Renee took her hand and whispered, “You’re going to be the best student they ever had. They’ll be asking you teach the classes.”
Jackie nodded in agreement.
Adelaide inhaled deeply. She’d dreamed of having a career, something separate from the family for a long time. Now was her chance, and she couldn’t let fear keep her from achieving that goal. With a wince, she pressed the button.
And then the tears fell.
Jackie hugged her against her side and rested her head against hers. “You did it! Congratulations on this new chapter in your life. Soon you’ll have your diploma and you’ll start your catering business.”
Renee squeezed her hand tighter. “And good luck to you and Hector. The two of you were always my ideal couple, so I would love to see you get back together, the way you used to be.”
Adelaide grinned through her tears. “A new career and a second chance with the man I love. My life couldn’t be better.”
13
Wow.
Hector’s eyes remained glued to Adelaide in the doorway. She wore a forest green wrap maxi dress that brought out the green in her hazel eyes and looked great against her dark gold skin. A skinny waist tie showed off her narrow waist while the gauzy fabric flowed down the length of her body to where tan, one-inch sandals peeked from beneath the hemline.
“Ready?” Adelaide asked.
“Ready.” Hector offered his arm, and when she took it, he placed a kiss on her mouth.
Adelaide smiled up at him, her pretty eyes glowing. “I’ve been looking forward to this sunset cruise all day.”
“Happy to hear that. It’s supposed to be really nice,” Hector said.
He opened the passenger door and Adelaide slid in. When both sides of the wrap dress fell apart and exposed a thigh, he bit back a groan and closed the door. He was a lucky man to have her back in his life, and he promised himself he wouldn’t squander this second chance.
“You look nice. I like your outfit,” Adelaide said when he slipped behind the wheel. She squeezed his thigh.
He appreciated her open affection. So often, a man was expected to be the one to pay compliments, but Adelaide was not shy about letting him know when she liked an outfit or that she was attracted to him.
Today’s comment was particularly welcomed because the cream pullover and brown cargo pants were a calculated choice intended to snag her attention. She liked him in this shirt, stating in the past that it made his chest and back look particularly broad. She also liked the cargo pants, which she said made his thighs look bigger.
“These old clothes?” Hector said.
“Yes, those old clothes,” she said with amusement.
They leaned toward each other and kissed again briefly before he backed out of the driveway.
Focusing on the business, he’d missed spending time with her. Putting in more time at work meant less time with his wife. The withdrawal had been gradual—so gradual he hadn’t noticed, but now deeply regretted not prioritizing his marriage. But with the changes he had planned, lack of time would no longer be an issue.
“How is Danny doing at Solar Beams?” Adelaide asked.
“Excellent. The other day he submitted some ideas for the business.”
“Danny? Our Danny?”
Hector nodded, taking a left at the end of the street. “I’m as surprised as you are. He typed up a nice report with recommendations for the website and the store. Some of the ideas are pretty good.” Pride filled his voice.
“So it wasn’t a mistake for him to come work for you?”
“I don’t think so.”
“What do you think about him not going to college?”
As he cruised to a stop at a traffic light, Hector remained silent for a while. “I’ve changed my position on my ideas about college. I’m glad Karen and Junior went and found their passion, but college isn’t for everyone. I didn’t finish college, and I turned out fine. Danny will, too.”
“I think he will, honey. You know what else I think?”
“What?”
“He’s more like you than you realize, or that you want to admit.”
Hector laughed softly. “That’s probably true. Hell, the trajectory of his life is looking awfully familiar. Screw up in school, get a woman pregnant, drop out of college, start selling renewable energy products. Damn, Danny is me.”
Laughing, Adelaide said, “We should have named him Junior.”
“We should have.”
“So how long is this excursion?” she asked, crossing her legs.
“Two and a half hours,” Hector replied.
Then he placed a hand on her thigh and sent a smile in her direction. His mood was happier and much lighter now.
Adelaide and this second chance had transformed him into a new man.
When they arrived at the Sunset Resort Marina, the skipper of the Freedom sailing yacht met them and introduced himself as John.
A Caucasian man with dark hair and a generous smile, he gripped Adelaide’s hand and gave it a firm shake. “I’ll be your host for the next couple of hours. My grandson, Decker, is my helper today. He’s a great photographer and can take any pictures you like.”
A young man with strikingly similar features, who looked about sixteen, said hello and smiled politely at them.
Adelaide glanced around. “Is anyone else coming?” she asked.
“Normally we have other guests, but Mr. Flores booked the entire boat for your leisure.”
“He did?” Adelaide said, pleasantly surprised that Hector had gone through the additional expense.
“If we’re going to do this, we have to do it right,” Hector said.
She wanted to kiss him again but refrained, opting instead to show her appreciation by squeezing his arm.
Hector climbed into the boat and offered a steadying hand to help her on board.
“I have plenty of refreshments below. Beer, wine, and snacks. Just help yourself,” John said.
Because of the cool air out on the water, Hector threw a spare jacket he’d brought along over Adelaide’s shoulders and wrapped one arm around her. Within minutes, they pulled into San Diego Bay with John at the helm. The Freedom glided through the water, and Adelaide and Hector stood in the boat, the air drifting over them.
John pointed out sights of interest, such as the great view of downtown San Diego, with the sun hitting the buildings and casting a golden hue across their exteriors. They passed by landmarks such as the Maritime Museum, Coronado Bridge, and Old Point Loma Lighthouse.
At one point, John let Adelaide take the wheel and she guided the boat through the waters, all while receiving cheers from the three men aboard.
“Sea lions!” Decker suddenly yelled, pointing.
Sure enough, a few of them played in the waves.
“Hector, look!’ Adelaide moved to the handrail and watched the animals, who seemed to put on a more elaborate show for them as they passed by.
When she turned to Hector, he snapped photos of her, and she decided to play to the camera. Removing the jacket, posing with puckered lips and bedroom eyes as the wind blew through her hair and whipped tendrils across her face.
“Tease,” he said huskily.
The trip ended with them sitting on the cushioned bench, Adelaide backed up to Hector, whose arm stretched along the top of the seat. With one foot curled under her and a glass of wine in hand, Adelaide wound down as the water lapped against the hull and serenaded them in the darkening day.
Regretfully, they couldn’t remain out on the water all night. When they docked at the marina, Adelaide blew out a heavy sigh.
“We have to go,” Hector said quietly, nuzzling her neck.
Before they disembarked, she gave Decker and John a hug and thanked them profusely for an enjoyable evening before Hector took her hand and they walked slowly back to the car.
The ride to the house took place mostly in silence with Adelaide flipping through the photos in Hector’s camera and smiling at
each one. Decker had also taken several candid shots of them and texted them over. She particularly liked the one with them seated close together at the end, quietly sipping wine with the water and buildings in the background. She might blow up the image and frame it.
Back at the house, they walked into the bedroom, where they took a leisurely shower together, kissing and touching with all the intimacy and affection of a couple who’d known each other for a very long time. Finally, they dressed for bed—Adelaide in a nightshirt and Hector in pajama bottoms—and climbed under the covers. Adelaide flung her arm across his broad chest and rested her head in the crook of his arm. Eyes closed, she savored this happy place, her spirit full and content the same way a hearty meal might fill her stomach.
“Addie?” Hector said in a low voice.
“Mmm?” She was already half asleep, and shifted more comfortably against him.
“I never wanted the divorce.”
Her eyes opened and she stared into the near-darkness of the room. “I didn’t, either,” she admitted. “I wanted our situation to change, and when it didn’t, I thought it was better for us to break up.”
They both became quiet.
Hector broke the silence. “I still love you.”
For a minute, she didn’t know what to say or do. She’d never thought she’d hear those words from Hector again.
Carefully, Adelaide eased back so she could see him in the dim light. Damn, her man was beautiful. Even in the moonlight-kissed darkness, she saw how handsome he was. That solid jawline, his thick dark hair, and those eyes that seemed to see deep within her, searching for all her secrets.
Hector had never been a very expressive man. Every time he told her he loved her had been a gift, because for him, his actions more than his words indicated his feelings. The lack of communication had been hard for her to comprehend at first because she was prone to verbalizing her feelings—needed to hear those words after growing up in a household where hearing the words I love you occurred as often as rain in the desert.
She smiled, caressing his jaw and neck, and the solidness of his shoulder—reveling in the fact that she could touch him again.
“I love you, too, Hector. You make me so happy. You’re still the man of my dreams.”
He rolled over and flung an arm across her waist, bringing their faces close together so they were staring into each other’s eyes.
“And you’re still the woman of my dreams. Mi rosa.”
She kissed him softly, tenderly—but soon the kiss became more amorous as their heated bodies pressed against each other. One hand stroked her inner thighs and her sex, making her mewl and arch her back.
“I’m going down to the Carlsbad, to the new location in a few days. Come with me,” Hector whispered huskily. His tongue traced the shell of her ear.
“Yes,” Adelaide answered. With the way he touched and kissed her, she would give him anything he requested.
Hector removed her panties and she pushed his pajamas low enough that he could slide home.
They both groaned and she wound her arms around his neck, thrusting her hips against his.
They climaxed almost simultaneously—bodies shuddering, and their breaths sounding like loudly whispered secrets in the dark room.
14
Hector entered the kitchen and planted a kiss on the side of Adelaide’s neck. His lips were soft and moist and left her skin tingling.
“What was that for?” Adelaide asked.
“Because I can. Because I love kissing you.” His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled.
Adelaide giggled and wrapped her arms round his neck.
“How did the doctor’s visit go today?” Hector asked, backing her into the counter.
While he was at work, she had accompanied Jamie and Daniel on a doctor’s visit. “Great. Jamie’s pregnancy is progressing well, and she’s healthy and following doctor’s orders.”
“Good to hear. When is the next scheduled visit?”
“Next month.”
“I’d like to come.”
“That would be nice, honey. I’m sure Danny would love to have you there.”
“Now for other matters. Ready to head to Carlsbad? We can have dinner there before we come back.”
“Ready,” Adelaide said.
They left the house, and as they pulled out of the driveway, they waved at a neighbor walking his dog. Once they hit the road, the short trip reminded Adelaide of when Hector and Martin had opened their first store. They had been so excited. She and Hector celebrated over an expensive dinner and way too much liquor with Martin and his wife. Having already made plans for a babysitter to stay all night, they took a cab to the hotel where they would be staying and fell into bed and made love. The next morning, hungover and drunk on happiness, they took care of each other and laughed at their behavior but realized they were on their way—an upwardly mobile couple with three kids, ready to take on the world.
In about thirty-five minutes, they arrived at the location. Adelaide stepped out of the Cherokee and looked at the almost-finished building.
“When does the sign get here?” she asked, resting her hands on her hips. There was no permanent sign on the building, but a banner displayed the name of the new business, Solar Beams III.
“I told Martin I wanted to wait, have the sign hung last.”
“You want to make a big deal out of it.” Adelaide understood the idea behind the ceremony of the permanent sign.
Hector draped an arm around her shoulders. “Exactly.”
“You can be sentimental at times,” she teased.
Hector shook his head. “Not me.”
Adelaide chuckled and circled her arms around his waist, gazing up at him. “Yes, you.”
He didn’t seem to hear her, eyes focused on the building in front of them.
“Are you thinking about him?” she asked.
That was the thing about knowing someone for decades. You became attuned to their moods, their hesitations. Thoughts of his father weighed heavy on his mind, and without explicitly asking, he knew she was referring to Papi.
Hector’s father had still been alive when they opened the first store, and no one had been happier or prouder than Papi Flores. Adelaide was certain that everyone in the state of Michoacán knew about his son’s success.
“I wish he were alive to see me achieve my dream. Three stores, just like I told him.”
“I believe he sees you. And he’s proud.”
“Yeah,” Hector said, but his voice sounded distant and filled with longing. He rubbed her back and then took her hand. “I have something else to tell you. As you know, Martin’s mother-in-law is in a fragile mental state with onset Alzheimer’s, and Paula’s been spending a lot more time in Jamaica to take care of her and her younger brother.”
Adelaide nodded. Paula’s brother had Down’s Syndrome, and her mother had been his primary caregiver all these years. Now that her mother’s health was declining, she’d hired someone to live in the house with them, but also spent months at a time in her home country.
“Martin and Paula want to permanently move to Jamaica to help with Paula’s mother and her brother, so he wants me to buy him out.”
Adelaide stepped back. “Really?”
Hector nodded. “We started talking about the possibility a year ago, and two days ago my loan application was approved.”
“Oh, my god, Hector!” Adelaide squealed. She flung her arms around his neck and he laughed, squeezing her tight against his body.
She stepped back. “So you’re going to be the sole owner of the Solar Beams company? All three stores?”
“All three stores. All mine.”
“Oh, baby. I’m so happy for you. You’ve worked so hard. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” In typical Hector fashion, he remained calm and cool, except for the gleam of pride in his eyes.
“We’re having champagne with our meal,” Adelaide said.
“I like that plan. Let
me show you inside and then we’ll head to dinner.”
The interior was still under construction, but already Adelaide saw this store boasted a sleek and modern design, a contrast to the first two stores and their warehouse feel.
For dinner, they settled on an Asian fusion restaurant that served Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese dishes. Once seated at the table, Adelaide flipped open the expansive menu and perused the list of choices.
“How hungry are you?” she asked, glancing at the appetizers.
“Get what you want. You know I’ll end up eating two-thirds of it anyway.” Hector grinned across the table at her.
“Untrue. Okay, partially true.” They both laughed.
Idly, Adelaide scanned the sushi choices, thinking maybe they could start there. She was about to suggest that to Hector when she had the feeling they were being watched. She searched the room, and her eyes landed on a woman seated two tables over. She sat with a man who had just accepted the bill from the waiter, but she didn’t pay him or the waiter any mind, her entire focus directed at Hector.
Something about the way she looked at him made Adelaide uneasy. There was so much longing in her expression that she was certain this wasn’t a simple case of a stranger finding her ex-husband attractive. Adelaide was certain they knew each other.
The woman’s gaze locked with Adelaide’s before quickly looking away.
“How about we start with sushi?” Hector said.
Adelaide swung her gaze back to him and he looked up from the menu. “Um, I was about to suggest the same thing.”
“Let’s get the assorted platter. Do you know what you want for dinner?”
“I’ll have the hibachi shrimp.”
“Mongolian beef for me.” Hector closed his menu.
Should she say something about the woman? The decision was taken out of her hands when the woman and her date came over to the table.
Seasoned Page 17