She took a step closer to him. “I’d love to visit it.”
He cocked his head to the side. “That can be arranged. He grows some unique herbs and vegetables for our test kitchen.”
“That is so cool. Honestly, one of the many reasons I consideredyour offer was because you said I’d have an unlimited budget. I have always wanted to experiment with new ingredients and have access to the finest gardens. But those things cost a lot, and I have always tried to keep my prices low.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about that anymore. This will be our flagship, so we can splurge here. But in the main restaurants, that is why we used canned tomatoes and store-bought tortillas. I know you hate those items, and I’m not a fan of them, either, but they keep our costs low and our food accessible to people who may otherwise not afford it. We provide free lunch for many schoolchildren. We also give meals to the homeless.”
Julieta swallowed, and Ramón almost felt her softening toward him. He hadn’t wanted to brag about all of the charity work his company did, but he had to say something to change her perception of him. His group did many wonderful things—the profits they made allowed them to give back to the community. Ramón wasn’t a monster.
“Wow. That’s great. I had no idea you did all that.” She paused. “Do all your employees get those benefits you offered me?”
Ramón nodded. “Yup. Even part-time employees.”
Julieta pursed her lips. “That’s really wonderful.” She looked up, then at Ramón, and blinked nervously. “Actually, can I ask you a favor?”
“Anything.”
“Well, my cousin, Tiburón, needs a job. He’s a great guy. Could we hire him? Full-time?”
Ramón had to trust Julieta to hire who she wanted. “Sure. Have him come by, and I’ll start him with the paperwork.”
“Great. But, uh, he has a record. It’s nothing really, just some trouble he got into as a teen. But he’s a hard worker and really needs a break. I completely vouch for him.”
Ramón frowned. “What kind of trouble, Julieta?”
She rubbed the back of her neck. “Uh—breaking and entering.”
Dammit. It was against company policy to hire felons.
But he was the boss. He could override the rule. He was taking over Julieta’s restaurant—he had to give her something she wanted.
Besides, everyone deserved a second chance in life.
She looked up at him eagerly. “Please? He’s a hard worker.”
He brushed a lock of hair out of her face. “I’ll get HR to make an exception.”
Julieta beamed. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her lips just inches from the side of Ramón’s face. She quickly released him, but the damage was done. Julieta’s hot body had been pressed up to his for long enough for him to be certain—he wanted Julieta.
“Thank you, Ramón. You don’t know what this means to me. I promise you won’t regret it.” She took out her phone and began texting.
I better not.
“Don’t mention it.”
Her eyes were glued to her phone. She looked up. “Oh, sorry, I just told Tib. How can I repay you?”
Ramón had a few ideas.
He forced the fantasy of Julieta naked out of his head. “You don’t have to. So, what are we doing in here?”
She turned and surveyed the kitchen. “Okay, we need to get ready for the lunch rush.” She handed Ramón a bag of onions. “Let’s see your knife skills.”
He wanted to show her his other skills. Instead, he stood in front of the chopping board, grabbed the knife, peeled the onions, and began dicing.
Julieta turned on the radio. She began dashing throughout the kitchen, creating some type of braise for the meat. She sautéed,seasoned, and shaved various vegetables. He loved watching her work, joy radiating through her, spring in her step.
If only he could feel purpose in his work the way she did.
