For just a moment he covered her hand with his own. It was the strangest combination of cold and heat. The feeling sizzled up her arm and she pulled her fingers from beneath his palm.
“Because my father had wanted his child to be a U.S. citizen and grow up here, my mother refused to go back to Spain even though her mother urged her to come home. She had no marketable skills, so she cleaned houses.”
“A very courageous, industrious woman.”
He nodded then took a swallow of his beer. “She put me through college and medical school, supporting us by working as a housekeeper for very wealthy families. The money was pretty good, but every spare cent went for my education. If anyone knew the value of that, it was my mom.”
“You must be grateful.”
“Yeah.” His intense, blue-eyed gaze met her own. “I owe her everything. She gave up a lot for me. The only thing she ever wanted for herself was to travel and to see the world. But she couldn’t afford trips and tuition, too.”
“She sounds like a wonderful mother.”
“If not for the sacrifices she made, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
“I agree. But I don’t understand what that has to do with needing a woman.”
“Patience. I’m getting there.” He let out a long breath. “I worked hard to not let her down. Then I was lucky enough to catch the attention of Houston’s best plastic surgeon. He offered me a partnership and the opportunity to take over a thriving, prestigious medical practice at his retirement. My own reputation grew fast and for a while now, money hasn’t been a problem.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard there’s mega bucks in nips and tucks.”
“Who knew you could rhyme and be witty at the same time? There’s more to plastic surgery than that, but let’s save it for another conversation.” He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “I tried to get my mother to retire or at least let me send her on a trip. Or both.”
“And?”
“She’s very independent.” He shook his head. “She said she couldn’t have any fun until I was married and settled down.”
“Subtle,” she said wryly.
A corner of his wonderful mouth lifted for a moment. “For a long time now my mother and grandmother have made no secret of the fact that, in their opinion, I should be married.”
“Mothers are like that.”
“That’s what she said. Her exact words were that I couldn’t possibly understand. It’s a mom thing and unless I had a uterus, I would just have to take her word for it.”
Sky laughed. “I think I would like your mother. She and your grandmother must have been pretty excited when you got engaged to Shelby.”
He nodded. “A whirlwind engagement. It all happened fast, just before the holidays. I wanted to give them two gifts—the news of my engagement and a cruise to Greece.”
“Wow.” Sky felt her eyes grow wide. Not bad.
“I wanted a small wedding so we could make the arrangements quickly. Shelby agreed. The plan was to bring my grandmother over from Spain. She would accompany my mother on the trip and when they returned, we’d have the wedding.”
“What did they say when you told them it was off?”
“Nothing.”
“The woman who wished you a uterus said nothing?”
“I haven’t broken the bad news to her yet.”
“Dom, you have to break the news to her,” she said, astonished. “And your grandmother, before she makes the trip for nothing.”
“It won’t be for nothing if things work out the way I hope. I want to send my abuelita—my grandmother—on the cruise, too. My mom would love it. And my abuelita hasn’t traveled much, either.”
“Now that you won’t be settled down and married, will they go?” Sky asked.
“If I can get through the party, they won’t find out.”
“What party?”
“The one to announce my engagement. My mother wouldn’t take no for an answer. She insisted her only son have a formal engagement party before she leaves on her cruise.”
“That’s dishonest. You have to tell them the truth. Surely if they know how much it means to you for them to have fun—”
“That’s just it. Even if I can convince them to go under the circumstances, my mother’s first trip will start out on a downer. Because of you,” he added pointedly.
“Me?” She heard the timer go off in the kitchen and stood. “Thank your lucky stars you were just saved by the bell.”
Instead of looking angry or off balance, he merely appeared confident and self-satisfied. “Wasn’t that the signal to start round two?”
Sky marched into her kitchen and grabbed oven mitts then lifted the steaming baking dish out of the oven to a hot plate. “I’m going to say this for the last time. It’s not my fault.”
But she couldn’t suppress the guilt trickling through her. Along with a question that had no answer. If she’d kept her mouth shut and her opinions and advice to herself, no matter how relevant, would his bride-to-be have run off with the chauffeur?
“So you didn’t suggest Shelby follow her heart? Or tell her life is too short to waste a minute with anything or anyone who doesn’t feel right?”
“I already confessed. And it’s good advice, if I do say so myself.” Sky had a bad feeling about the way this conversation was going. A diversion would be good. “Dinner is served. Because I promised. After that I think it’s time to say good-night.”
“Don’t you want to know why I need a woman?”
“No.”
“You’re not the least bit curious?”
“Not a single inquisitive bone in my body.”
“You’re not a good liar, Sky.”
“There’s a news flash. Sit down and eat, Doctor.”
“I need a fiancée.”
“And that pertains to me, how?”
“Just to get through the engagement party.”
“Dom, that’s only postponing the inevitable. You know what they say.”
“No. What?”
“‘Procrastination is a crime…. It only leads to sorrow…. I can stop it anytime…. I think I will tomorrow.’ It’s better to come clean. A clear conscience cuts down stress levels and will help you live longer.”
“Thanks for the diagnosis. Normally I would heartily agree with you. But I know those two stubborn women. If they’re not convinced my wedded bliss is just around the corner, they’ll refuse to take the trip. And I know how badly my mother has wanted this. On the other hand, if I throw a party, convince them I’ve never been happier and can’t wait to marry the woman of my dreams, my mother and grandmother can go on the cruise without a care in the world.”
“Shelby was the woman of your dreams?” Sky asked, her voice small, her guilt compounding by the second.
“My mother would have thought she was perfect. Her family has money. She went to all the right schools. Traveled,” he said pointedly. “She’s the kind of woman my mom kept house for and grew to admire. Beautiful,