Rosa licked her bottom lip and dramatically stuck out her hand. “Hello, Jaime.”
Jaime’s eyes raked over Rosa. He took her hand and kissed it. “Nice to meet you, Rosa. I like your cherries. You’re beautiful just like your cousin.”
Rosa giggled. “And you’re hot as hell, just like your brothers.”
Nope. Definitely not. Jaime was a playboy. Ramón glared at his baby brother and then elbowed him in the rib cage. The last thing Ramón needed was Jaime romancing Julieta’s cousin and then ghosting her.
Jaime smirked at Ramón. “What?”
“Excuse us for a second. I forgot something in my car.” Ramón pulled Jaime to the car, leaving Enrique with Julieta and Rosa.
Ramón glared at Jaime. “Whatever you are thinking, you can forget it. Rosa is off-limits.”
Jaime laughed. “I’m just having fun. She’s a smokeshow. Did you see that ass?”
Ramón wanted to smack him. “Jaime, I mean it. I actually like Julieta. A lot. Their family already hates us. Please don’t make this harder for me. I haven’t dated anyone in years.”
Jaime’s brow raised. “Is she your girlfriend?”
Was she? Ramón hadn’t made it official with Julieta yet, but he planned to. Soon. Maybe tonight. “She will be. Come on, I’m begging you.”
Jaime gave a smug grin. “Maybe I can fall for Rosa, too. We can all be one happy family. What makes you think I can’t be serious about anyone?”
“Because I know you—I live with you, remember? You’re a man whore.”
Jaime pointed at Ramón. “Pot, kettle. You’re no better than me.”
Jaime’s words stung Ramón, but he knew he was right. Ramón hadn’t been serious about anyone since college. He always figured that at some point in his life he would decide it was time to settle down and then go find the perfect wife. He never thought that a chance meeting with a masked señorita in the moonlight on Day of the Dead would change his path and turn him into a better man, worthy of a woman like Julieta.
“Fair. But I’m serious about Julieta. We already have so much against us. I don’t want to fuck this up. Just please, don’t hook up with Rosa.”
Jaime huffed. “Okay. I won’t. But you owe me.” Jaime looked around the event. “I’m going to make my own way. Later.” He took off on the blaring bass path and disappeared into the crush.
A lump grew in Ramón’s throat. He had been harsh with Jaime.
He checked his phone. Still no word from Benicio. Ramón walked back over to Julieta, Enrique, and Rosa.
Rosa’s eyes scanned behind Ramón. “Where did Jaime go?”
“He went to check out the music.”
She frowned and twirled her hair. “Oh, okay. I’ll catch you all later.” She walked toward the crowd, probably to find Jaime. Ramón felt like a jerk.
Tiburón came out of Las Pescas. Ramón exchanged a handshake with him and then showed him his abuelo’s Mustang.
“Nice! Is that a ’66? Who did the paint job?”
“It’s a ’67. Some shop up in Oceanside.”
“It’s sick.” Tiburón looked at Jaime’s Lamborghini. “How many cars do you all have?”
“Enough. Come to La Jolla and I’ll show you our collection.”
“Thanks, man.”
Tiburón and Enrique started chatting and walked toward some other cars. Julieta tugged on Ramón’s hand. “I’m so glad you came.”
Now that they were alone and hidden near the awning, Ramón caressed Julieta’s face. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.” Ramón’s hand slipped to her ass, careful that no one was watching.
