Rock Chick Rescue (Rock Chick #2)(74)

Eddie hung out through al this activity, alternately watching a footbal game and watching me.

At one point, he strol ed into the kitchen and grabbed one of the cookies when I wasn’t paying attention and ate it in one bite then immediately reached for another one.

I smacked his hand.

“Those are for your mother.”

His arm wrapped around my waist and he pul ed me to him. “Trixie was wrong. Chocolate sheet cake bought you protection. Make these for me and I’l put a ring on your finger.”

Dear Lord.

Trixie and Mom came home, thankful y both already done up in new outfits they reported they’d picked up that day at TJ Maxx; hair and makeup at the ready.

I wasted precious time trying on seven hundred and fifty outfits for them while my ear was to the cel phone, describing every outfit to Al y for her opinion.

We settled on the green dress Trixie bought me for my birthday the year before. It had cap sleeves, a square neckline, a square cut at the back exposing my shoulder blades and the skirt came to a respectable brush-the-knee hem. Problem was, it was skintight. That was a con. The pro was, it went with Tod’s sexy green sandals. I had nothing else suitable and Mom, Trixie and Al y al approved so I went with it.

Trixie did my hair while I did my makeup, saving time multi-tasking. I put some big, gold hoops at my ears, some clackety, thick, carved-wood bracelets on my wrists, spritzed with my swish perfume and tore out of the bedroom.

We had five minutes to get to Blanca’s.

“Let’s motor,” I announced and shoved the cookies at Trixie, the flowers at Mom and herded everyone out, standing at the front door and motioning everyone through with a wide sweep of my arm.

Eddie stopped at the door and cal ed into the hal where Mom and Trixie were knocking on Ada’s door.

“We’l be out in a minute.”

He closed the door and pushed me against it.

“Eddie! We have to go, we’re going to be late.” He didn’t respond, he pressed his body into mine and he kissed me.

Not a light touch on the mouth but a ful -on make-out session.

I was stuck in an Eddie Daze when he disengaged from my lips but rested his forehead against mine and ran his hands down my sides.

“I like your dress,” he said.

I was getting that.

His fingers trailed the zip at my side.

“I like it but I’m gonna like takin’ it off more.” Eek!

Eddie idled at the curb outside Blanca’s bungalow in the Highlands area while we al unloaded.

The street was packed with cars and you could hear a party in ful swing.

Mom took my arm and Trixie took off to look for a parking spot, Eddie trailing her.

I watched them go and then asked Mom, “Don’t you want your chair?”

She shook her head.

“Nancy, is that wise?” Ada asked softly, looking at Mom closely and carrying both the cookies and the flowers.

“I’m going to walk in there,” Mom said.

It wasn’t that she was in the mood to show off and chal enge herself again. This was a pride thing. She’d already had a long day and this concerned me.

I knew better than to argue, and luckily Mom had me to hold on to before she fel . And hold on to me she did, she had my arm in a death grip.

We walked slowly to the house and I saw Rosa, Eddie’s sister, coming around the side.

“Hola!” she said smiling. “Thought I heard Eddie’s truck.

We’re around the back, this way.”

She led us to the back and into a yard that was one of the most magical things I’d ever seen. Late summer blooms were stil in the garden, bushes held bunches of Christmas lights, colorful lanterns were strung up high and lit lumieres were down low.

It looked like every chair and card table in the neighborhood had been set up, most of them ful of food and there were more people there than in the parking lot doing tailgates at Mile High Stadium before a Broncos game. I saw Indy, Lee, Al y, Hank, their parents and Indy’s Dad hanging around and I gave them a wave.

Soft, Mexican guitar music played in the background.

I realized immediately that I should have made more cookies.

I was impressed that Blanca could pul this off in less than forty eight hours.

I was terrified that al of this was for Eddie and me.

I couldn’t have asked for a better wedding reception.

“Jet!” Blanca disengaged from a bunch of people and rushed forward. The bunch of people she was with turned and stared at me openly.

I smel ed Eddie before I felt his hand at the smal of my back and Trixie came around the other side of Ada. I didn’t have the chance to greet them as Blanca was there.

“How are you?” she asked, her eyes smiling with the sheer delight of a mother intent on ending her days spoiling her grandchildren into unruly brats and seeing that time looming brightly just ahead of her.

“Bien. Y tú? ” I replied.

She grabbed my cheeks, pul ed me down to her and gave me a big kiss on the lips.

“Bien, mi hija. ” she said softly, letting my face go.

Uh-oh.

In less than a week and with Eddie and I only having one (weird) date, I’d graduated to her hija.

Eek.

I pushed down the panic and made the introductions.

“Blanca, I’d like you to meet my Mom, Nancy, and our friends, Trixie and Ada.”