Hector chuckled. “You’ll see.” They followed him and headed toward the small bar where cold beers and limes were already waiting for them.
“ITHINKI’M GOING TO POP,”THE ROBOTIC VOICE FROMJACKIE’S APPdeclared.
Antonio dabbed his forehead. “I think I’m having the meat sweats.”
Jackie and Antonio had been eating nonstop for nearly forty-five minutes. As if she had a point to prove, Cecelia kept bringing them dish after dish, the next one just as delicious—if not more than—the previous one. Tacos al Pastor. Sopes. Chile Rellenos. Tons of beans, rice, pico de gallo, and fresh tortillas. But the star of the show was something called “Poc Chuc,” a grilled pork dish marinated in sour oranges and spices that had its roots in Mayan indigenous culture. Jackie declared it the best thing she’d ever eaten, and Antonio agreed.
Cecelia brought over a couple more cold beers. She slammed them on the table with another “hmph.” Apparently, she hadn’t forgiven Antonio for the comment about trash tacos. He had to get back on her good side.
“This was amazing. You’re the best chef, Cecelia,” Antonio said. “¡Pero no mas!”
Cecelia finally gave him a wide, gap-toothed grin. “Are you sure?” She pinched his cheek. “Big man like you needs to eat.”
Antonio laughed. “I’m big enough, trust me.”
Cecelia tilted her head toward Jackie and spoke in rapid Spanish. Antonio didn’t catch every word, but he understood the gist:This one can really eat. Guess she’s getting some strength for you later. With that, Cecelia picked up their empty plates and walked off, laughing.
Jackie typed in her phone. “I only know four words in Spanish, but I’m sure you all were bagging on me!”
“Maybe if you knew more Spanish, you’d have landed Paco Jimenez.”
Jackie gasped, then laughed, typing, “That’s rude, Steele.”
“It made you laugh, though.” Antonio winked as he sipped his beer.
The mariachi band had been replaced by a quintet of well-dressed musicians who slowed the tempo down. Antonio watched as couples filed out onto the dance floor, ready to slow dance under the lights.
“Want to dance?” asked Antonio. “Burn off these tacos and cerveza?”
Jackie scoffed.
“We don’t know these folks. Besides, when have you ever cared what people thought of you?” Antonio knew he was calling her bluff. Jackie wasn’t one to back down from a challenge.
Finally, she held up one finger.
“Fine, one song,” Antonio agreed. If he could have Jackie in his arms all night, he would. One song would never be enough. “But I’m telling you now, you’re going to want to dance for more than one song.” He stood, extending his hand to Jackie. She looked down at it, brow raised. “Are you gonna let my arm fall off?”
“You can chill, Billy Dee Williams,” Jackie typed before she stood, taking his hand and letting him lead them out onto the dance floor.
The band began to play their own rendition of a classic Javier Solis tune as Antonio pulled Jackie toward him. In heels, she barely reached his shoulder. The angle was a bit awkward, but Antonio was determined to make it work.
“Closer, Jackie. I won’t bite.”
Unless you ask me to, he thought. Because the way her ass was jiggling like nursing home Jell-O in this sundress should have been a crime.
Jackie let down her arms and wrapped them around Antonio’s waist. He pulled her close, his hands moving down the exposed, silky-smooth skin of her shoulders and back.The woman must moisturize with angel tears, he thought. He felt her shudder, and he relished the idea that maybe his touch had done that, and not the temperature of the air. Eventually, his hands found her waist. Well, as close as he could get to it, given the height difference. When Antonio looked up, he saw Hector across the way, saluting him with a beer.
“I don’t typically dance,” confessed Antonio.
Jackie looked up at him, puzzled.
“You look entirely too beautiful tonight. I wanted to show you off.” Antonio could see the skepticism in her eyes. “And here you go not believing me, thinking I’m piling on the Steele Charm, but it’s true.”
Jackie sighed, resting her head against him again. The wind blew the smell of her hair in his direction, and he savored it.
“I know it’s hard for you to believe me after I dropped such a bomb on you yesterday.” Antonio felt a knot in his stomach. “It was eating me up inside to keep the truth from you for so long, given the circumstances. I fucked up.”
Jackie looked up and frowned, as if to tell Antonio to let it go.
