The Slayer (Untamed Hearts #2)(45)
Chuito leaned against the wall outside the Cellar, staring out into the parking lot, unable to hide his scowl. He took a sip of his beer and looked at the road, as if he could somehow will the right car to pull into the Cellar.
The door opened, and Chuito glanced to see who it was.
“Hey, Jules,” he said as he went back to staring at the road.
“How much was in the card?”
“What?” He turned back and frowned at her.
“The card. The one you gave Alaine. How much was in it?”
“Is that your business?” Chuito arched an eyebrow at her. “I can give my neighbor a graduation gift without asking your permission.”
“How much, Chuito?” Jules asked rather than give in.
“Jules, no. You don’t always get what you want.”
“She’s naive. If you’re toying with her—”
“Back off, mamá bear,” Chuito said sharply. “I’m not f*cking her.”
“She cares for you,” Jules whispered. “And someone like Alaine—”
“I know.” Chuito heaved a big sigh of frustration. “Trust me. Anything you’re gonna say to me is not gonna be any harsher than what I say to myself every day. I promised you I wouldn’t touch her. I meant it.”
Jules rolled her eyes and glanced out to the road. Then she dropped her arms at her sides and growled, “Who invited him?”
Chuito followed her line of sight to see a sleek black BMW pull into the parking lot. He let out a relieved breath and admitted, “I did.”
“What?” Jules hit his arm twice as hard as she had inside. “He will ruin her day!”
“No.” Chuito shook his head. “He won’t. He needs to be here. Alaine needs to see him here.”
“He is an *,” Jules hissed, her voice dropping when a car door opened. “He is a narrow-minded prick. He hates you worse than anyone. I guarantee you he hates you.”
“He should hate me,” Chuito said with a look at Jules.
“You said you weren’t f*cking her,” Jules snapped at him in the low, furious snarl of an angry mother. “You told me—” She turned back before she finished and said in an ice-cold voice, “Reverend Richards.”
Chuito stared at Alaine’s father. He wore a suit like he always did whenever Chuito had seen him around town. It was clean and pressed—the same dark navy blue Alaine often wore because it brought out her eyes. His hair was a few shades darker red than his daughter, thick and styled away from his face.
He wasn’t a tall man.
He wasn’t muscular.
He was slight like Alaine, but there was always this big presence around him, like he knew people listened when he spoke. Arrogant and elegant, the kind of gringo who made Chuito nervous. The kind of man Chuito would have stolen a car from because he made him nervous.
“Someone sent this,” the reverend said, holding out the card Chuito had mailed.
Jules opened her mouth as she looked at it.
Before she could respond, Chuito said, “Did you do that, Jules? You mailed out the invitations.”
“I, um—” Jules shot Chuito another glare before she pointed at the invitation. “Yes. I sent it. I sent you that card because—”
“Because it’s Alaine’s day,” Chuito suggested. “And she probably wants her father here.”
“Yeah.” Jules swallowed hard, looking like she might be sick. “That’s why.”
“Does Alaine know you sent it?” the reverend asked.
“It’s a surprise party,” Chuito said cautiously. “She didn’t know anyone was coming. It’s a graduation party with presents. Did you bring a present?”
The reverend pulled back. “Are you saying—”
“I just didn’t want it to be awkward,” Chuito cut him off. “’Cause everyone else brought gifts. I just thought—” He gestured to the parking lot. “I think Jules has something in her car. Aren’t you one of those women who buys boxes of cards? For special occasions or emergencies.”
Jules frowned at Chuito and said slowly, “Yes.” When Chuito raised his eyebrows, she turned back to Reverend Richards and announced confidently, “I have cards. All sorts of cards. Do you want one?”
Reverend Richards looked back and forth between the two of them. Then he lowered his head and looked at the invitation in his hand and nodded. “Please, Miss Conner. I’d greatly appreciate that.”
“Okay.” Jules pointed to the parking lot. “I’m gonna go to my car and get you a card.”
“Your door is probably open,” Chuito suggested and then looked to Reverend Richards. “She always leaves her doors unlocked.”
“Yeah, that’s something I would do.” Jules gave Chuito another harsh look before she walked to the parking lot. “Been filling in at the sheriff’s department most of my life, but I leave my doors unlocked even though I have a 9mm in my glove compartment. A gun registered to my name.”
“She’s an eccentric woman,” Reverend Richards mused.
Chuito nodded and took a sip of his beer. “Yeah, she’s definitely eccentric.”
Reverend Richards studied Chuito, his keen gaze taking him in, and Chuito was very glad he’d worn a suit to Alaine’s graduation. Not a cheap suit either, but one of the designer ones he had invested in when he realized being a public figure meant he had to represent.