Catia (Starkis Family #6) by Cheryl Douglas

thought you tried to avoid hiring people who were overqualified. You always said they’d leave just as soon as something better came along.”
    The thought of Catia leaving me for something or someone better had me choking on my water.
    My mother rested her hand on my arm. “This girl means a lot to you, doesn’t she?”
    When I’d finally caught my breath, I said, “Yeah, I guess she does.”
    “I don’t mean to pry, but are you sure this is the right time for you to think about a relationship? Especially with a woman who’s proven to be a little fickle?”
    “No, I’m not sure of anything right now to be honest. That’s why I’m trying to take it slow with her. She claims she’s changed, that she’s ready to settle down. I really want to believe her, but I can’t be too careful. I have the girls to think about, and after what went down with Cat the last time…” I shook my head. “I just don’t wanna get burned again.”
    “You didn’t come right out and say it, but I knew she was the reason you went through that period of depression last year. I’d never seen you like that,” she said, touching my shoulder. “Not even after you found out Karen cheated on you.”
    “I guess Catia meant a lot more to me than I realized at the time.”
    “You were in love with her?”
    I washed down the lump in my throat with a sip of water. “Yeah, I was.”
    “And now?”
    “I’m not sure.” I knew how I felt when I was with her—like nothing and no one else mattered—but I wasn’t ready to label that love again.
    “Well, take your time. There’s no rush to decide anything right now, is there?”
    “No, I guess not.” According to Cat, she wasn’t going anywhere. “So you’ll work with her?” I asked, remembering the reason for my visit.
    “Of course, it would be my pleasure,” my mother said, her eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. “Can you give me her number? I’ll call later today to set up the appointment.”
    “Sounds good.” My mother had had very strong opinions about Karen the first time she met her. She’d labelled her a troublemaker and told me I’d be wise to steer clear of her. Of course, I was a rebellious teenager who had no intention of doing anything his parents told him to.
    But I was a grown man now with a lot more respect for my parents’ opinions than I’d had then. I just hoped my mother wouldn’t see the same characteristics in Catia that made her dislike Karen so intensely.
     
    ***
     
    I was stunned when shortly after bringing the girls home from my parents’, Catia showed up on my doorstep with a plate of cookies.
    “Hey,” she said, looking uncertain. Her attire was casual—black leggings and a tunic with ballerina flats—but she had a way of making even that look sexy.
    “Hey, yourself,” I said, partially closing the door when the sound of the girls’ cartoon filtered outside. “What are you doing here?”
    In spite of her olive complexion, a blush rose in her cheeks. “Um, I’m sorry for just showing up like this. I know I should have called first, but I decided to bake some cookies and thought you and the girls might like some.” She thrust the plate at me as though she had to prove her intent. “I also wanted to thank you for talking to your mother about the piano lessons. She’s coming over later for my first one.”
    “Wow, she doesn’t waste any time, does she?” I suspected she was anxious to meet the woman she’d heard so much about so she could evaluate her character for herself without hearing it second-hand from her son. “I hope she wasn’t too pushy?”
    “No, she seems lovely,” Catia said, smiling. “I’m anxious to meet her. I just hope I don’t embarrass myself. It occurred to me, a little too late, that I should have practiced on my own before bringing in someone experienced to watch me make a fool of myself.”
    “She’s cool. She won’t judge you.” I hoped that was true. I was just warming up to the possibility