Page 10 of There Once was a Dancer
“But they don’t need you to help them?” I wished there was a way—any way—to get out of introducing her to Rex. She’d sense how he felt about me in a heartbeat. I certainly sensed his interest in me, and my madre was even more perceptive than I was.
She shook her head emphatically. “No. Francisco, he say, ‘Victoria, you stay home and watch your telenovelas.’”
“Why? They don’t need extra pair of hands?”
She shook her head and stood from the table, taking her cup and saucer over to the sink. “Please clean your plates before you sleep, Cachi. You know Carlotta, she hate the dirty dishes in sink.” She walked over and bent to kiss me on the cheek, patting both shoulders. “And please to shower.”
I chuckled, reaching up to pat her hands. “Okay, Mamita. Good night.”
“Duerme bien, mijo.”
“Gracias, Mamá. You sleep well too.” I watched her leave before finishing my food and cleaning the dishes. As much as I loved Francisco and Carlotta for giving me and Mamá a place to live, I reminded myself that I had to stick to the rules. When we’d come to the States, they welcomed us with open arms. They’d given my mamá a bedroom of her own, and me the use of a pull-out day bed in Carlotta’s small sewing room along with half a small closet in there.
I showered, taking special care not to flex my sore wrist, thinking about the tall Texan who’d come to my rescue as I washed oil off my body. I couldn’t stop thinking about the handsome man. I wasn’t sure what to think about Rex wanting to introduce me to Lola, though. It made me rethink my certainty about Rex being gay. Certainly, he could be bi with a wife or a girlfriend, though he was probably single since he’d come out to a gay bar to either dance or find a hook up for the night. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t asked. Then again, I wasn’t used to having to ask guys who were bar patrons.
I finished toweling off and crawled into bed, happy to have a safe place to lay my head. I really was grateful to my aunt anduncle. Francisco had readily offered to have mamá work in the store and then insisted she get paid for it. He could have just as easily said that he’d make her work in trade for free rent and a safe roof over both our heads but our family wasn’t like that. They were kind and generous in all ways and I was completely blessed to have them in my life.
I lay there replaying everything that had happened at work and afterward, remembering how Rex had faced off with Terry and his two friends. I’d been terrified when they came after me, but most of all, I’d been impressed that Rex had stood up to them. He’d instantly put himself between me and trouble, not even knowing whether they were armed with more than hatred and bigotry fed by alcohol.
A thought suddenly occurred to me and I sat bolt upright in bed, reaching for my phone. I swiped it and found the contact he’d put into it. Rex Monroe. I smiled. He hadn’t even told me his last name. “Monroe,” I said out loud. It rolled off my tongue nicely. I quickly created a new contact and saved it to my favorites before texting him. Here is my number, cowboy. See you in the morning. After sending it, I was setting it aside when it beeped, another text from him.
See you then. Sweet dreams, sugar.
I shook my head, snorting to myself. If I had tried, I couldn’t have met a nicer man. This time, I did set down the phone and lay back in bed. I stared at the popcorn ceiling and a large water spot from a leaky roof before Tio Francisco and I replaced the shingles last fall. I really was happy here. Meeting Rex and telling him my story about coming to the States had been out of character for me. I never opened up about myself with men. What made it so easy to talk to the big cowboy, I wondered? As surprised as I was by it, I knew I was ready for something good. Who knew.
Maybe Rex would turn out to be the best surprise ever.
Chapter Three
REX
I rolled up to Cachi’s house at nine o’clock sharp the next morning. Sitting in freeway traffic for more than an hour after two cups of coffee had been a mistake. I almost wished I’d stopped somewhere before getting to the house. Hopefully, he wouldn’t mind asking me in so I could use the facilities, but I hated asking.
I was surprised to find him sitting on the front porch and as soon as I parked and got out, he stood up and came down the walk toward me. He looked delectable dressed in faded blue jeans, wearing a black hoodie which was zipped up the front. He wore the same leather sandals he’d been forced to run in last night. I noticed how good his feet and ankles looked in them and then mentally rolled my eyes at myself. His feet? I almost laughed. What guy admires another guy’s feet? Someone with a foot fetish, that’s who.
“Hey,” he said, meeting me halfway to the porch. “Thank you for come to get me. I could have Ubered, though.”
I smiled at him, curbing the need to pull him into my arms and hug him just to feel his smaller body against mine, so I’d know he was okay. “I told you I didn’t mind doin’ it.” I looked past him toward the front door, slightly relieved that his mama wasn’t watching us from it. I glanced back at him. “I’m a little embarrassed to ask, but would you mind if I came in to use the bathroom? Traffic was terrible and I was on the freeway for a while.”
“Oh, yeah,” he said, almost hesitantly. “But, ah, mi mamá, she is home and—”
“Your mama’s home? I can’t wait to meet her.”
The look of surprise on his face was telling. “Oh, ah…okay.” He held out a hand indicating the front door. “This way.”
I fell into step beside him. The front room was small and clean, furnished with two loveseats in pink velvet facing each other and a small, ornately carved, wooden coffee table between them. The decorating wasn’t exactly my taste, but then again, it wasn’t my house. The walls were painted a delicate cream color with oil paintings of landscapes. Over a brick fireplace hung an ornate crucifix.
I glanced over at Cachi who came to attention when I turned to face him, dragging his gaze away from my ass which he appeared to have been admiring with greater than average interest. He blushed beet red which I thought was utterly charming. I mentally patted myself on the back.
“Bathroom is that way.” Cachi pointed to a hallway as he nervously cleared his throat. “Last door on left.”
“Thanks. Like I said, if I hadn’t been trapped in traffic, I wouldn’t have asked.”
“Is no problem…really.”
I nodded before heading down the hallway. When a doorway opened and a short, plump, Latino woman came into the hall, I stopped in my tracks.
“Aye! Dios mio!” she said, stopping in place and throwing her hand over her heart. “Who are you?” she said in heavily accented English.
