nathan paid, but it must have been in the three-digit ballpark. Way too much for it to be considered a gesture of courtesy. At least in my books.
Cathy, the savvy merchant she is, of course had no problem with taking his loads of cash instead of my considerably fewer bucks. So much for the strength of sisterhood. Didn’t she realize she’d put me in Nathan’s debt?
Nathan interrupts my mindtrip by grabbing one of the crates from his trunk. He blinks at me. “You know, I was looking forward to the time in the car to get to know you more. But for now, the only extra information I’ve acquired is that you don’t like men who buy you flowers.”
His disappointed grimace softens my heart.
Maybe I’m reading too much into this? Perhaps Nathan didn’t mean to squeeze me into a corner where I have to reciprocate his favor. He could have just wanted to buy me flowers. Likely he’s just unaware that a small bouquet would’ve been sufficient.
I sigh. “Fine, Nathan. I’m sorry. I might have acted a bit too hostile with you. I understand that you wanted to please me. It’s just that what’s normal for you, given your financial circumstances, comes across as an exaggeration for me.”
Nathan stares at me as if he’s thinking over what I’ve just said.
His silence gives my treacherous eyes a chance to examine how his biceps bulge forward as he holds the massive crate in his arms. Luckily, he decides to speak again, making me jerk up. Otherwise, my eyes might have stayed glued on his muscular arms for eternity.
“I see what you mean. Like the diamond earrings.” His cheeks drift into a proud expression as if he’s just figured out some crucial enigma. “I’ll try to keep in mind that you feel uncomfortable with such gallantries for our future meetings.”
Future meetings?
Before I can react to his matter-of-fact assumption that we’ll keep seeing each other—an unwise idea, considering the breathiness that overcame me as I stared at his arms a second ago—my brother comes out of the house.
“What are you doing, Eva?” Juan barks.
His voice is pretty mature for an eight-year-old boy when he wants to sound accusing. It almost resembles that of his father, Henry.
The unexpected memory of my deceased step-dad highjacks me, and Nathan chimes in before I can open my mouth. “Hi there, buddy,” he says, greeting my brother. “Would you mind showing me the entrance to your backyard? I need to put these begonias down. They’re starting to feel like lead.”
Juan’s eyes round into two giant circles at Nathan’s words. He points at the small wooden door to our left. “You can take them this way.”
“Thanks, little man.” Nathan grins at him. “Could you open it for me? My hands are…uhm, occupied.”
Juan pulls the door ajar, and Nathan takes the path to behind our house.
As soon as he’s gone, my brother gives me a glassy stare. “It’s the same man who came by yesterday. You said he was lost. Is he lost again?”
I shove my hands into my pockets, avoiding his miffed face. Telling my brother that Nathan’s GPS broke down a second time would be futile anyway.
Juan’s glance wanders to Nathan’s car and his tiny nose wrinkles. “He’s rich, isn’t he?”
I can’t negate the evidence. Juan is an expert on cars, so I can’t say that Nathan’s Bentley is just a tune-up of a simple vehicle. It’s obvious that no normal guy, or even an average wealthy one, could drive around in this full-option miracle ride.
I nod reluctantly. “Yes, he is.”
My voice has a shameful edge I don’t want to have. At least, not in front of my little brother. After all, I’m the older one and I know what I’m doing. Besides, I didn’t break any unwritten rule by letting Nathan drive me home.
Juan doesn’t seem to think the same way. His cheeks turn rosy as he pokes me in my belly. “Eva, you told us to stay away from Daddy Warbucks. So why didn’t you?”
I can’t recall having ever used this particular expression with him or Espie, but it’s probably not the right moment to correct my brother. He’s upset with me as it is. So I just bite on my lower lip and keep silent.
Juan puts his fists to his hips. “You said they take things for granted. Why are you hanging out with one of them?”
It’s weird to be told off by someone half my size and roughly one third of my age. But I realize that I deserve his words. With Mom and Henry gone, and Abuelita so old, I’m the role model my siblings need to look up to. I can’t
