“Not all men are like Papá. You know that. Enrique’s not like that. Tiburón told me that Enrique is super chill.”
“Fine. You’re right. But Enrique and I aren’t about to enter any long-term relationship. He made it very clear that this fling of ours has a start date and an end date. His life is in San Diego, and mine is here. Period. End of story.”
Blanca placed her hands on Carolina’s shoulders and forced her sister to look at her. “No. You don’t know that. Not end of story. You both could fall madly in love. He could change his whole world for you. It happens all the time.”
Carolina gulped. “Yeah, for girls like you, not me.”
Blanca slapped Carolina’s leg. “Stop. You’re amazing. Enrique would be a moron not to fall in love with you.”
Carolina rubbed the mark on her leg from her sister. The momentary sting was almost worth Blanca’s support. “Fine. Even if that were a possibility, we’re still worlds apart. Culturally, spiritually. I know you think love is a fairy tale, but that’s not how the world works.”
Blanca rolled her eyes. “True love conquers all. I believe that. You are so amazing. Any man would be lucky to have you. That’s why I answered his email. He clearly admired you. And I knew that there was a possibility that he would see what I see in you. A beautiful, intelligent, kick-ass woman.”
And with her sister’s words, Carolina burst into tears. Maybe it was from the tequila shots, or the romantic night she shared with Enrique after the emotional manipulation of her parents, or aculmination of the entire night. But for once in Carolina’s life, she not only believed that she was worthy of romance and love, but she admitted to herself that she wanted it.
It was just too bad that the one person she was interested in was completely unavailable.
Chapter Seventeen
On Monday, Enrique woke at dawn and headed to her farm. Nerves twirled inside of him. He reminded himself that this was what he had come here to do—see her farm, learn from her, and most importantly, convince her to partner with the Montez Group.
His mind raced. What was he doing? It had started innocently enough. He’d emailed her, he thought she’d invited him up, and so he’d made plans. He’d thought that she would’ve shown him the farm and either accepted his proposal of a working relationship or not. Then he would’ve celebrated Christmas with his family and been back in San Diego by New Year’s.
Though he already knew she was beautiful, and he admired her before he met her, he never intended to hit on her. Or kiss her.
Or catch feelings.
And now he couldn’t think of anything but her. After seeing the way her body had moved on that dance floor—he imagined the way she would move in bed. Though he was certain she was a virgin, and he was wary of being her first.
Many men made it a goal to sleep with a virgin, but Enrique wasn’t one of them. He never judged a girl on her past, whether she had many lovers or none, but he understood the commitment that sex meant to some women. Enrique didn’t even want to consider sleeping with Carolina unless he was certain they were in a serious relationship. The weight of being her first lover and then leaving her might be too much to bear. And the alternative—staying? Why was he thinking about that possibility anyway? That was definitely out of the question because there was no future for them. This was a holiday fling—no more, no less. He loved his life in San Diego, and she was deeply rooted in her community. She owned and operated a farm—she would probably never consider abandoning it, nor should she have to.
And why was he even assuming that Carolina would want to sleep with him? What a cocky jerk. This poor woman just wanted to go on a normal date, and he was thinking like some sex-crazed idiot. Enrique hated himself sometimes for the way his testosterone clouded his judgment.
Enrique blasted the music, trying to push away visions of a naked Carolina riding him as he sucked on her nipples until he made her come.
Fuck.
Enrique turned his attention to the road ahead as he approached the farm. For as far as he could see, rows of green plants extended skyward with pale strawberries glistening in the morning sun like light pink sapphires.
He pulled into the driveway, parking behind a tractor next to the farm entrance.
And then he saw her, standing there waiting for him.
Wow.
He had expected her to be wearing working-style clothes like shehad the first night she met him, but instead she was wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat that covered her cascading curls and an off-shoulder white dress with red hearts on it.
She. Was. Breathtaking.
Carolina skipped toward him. “Hola.” She kissed him on the cheek, and the straw of her hat brushed against his head.
“Hola.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. “¿Qué tal? What happened with your parents when you went inside?”
“Yelling. But they are giving me the silent treatment. I haven’t pushed it. I think they are hoping that it was a onetime rebellion and it won’t happen again.”
Enrique grinned. “Well, was it? One time?”
She bit her lower lip and cocked her head, her hair swinging around even under the hat. “Why? Are you asking me on another date?”
