Page 97 of Her Hidden Smile

“Look, if you want to talk about things like the long haul, then we might as well be up front about money. I own this farm and this house outright. There’s no mortgage, no nothing. My aunt and uncle might not be all touchy-feely. But Uncle Phil is a big-time insurance executive and Aunt Marge is a financial planner. Uncle Phil made sure that both Mom and Dad and this property was insured to the fullest. So, I was covered when they died. Then Aunt Marge made sure that my money was managed well. And I mean, well.”

“So that’s why Irv gets most of the profits from the orchards, huh?”

“Yep. He does most of the work, so it’s only fair. He won’t take one hundred percent. Trust me, I’ve tried. But I’m giving him the most I can get him to take.”

I walked over to him and put my one good arm around his neck. “So, give me the receipts, I’ll pay for the cleaning. However, I will not pay for you installing new toilet seats.”

He threw back his head and laughed.

“You’ve got it Cariña.”

How could I be this tired after spending almost three days asleep, and then another two days just resting?

“Millie, it looks like you’re done with this, right?”

I looked down at the plate in my lap. I’d only eaten one quarter of the grilled cheese sandwich and three spoonful’s of tomato soup.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t eat more, Renzo.”

“I picked up some desserts from Down Home. Maybe I can tempt you with those. What do you think?”

He took the plate out of my hand and was looking down at me with such a hopeful smile. I didn’t want to disappoint him. “I think—” I couldn’t stop my yawn.

“I think your yawn answers my question. Let’s get you into bed.”

“Seriously, I’m not that tired,” I protested.

“You’re lying. Let’s get you settled. If you wake up in the middle of the night, you can have any one of the different treats that Little Grandma sent over. But in the meantime, I think you need to rest.”

I shook my head. “I want a bath first. I feel grungy. The shower in the hospital hardly had any pressure at all.”

Renzo put the plate down on the coffee table and sat down next to me. He picked up my good hand and brought it to his cheek. “Are you sure you’re up for a bath? You look pretty beat.”

“I’m sure. But are you sure they scrubbed the tub? I don’t think he used it, but I just want to be safe.”

“If you want a bath, I’ll scrub the tub again before I let one of your dainty toes touch the water. How’s that?”

“Have I told you lately how handsome you are?”

Renzo frowned. “Are you feeling woozy? Were two pain pills too many? Maybe you shouldn’t take a bath.”

I rubbed my thumb across his bottom lip. “No, I’m not woozy. It’s just when you take care of me and are protective of me, it makes me feel wonderful inside. I haven’t felt so safe since my parents died. That’s why I said you were beautiful. Because you are. Inside and out.”

“You deserve a long, leisurely kiss for what you just said,” Renzo said as he backed his head away from my hand. “But what you’re going to get is a bath with a bath bomb and then you’re going to be carried to bed.”

“By a beautiful man?”

I watched as Renzo blushed.

It was awesome.

“You are full of sass tonight, aren’t you?”

I smiled. “Go start my bath, minion.” I waved him away, and we both laughed. Soon I heard the water being run in the master bathroom. I leaned against the back of the sofa and tried to keep my eyes open.

“Baby, wake up. Your bath is ready,” Renzo whispered as he crouched beside the sofa.

“That’s good.”