But there was just one problem—it was a table for one.
“Won’t you be joining me?”
She shook her head no. Ramón didn’t want to press her, not yet.
He sat down and looked at the menu on the plate in front of him.
A Day of the Dead menu. Well, it was the second and final night of the holiday. Wow. All the dishes sounded incredible. And unique.
Just like her.
“Julieta, can we talk?”
She shook her head. “No. We can have a discussion after dinner.For now, I want you to enjoy yourself.” She poured him a glass of wine, lit the candles, and then left the room.
Her rejection stung, but Ramón understood that she didn’t want to spend time with him. He was rarely speechless, but Julieta took his breath away. Not just by her beauty, but by her actions. She was strong and decisive. She didn’t wait for him to call the shots; she took control. Ramón was used to people fawning over him, telling him what they thought he wanted to hear, but never being real.
He doubted he would have that problem with Julieta.
She brought out the first course—small, golden empanadas.
He reached out and grabbed her hand. “Would you sit with me for a while? Please, Julieta.”
She pursed her lips. He could almost see an invisible wall she had built up between them—one that hadn’t been there last night. “Okay, but only for a bit. I have other courses to finish.”
As much as he enjoyed the meal, he would rather spend the time with her. He craved her company. She sat across from him, and he took his first bite of the appetizer. The flaky dough concealed the spicy pumpkin and chorizo mixture. It was served with a tangy avocado salsa. Simply delicious.
“This is the best empanada I have ever had.”
“Glad you like it.”
“I love it.” He reached across the table and took her hand. “Look, I’m really sorry about surprising you this morning. But you have to admit, it’s like we were meant to meet again.”
She withdrew her hand. “By that logic, then you must believe you were destined to buy my building?”
“No, of course not.” Ramón leaned forward. “I’m really glad to find you. I had a great time last night. I have to ask you—why did you leave?”
Julieta’s eyes widened, and she stood up from the table. “Break’s over. Next course is coming up.”
Ramón slunk back into his chair. This night was a bust.
At least each course was better than the last. The ingredients were fresh, everything was made from scratch, and she had also planned the perfect wine pairing. He had never had mole with fish, as it was usually served with chicken. And for the first time in his life, he actually enjoyed eating cactus, a feat that even some of the best chefs in the world who had cooked for him hadn’t managed to accomplish.
Julieta was so talented. Why was she wasting her skills here when she could be at the helm of a Michelin-starred restaurant?
But just as that thought crossed his mind, he knew the answer.
Because she didn’t want to. She was happy cooking her own creations, for her community.
How could he tell her that he intended to shut this place down?
And if he did that, there was no way he would ever see her again.
There had to be a way to allow her to keep her restaurant and make Papá happy.
He’d spent all afternoon trying to think of a solution, preparing for tonight, but nothing had come to mind.
Think, Ramón.
