Chapter One
Enrique Montez bit into his carne guisada taco. The spices from the braised beef were cooled from the neutralizing dollop of fresh crema.
“Thank God,” Enrique said to his older brother, Ramón, gesturing across the table with the taco still in hand, “that this badass woman agreed to marry you.”
His future sister-in-law, Julieta Campos, had cooked a meal for her family and his brothers at their now weekly Sunday dinner in her restaurant, Las Pescas. Julieta and her mother, Linda, adored taking care of their loved ones, which now luckily included Enrique.
Julieta’s lips twisted in a wry smile. Ramón simply looked at her with eyes of love. “I thank God every day.” He pressed a kiss to her hand, then looked back at Enrique. “But after putting up with you for the past twenty-eight years, I deserved a miracle.”
Enrique glared across the table at Ramón and his future bride. His brother whispered something into Julieta’s ear, which caused her to giggle.
Enrique rolled his eyes. He should simply be happy for his brother and his fiancée. Still, a brief stab of envy tore through him... “Man, you’re so whipped. I’ll never be like that.”
His younger brother, Jaime, rolled his eyes. “Yeah, because no one would deal with your weird bullshit. Do you have to do yoga on our deck every morning?”
“Better than you flipping tires in our yard,” Enrique retorted.
Julieta’s cousins Tiburón and Rosa laughed while Julieta’s mother scooped out a huge portion of rice onto everyone’s plates. What a trip to see the Montezes and the Camposes, formerly mortal enemies, breaking bread—well, more accurately, tearing tortillas—around the table. Notably absent, and most certainly not invited, was Enrique’s father, Arturo. He’d begun the family feud decades ago when Arturo stole a fish taco recipe from Linda, his spring break fling. But Enrique was a peacemaker, and he hoped that even though his father’s actions were unforgivable, one day, his father would repent and make amends with Linda, Julieta, and Ramón, though deep down he knew that with his father’s deeply ingrained machismo, that fantasy happy ending was probably a pipe dream.
Enrique’s immediate concern was spending quality time in a warm family environment that he and his brothers had never known. This connection had already changed Ramón significantly. His elder brother had benefited in amazing ways, even though Enrique teased him. Ever since Ramón and Julieta had become engaged, his workaholic sibling was now all about the family life. Ramón spent his free time playing Lotería with Julieta’s overbearing tías, and he’d started volunteering at the Barrio Logan College Institute in his newly adopted community. He even hosted the weekly La Vuelta Lowrider Cruise with Tiburón.
Enrique studied Ramón, who had a big grin on his face. Enriquecouldn’t imagine being in such a committed relationship. Not until he struck out on his own and became something more than just the middle Montez brother. Ramón was the smartest, Jaime was the cutest, and Enrique was always the peacemaker.
“¡Salud!” Linda held up her sangria, and everybody clinked glasses before continuing to eat. This was the life—family. All together.
Exhaling a healing breath, Enrique reflected on how much he had changed in the past year. After the social media attention from their company’s quest for gentefication turned ugly, Enrique spiraled into depression. He had spent the last several months working on himself... therapy, meditation, yoga.
In the meantime, he would continue to work for the family business, though Enrique didn’t have an extreme desire for wealth, like his father had, or like Ramón had once had, for that matter. Ramón used to be focused on the bottom line—growing their corporation’s assets and increasing the profit margin. His plan was to buy the land where Julieta’s restaurant was located and turn the beloved neighborhood into a gentrified street full of chain stores. But Julieta had exposed Ramón to the true cost of these acquisitions—hurting lively communities and real people. Ramón did the right thing and returned the land to Julieta’s mom. And now, Ramón was a changed man—aware of the societal effects of their business deals. And all of the brothers finally knew what it was like to belong to their community.
Enrique had never cared too much about money—he had seen the perils of that lifestyle early on, especially in his parents’ relationship. They would spend lavishly on exotic vacations but couldn’t stand to be in the same room together without fighting. And though they had enough wealth to comfortably provide formany generations to come, his father was always trying to expand the company. But all the money and success could never heal the deep wounds in their family.
At least Enrique understood his father’s drive. In fact, Enrique could feel that he himself had grown too comfortable. His job was beyond secure, but it no longer challenged him.
In fact, nothing challenged him.
Time to change that.
Enrique clinked his glass with a fork, which caused Ramón to immediately kiss Julieta.
Enrique smirked. “I thought the kiss after the glass clink was only for weddings.”
Ramón shrugged. “We’re just practicing.”
“Get a room, you two.” Tiburón threw a tortilla chip at Ramón and Julieta, which Ramón caught and then crushed in his hand.
The warmth from their new family radiated throughout the restaurant—though maybe that was just the heat coming from the terra-cotta fireplace. Las Pescas was so magical, especially during the holiday season. Mariachi music played over the stereo, paintings from local vendors hung on the walls, the Talavera accents colorfully contrasted against the Saltillo tiles, and there was a Christmas tree in the corner, decorated with hand-painted ornaments created by local children.
Enrique took a sip of his michelada. The spicy Tajín-coated rim drew fire to his lips, but the Clamato juice cooled off the heat. “I have an announcement.”
“What is it?” Ramón cocked his brow.
Enrique’s stomach knotted. He should’ve run his plan by his brother, who had become the CEO of the Montez Group after he’d ousted their father. But for once, Enrique didn’t want to ask permission from anyone to do anything. He wanted to be his own man—out of the shadow of his father and brother—and his idea was sound. If the Montez Group contracted their produce through farms that had track records of treating their employees fairly, they could truly make a difference in their community—not to mention, do the right thing.
Enrique was no prodigal son—that title definitely went to Jaime—but even so, Enrique could never top Ramón’s two Ivy League degrees, and now his engagement to the beautiful and talented Julieta. Not that Enrique was any slouch—no, quite the contrary. Enrique didn’t want to compete with his brother; he had never even applied to Stanford and was more than happy to spend his college years surfing at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The eco-conscious atmosphere that he had immersed himself in when he was there called to him now, which was why he knew it was time to go and spend some time on the Central California Coast.
“I’m heading up to Santa Barbara for the holidays. I arranged a meeting with a farmer up in nearby Santa Maria.” He glanced around at his brothers. Ramón squinted his eyes, which now had lines around them, and Jaime’s baby face contorted.
Ramón didn’t waste any time. “A farmer? But why? We’re already contracted with enough farms.”
