by Sabrina Sol
“Then I guess I’m vintage, too. But that doesn’t mean someone should buy me for a dollar.”
“No, Mami. I’d say you were worth at least nine ninety-nine.”
Lorena shrugged and took another piece of bread from the basket. “Eh, but I have the cancer, so I’m probably more like five dollars even?”
Alexa looked at her mom and then they both burst out laughing. Daisy couldn’t believe they were joking at a time like this, especially when they were going to meet the oncologist right after lunch. She didn’t know what to say, so she pretended to study the menu.
Lorena was the one who noticed she was staying quiet. “It’s okay to laugh around me, Daisy.”
She looked up and saw them both staring at her. “I know. I was just surprised, I guess.”
Alexa nodded in understanding. “Because we joked about her cancer? We know this is serious. Believe me. But if we don’t laugh about it, we’ll cry, and we’re kind of cried out at the moment. Right, Mami?”
“Si. No more crying or feeling bad. Instead we laugh, we talk, and we eat. Okay?”
“Okay,” Daisy answered.
And for the next hour, they did just that. They chatted about movies and books while feasting on a spicy yet refreshing shrimp ceviche, chile rellenos stuffed with corn, zucchini, and cheese, and crispy pork belly tacos topped with a pineapple salsa. Each bite was better than the last.
She had to give Brandon and his sister credit. They had outdone themselves with L.A. Cuchara.
“Is anyone up for dessert?” Alexa asked after the waiters cleared their empty plates. “Daisy, your cousin came by earlier and dropped off trays of these amazing-looking caramel-filled donut holes.”
“As much as I would love to try those, I don’t think I can fit even half of one in my stomach because it’s so full. That was such a delicious lunch. Thank you.”
“Yes, mija. This food was excelente.”
“Thank you, Mami, but I didn’t cook it.”
“But this is your menu, no? Maybe you don’t stuff the chiles today or peel the shrimp. But I know this was your food.” Lorena reached out and grabbed Alexa’s hand. “I know I don’t say it all the time, but you make me so proud, mija.”
Alexa’s chin trembled for a second. Then she cleared her throat. “That’s the cancer talking.”
“This is no joke. I mean it.”
The mother and daughter shared a smile, and Daisy could see Alexa was working hard to keep it together. Then the moment passed and the two were back to bickering over whether they should take some chile rellenos to Brandon, who had gone to Newport Beach to meet with a distributor.
She was glad for the emotional reprieve. Her own throat had tightened when Lorena told Alexa how proud she was of her. It was obvious that despite her hard and commanding exterior, Alexa had been affected by the words. And Daisy could feel the love between them.
No wonder Brandon had been willing to move heaven and earth to get Lorena to L.A. She didn’t just carry the title of mother, she’d earned it and wore it proudly.
For the first time since the whole charade started, Daisy realized the magnitude of what she was doing. What they were doing.
She only prayed it wouldn’t blow up in their faces.
Chapter Nine
Brandon stared at the degrees displayed on the wall of Dr. Sherman Katz’s office, and the massive migraine he’d been fighting all day lessened a bit in pressure and pain. Judging by his credentials, this oncologist was the best of the best. And coupled with what Brandon had heard from various friends and customers, he knew Dr. Katz had the experience and the track record to back up those framed pieces of paper.
“Such a fancy office. I’ve never been to a doctor’s office where they offer you sparkling water,” his mamá said. “If they have that much money then maybe they have too many patients. We should look for another doctor.”
“Aye, Mami. We’re not looking for another doctor. Besides you already did all of the lab work and tests for this doctor. Do you really want to do it all over again?” he heard his sister ask. She looked over at him with a knowing nod. They’d bet how long it would take before their mother mentioned seeing another doctor. He’d said ten minutes, she’d said five. Guess he was buying everyone dinner later.
Well, everyone except for Daisy. She’d stayed back at the house even though Lorena had asked her to come. She’d made some excuse about meeting a client but he knew it was because she’d felt uncomfortable. He couldn’t blame her. They weren’t really her family, and whatever happened next would be something that they had to deal with together—as a family. Daisy had only signed up to be a part of this situation for a few weeks.
The opening door distracted him from thoughts about Daisy, and he stood with everyone else to greet Dr. Katz. After introductions were made, Dr. Katz wasted no time in getting down to business.
“Mrs. Montoya, after reviewing the biopsy results performed by the lab in Puerto Rico, our pathologists agree with the initial findings that you have stage IB cervical cancer.”
Although it had been a long shot, there was a small part of Brandon that held out hope the diagnosis had been a complete mistake. His migraine squeezed at his temples so hard he winced. But he pushed aside the pain and tried to focus on what the doctor was saying.
“However, unlike your doctors back home, I’d like to suggest an alternative treatment plan.”
“So no chemotherapy?” Brandon asked, his hope fighting to return, despite the excruciating ache inside his head.
“Well, not yet, at least. First, I’d like to perform a radical hysterectomy and remove the tumor via robotic surgery. It’s less invasive and she can be out of the hospital in two or three days. Then once it’s removed, I’d like to start a course of radiation treatments to ensure the cancer has been totally wiped out.”
“That sounds good, doesn’t it, Mamá?”
His mother frowned. “I don’t know if I like the idea of a robot operating on me.”
“I’d be the one operating on you, Mrs. Montoya,” the doctor said with a smile. “Think of the robot as more of an advanced surgery tool, kind of like a high-tech scalpel. Now, I have to tell you, if during the surgery we discover that the tumor is bigger than we thought, then we would have to look at chemo again as a method to shrink it. But I’m pretty confident that won’t be necessary.”
“What do you say, Mami? How about you stay a little longer and have the surgery and the radiation treatments here in Los Angeles?” Alex asked.
“I don’t know, mija. I do have a life to get back to in Puerto Rico. Maybe I can come back in December and do it then?”
The doctor folded his hands on his desk. “Mrs. Montoya, may I speak frankly? Yes, you are very lucky that your doctor diagnosed your cancer when he did. And although your odds of beating this disease are very high right now, the longer you wait to treat it, the lower your odds become. Women do die from cervical cancer. But you don’t have to. I highly recommend you listen to your son and daughter and get your treatment as soon as possible. If not with me, then with someone else.”
His mother was wringing her hands in her lap. He knew that meant she was at least considering it. “How long will it take?”
“I can probably schedule you into surgery by the end of the week,” Dr. Katz said. “We’ll have to wait for your body to heal before you can start the radiation, so that would be at least another four weeks. Then I’d like for you to do twenty radiation treatments. All in all, you’re looking at about two months total.”
The jackhammering inside his head intensified. Two months? That was a lot longer than two weeks. Way longer. Could he convince Daisy to extend their agreement?
“That’s a long time, mijo. Are you sure Daisy won’t mind?” his mother asked. He sat up, startled by her question. Had he said something out loud?
“What are talking about, Mamá?” he asked slowly. “Why would she mind?”
“Well, she just moved in, no? That’s her home now, too, and I
don’t want her to think I’m overstaying my welcome.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “Don’t be silly. She’s going to want you to stay with us for as long as it takes for you to get better.”
At least, that’s what he was hoping.
Three hours and four Excedrin later, Brandon came home alone to face Daisy. He and Alex had a sidebar while his mother was in the ladies’ room and, like him, his sister was also worried about dragging out the charade longer than originally expected. She’d offered to take their mother back to her house for a few hours so he could have a talk with Daisy.
As he climbed the stairs to the bedroom, he regretted not having Alex with him. Daisy liked Alex and would be less likely to turn her down. Or yell at her.
But as soon as he opened the door, he was glad his sister wasn’t anywhere around because what he saw before him gave him an instant hard-on.
Daisy, dressed in only a tank top and an even tighter pair of yoga pants, was bent over a purple mat with her ass pointing toward him. The thought of walking over to her and slamming his groin against those perfect, peach-shaped curves was almost too hard to resist. In fact, he hadn’t realized he’d already started walking toward her when she noticed him in the room.
“Oh, hey. You guys are back. How’d it go?” She peered at him through the space between her legs.
“Uh, good, I guess. He came up with a really aggressive treatment plan and he got my mom to agree to it so…” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I really can’t focus with you in this position. It’s making me want to do some very naughty things to you, and unless you’d like to hear about them or let me do them, it’s better if you stand up and face me.”
“Sorry,” she said with a laugh and then promptly stood right side up and turned to look at him.
Her face was flushed and her chest heaved up and down. Had he known that doing yoga had this affect on women, he would’ve signed up for a class at his gym a long time ago.
After his afternoon with the oncologist and the stress of his mother’s diagnosis, thoughts of yoga and Daisy’s fine ass were a welcome reprieve. Gracias a Dios, he finally could trust in the hope that his mother would be all right. The treatment would be no picnic, but with the aggressive surgery and radiation, Dr. Katz felt confident she’d make a full recovery. Knowing that lifted an enormous weight off his shoulders. That meant his thoughts could turn to other things.
“You were saying?”
He was saying? Oh, right. He was telling her about his mother’s doctor’s appointment and how it meant that she’d be staying with him for a little while longer.
“Well, she’s agreed to stay in L.A. to have her surgery and the round of radiation treatments. Dr. Katz says she has a very good chance.”
“That’s wonderful.” She threw her arms around his neck to hug him and he wrapped his around her waist to hug her back. “I’m so happy for her, and for you.”
They stood there holding each other for a few seconds. He couldn’t help but notice how perfect her petite, soft body melded into his taller, harder one. He tried, though, not to think about how the only barrier between him and her bare breasts was a thin piece of stretchy fabric.
Too late. He thought about it and so did another part of his anatomy. Time to let her go.
“Thank you again, Daisy. I can’t tell you enough how much it’s meant to me to have you basically put your life on hold in order to help me with my mom’s situation.”
“You can stop thanking me, Brandon. Seriously. I’m glad to do it. Besides, tomorrow night is Mira and Christian’s engagement party and I wouldn’t be going if it weren’t for you. So I’m grateful to you, too. Besides, I really like Lorena. We had such a great time today during lunch. She’s a really good woman. I’d do anything to help her.”
If that wasn’t an opening he didn’t know what was. “Listen. There’s something we need to talk about. Why don’t you sit down?”
She did what he suggested. “Geez. You’re scaring me. I thought you said everything went okay at the doctor’s?”
“It did. But, well, you know those radiation treatments I mentioned?”
She looked up at him and nodded. He took a breath and sat down next to her. But, still, he couldn’t get the words out. Damn, why was this so difficult? He was a successful entrepreneur who was used to having difficult meetings with business partners all the time. Why was this any different?
Because this business partner is wearing yoga pants to the meeting.
Maybe that was part of it. Or maybe it was just because he was afraid she’d tell him no. Either way, he had to pull off the Band-Aid. “Okay, here’s the thing. Turns out the treatments are going to take a lot longer than any of us anticipated.”
“How much longer?”
“About two months longer.”
“Two months!” She shot off the bed and he followed her as she paced the room.
“I know it’s a lot. I know. But if she doesn’t stay here and do this now, she’s never going to do it. I know my mother. She’ll make excuse after excuse. And the doctor told her this isn’t something she can put off. If it’s going to happen, it needs to happen now and here in L.A.”
She didn’t say anything out loud, but he was sure she was talking up a storm in her head.
“How about I give you some time to think about it? You don’t have to decide anything right now because I know it’s a lot to ask.”
When she still didn’t answer, he knew there was a real possibility that she could leave at that moment. And he couldn’t really blame her. Even he couldn’t believe how big of a sacrifice he was asking her to make. And it wasn’t like he’d made it any easier on her with his constant sexual innuendos. He headed for the door.
“I’ll stay.”
She’d said it so soft and low that he could barely make out the words. Once he did, though, he spun around and went to her. “Really? Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. But I want to be clear that I’m not doing it just for you. So don’t you dare offer me money or something dumb like that.”
“Then why?”
“Because I’d be a terrible person if I walked away when your mom is so close to getting the treatment she needs.”
Warmth washed over him. “I wouldn’t think you’re terrible at all. I’d think you’re human. This isn’t your fight, Daisy.”
“Maybe not. But even though I hate lying to your mother, I know it’s for the best. Besides, you’re going to need someone here to take care of her after her surgery and between treatments. Both you and Alexa are at the restaurant during the night. What if something happened and no one was around to help her?”
“I could hire someone.”
“Wait a second.” She put her hands on her hips. “I thought you wanted me stay. Why are you making arguments now about why I shouldn’t?”
“Believe me, Daisy—I desperately want you stay. I need you to stay. But I also want to be absolutely sure that you’re sure you want to stay.”
“I’m sure.”
Overcome with relief, he hugged her tight and lifted her off the ground. She squealed and they both laughed. When he set her down, her face was flushed again and her smile lifted his heart. He couldn’t help himself. He had to kiss her. It was brief, but filled with emotion. Especially because she actually kissed him back.
“Thank you,” he said when the kiss was over. “Thank you for staying.”
“You’re welcome. I just hope you don’t get sick of having me around.”
“I seriously doubt that could ever happen.”
In fact, he was more worried about the opposite. What if he liked having her around too much? He wasn’t sure if his libido could take much more of these friendly hugs and kisses. Sooner or later, every guy reached his limit.
He just wondered what his would be.
Chapter Ten
Daisy watched Mira Alvarez from across the room as she greeted guests with her million-dollar smile. She was the ultimate hostes
s—warm, inviting, and attentive. But only having spent a total of five minutes talking with her when she and Brandon first arrived at the party, Daisy couldn’t tell if Mira was genuine or if she was doing what Daisy was doing—playing a role.
She’d made a real effort to at least look the part of an event planner to the stars. She’d found an online retailer where she could rent a designer cocktail dress without maxing out her credit card. It was a short, black lace and nude sheath dress with a simple off the shoulder neckline. She wore her hair in a messy side bun—a hairstyle she’d practiced doing herself ever since she spotted a photo of an actress wearing it at a red carpet event. Lorena and Alexa had even helped with her makeup and nails before heading to Alexa’s house for the night.
She knew she looked good as soon as she spotted the expression on Brandon’s face when he first saw her. The desire reflected in his eyes made her catch her breath. It only increased her confidence that she was ready to hold her own with some Hollywood A-listers.
But as soon as they’d driven up to the sprawling Malibu beach house, the little voice in the back of her mind, the one that second-guessed everything she did, roared to life.
Why did she think she could mingle with these people? What in the hell was she smoking when she thought she could just walk up to Mira and, all easy peasy, convince her to hire her as her wedding planner? Even if Mira had once been a regular girl, she sure didn’t look like one tonight. She wore her long, dark hair sleek and straight down her back—a stunning contrast against the gorgeous silver gown that hugged her perfect, tanned body.
“Are you going to go over there and talk to her?” Brandon asked. “It’s not like you have to take a plane or anything.”
She gave him her most evil stink eye. “You’re hilarious.”
He handed her a glass of champagne. “Here. You look like you could use it.”
She sniffed it and shook her head in disgust. “I loathe champagne. And don’t you have other people to bother?”
“Not really. Besides, I like bothering you. Especially when I get to rub it in that I was right.”