“And next time?”

“There won’t be a next time.” He kissed the top of my head. “We will never lie to each other. It will be our one rule.”

I settled in closer to him. “I promise.”

“What do you plan on doing today?”

“I have to work at the hospital. I’ll be there most of the day.”

“And after that?”

“I don’t know.” I hesitated. “What are your plans for the day?”

“Well, a captain’s job is never done. I am sure I will have plenty to do, but I was hoping I’d have another evening with my Anita.”

The excitement that bubbled in my stomach made my toes curl. “I think that could be arranged.”

“Oh, you think so?” He playfully pinned me onto my back. “It is so gracious of you to think of me.” He dove for my neck, making me laugh in surprise. His kisses explored my shoulders, breasts, and face. My laughter turned to pleasure as I enjoyed the feeling of the soft bristles of his beard.

“Tell me I am yours.” He ran his finger around the edge of my jaw.

I turned his face so that he was forced to look into my eyes. “You are mine, José Garibaldi.”

He kissed me passionately as he took me again. He whispered in my ear, “You are my treasure, tesoro mio.”

From that day forward, I snuck away at every opportunity to be with José. We would spend the evenings among his friends as they told stories of their adventures. When José’s sun shone on me, everything felt wonderful. I was warm and blissful. However, when he was gone, I could sorely feel the cold loss of his absence. I determined that I never wanted to be without him.

We didn’t talk much about our romance or show much affection in public. I was still a married woman. If I was seen with José it would ruin everything that he worked for. Plus, we had a nearly fifteen-year age difference, which would make people talk all the more. When we weren’t together, we went about our business as if nothing was amiss. Both of us were careful to avoid each other in town.

Occasionally José and I ventured out together, paying visits to my friends the Da Gatos. They were the only people outside of the camp who knew about our relationship. They fondly welcomed us to their home for evening meals.

However, secrets never remain secrets for very long, especially in a small town like Laguna. We became careless, as most foolish lovers do, paying attention only to each other and not to what the people around us were whispering. We thought we were safe within the camp; it was the one place where we felt we could be open with our relationship. But the whispers seeped from the camp into the town. People openly talked and still we didn’t notice. I stopped going home for long stretches at a time. It wasn’t until I snuck into my family’s house when I thought no one would be home that I realized exactly how foolish we had been.