He finished both tacos in a flash. Damn, he wanted another.
He reached out to take her hand, and he was pleasantly surprised when she didn’t pull it away. “That was really kind of you. Let me repay the favor. Can I buy you a drink? There’s this new bar up the street,” he offered.
She placed her hand on his chest, which caused Ramón’s heartbeat to accelerate. “Not so fast, Romeo.” A playful grin spread across her face. “I’m still waiting for my next ballad.”
Ramón laughed. He needed to take it slow, woo her. The entire time he had spoken with the mayor, his mind had been elsewhere—right here, with her. Juliet’s hand lingered on his chest, which Ramón puffed out like a proud peacock. Her fingers were so delicate, so soft, so sensual.
“Romeo? The song?”
Right. The song.
“I’ll play whatever you like.”
She bit her lower lip. “Hmm. Well, you probably don’t know the one I want to hear.”
“Try me.”
“Fine.” Her mouth curled into a mischievous smile. “ ‘Me Estoy Enamorando’ by Alejandro Fernández.”
Wow. This girl loved the same old-school music he did. But beforehe could start playing, her hand touched his. “No, seriously, I’m just giving you a hard time. Just play what you’d like.”
Ramón was about to rock her world. He held the guitarrón and plucked the notes. She squealed when he began to sing.
Her response invigorated him.
Ramón had wanted to be a rock star, not a businessman. He’d grown his hair long and spent all his time rocking out to Metallica. He’d even joined a band that had played in local bars. But Papá had always reminded him that music was just a hobby, not a career. As the eldest son, he had a duty to carry on the family business.
Once, in a fit of teenage rebellion, Ramón had started a big fight with Papá. He’d told him that he hated the restaurants and was never going to work in the company. Papá hadn’t joined Abuelo’s gardening business—why shouldn’t Ramón forge his own path? Become his own man?
Eventually, he cooled down—Papá was right. Ramón was grateful to have the privilege and the opportunity to be the CEO of a restaurant group at such a young age. He owned an oceanfront home in La Jolla and drove a lime-green McLaren sports car. Financially, he had everything he could possibly want. He had made the right choice, pushing away his dreams of rock-stardom to support the family business.
Even so, seeing the gorgeous woman in front of him singing along to the song he belted out and looking at him like he was a rock star performing in front of a sold-out crowd gave him more satisfaction than closing a multimillion-dollar deal ever had.
After he sang the last word, he put down the guitarrón.
She dramatically fanned herself. “Romeo, oh Romeo. You’re so amazing! I’m super impressed. Do your parents listen to that type of music, too?”
Yup. Before they’d divorced. “They used to.”
“Well, my mom still does.”
“How about your dad?”
A pained expression appeared on her face. “He did. He passed away recently.”
Ouch. “Lo siento.” He couldn’t make it better—but perhaps he could be there for her now. He could listen—if that was what she needed.
“It’s okay. I mean, it’s not. I’m kind of a wreck about it. It’s my first Día de los Muertos without him.”
Ramón squeezed her hand. “It must be tough.”
She gave a small smile. “It’s not easy. And I was working during the parade. I feel like I didn’t do enough to honor him.”
Well, Ramón could help her do just that.
He gently placed his arm around her shoulders and was pleased when she didn’t pull away. “Come with me.”
“Where?”
