The Bride Tamer Read Online Free

laughed. “I liked our lesson today,” he teased, grinning.
    â€œI’m a single mom, Aaron. I have a little boy.”
    â€œMiguelito. Six years old. I’ve seen him at the Instituto. You’re so cute I can tolerate one brat.”
    â€œHe’s not a brat. He’s my darling little angel!” Miguelito had such a sunny disposition, he radiated love.
    â€œIn a few years you’ll change your mind. I have three in college. Because of Miguelito, you didn’t finish college, and you sacrificed seven years of your life down here as a glorified gofer for your in-laws.”
    â€œNo.” She could have gone back to the States, but the Escobars were the only family she had. Miguelito loved them. Her parents were dead and her dear uncle Morton had died, too, shortly after her marriage.
    â€œThey’re using you.”
    â€œIsabela loves me.”
    â€œShe’s using you. That’s why you have to sleep with me, so I’ll fall in love with you and rescue you and your precious little Miguelito.”
    His remark annoyed her. “I want to be independent. I want to be a certified teacher.”
    â€œTeachers starve. A smart woman would at least consider…a doctor.”
    â€œYou just want sex.”
    â€œVivian, you can’t hold what one rotten manzana did against all men,” he said.
    â€œIt’s not the manzana that terrifies me.”
    â€œI want to forget today,” she said. “I’m sorry if by coming here I gave you the wrong idea.”
    â€œOr the right idea.”
    Before she could frame an adequate retort, her cell phone rang again.
    â€œWhich one of them is it this time?” Aaron demanded, just as Julio started yelling.
    â€œWhere are you, Vivi?”
    She covered the mouthpiece. “It’s Julio, if you must know. He wants to know where I am.”
    â€œTell him it’s none of his damn business. I’m sick and tired of him calling every time we have a lesson.”
    So was she…usually.
    â€œVivi, who are you talking to?” Julio demanded.
    â€œI’m teaching a Spanish lesson. So I’m talking to Aaron, my student. On his boat.”
    â€œYou’re on his boat?” Julio’s voice grew shrill. “Whatever you do, don’t go below.”
    Vivian held the phone away from her ear until he was silent.
    â€œYou have no right to be jealous. You have a girlfriend…Tammy.”
    â€œThe roofers are here,” Julio said, his tone petulant. “Why aren’t you?”
    â€œThey said they were coming two days ago,” she replied.
    â€œThey’re here—now.”
    â€œTell them the pool house is leaking to the left of the back door.”
    â€œMe? I’m here to visit my son. Eusebio didn’t show up. Drunk again, I suppose, so Isabela needs somebody to drive her to the airport. You’d better hurry home. She’s nearly ready to leave on this insane shopping trip. As if she needs clothes!”
    Julio had a point. Isabela was flying to Houston to shop for clothes because a rich, famous architect named Cash McRay was flying in from London to visit her next week. She’d been writing him letters and dousing them with so much perfume that every time Vivian mailed one, her car reeked for hours.
    â€œI can’t deal with the roofers, watch Miguelito, and drive her to the airport, too,” Julio said.
    â€œI’m on my way,” she replied, turning off her phone.
    Like a lot of the men she knew down here, Julio was bossy, jealous, possessive, and totally helpless when it came to practical matters.
    Divorce was the pits. Julio still thought he could run herlife. Worse, every time he got the chance, he tried to hit on her.
    What she needed was stability. Why couldn’t he just be a better, more consistent father?
    She looked up at Aaron. “I have to get home now to see about Isabela’s roofers and to drive her to the