Page 26 of King of Hearts

Juan turned and gave me a dazzling smile, one that stilled my erratic heart rate.

“Perfect. Now come sit down and eat with me.” He steered me by the elbow, helping me sit on the stool.

“I was headed out. I’m happy to help cook anytime you need it…even though I’m not much of one, as you can tell…but I’m actually leaving for the night.”

Juan’s gaze fixated on the plate in front of him.

“Have you had tacos before?” he asked, ignoring me.

I watched as he spread onion and the green-looking leaf around the chicken then grabbed the lime and squeezed it all over.

My stomach grumbled as the smell of the spices and chicken assaulted me.

“I have…but they never looked like this.”

“Eat, then if you still want to go see the dick face, be my guest.” He folded the prepared taco and took a large bite of it.

I wanted to protest, get up, and walk out the front door…but I was only using Holden as a crutch, and it made me fucking weak to admit it, but I knew I should never have opened that door with him in the first place.

Copying what Juan had done, I lifted the taco and took a generous bite. Flavor burst along my tongue as a satisfied moan erupted from inside my throat.

Juan laughed beside me as I took another bite, and then another.

“Slow down, preciosa.” He handed me a glass of water then sipped from his own.

“What did you say just now?” I smiled, trying to breathe between bites. The food was so good, and I hadn’t tasted flavor like that in all my life.

“I called you a cow.”

I rolled my eyes, knowing he was probably telling me the truth.

“Cow or not, this food is the best thing I’ve ever tasted. Does your whole family cook like this?”

He smiled down at me again, his bright eyes catching the dimming light of the sun. It was getting later, and I still hadn’t texted Holden.

“My family owns a chain of restaurants. I should act offended that you’ve never been, but the most expensive thing on the menu is steak, which only costs just above twenty bucks. It’s a place for the everyday person, not the one percent.”

The jab landed and unfurled in my heart. He knew nothing of my life or my past…but that didn’t matter. He didn’t need to.

I nodded, sipping more water. “Well, I’d love to go sometime. What’s the name of the restaurant?”

“Especias y Fuego.” He stood and walked to the sink while I sat trying to tame the foreign word with my tongue.

Something niggled at the back of my brain. The sounds together were familiar…

“It means spice and fire,” he added before turning again.

I let the thought go and finished my tacos, walking the plate over to the sink behind him.

“Well, I’ll go sometime and pay my compliments. You could work there—you’re that good of a cook.” I smiled, but the way his face turned solemn told me I’d messed up again.

Not wanting to hear his insults, I spun away from him and started toward the front door.

“You’re still going?” His clipped voice sounded at my back.

“You’re the one who said I should eat and then I could go…” I shrugged, confused about why this bothered him.

“You like the pool?” He changed the subject, and my brows crinkled at the sudden shift.

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