Then an idea hit him.
Yes! That could totally work.
She would hate it. Probably break another dish, this time quite possibly over his head, but he had to try.
She brought the final course—chocolate tamales drizzled with strawberry puree.
Finally, she sat down across from him. Ramón was distracted from his food.
“Julieta, this is incredible. You didn’t have to cook for me.”
“No, I didn’t. But I wanted to show you what I’m capable of.”
Ramón grinned. “Are we talking about your cooking?”
She licked her bottom lip. “Yes, of course. What else would I mean?”
Their eyes locked, and even though she was in a serious business mode, Ramón felt the fire between them. The chemistry from last night still sizzled.
“Listen, I’d like to propose something to you.”
•••
Did he say he wanted to propose to her?
“What?”
“I’d like to make you an offer.”
Ah, propose something to her, not propose to her.
Clearly, she had heard wrong.
But she couldn’t let him start on the business talk yet—not before she’d had a chance to state her case. To try to persuade him that Las Pescas staying open was the best option for both of them. “Before you tell me your plans, I have something to say.”
Ramón leaned back in his chair and took a sip of wine. “Go ahead.”
She took a deep breath and spoke as calmly as she could. “I know I have no control over this situation. I know you own the building now, and I’m merely a tenant. But Ramón, I beg of you. Please don’t kick us out. You don’t know what it means to me, what it means to my community. And people will hate you if you shut us down. They will—trust me. If you have a heart, you have to listen to me.”
Ramón focused his gaze on Julieta. “Look, Julieta, your food is out of this world. I wish I could tell you that you could stay here. But the truth is even if I didn’t buy the property, someone else would’ve. You have been paying below-market rent for years. You’re a good businesswoman; you know that. I’m not the bad guy.”
Yes, he was. So deliciously bad.
Ay, Julieta, focus!
Julieta bit her lip and forced the fantasy of Ramón talking dirty to her out of her head.
He was right about paying low rent, though she hated to admit it. But that didn’t make the pain of potentially losing her restaurant any easier.
“Fine. You’re right. But let’s be real, Ramón. This isn’t about rent. I know you want to put a Taco King in Barrio Logan. In this spot, which is the best location on the block. Admit it.”
Ramón shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Julieta, it’s not that simple.” His avoidance had answered her question. It was over. And just like the air in his chest that he let out, Julieta’s dreams drifted away.
Her throat constricted, and she closed her eyes, trying to will back the tears that had already pooled in her lids.
“It’s time for you to go.”
“Wait, please. I have an offer for you.”
