She forced herself to pretend he wasn’t there and went back to making cocktails and chatting with patrons. On this spring pre–Cinco de Mayo day, the bar was busier than usual, for which she was grateful. Another party of gorgeous women walked over to the bar and beelined straight for Jaime. Alma greeted them and asked for their orders, but they ignored her.Alrighty then.
One of them pointed at Jaime. “He can make my drink.”
Alas. A flash of her getting so jealous when they were younger after girls would hit on him in front of her. But this time, she just smiled. “He’s not a bartender. I am. But I’ll make sure he personally slices your garnishes. Now what can I get you ladies?”
The girls ordered a variety of fruity margaritas. One stared at Jaime, but he didn’t even meet her gaze. Alma served the ladies the drinks and they went to their table.
One of her other barbacks, José, pointed to Jaime. “Who is that? Did you hire someone new?”
“No. His name is Jaime. He’s just…helping me tonight.”
José cackled like a hyena. “Helping you with what?”
“José. Do you have something to say?”
“Nada, mi jefa.”
But she knew José could see right through her.
Jaime glanced up once or twice toward Alma from his prep station and smiled but didn’t lose his focus.
Alma sighed. Jaime had crushed her at the end of their relationship, but the one thing she could say about him was that he had never cheated on her nor had a wandering eye. And he’d always made her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.
And she still felt like that in his presence.
Right after the clock hit two, Alma escorted the last guests out. “Good night!” The brisk bay air blew into the bar. José and her other remaining employees closed up the bar, cleaned up, counted the till, put misplaced items away, and swept the floor. Finally, when they finished, Alma quickly shut the door and locked it after her employees left.
Now she was alone with Jaime.
He slowly walked toward her, his gaze on her lips, and she was certain he was going to kiss her, but instead he sat at a tableoverlooking the ferries, which were draped in lights and docked outside.
What was she doing? Did she want to hook up with him? Could she handle it?
“So, how about my tasting?” he asked.
Right. The tasting that she had promised him.
The earthy scent of agave permeated the room from all the tequila she had served. Alma was high on the fragrance that mixed with Jaime’s masculine scent. “Coming right up.”
She went behind the bar and put together a tray of six different types of special glasses designed for each type of spirit. She placed some accoutrements, some of which Jaime had chopped himself, in a few bowls and brought the platter to the table.
Jaime smiled as she walked toward him. She also placed an assortment of bottles of tequila on the table.
“Tonight, My Fair Señor, we will be tasting six types of tequila. Blanco, joven, reposado, añejo, extra añejo, and cristalino. Each sip will take you on a journey through Jalisco, a chapter in our country of origin’s rich history.”
His voice dropped to an intense, deep tone. “Why don’t we actually go to Jalisco?”
“What?” Did he know she was planning to go with Zoila?
“It would be fun. I’ve never been there.”
“Well, I’m actually planning to go in a few weeks for business. But it’s a work trip.”
Jaime paused. “Alone? You’re going to Mexico alone? I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Okay, Papá.”
He clenched a cloth napkin. “That’s not what I meant, Alma. Don’t twist this.”
