If Enrique was really interested in dating Carolina, her lack of cooking prowess would be the least of his concerns. “I don’t care if she can cook. I’m happy to make food for both of us. I’m an excellent chef.” Enrique puffed out his chest a little.
“You... cook?” Señor Flores asked, deep lines crossing his brow.
“I do. My nanny taught me when I was a boy, all the traditional recipes—tamales, pozole, enchiladas, whatever Carolina wants to eat. In fact, I’d be happy to prepare dinner foryou. Good night, Señor Flores. I hope you get better.”
Her father’s eyes bugged out. Ha. Served him right. His daughter’s worth had nothing to do with her ability to cook. Enrique loved strong, powerful women. His future wife would be more than welcome to devote herself to a career if that was what she wanted to do. Enrique would be happy to be a stay-at-home soccer dad.
He turned and walked to the doorway.
“I’ll be right back, Papá. I’d like to walk Enrique out.” Carolina’s shoes tapped on the linoleum behind him.
They walked in silence through the corridors, passing the nurses’ station. Enrique refused to make a scene.
As soon as they were outside of the hospital, Carolina grabbed Enrique’s arm. “I’m so sorry about that. I don’t know what I was thinking!”
Enrique shook his head. “It’s fine, I—”
“No.” She squeezed his arm tighter, stepped closer until there was barely a whisper of space between them. “You don’t understand. I’ve never had a relationship, ever. But he looked so happy when he thoughtyou were my boyfriend... I just thought I would let him believe it for a while since he isn’t feeling well. It was careless and selfish of me. I never meant to rope you into this. You must think I’m so pathetic.”
“No, I don’t. I think you’re adorable.” Enrique leaned closer. “But I don’t lie, babe.”
Her eyes widened at the wordbabe. “I understand that. I’m so sorry.” Carolina looked down at the ground, then glanced back up at him, a plaintive expression on her face. “But could you just play along while you are in town? Please? Until Christmas? Then we can say we broke up and this never happened.” She paused and pinched his arm. “You can even blame it on my lack of cooking and cleaning. That way, my father will totally be on your side.”
“I’d laugh, but that’s not funny. How could he think your lack of kitchen skill means anything to a man?” Enrique asked, his brow furrowed.
“He just does.” Carolina dropped his arm. Her gazed fixed on one of the mountains lining the horizon in the distance. “I don’t think he believes that anyone would ever want me. I mean, why would they? I’m too ambitious, would make a horrible housewife, and I’m not as pretty as Blanca.”
His gut wrenched. Did she really believe that? He lifted up her chin with his hand. “You’re beautiful, Carolina. Plenty of men would be lucky to date you. You’re incredible.”
She looked away; her cheeks flushed. “You don’t have to say that.”
“I know I don’t.” He took her hand and gazed into her eyes. “But I mean it. I’d ask you on a date myself, but we don’t live near each other, and I’m hoping we can work together. Mixing business with pleasure is never a good idea. I wouldn’t want to start something I couldn’t finish.”
Enrique hated long-distance relationships. He’d attempted it once with a college girlfriend, and it had been a disaster. Carolina’slife was firmly in Santa Maria, and Enrique loved San Diego. It would never work.
“I agree. That would be really hard.” Her voice sounded a bit somber. “But I wouldn’t have said yes anyway. I don’t want to date. Growing up with my father, I’ve dealt with enough misogyny for a lifetime.”
Enrique’s stomach tensed. He ignored the unreasonable sting he felt after her casual rejection and focused on what she was actually saying. It was sad to learn that most of the men she knew were like that. “Well, I’m nothing like your father. Quite the opposite, in fact. You don’t have to date anyone if you don’t want to, but not all men are like him.”
“The ones I meet are,” she said quietly.
“Well, then you need to meet different ones. Your dad is a trip. Is he for real? He can’t possibly bethattraditional.” Meeting her family had been like stepping back in time.
She laughed. “Oh yes, he can. You would be shocked. I technically shouldn’t even be talking with you alone without a chaperone. If I don’t go back in a few minutes, he might rip out the breathing tubes and come find me.”
Enrique scratched his chin. Surely, she was exaggerating. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.” She paused and looked up at him. “So will you help me?”
He tilted his head. “I could. But what’s in it for me?”
She gulped. “I’ll at least consider your proposal for my farm, but I can’t promise anything. That decision will be based on business. I can also tell you everything about my farm. I can give you a tour and teach you about hydroponics. Educate you further about farmworkers’ rights.”
Enrique wanted all those things. That was why he’d come here.But... staring at Carolina in the moonlight made him want something else.
Maybe he could try to show her father how amazing his daughter was. That she had worth even if she would never be a housewife. That she was kind, loyal, intelligent, and ambitious.
And better yet, help Carolina realize how incredible she was. Not just as a successful farm owner, but as a woman.
