Read Online Tangled: A Moreno Brothers novella by Elizabeth Reyes - Free Book Online Page A

a
knowing smirk.
    Romero took another swig of his beer and nodded, knowing Sal already
knew why he was watching them so closely.
    “Good-looking fella,” Aida said.
    “Whoa, whoa, whoa !” Manny’s face soured, and he held his
hand up, all animated. “Where did that come from?”
    “What?” she asked, taking a drink of her beer straight from the
bottle as she always did. “I’m just saying he’s good-looking.”
    “Yeah, but Moe don’t wanna hear that shit,” Manny said, glancing
back at Izzy and Elliot again. “This is the guy his wife spends four hours a
day with every day. He’s one of them intellectuals who probably throws
his brains around to impress women. And you heard him,” he said, lifting his
eyebrow exaggeratingly high. “He thinks she’s amazing .”
    Romero rolled his eyes. “It’s cool. I’m not sweating it,” he
lied.
    It was partially true. That Izzy would ever do anything to
jeopardize their marriage he wasn’t sweating at all . He knew he could
trust her. But Manny was right about one thing. She did spend a lot of time
with this guy at work. What the hell could she have to talk to him about now,
and whatever it was, why couldn’t she come back and do it in front of Romero?
It’s not like they were standing there until his daughter felt comfortable
enough for him to walk away. They weren’t even looking in the little girl’s
direction anymore, and his daughter wasn’t as timid as she appeared to be
earlier, because she was already laughing with the other kids.
    “You shouldn’t be,” Manny said, lifting a finger. “But don’t be
stupid either. Remember what I told you. Keep your eyes and ears open.” His
uncle pointed at his eyes and ears as if he needed to demonstrate. “You two is
real young still, and Izzy’s probably just that professor’s type with her being
all brainy and shit. I’m tellin’ you”—he shook his head—” I hear about this all
the time down at the bar: guys in there talking about carrying on a flirtation
with someone who’s off limits.” He pointed at Romero with that look he put on
when he was being overly serious about something. “It’s usually someone they
worked with too.”
    “Izzy’s not like that,” Romero said, feeling even more irritated.
    “Yeah, that’s ridiculous, Manny,” Aida said, shaking her head.
    “I agree,” Sal said, standing up. “I wouldn’t give it a second
thought.”
    “Oh, yeah?” Manny asked, pointing behind Sal. “Look at your wife
over there, kissing on that good-looking stud.”
    They all turned immediately to where Grace was bending over
hugging and kissing little Sal on the head. Manny burst into wheezing laughter
followed by Max, and then Aida’s snorting started up. Their annoying outburst
at least served a purpose. It got the attention of Izzy and Elliot. Izzy was
watching and smiling, not looking nearly as mortified as she’d pretended to be
last night when Romero reminded her that her boss would be having dinner with
these two. Instead, she turned back and said something to Elliot. Then they
finally made their way back to the table.
    About fucking time.
    There was only one seat open next to Romero, and he patted it,
making sure he didn’t get stuck next to Elliot. He also didn’t want her to think
for a second he’d be okay if she sat away from him somewhere next this guy to
try to make him feel more comfortable. That wasn’t happening.
    Izzy took the seat next to Romero as Elliot walked around the
table to the open seats across from them. Thankfully, he didn’t say anything
else that would have the hair on Romero’s body standing again.
    Her explanation as to what they’d been talking about for so long
was vague: something about his daughter who was supposed to have spent the
holiday with her mom. She was a daddy’s girl and had actually called pleading
with him to bring her today. His son, on the other hand, who was in his
rebellious early teens and still angry about the divorce