“Absolutely.” She paused. “Once we figure out what’s happening in Barrio Logan, I would love to try my hand at creating a vegan menu. I mean, if you wanted me to. It seems like a great challenge. I do make vegan carnitas with jackfruit. There are so many things you can do! Rajas, nopales, elotes. As a chef, you don’t want to getcomplacent—you always want to learn and grow. Plus, now that I have access to the garden, it would be easy.”
Ramón squeezed her hand. The Montez Group needed Julieta. She was so innovative and forward-thinking. Restaurants had to grow and change to be competitive. With Julieta creating cutting-edge cuisine for them, they would be unstoppable.
They finished their walk on the beach and then took a leisurely drive back to La Jolla.
Jaime was out of town for an event, and Enrique was out with some friends and wouldn’t be home until tomorrow—which wasn’t a coincidence. Ramón had told his brothers not to come home tonight.
Julieta stepped out onto the balcony, as the waves crashed against the rocks below. “I was so excited that night you brought me here that I never got to really take in the view.”
“Well, make yourself at home.”
She looked at him. “Don’t say that. I may never leave.”
“You can stay here anytime you like.”
She pursed her lips. “You might regret that offer. I moved out of my mom’s house.”
“What?Why? When?”
She looked away from Ramón. “Last week.”
Ramón heard her nonanswer loud and clear. “Was it because of me?”
She shrugged. “Yeah, kind of.”
A stab of guilt startled him. “I’m so sorry. I’m kind of in the same boat.”
She laughed. “Really? You’re homeless?”
Damn. Ramón didn’t mean to be so thoughtless. “No, I didn’t mean that. My father is mad at me, too. The day you told me about my dad stealing your mom’s recipe, I confronted him.” Should he tell her this?
She scowled at him. “Really? What did he say?”
Fuck it. He wanted to be honest with her.
“He said it’s true.”
Julieta clasped her hands together. “Oh my God, really? He admitted it?”
“Yup.” Ramón paused. He didn’t want to tell her all the details of his conversation with his father—that Ramón had told his dad that she should keep her restaurant. He didn’t want to get her hopes up. “We got into a huge fight, so I threatened to quit.”
Julieta’s jaw literally dropped. “So, you don’t have a job? I hear there’s an opening for a guitarist in the restaurant.”
Ramón chuckled. “Very funny.”
“Is this something you normally do? Fight with your father and then threaten to leave your job?”
“Not since I was sixteen.”
Her face fell. “I hope I’m not a bad influence on you.”
“Why would you even say that?”
“Because I’m causing you to fight with your father. I can’t believe that you stood up for my mother.”
“Well, you got kicked out of your house because of me.”
“That’s different. I have nothing to lose.”
