“I can. I’ve wanted to since the second I saw you again.”
“Of course you did. I’m hot.”
He laughed. “Yes, you are.”
“But I can’t say the same. I didn’t want to see you at all when you arrived.” She gave him a cheeky wink. “But I have to say…I’m sure glad you’re here now.”
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
She kissed him on the forehead. “I’ll be right back.”
Alma hopped off the bar, gathered her clothes, and ran to the bathroom.
Jaime also got up, gathered his clothes, and ran to the men’s bathroom. He disposed of the condom, cleaned himself up, got dressed, and went back out to the bar.
Alma emerged a bit later, fully dressed and armed with cleaning supplies.
“Don’t you have a janitor service?”
She rolled her eyes. “I do, actually. But I’m not going to have them clean this up. My mom was a maid, you know. I can clean.”
Jaime grabbed a sponge and dipped it in the hot water. “I can help.”
She hugged him. “Aren’t you so progressive? I’ve never seen youclean anything. Didn’t you grow up with maids? I bet you still have one.”
“I did and I do,” he admitted. “I’m not above hard work. I’d clean up every day if we could have another night like we just had.”
Alma pursed her lips and remained silent. They sanitized the bar until it was sparkling clean.
“So, are you going back to Santi’s?”
“Nah. My family took over the place.”
“Oh, I understand.” She paused. “Did you want to spend the night with me?”
Damn, did he ever. But he couldn’t. Sex was one thing. Spending the night in her place, in her space, was too intimate. He really needed to figure out what the fuck he wanted to do regarding her before this all blew up in his face.
Earlier, he’d decided to live more in the moment—and during sex with Alma, he’d been all about the present.
But there was a difference between being real and being reckless. He needed to think of what would happen tomorrow—and the next day and the day after that.
“I’d love to, babe. Thanks for offering. But I got a room at the Lodge.”
“Oh. That’s better.” She looked down.
He put his finger under her chin. “Hey, it’s not better. I need to be real with you, Alma. I’m such a fucking mess. I’m confused. I’m crazy about you, you know that. I always have been. Tonight just solidified that for me. But what are we fucking doing here? I don’t live here. And you have a bar—a successful one. I don’t want to do long-distance.” That wasn’t the real reason, but he threw it out there to see her response.
“You could move. You can start a tequila line anywhere.”
Yes. He could.
And he’d love to do it with her.
“This is true. That isn’t an obstacle. But I just don’t know if I can commit to you. It’s not you—you’re perfect. It’s me.”
“I know, Jaime. You think you are too young. But you aren’t.”
“Maybe not. But I was in college, and I’m still figuring my life out. I can’t apologize enough for dumping you back then. I was a fool, I know this. But it was because I was too young to settle down. I’m a bit older now but I still haven’t fucking figured out my life. Look at you! You’re a successful business owner, and I don’t have a clue what the fuck I’m doing. I kissed you the other night and at brunch because I couldn’t resist you. And I made love to you tonight because I’m obsessed with you. My heart is saying one thing, and my head is saying another. I just think spending the night at your place will make this more confusing. I will be leaving in a few weeks.”
