Chapter 37

"Ohhhh, God," I groaned. "Please tell me I had a good time last night." My body warmer chuckled and kissed my shoulder.

"Querida, trust me, you had a great time. I am going to get up. Do you want anything? The cure?" Hector asked.

"Nooooo. Stop shouting and just let me die in peace," I moaned. I was never, ever drinking a margarita again. Yeah, right. Look where I was living! Mama was definitely a bad influence. And I loved her for it.

Hector quietly went into the bathroom and closed the door. Then he just as quietly left the bedroom. Oh sweet, blessed, quiet. And darkness.

I woke up a little bit later and it wasn't quite as dark as before. Damn. I burrowed under my pillow.

I remembered talking to Raymond about Hector. I remembered people started to head home. I remembered Woody and Carolyn leaving. I remembered Tony and Marlena were still outside and the Viera boys and the Merry Men and girlfriends/spouses.

I had vague memories of a rather ruthless game of horseshoes. Hector and Tony started it. Everyone got a chance to take them on. Alcohol consumption might have had something to do with the elimination process. Vince and Hector were finally matched against each other for the win. They didn't kill each other and I think Vince won. I can't be sure. I was at that point where my eyes wouldn't focus anymore. Which could explain my problem with the horseshoes. You know that 'close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades' thing? It's been amended to 'close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades and Bomber'. Which is the same as saying it's OK to get the horseshoe somewhere in the vicinity of the stake. Like somewhere in the yard. I can't help it if people got in the way.

Ouch. My head was starting to hurt again.

Rumble, rumble, bonk, squeal! Rumble, rumble, rumble, bonk, giggle, squeal!

What the hell? I pulled my head out from under my pillow and tried to figure out what that noise was. I crawled out of bed and into the bathroom. I purposely did not look in the mirror. I knew what morning after Stephanie looked like. I took care of business and still keeping my eyes away from the mirror, I ran my brush through my hair and pulled it into a pony tail. I washed my face and brushed my teeth. I took a couple of aspirin. Then I peeked at the mirror. Yikes. I pinched my cheeks a little to get some color back.

I padded back into the bedroom and put on one of Hector's t-shirts and a pair of gym shorts.

Rumble, rumble, bonk!

The noise was coming from the living room. I slowly opened the bedroom door and looked around the corner. I stood there for a minute watching the love of my life sitting, bare footed and bare chested, wearing sweats, on the floor in the living room. I licked my lips and I might have gotten a little light headed. Miguel was chasing Rex in his new ball. Rumble, rumble, bonk. The ball would hit a furniture leg and Miguel squealed with delight. He would pick up the ball and take it back to Hector. Hector would put the ball down again and Rex would take off in a different direction. Miguel scampered after it. Again and again.

A small "Awww," escaped my lips and Hector looked up. He grinned at me and I crossed the living room floor. I bent and gave him a kiss. "What are you two doing… torturing my baby?"

"Querida, I am sorry. Did we wake you up?" Hector asked.

"No, I've been awake for a little bit. I decided I wasn't going to die so I got up." I smiled at him. "Is there coffee? Is everyone awake?"

"No one is up yet. I always get Miguel early and bring him upstairs to play when they are here. Check the pantry for coffee and I will make some." Hector got up and put Rex back in his glass world on the counter. Rex immediately scooted into his soup can no doubt for some rest.

I looked in the pantry and didn't see any coffee. I opened the cupboard by the coffee pot and didn't see any there either. "No coffee," I said. "Dam….darn it." I corrected myself. Shouldn't swear in front of the baby.

Hector picked up Miguel and said, "There is coffee downstairs next to the stove. Do you mind getting some while I change him?"

I rolled my eyes at him. Would I mind getting coffee over changing a diaper? Damn skippy.

I opened the stairway door and quietly made my way downstairs. I listened and couldn't hear any signs of life so I went into the kitchen. My hand flew to my mouth as I suppressed a squeak. Leaning against the counter, dressed in boxers only, was Vince, coffee cup in hand.

"Morning, Bomber," he said nonchalantly.

"Vince! What are you doing here?" I said in a stage whisper.

We looked at each other for a minute and then Vince tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. "OK!" I whispered. "I know what you're doing here! Does Hector know?"

Vince grinned and said, "I don't know. But I'm sure he'll figure it out at breakfast."

Shit, I said to myself. Vince grinned so it must have been out loud. "Is that coffee? We didn't have any upstairs so I came to borrow some."

"Yeah, want some?" Vince turned and got a mug out of the cupboard. He poured some coffee for me and handed me the sugar bowl. I put some sugar in and got some milk from the refrigerator. Suddenly, it dawned on me that Vince was in his underwear and I wasn't dressed much better.

I quickly turned my head away from him. Vince chuckled. "Bomber, this isn't anything either of us hasn't seen before in the gym."

"I know! But this is just weird! Seeing you here! Hell, I just got used to Hector and now you!" I snickered and rolled my eyes. Vince chuckled again. I snorted and clapped my hand over my mouth. "Shhhhh!"

Vince wrapped his arm around my shoulders and kissed my forehead. "Here. Take the coffee and go back upstairs. We'll call you when breakfast is ready."

I nodded and bolted for the stairs. Shit. Shit. Shit. I had lived here less than 24 hours and all hell was going to break loose when Hector found out that Vince had spent the night. This was all my fault. If I hadn't agreed to move in with Hector, the Merry Men wouldn't have moved me. And if I didn't have a job that attracted nut cases and wackos, I wouldn't have had to move. And mama never would have met Vince!

Jeez. My own version of my mom was lecturing me in my head.

I stepped into the apartment and went into the kitchen. I filled the coffee pot with water and looked around for the filters. Shit. No filters. It dawned on me that not only did we need to get coffee and filters but milk and sugar, too. And a sugar bowl. I opened the refrigerator and noted the lack of food except for bottled water, beer, olives and a baby bottle. I let out a deep sigh.

Hector came into the kitchen carrying Miguel on his hip. My heart skipped a beat. A tiny beat but a beat none the less. Hector pulled me into his chest with his free arm and kissed me thoroughly. "Did I hear a clock ticking?" He grinned at me once I could stand unaided.

I smacked his shoulder and rolled my eyes. "We need to go shopping. We have no food unless you want Miguel's bottle."

Hector chuckled and said, "I am sure mama will not let us starve. I will feed him while you get ready. We can go to the store after breakfast."

I kissed Hector's cheek and took off for the bathroom for a nice, hot shower. Thirty minutes later, I was clean, shaved and had my hair under control. I added some mascara and lip gloss. Done.

I went into the bedroom and found Hector lying on the bed, quietly feeding Miguel his bottle. Hector's eyes grew dark as he scanned my naked body. I shushed him and nodded toward Miguel. The little guy was about asleep. I quickly dressed in shorts and a tank top and took over for Hector while he got dressed in jeans and a skin tight t-shirt. Yum. I leaned against the headboard with Miguel snuggled in my arms. He was done with his bottle and he was struggling to stay awake.

Hector carefully took Miguel from me and we headed for the stairs. I stopped in the kitchen to grab the can of coffee to return to mama. "Oh, wait, I need my purse and my phone!" I ran back up the stairs and swooped through the living room and got my things. I caught up with Hector and followed him into the kitchen.

Oh, holy shit.

Tony and Vince were seated at the island, drinking coffee. Marlena and mama were busy with eggs, sausage, tortillas and I don't know what else but as usual, the aroma made my stomach roar.

"Good morning, Estephania! Did you sleep well?" Mama asked.

Hector stopped and stood stone faced at the sight of Vince. Vince had obviously just showered and shaved. Marlena took Miguel and quietly left the kitchen.

Hector took a step toward Vince and the two men stood toe to toe. Both their faces were dark as they stared in each other's face.

"Outside." Hector growled and went out the door to the patio. Vince looked at me, wagged his eyebrows and gave mama a quick hug around her shoulders. He left the kitchen to join Hector.

I groaned. Shit. Let the games begin. Both of them were capable of killing someone in the blink of an eye.

Tony got up and went to the window followed by Marlena and Mama. I rolled my eyes and joined them.

"Ten bucks on Hector," Marlena quipped as she calmly drank her coffee. Mama smacked her on the back of her head without looking away from the window and said, "I'll take Vince."

We watched as Vince and Hector exchanged what appeared to be some pretty angry words. Vince, true to his Italian and Family roots, waved his arms around while Hector paced and gestured angrily. After a few tense moments, they stood glaring at each other. Vince was a few inches taller than Hector but was leaner. Hector was built like the proverbial shit house.

It appeared their confrontation was at an impasse when Vince held out his hand. Hector nodded and took his hand. They shook hands and did the man fist bump thing that I will never understand how they know how to do that.

The two men headed back toward the house and we all scrambled away from the window and tried to look nonchalant.

"Everyone, I apologize," Hector said. "Mama, Estephania and I are going out for breakfast. We have to do some shopping."

My eyes widened and I quickly grabbed my purse as Hector placed his hand at my back and guided me out to his SUV. He opened the passenger door and helped me get settled in. He paused, taking a deep breath and cupped my face with his hand.

"I am sorry, querida. I forget that my mama has been alone for many years. Vince cares deeply for her," he softly said.

I smiled at him and pulled his head to mine. "Hector, I understand your feelings. It is natural for you to want to protect mama. Just as you have protected me for so long. It is how you show your love and I love you for it." I kissed his teardrops and trailed little kisses down his cheek to his lips. Hector returned my kiss with just enough tongue to make me want to skip grocery shopping.

An hour later, we finished our breakfast at a local diner and headed for the supermarket. One thing I've never done with any boyfriend was grocery shopping. We were like two kids in a candy store. We went up and down each aisle, picking up things and putting them in the cart. Every few minutes, we paused and proceeded to kiss each other senseless. I never knew shopping could be considered foreplay!

Just as we rounded the last aisle in the store, I looked up and gasped.

"Stephanie Michelle Plum!"

Oh, holy shit! There was my mom and grandma.