chapter 24

Marisol jerked upward, back straightening, a gleeful smile on her face. “You, Rex –“ She emphasized the “x” at the end of his name. “In for a treat.”

Rex smiled haplessly, not knowing what kind of treat to expect.

With a pat to his cheek, Marisol got to her feet and went into the kitchen off the living room. Isabella could see her mother sorting through the tiny fridge, lighting the fire under her ass even more to get them out of this hovel as soon as she had the money to make a down payment on a house. A nice one.

Rex removed his guitar and leaned it up against the couch before sliding to the ground to join Isabella. His bony knees knocked up against hers. “How am I doing?”

Isabella checked her mother wasn’t looking and, when the coast was clear, gave him a soft kiss. “Fabuloso.”

“Fa-bu-lo…” Rex began to repeat.

Isabella kissed him again and then one more time before she got nervous her catholic mother would take a glance into the room. “God, you make me crazy.”

“I hope that’s a good