Marco (The Men of Indecent Exposure #1) (17 page)

A metal storm-door closed somewhere toward the back of the house and heavy footsteps came right after. One last dish was brought out to the table as the faucet was turned on in the kitchen. In Spanish, Marco’s mother playfully chastised him and his father, reminding them to wash their hands before heading to the dinner table. They obliged, of course, and then he appeared in the entryway—tall, handsome, smiling—but he wasn’t alone. Behind him stood a man of equal stature and similar features—the same bronzed complexion, a stern jaw, and piercingly dark eyes. This had to be his father.

“Brynn, I’d like for you to meet my dad,” Marco said, confirming.

I was just getting ready to stand and shake Mr. Rios’ hand, but he wouldn’t hear of it. With quick steps, he moved toward me.

“Don’t, don’t, don’t,” he beckoned softly. “I’ll come to you.”

I smiled, seeing where Marco got babying me from. Apparently, he inherited his father’s chivalrous nature. My hand was taken and a kiss was placed on the back of it.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he greeted me, but then added a warm, “And welcome to our little family.”

My heart squeezed inside my chest. This… they’d all been so sweet to me and I knew that had everything to do with Marco. His introduction of me, of how he wanted me to be treated, had preceded my first interaction with his family. Yes, the kindness I encountered today was genuine, but it was also because of him. If I had to guess, before bringing me, he’d made it clear that I was to be respected just like
he
respected me.

“The pleasure is all mine,” I replied to his father, and then my hand slipped from his as he moved toward a seat.

The family gathered around the table and there were a couple empty chairs. Marco’s brother-in-law was with his
own
side of the family today and there was also a sister and a niece missing if I remembered correctly. I no longer worried about meeting the rest of his people. I was sure that whoever else showed up would welcome me in just the same manner as the others had.

Marco filled the seat beside me and a content smile settled on his lips. Beneath the table, he found my hand in my lap and our fingers slipped between one another’s, interlocking like second nature. Mr. Rios said grace over the meal and then dishes were passed quickly, but yet in an orderly fashion. They clearly had a system after having done this for so long.

Conversation during dinner was light and I got lost in it. One thing became clear to me, though. While, yes, Mr. Rios was very much respected among them, Marco was regarded as the patriarch. I wasn’t sure what the cause of that dynamic was, or even if the others were aware, but I saw it. Whenever someone sought approval for something, they looked to Marco. Whenever an opinion was needed, their eyes went to him. It was interesting to watch, especially the fact that his father didn’t seem to mind his son being held in such high regard. In fact, there was pride in his eyes as he watched and listened to Marco as he interacted with the others.

Plates were cleared away and new ones were brought to the table for dessert. And just like Lucia had predicted earlier, someone knocked at the door and I assumed it was the missing sister and her daughter.

“I’ll get it,” Marco offered, passing a smile my way before standing. I watched him move toward the hallway and kept my gaze trained on his back until he disappeared. When I finally
did
turn away, I found his father watching me with a grin on his face. I returned it and then looked down at the tabletop, knowing I’d just been caught watching his son.

This night had been eye-opening on several different levels, starting with the car ride over. My conversation with Marco led to feelings of jealousy when he mentioned the old flame he recently had a run-in with. The sensation of churning in my stomach as he spoke about her was unexpected. Mostly because I wasn’t supposed to care about who or what was on his social calendar, but… maybe I did a little.

Then there was his admission that he’d literally pushed her away because of me. While, yes, that was likely because of his concern after not being able to reach me, it could have been more than that. It
felt
like more than that.

The loud screech of a small girl filled the house when Marco opened the door.

“That would be Bel,” Rosalina said from across the table, smiling when another one of the high-pitched sounds hit the air. Accompanying her tiny voice was Marco’s, sounding as if he’d attacked the young girl with kisses, likely the cause for all the screaming. They took a moment at the entrance, removing shoes and chatting a bit, and then Marco returned, but he wasn’t alone… and the sight of who he carried in with him stopped my heart.

The resemblance was clear now that I’d made the connection, now that I’d seen her in his arms.

“Ms. Palmer!” Izzy, my favorite little classroom helper, screamed. All eyes were on me as she wriggled in Marco’s arms until he finally put her down, confusion heavy in his expression as well. “Where have you been?” Izzy asked loudly, throwing her arms around my neck when she made it around to my side of the table. I returned her embrace, but shock still rendered me speechless.

“The sub Headmaster Turner got us is so
mean!
” Izzy added, and then proceeded to ramble on about school and all I’d missed in my absence—an absence I hadn’t yet felt up to discussing with anyone. Including Marco.

The next face I saw was also a familiar one—that of Izzy’s mother, Marcela. Yes, I recognized the name when Marco first mentioned it, but never in a million years would I have guessed it was the same Marcela. Her last name wasn’t the same as Izzy’s, so I didn’t readily recall it.

…but apparently it was Rios.

Marcela’s brow creased when questions entered her mind. Her head tilted to the side as she slipped her purse off her shoulder and onto the back of an empty chair.

I gave a shy wave because I didn’t really know what to say.

“Ms. Palmer? What’re you doing here?” Marcela asked. There was no malice in her tone, just genuine shock and confusion.

Before I could figure out how to answer that question, Marco did. “Apparently, you two already know each other, but… this is Brynn,” he replied.

Marcela’s eyes widened as the realization set in.

This was a lot for me to wrap my head around, plus it served as a reminder of how poorly things had panned out on my job.

“I heard you got fired,” Izzy blurted loudly, only being curious, but… the statement caused those around the table to fall silent as all eyes shifted my way. “That’s what Ian said his
mom told him, but that’s not true, is it Ms. Palmer? You’re coming back, right?”

Heat flashed across my face as my eyes began to blur. I didn’t look at Marco’s face, but I knew he watched me just like all the others. I did intend to tell him about work, but not now. Not like this.

“Um… excuse me,” I said, hearing how my voice strain with the words.

As quickly as I could, I stood from my chair, feeling the stares of Marco’s family on my back as I hurried from the dining room. I had no idea where I was headed, but all I knew was I needed to get out of there. The walls were closing in around me and I couldn’t take it.

The screen door closed behind me and I practically gasped for air when I reached the porch, just about running down the steps right after. My feet stopped at the end of the driveway, but only because I wasn’t sure where I was or how to get home from here.

What his family must think of me…

I was jobless and pregnant—a tragic combination, but that was my reality. Life had been one big haze for me lately because, for the first time ever, I didn’t have a plan; I didn’t know what the future held for me. It seemed like one thing after another kept getting thrown at me and I was no longer on my feet, but down on the ground, continuing to get pummeled.

And I was tired.

Warm hands braced my arms from behind and I missed the sound of his footsteps approaching because of my sobs.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Marco asked.

My shoulders were tugged gently when he turned me to face him, but I didn’t have an answer to his question. It didn’t seem like I had the answer to
anything
lately. All I knew to do was to get up in the morning and keep trying, keep fighting. I lost track of how many resumes I’d submitted, or how many favors I called on. Still, at every turn, it felt like I was being knocked back twice as far as I moved forward.

“When did they let you go?” he asked next as I sniffled.

“A little over a week ago,” I answered, wondering how I got to this place, wondering how things got so out of control.

“The day I couldn’t get you on the phone,” he realized.

I nodded to confirm. That had been one of the lowest moments of my life.

“The way they looked at me…” I confessed, recalling the judgment behind the eyes of my peers. “They talked to me like I was trash off the street.” The headmaster’s long, drawn out speech was something I’d never forget. It was thrown in my face that I was hired at St. Ann’s to be a role model to the student body and apparently, I had not measured up to their standard.

Marco’s shoulders squared as he watched me and I could see the tension in his arms when he clenched his fists. “What’d they say to you?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“It doesn’t matter,” I responded. I remembered every word, but honestly didn’t feel like reiterating it all. What was the point anyway? The way that man spoke to me was deplorable, but I was virtually helpless. I could defend my character, but the clause in my contract was legally binding. I even faxed it to my brother to look over just to be sure. He confirmed that, while I could definitely pursue a case against St. Ann’s, the likelihood of me winning was slim. The end result would probably be a bunch of court fees I couldn’t afford and nothing to show for it.

A sharp breath puffed from Marco’s nostrils and I knew he was angry. Hell,
I
was angry, but there was nothing either one of us could do about it. My fate had been sealed and the only thing left to do was adjust and move on.

“I’m gonna call you tomorrow morning so we can get you squared away with medical insurance. We can’t let any time lapse in your coverage with you expecting. And make a list of all your monthly bills with the account numbers and phone numbers so I can get them paid before they fall behind,” he rattled off. “How much do you usually use for groceries? I’ll get that together for you, too, and—”

I was already shaking my head and he hadn’t even finished yet. “No,” I cut in. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I won’t let you. I won’t let you carry me,” I clarified.

“I wouldn’t be carrying you,” he countered. “I’d be taking care of you.”

I folded my arms across my chest, staring at the ground. “Well… I can’t let you do that either.”

A long breadth of silence passed between us and Marco’s hands went inside his pockets. The sound of his raspy tone made me look into his eyes again. “You still don’t get it.”

I stared, wondering what he meant.

He shifted his weight to one foot and stared at the ground instead of me now. “Taking care of you is what I’m
supposed
to do, Brynn. Whatever you need,” he went on, “I’ve got you.”

My heart beat out of synch at those words because I felt them, felt the truth they were laced with.

“There’s no way I can let you do all that,” I protested. “I’ve got money saved. I’ll be fine,” I insisted. “Plus, I’ve been applying at other schools, so it’s just a matter of time until someone calls me in for an interview.”

Marco leaned his head to the side and a look of concern came my way. Right after, he placed his hand on my stomach and rubbed it gently. “And what about when they see this?” he asked, not meaning to offend me, but he clearly wanted me to think about what I was saying.

His hand went back inside his pocket after the point was made and I stood there without words.

Of course, I knew this wouldn’t be easy. While, no, employers are not allowed to discriminate against pregnant women, they find ways around it all the time. All it takes is saying that there were more qualified candidates and they’re in the clear. So, did I know there was truth to what Marco implied? Yes, but I couldn’t let that stop me from trying.

I shook my head and took a step back, but my hands were taken, stopping me from going too far. “Fine, you don’t want me paying your bills? Then come stay with me,” he said without hesitation, but I think he knew I’d back down from that challenge, too. “I have three extra bedrooms and I’m not there most of the time anyway.”

“You know I can’t do that,” I scoffed.

“Then let me help you,” he shot back.

My head was spinning and I didn’t really want to do this today. His family was inside, probably discussing my life in great detail seeing as how they now knew all my business. I just wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible. With Marco still clutching my hands, I took a breath.

“Can we talk about this later?” I asked, wanting to move on. My tears had dried and I could get through the evening without them returning as long as no one brought up my situation.

Marco studied my face and eventually nodded. “Agreed, but we
will
talk about it,” he asserted. I didn’t have a problem with that; now just wasn’t the time.