Page 36 of Her Hidden Smile

Renzo laughed. “You can say pissed. Trust me, I have heard and said a heck of a lot worse than that,” he grinned.

I grimaced. “But you just said heck, so you don’t really swear.”

“I’m pretty sure I was swearing when you were in so much pain. But you’re right, I’m trying to curtail my swearing. My wallet can’t handle the cost.”

Now I was confused. “I don’t get it.”

“Hasn’t Little Grandma told you about Bella Clark? She’s Trenda and Simon’s daughter.”

“Trenda is one of the Avery sisters, right?”

Renzo nodded.

“She was before my time,” I explained. “But I went to school with Chloe, Zoe, and Piper. They weren’t in my grade, but I knew them. They were nice. But Piper seemed sad.”

“I haven’t met Piper, but I’ve met some of the others. Did you know Evie or Drake? Those two are something else. Evie is a pistol, just like her niece.”

“But you were talking about your wallet.”

“Yeah, here’s the deal. Bella collects money from anyone who swears in front of her. Drake has an account with her. I’m pretty sure between him and Aiden, they’ve paid for her first year of college.”

“How old is she and who’s Aiden?”

“She’s eight, and Aiden is Evie Avery’s husband. Or should I say Evie O’Malley.”

Renzo was smiling down at me.

How did he get so close and I hadn’t even noticed?

He smelled good. Like spice and juniper.

“So, are you going to feed me?”

His low, growly voice made me tingle. What was going on? I took a big step sideways and only got a little bit away from him.

He’s so big.

Renzo stepped backward and gave me a comforting look. “I didn’t mean to get too close, Cariña.”

“No. No. It’s okay. It’s all fine.” I sounded out of breath. Like when I tried to run under the canopy of blossoms that the apple, pear, and peach trees made.

“You’re right, it is.” He reached out and stroked his hand from my shoulder down to my hand, where he tangled our fingers together. “It’s fine, baby. Everything is good, isn’t it?”

I couldn’t stop trembling, but I wasn’t scared. Not exactly. I don’t know what I was. I realized I was holding onto his hand for dear life.

“Millie?” he asked quietly.

I didn’t know what he was asking. I was too scared to speak, so I nodded.

He lifted our clasped hands and brought them up to his face. He looked deep into my eyes, then turned my hand, exposing my wrist. Then he kissed me. Right there, on my pulse point. His gaze never leaving mine. It was the most intimate thing I had ever experienced.

I whimpered.

Somehow, Renzo knew I wasn’t upset or scared. His lips moved softly until he had my hand cradled in his, then he kissed the palm of my hand and I felt like I was melting, but at the same time I felt like I was coming to life.

He raised his other hand up to my face and it hovered over my cheek. I winced. He dropped his hand back to his side. I was sure he was going to be mad, but instead he lifted his head, his lips no longer caressing my palm. He smiled at me, then brought my hand up so that I was cupping his jaw.

Renzo closed his eyes. It was as if he was savoring my touch.