Eighteen
“I’m hungry.” Lexi’s pink sunglasses embellished with fake rhinestones sparkle in the bright sunlight. It’s a gorgeous Saturday afternoon and we’ve just left our church carnival planning meeting. “You promised to feed me, so where are we going?”
“How about Mexican food?” I keep my voice light and casual.
“Sounds great.”
“It’s, um, kind of a far drive, but the food is supposed to be awesome.” I haven’t confessed my secret plan yet. I’m waiting until we get there.
“I’ve got nowhere to be. I was lucky to get a Saturday off work, and Mom’s let me off my leash, so whatever we do is good with me.” Lexi slides into the passenger seat and takes control of the music, starting one of her favorite playlists.
Carlos’s family restaurant is already plugged into my car’s GPS. My heart rate skips jerkily as I head toward the highway. This may be the dumbest idea ever, but I’m still doing it.
Today’s visit is undercover. The woman who answered the phone this morning said Carlos isn’t working today, so it’s a good day for recon. After spending the past two weeks helping all the interns except Carlos, I’m following Trish’s advice to do something specific, whether he wants it or not. Visiting Encantado will make my website redesign authentic instead of abstract.
And yeah, I also want to check it out because the restaurant is a big part of who Carlos is, since it’s entwined with his family.
Besides, these past couple of weeks I’ve visited museums with Ashley, helped Elijah with budgeting spreadsheets, taught Jason the rule of thirds in photography and how to take a decent iPhone photo, and spent a couple of days with Trish visiting her nonprofits.
Carlos is the lone holdout.
Not that he’s ignoring me. He’s back to friendly bordering on flirty, and last week we had a foosball rematch on the roof, just the two of us taking a late afternoon break. I won fair and square, and when he slammed my hand for a congratulatory high-five, he held onto it, lacing his fingers through mine. He reeled me in with his deadly Hershey’s eyes and I was simultaneously thrilled and terrified he was about to kiss me.
So I pulled away, because I couldn’t be responsible for him being disqualified for the scholarship. But the rest of the day, I imagined all sorts of ways we could break rule number eight.
“How’s everything with your brother?” I ask as we merge onto the highway. Time to stop daydreaming about Carlos and focus on my friend. Lexi clammed up via text earlier this week when I probed for details.
“He’s making progress, I guess. He’s seeing a counselor and going to those recovery meetings. My parents made me go to one.” She shudders and a sympathetic wave of sympathy slides through me.
Lexi stops the current song mid-screech. “Everyone spilled their guts and told crazy stories. Some people cried, but they laughed at stuff, too. Stuff I didn’t think was funny, but…I don’t know… Mom says the meetings work and he’s going to them every day, so I guess that’s good.”
We drive without speaking for a while. I’m grateful when Lexi restarts the loud music to fill the silence. Scott was always Mr. Responsible—the designated driver at parties, the guy you knew would do the right thing. It’s unsettling to imagine him on the other side of the coin.
“It used to bug me, how my brother was always the perfect one and I couldn’t live up to his example.” Lexi twists the hem of her shirt. “But now…I hate seeing my parents treat him like he’s a huge failure.”
“Maybe it’s because they’re scared to see their perfect son not so perfect anymore.” I glance at her. “He’s not a failure, Lex. He’s still brilliant and driven. I bet a year from now he’ll be a pain in your butt again, back at college and earning straight As.”
“You really think so?”
“Of course. And we both know I’m never wrong.”
Lexi laughs, and I relax, as much as I can considering where we’re headed.
…
The restaurant is tucked away on a side street off of Federal Boulevard, a main thoroughfare on the west side of Denver. It looks like one of those restaurants that used to be something else, like an old IHOP, but has been repurposed. The sign on the roof spells out Encantado in bright turquoise swirling cursive.
The small parking lot is full, which I assume is a good sign, so we park a few blocks away on a neighborhood street.
Lexi hesitates on the sidewalk. “This isn’t exactly our usual scene.”
“Don’t be a snob, Lex. Come on.”
She falls into step next to me as we walk past tiny brick houses, many of them overflowing with toys and bikes in the yards, bordered by flower and vegetable gardens. Some of the houses are better tended than others. My hands itch to take photos.
The scent of delicious food wafts over us as we approach the restaurant, drawing us in like we’re captives to a magical hunger spell.
“Sooo hungry. Must eat.” Lexi clutches her stomach and I pretend to push her toward the restaurant door.
Once we’re inside, the smells are even more mouth-watering. A friendly cacophony of laughter and conversation washes over us as we approach the hostess stand, where several people wait in line ahead of us.
A group of men perch on barstools, watching a soccer game on TV. Fabric-covered booths line the walls of the restaurant, and fully occupied tables fill the space between the booths and the bar. A shelf mounted over the hostess desk displays a small Madonna statue, postcards of famous Mexican landmarks, a framed one-dollar bill, and photos of the Rubio family. I spot a young Carlos in one of them. He’s maybe nine or ten, but I recognize the dimpled grin.
Standing in this place where Carlos spends so much time is like being close to him by proxy. I wonder what number “stalking your family restaurant” is on Carlos’s napkin fraternization list.
“Welcome, amigas.” A pretty middle-aged woman who I suspect is Carlos’s mom greets us with a wide smile. “Table for two?”
I nod, because I’ve lost my voice. Lexi squints suspiciously like she can tell something is up. We follow Mrs. Rubio as she snakes between tables and end up at a booth in the far corner. I relax slightly. It’s safer to spy from a corner booth than a table where everyone can watch us. We slide onto the padded seats and she hands us menus.
“Water? Soda?”
“Diet Coke,” we say simultaneously, and Carlos’s mom smiles warmly.
“Coming right up, girls. Your waiter will be right over.”
I blow out a breath and relax against the booth.
Lexi points a finger at me. “Okay, girl. Spill.”
“What?” I try to sound innocent but fail miserably.
“Come on, Laurel. I know you better than I know myself. Why are we here?” She stabs her finger on the table. “This restaurant.”
From my seat, I can glimpse the kitchen. Dark pants and shoes shuffle like a choreographed dance as bodies hustle back and forth. The sounds of clanging pans and laughter, mixed in with rapid-fire Spanish conversations, rise and fall like stadium cheers. I open my mouth to tell Lexi the truth, but our waiter arrives, carrying a basket of tortilla chips and a small bowl of salsa.
“Welcome to…Laurel? What are you doing here?”
Everything happens in slow motion, the way Carlos freezes and slowly unfreezes, setting the chips and salsa on the table. He wears black pants and a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a black half apron tied around his waist. His dark hair is slightly disheveled, but the dimples are definitely in working order and on full display.
“I…uh…” I’ve got nothing. Zero. Nada. Zilch. I dart a glance at Lexi, whose eyes are wide with appreciation as she takes him in. She slants me a sly look that says way too much.
“I guess I should be flattered,” Carlos says, his eyes full of mischief. “It’s been a while since I’ve been stalked.”
Lexi collapses into giggles and I grasp for a witty response.
“Uh, we’re not…I’m not…stalking you.” Omigod. Why didn’t I have a contingency plan in case he was working today?
He cocks a disbelieving eyebrow. “So you just had a craving for Mexican food and ended up here?”
“Yes.” Lexi comes to my rescue. “You guys have great reviews on Yelp. And we were in the neighborhood.”
“She’s right.” I nod vigorously, hoping he’ll buy it.
He bestows his flirty smirk on Lexi, then turns back to me. “Whatever you say, Special K.”
“Special K?” Lexi asks.
“It’s a dumb nickname from work.” I grip my straw like it can morph into a lightsaber and blast my way out of here.
“I thought you liked the nickname.” Carlos crosses his arms over his chest.
My cheeks burn. Of course I do, because he came up with it.
“Maybe I need to revise number five.” The Hershey’s eyes are fixed on me, but now they’re Special Dark instead of milk chocolate. “I can come up with a better nickname.”
I stare at the basket of chips, unable to absorb the heat blazing out of his eyes.
Lexi clears her throat. “We’re on a photography field trip,” she says in a valiant attempt to save me, “not stalking you.”
I want to kiss her. Maybe kick her. Not sure which.
Carlos looks doubtful. “Field trip?”
She nods, tossing her hair. I guess I can’t blame her for going into automatic flirt mode. He’s impossible to resist.
“Yeah, it’s this thing Laurel does with her camera. She drags me all over town to take photos for this contest she’s entering. And today we ended up here because of a church she wants to check out.”
That’s a half-truth. I told her about the church as we drove here, and I did want to photograph it, after the restaurant.
Carlos’s sardonic gaze slides back to me, taking in my side of the booth. “Looks like you forgot your camera.”
Crud. I swallow as a slow burn works its way up my face. I can’t believe I left my camera in the car.
“You dork,” Lexi says.
If God were listening to my prayers right now, he’d zap me straight up to heaven and spare me any further mortification, but I guess he’s got bigger problems. Or maybe he’s getting a laugh out of this, too.
A young dark-haired woman who looks to be in her early twenties emerges from the kitchen balancing plates of steaming food. It’s Rose, his sister. I recognize her from Facebook.
She leans into Carlos and says, “Stop flirting, hermanito, and get to work.” Then she winks at us and hurries off.
Carlos shoots a glare at her retreating back, then pulls an order pad and pen from his apron.
“Do you know what you want?”
You, I think, my blush so hot I want to dump ice water on my face. I glance at Lexi, who’s clearly read my mind, judging by her Cheshire grin.
“Not yet.” My voice cracks. Way to go, princess. Qa’hr would kick your butt, and so would Leia.
“Yeah, maybe give us a few minutes,” Lexi says. “I’m Lexi, by the way. Laurel’s best friend.”
“Oh, sorry. I’m Carlos. Laurel and I work together. Not here, obviously, but at—”
“Her dad’s company,” Lexi finishes. “I’ve heard all about the interns.”
I kick her under the table.
“All about us, huh?” Carlos smirks, then shoves the pad and pen back in his apron pocket. “I’ll be back in a few minutes to take your order, ladies.” And then he’s gone, leaving me holding my breath until I’m sure he’s out of earshot.
“Oh. My. God.” Lexi leans over the table, her eyes dancing with laughter. “He’s freaking adorable. Why didn’t you tell me—”
She stops talking when an older man appears at our table with our sodas. We thank him, and as soon as he’s gone, Lexi opens her mouth to continue ranting.
“Shh!” I put my finger to my lips. My eyes dart around the room, but Carlos is on the far side of the restaurant now, clearing empty plates and glasses from a table.
Lexi leans back against the booth. “Tell me what’s going on, Laurel. Now.”
I give her the CliffsNotes version, including Trish’s advice to do something proactive rather than wait around for him to give me a boring task.
“Wow,” Lexi says when I finish. “Your job is way more interesting than mine, that’s for sure.” She grins and grabs a handful of chips. “You need to tell him why you’re here.”
I nod, twirling my straw around my glass. “I know. And I will…just not right this minute.”
Lexi snorts. “And you totally need to explore this ‘friendly almost flirty’ thing and see where it goes. Maybe take some close-up shots of him. For the website.” She does air quotes around “website,” making me cringe.
“Stop. Please.”
“Dude, you get to spend all summer with that guy. I don’t want to hear any more whining from you.”
I let out a long sigh. “I know. Maybe we should go,” I whisper urgently as my earlier courage evaporates. “We can sneak out of here before he—”
Carlos chooses this exact moment to reappear at the table. His sister whooshes by again, giving him a knowing eyebrow waggle. He narrows his eyes at her and mutters something in Spanish I don’t understand, but whatever it is, it makes her laugh. He turns back to us and taps his pen on the order pad.
“So do you want food? Or is your stalking mission accomplished?”
“I’m starving,” Lexi says. “I’ll have the relleno and enchilada plate.”
He scribbles on his notepad then pivots to me. “And for the Jedi warrior?” His smile levels up his dimple game so much that I choke on my soda.
Is he making fun of me? Or is this…flirting?
I’ll have you, with that side of sass. I get the feeling he’s reading my mind, because his grin deepens and he does something melty with his eyes that makes me tingle in all the wrong places.
“Same for me,” I manage to say.
He clicks his pen, then rushes off, speaking curtly in Spanish to one of the busboys doing a lackluster job of clearing a table.
“Give me your keys.” Lexi holds out her hand.
“Why?”
“So I can get your camera and make you look legit. Otherwise he’ll know you’re a stalker.” She grins. “Like he hasn’t figured it out already.”
Sighing, I hand over my keys, then stare at my phone so I don’t have to look around the restaurant and accidentally make eye contact with Carlos. That lasts about ten seconds, because he’s back at the table, picking up our glasses for refills.
“So you really had nothing better to do on a Saturday than show up on my side of town?”
I force myself to meet his gaze, which is determined. Curious. And something else I’m not sure of. Be honest with him. I think it’s Qa’hr talking because the voice in my head is growly and insistent. I take a breath and speak.
“So, I, um, thought about what you said. How the job is more than just an internship for you.” I pause and Qa’hr gives me a mental kick to keep going. “From what you said, your family wants to open more restaurants and you want to help them do it right. So I thought maybe if I saw this place firsthand I could help you and your family. With my idea.”
His eyes are locked on mine and his expression is completely unreadable. Not even a hint of his cocky smirk.
“So tell me your idea.” He’s moved close to the table and looms over me. Being this close to him, the energy between us suddenly feels pressurized, like a gathering storm, or a ball of lightning hovering on the edge of exploding.
“Your website.” I chew my lip nervously. “For the restaurant. I can update it, especially the photos. They’re pixelated, but if I shoot with raw film, the quality will be so much better. And I was thinking it would be fun to do a ‘first bite’ collage of customers. You know, like, here’s someone taking their first bite of a chimichanga, and they’d look all blissed out because it tastes so good. I’d do about a dozen of them. If you think it’s a good idea.”
I pause for a breath. I cannot believe I just spewed all that dorkiness at him. He can’t believe it, either, based on the way he’s fast-blinking.
“Uh, wow.” He runs a hand through his mussed hair. “You’ve, um, given this a lot of thought.”
In other words, You’re a scarier stalker than I realized. I’m going to file a restraining order. Or at least file a complaint with the Manicotti.
“I…” What can I say? Why, yes, I have spent an inordinate amount of time studying your website. And your Facebook. Your Instagram, too, if only I knew what it was. But my internal Qa’hr kicks me in the shins and I square my shoulders. “I’m helping everyone else. I’d like to help you, too. I took a website design class last year and I learned a lot.”
“Okay.” His Adam’s apple bobs up and down as he swallows. He doesn’t look convinced.
“Do you want to see what I’ve done so far?
His eyes widen in surprise, then he nods. I pull up the mobile version of the mock site on my phone and hand it to him.
“You definitely want a mobile version,” I say, “because everyone looks up stuff on their phone, especially places to eat, like when they’re out driving and say, ‘Hey, let’s get Mexican food. Where’s a good place?’ and then if they link to your website from Yelp—”
Why doesn’t my guardian angel push my mute button? Carlos glances up from my phone, and I nearly sag with relief when he quirks a smile.
“You’ve been busy, Special K.”
“I…yeah.” My whole body sags and I shove a handful of chips into my mouth.
Lexi rushes up to our table, slides into the booth with my camera backpack, then chucks my keys across the table.
“You’re welcome.” She grins and takes a long drink from her soda.
Carlos returns my phone. “So my sister will freak out about her hair and makeup or whatever, but other than that I can round up everyone for photos. If you can stick around for a while after you eat.”
“Really?” Nervous adrenaline arcs through me. “You don’t think it’s a terrible idea?”
He studies me, and I crumple the napkin on my lap because there’s just so much in his eyes. It’s like a whole parade of emotions, but they’re shifting so quickly I can’t latch on to any of them.
“I don’t think it’s a terrible idea.” His gaze stays fixed on mine. “I want to check it out on a bigger screen but—”
“Carlos!” Rose calls out, glaring at him, hands on her hips.
“Gotta check on my other tables. We’ll figure out the pictures later.” He rushes off to help a large party that’s just been seated.
“So.” Lexi stirs the bowl of salsa with a chip. “Apparently you’ve been holding out on me.”
“Holding out on what?” I stuff my mouth with more chips, then bat my eyes like I don’t know what she means.
She rolls her eyes. “Your personal interest in this particular intern.” She hesitates, holding the overflowing chip halfway to her mouth. “Unless you’re planning on visiting all the other interns, and this is our first stop.”
“Of course I’m not visiting everyone. I don’t care about—” I stop myself but it’s too late. She grins, reaching for more chips. “I mean, I don’t need to visit them, there’s no reason…” I give up and focus on the hot salsa burning my tongue because it hurts less than my embarrassment.
“So what is it about Carlos that intrigues you so much?” She glances across the restaurant where he’s laughing as he takes orders from the big crowd crammed around two tables. An older guy, maybe the dad of the group, says something that makes everyone laugh, and Carlos’s responding grin makes my stomach flip over.
“Besides the obvious, of course.” Lexi watches him, then turns to me with an impish smile.
I let out a long sigh and grasp my spoon, running my thumb over its curved surface. “He’s…he’s smart. And funny. And he’s treated me like an equal since the first day.”
“What about that other guy? Elijah? You said he’s funny and a nerd like you.”
“Yeah, he’s awesome. But he’s got a girlfriend.” I take a drink of soda. “Which is just as well. It’s nice to have a guy friend at work who doesn’t make me all jittery when I talk to him.”
“What about Jason?” she probes.
It’s my turn to bat my eyelashes. “Jason who?”
Lexi laughs. “What happened to the girl who swore off summer flings?”
Heat suffuses my cheeks and neck. “I’m still swearing them off.” I have to, if I want Carlos to have a fair shot at the scholarship. I shrug helplessly. “You know how it is. Sometimes you get overly curious or whatever about someone.”
Carlos’s sister Rose appears at our table with two steaming plates. I inhale deeply and my stomach growls in anticipation as she sets our food on the table.
“Can I get you girls anything else?” She grins, the bright curiosity dancing in her eyes reminding me of Carlos.
“Looks great.” Lexi grabs her fork and digs in.
I shake my head. “No thanks.”
She studies me, then puts a hand on her hip. “You know my brother, right? I’m Rose, his sister.”
Anxiety streaks through me. Does she think I’m a weirdo stalker, too? I reach for my glass and take a long drink.
“How do you know Carlos? School?” A speculative smile plays at the corners of her lips and I wonder how many infatuated girls she’s quizzed. Probably a lot.
“No, I, uh…we’re working together this summer. At Emergent Enterprises.” Lexi’s foot bumps mine under the table but I ignore her.
Rose’s eyebrows shoot up. “Oh! You’re one of the interns?” Before I can correct her, she plunges ahead, eyeing me up and down. “You’re not the scary one, so you must be the pretty one, who wants to study art or something, right?” Her voice is triumphant like she just won a round of Jeopardy.
My whole body deflates as reality douses me like a cold downpour. I peek across the table at Lexi, whose face twists with sympathy.
“I’m, uh, not—” I begin, but Carlos rushes up to the table before I can finish.
“Table four needs their waitress,” he tells Rose, his face conveying a “get lost” message.
Rose smirks. I’m sure she tortured him when they were younger, but I bet he gave it right back to her. I glance at Lexi, whose eyes are full of “this sucks” empathy. I shrug, sending her a silent “it figures” message and take a big bite of enchilada.
Rose shoots Carlos one final withering glance, then flounces away. Carlos runs a hand through his dark hair. I’m surprised by how rattled he looks.
“How’s the food?” he asks me, but I can’t answer because I’m still chewing. I nod and give him a thumbs-up, feeling like a dork. His lips quirk, then he turns to Lexi.
“It’s delicious, Carlos.”
He looks relieved. “Can I get you anything else?” he asks me, but he’s frowning, and all the embarrassment of the day floods through me.
I can’t believe I showed up here with my crazy “let me be your Steve Jobs” plan. And now that it sounds like he’s interested in Ashley? Ugh.
But then why does he flirt with me? Is he one of those guys?
“No thanks.” I focus on the chip basket, avoiding eye contact until he walks away.
Lexi nudges my foot under the table and I raise my eyes to hers. She’s genuinely disappointed for me. I can read her like a book.
“Remind me never to stalk again, okay?” I try to plaster a self-deprecating smile on my face, like it’s all a big joke.
Because she’s a loyal friend, she goes along with my facade. “Deal. And you remind me never to go skinny-dipping with Brayden, okay?”
“What?” My voice is a high-pitched squeak, causing a busboy to stumble as he hurries by with a plastic tub. “When did that happen? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Last night.” She drops her gaze and two spots of pink bloom on her cheeks.
I lean back against the cushioned booth. Lexi’s always been more daring than me, but this still throws me for a loop. “Did he make you do it?”
“Well…I just took my bikini top off.” She stares at her half-eaten chicken relleno like she wants to stab it. “But Brayden was, you know, persistent.”
That’s a euphemism if I ever heard one, and one more reason I don’t like the guy. “So what happened?”
My disappointment about Carlos evaporates as I focus on my friend, worry coursing through me. We’re whispering now that our conversation has taken a serious turn, and neither of us is eating. From the corner of my eye I notice Carlos head toward us, then hesitate. He must be a pro at deciphering customer vibes, because he pivots and heads to another table, leaving us in peace.
“We snuck into the club pool. Hopped the wall. It was fun, sort of daring but not actually dangerous, you know? At first we just swam and messed around, then he, uh…wanted to get naked.”
She glances at me, wary of my reaction. She’s way more experienced than I am with guys. I’m not going to judge her, but I’m terrified that whatever happened wasn’t consensual. If he forced her—
She takes a breath. “He kept pressuring me, and I said no. Like a bunch of times.” She raises her stormy eyes to mine. “I guess we were yelling pretty loud, then all of a sudden Scott showed up and—”
“Your brother? What was he doing there?”
Lexi shrugs. “I don’t know. I yelled at him later for following me, but he said he was out walking because he was sick of being cooped up in the house. Our parents finally left us alone for a night and I think we were both relieved.”
She sighs and pushes a pile of rice around her plate. “Anyway, Scott heard us yelling and he came to check because it didn’t sound like, you know, normal skinny-dipping. When he saw it was me and Brayden, he freaked. Said he was going to hunt Brayden down and, uh, remove body parts.”
“Did Scott hop the wall to rescue you?” I could easily picture her big brother on a mission to castrate Brayden.
“He started to, but Brayden took off. What a jerk.” She gives me a wobbly smile. “Also a big chicken, apparently.” She closes her eyes and groans. “The worst part was my own brother seeing me topless. I think we’re both scarred for life.”
Ugh. I wince, trying to shove that image out of my mind.
“Thank God you’re okay.” I scowl into my soda. “I never liked Brayden.”
She takes a big bite of relleno. “I know,” she mumbles around her food. “Next time maybe I’ll listen to you.”
She chews and swallows, then huffs out a sigh. “Maybe I’ll be like you for the rest of summer. No flings or dating or whatever. I should spend more time with my brother, anyway.” Her eyes are cloudy with worry as they meet mine. “He needs to get back to the land of the living. Like last night. Even though it was weird, it was good to see him out of the house and being an obnoxious big brother, you know?”
I nod. “It was probably great for him, too, coming to your rescue.” My stomach knots. “I hate to think about what could have happened if he didn’t show up.”
Lexi shakes her head. “Brayden was backing off, but he was mad. He seemed to think just because we’d been dating awhile that entitled him to…you know.” Her face scrunches in disgust. “But I think he got the message that’s not how it works.” She taps her phone resting on the table. “He sent me a million texts today but I’m ignoring him. We’re so done.”
“Good.” I blow out a relieved breath and smile at my friend. Lexi and I have been through a lot together and I’ve always admired how she stands up for herself. It’s something I hope to do a better job of in my own life.
Lexi’s expression shifts, humor lighting her eyes. “So how’s it going with that crabby old lady at the office? She laugh at any of your silly jokes yet?”
“Ha. I wish. I’m determined to get on her good side, but she’s making it tough.” I point my fork at Lexi. “What do you call a pile of cats?”
“Do I even want to guess?”
“A meown-tain.”
“Ugh.” She groans, but her lips quirk.
Carlos approaches our table hesitantly, so I offer him a tentative smile to let him know we’re past the serious convo.
He surveys the table. “More refills?”
“Yeah, I need something to wash away the awful taste of Laurel’s bad joke.” Lexi grins.
Carlos’s lips slide from smirk to laughter. “I bet. I keep telling her she needs better material to crack Miss Emmaline.”
“That’s for sure,” Lexi says, laughing. I shoot fake glares at both of them. Carlos takes our empty glasses and heads for the bar. Lexi slants me an assessing look.
“You’re sure about that no fling rule?”
I nod. “Sounds like he has a thing for Ashley, based on what his sister said. Anyway, he’s too…everything.” I snap a tortilla chip in half. “I’m too dorky for someone like him.”
Lexi starts to argue, but instead clears her throat as Carlos returns with our sodas. He sets them down, then pins me with a penetrating stare that makes my heart thump hopefully. Stupid heart.
“What do you call an unpredictable camera?” he asks, and it takes me a few seconds to realize he’s telling a joke. A stupid one, just like mine.
Lexi’s foot does some sort of foot Morse code under the table, tapping out an urgent message on my shoe, which I ignore.
“I don’t know.”
The skin around his eyes crinkles when he smiles. It’s hard to breathe when he steps closer to the table. “A loose Canon.”
Lexi’s foot is apparently having a seizure as it repeatedly slams into mine. I shoot her a glare.
He gestures to our empty plates. “How about dessert? Sopapillas, churros, or flan? On the house.” He tilts his head and a few loose strands of hair fall across his forehead. I ache to push the hair back and just…argh…
“Surprise us,” Lexi says with a pointed glance at me.
Carlos turns to me, his eyes darkening. “You like surprises, Special K?”
“If you keep calling me Special K, you’re definitely in for a surprise.”
A slow, sexy grin lights up his face, heating my insides like honey melting in hot tea. He leans over the table for our empty plates, then speaks, his voice a low rumble close to my ear. “Note to self: Laurel is trouble.”
Then he does the unthinkable and shoots me a wink, straightens, and heads to the kitchen while I try to catch my breath.
Lexi fans her face. “Damn. His sister was right.”
I blink, confused. “About what?”
Lexi grins. “She told him you two could start a fire with all the sparks shooting between you.”