Hot & Spicy: De La Cruz Saga

by Macias, P. T.

  “Oh, hermano, let’s hope he didn’t,” said Jose Enrique, shaking his cabeza. “He will be pissed, if he thinks that his suegros will get mad at him.”

  “I know, but I’m not playing with her,” said Javier. “I want her now, but we can’t get married now.”

  “Si, hermano, I understand, and I will help you where I can. Let me think of something. Maybe we can get together and go bowling with Chris, Mona, Jessy, me, you, and tu mujer,” said Jose Enrique, smiling. “Hmm, this is a great idea. We can go around one. It will be lots of fun, and nobody will notice,” he said grinning. “You haven’t told me tu mujer’s name.”

  “Hermano, her name is Gabriella Acosta,” said Javier smiling with alegría. “Bowling sounds fun. Call Chris, and ask him.”

  “Okay, hermano. I’ll call him in a bit. We need to give him some time to enjoy his mujer,” said Jose Enrique grinning. “So you spent all night with tu mujer at Chris’s?”

  “Si, hermano,” said Javier smiling. “It is worth it.”

  “I bet, from all of those love bites. You need to put on a T-shirt or something. You have to get used to covering up or else you will get caught,” said Jose Enrique smirking. “Make sure not to mark her anywhere that can be seen.”

  “Si, hermano,” said Javier. “Do you know where I can get the ring?”

  “Si, we can go together after breakfast,” said Jose Enrique, looking at the relief on Javier’s cara. “We will work around things as we go.”

  “Hermano, that’s exactly what mi chiquita said,” he said, smiling.

  “Okay, hermano, let’s go and have breakfast. Everything will work out,” said Jose Enrique, walking back to la casa, thinking of everything Javier told him. I need to help them.

  Javier follows his hermano with relief. Before they enter la casa, he stops Jose Enrique. “Hermano, gracias,” he said, trying to control his emotions, looking at his older hermano.

  Jose Enrique gives him a hug. “Hermano, I will always have your back,” he said with a hoarse voice. “We’ll survive todo juntos.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

  JOSE ENRIQUE AND JAVIER ARE finishing their breakfast when Chris calls la casa. Jose Enrique picks up. “Hola,” he said, thinking of calling Jessy. I think that she’s slept long enough, he thought.

  “Hola, primo, it’s Chris,” said Chris, watching Mona finish eating her breakfast.

  “Hola, primo, do you have any plans today?” asks Jose Enrique, looking at Javier smile.

  “Not really, just going to Sunday familia dinner, and Mona sister is with us,” said Chris, watching Gaby go out to the backyard.

  “Oh, that’s even better. I want to know if you wanted to go bowling with me y Jessy. You can bring Mona’s sister along. I’ll even drag Javier so we have teams,” said Jose Enrique, grinning at Javier’s look of relief.

  “Primo, I think that will be fun. Give me a minute,” said Chris, turning to Mona with a smile.

  “Mi cielo, mi primo Jose Enrique wants us to go bowling with him and Jessy. He said he will drag Javier with him so we can have teams. Don’t you think that Gaby would enjoy that?” He smiles at Mona.

  “Baby, that does sounds like fun, and Gaby will be thrilled. Si, I want to go,” said Mona smiling, looking at Chris, nodding.

  “Okay,” said Chris. “Primo, yeah, we want to go bowling. What time?”

  “Primo, I was thinking about one. Maybe we should have lunch and then go bowling,” said Jose Enrique smiling, looking at Javier get all excited. “We should go and have some Italian food.”

  “Si, primo, that sounds good. We will meet you at the Italian restaurant that we like at noon,” said Chris, smiling as Mona smiles, shaking her head in pleasure.

  “Okay, we will meet you at noon,” said Jose Enrique, ending the call. I need to call Jessy and let her know. I know she will want to go bowling. “Hola, mi amor,” said Jose Enrique smiling. “How is your morning?”

  “Hola, mi vida, I’m doing great,” said Jessy beaming with gusto.

  “Mi amor, I made plans to go to lunch and bowling with Chris y Mona. Chris has his cunada with them, so I’m dragging Javier, so we have teams,” said Jose Enrique, enjoying his plans.

  “Oh, that sounds like fun. I haven’t gone bowling in years. Okay, what time will you pick me up?” asks Jessy, looking at the clock, thinking, Good thing I took a shower already.

  “I’ll pick you up about eleven thirty. I’m going on some errands with Javier,” said Jose Enrique, looking at Javier look at the clock. “We have plenty of time to do our errands.”

  “Okay, mi vida,” said Jessy. “See you in a few.”

  “Okay. In a few, mi amor,” said Jose Enrique, ending the call. He then starts calling the jeweler to have them ready with rings.

  “Good morning, Smith & Sons, Mr. Smith speaking,” said Mr. Smith.

  “Hi Mr. Smith, this is Jose Enrique De La Cruz,” he said grinning. “I’m calling to make arrangements to purchase some wedding rings for my brother. We will like an appointment for this morning in about thirty minutes. Will that be a problem?”

  “Mr. De La Cruz thanks for your returned patronage. It will be a pleasure to have the rings ready for your selection. I guarantee a large selection will be available,” said Mr. Smith nodding with pleasure.

  “Excellent Mr. Smith, we’ll be there shortly,” said Jose Enrique, smiling at his hermano’s smile.

  “I’ll be awaiting your arrival,” said Mr. Smith, ending the call.

  “Okay, let’s go and get your wedding rings,” said Jose Enrique, looking at his hermano’s excited cara, walking out the door to his carro.

  “Hermano, I will always remember tu ayuda, and I will never forget,” said Javier, smiling, “Gracias.”

  “Hermano, that is why I’m here,” said Jose Enrique, smiling. “We will have a wonderful time.”

  They arrive at the jewelers, and Mr. Smith is waiting for their arrival with a smile. “Mr. De La Cruz, it’s a pleasure.”

  “Thanks, Mr. Smith. This is my brother Javier De La Cruz, and he needs to purchase his wedding rings,” said Jose Enrique.

  “A pleasure, Mr. De La Cruz,” said Mr. Smith, shaking Javier’s mano.

  “Yes, nice to meet you,” said Javier beaming.

  “I have the private room ready for you with several rings for your selection,” said Mr. Smith, leading them to the room.

  “Hermano, let’s look and see which one you like. If Gabriella doesn’t like them, we can exchange them. Isn’t that correct, Mr. Smith?” asks Jose Enrique smiling, looking at Mr. Smith.

  “That’s correct, Mr. De La Cruz,” said Mr. Smith nodding with pleasure, smiling. We will always accommodate the De La Cruz. They are a real good customer, thought Mr. Smith.

  “Hermano, help me pick some nice rings for mi chiquita,” said Javier, viewing the entire collection of rings on display with confusion. “They all look the same to me.”

  “Hermano, let’s get her some really nice big diamonds with a matching groom’s ring. I know that Gabriella will like that,” said Jose Enrique, picking up an awesome wedding set. Yeah, this is huge and sparkles like crazy. Las mujers love sparkles. “Do you like this one?”

  Javier takes the ring, holding it close, inspecting the huge diamonds in the ring. It sparkles so much, just like mi chiquita’s ojos. Hmmm, it’s precioso.

  “Mr. De La Cruz, that particular ring is certainly a fine piece of jewelry. Its clarity is magnificent. That is a princess cut diamond with gradual princess cut diamonds going down the band. The matching wedding band has additional princess cut diamonds going down the band. This is the matching groom’s wedding band. It has several princess-cut diamonds in the center with a little more masculine engraved line on the sides,” said Mr. Smith with extreme pleasure, thinking, these are the biggest ones I have.

  “Si hermano, they’re awesome, and I want these for mi chiquita,” said Javier nodding with elation.

  “Excellent hermano, and I also recommend that
you get her something for her birthday,” said Jose Enrique, amused at Javier’s pleased look.

  “Like what?” asks Javier, looking around for some other styles of jewelry?

  “Maybe you should get her a bracelet or necklace,” said Jose Enrique, glancing at Mr. Smith with a raised eyebrow. “Do you have any suggestions?”

  “I do, Mr. De La Cruz. We have beautiful bracelets that will match the wedding rings. I will get them,” said Mr. Smith beaming.

  “Okay,” said Jose Enrique, viewing the other rings.

  “Can we have Mr. Smith gift wrap the birthday gift?” asks Javier, pleased, thinking about how feliz his chiquita is going to be.

  Mr. Smith returns with several bracelets that were diamonds with precious stones. The stones were princess cut.

  “Mr. De La Cruz, here they are,” said Mr. Smith brightly.

  “Yes,” said Jose Enrique smiling, scrutinizing the bracelets. “Hermano, look at these. They all match the rings. You just select the color that you want to give her. The blue stones are sapphires, the red stones are rubies, the green stones are emeralds, and of course, diamonds.”

  “Hermano, I like them all, but how about her birthstone?” asks Javier. “Her birthday is today.”

  “I do have an amethyst with diamonds. The amethyst is the birthstone for June,” said Mr. Smith smiling. “I’ll bring it out for your inspection.”

  “Hermano, that is a great idea,” said Jose Enrique, looking at Javier. “I’m sure she’ll like it.”

  “I know she will,” said Javier nodding in agreement.

  “Here is the bracelet. It’s very lovely,” said Mr. Smith beaming with satisfaction.

  Javier takes the bracelet in his mano appreciating brilliance. Si, this one will be perfect for mi chiquita. I can see it on her. “Si hermano, this one is perfecto.”

  “Okay, Mr. Smith. We made our selections. We will like to have the bracelet gift wrapped, it’s a birthday gift,” said Jose Enrique muy contento, smiling, handing him his card.

  “Yes, Mr. De La Cruz. It will be just a few moments,” said Mr. Smith with gratification. Yes, this is an awesome sale.

  “Gracias, hermano,” said Javier, smiling.

  “I’m paying for them because your card’s limit is low,” said Jose Enrique, pleased with accomplishing to get the engagement rings y birthday gift in one stop. “We’ll increase tu limit now since you have a novia to spoil.”

  Javier smiles at his hermano. Yeah, I do have a novia to spoil. I should get a carro. “Do you think I can get a carro? I use Mama’s carro when I’m en casa?” asks Javier.

  “Si, but I would wait until you’re done with the Navy. Get a carro that you will enjoy for the next couple of years,” said Jose Enrique. “Right now that you’re young, and only you two to worry about, you can get a fun carro. Later on, you will need to get a familia carro,” said Jose Enrique, enjoying Javier’s excitement.

  “Hermano, you think of everything,” said Javier, smiling at his hermano, “Gracias.”

  Mr. Smith returns with the purchases and the card. “Thank you, Mr. De La Cruz for your returned patronage. If the young lady doesn’t like the rings or bracelet, we’ll be happy to exchange them.”

  “Thank you for excellent service,” said Jose Enrique.

  “Thank you Mr. Smith.” said Javier, smiling, extremely pleased with his purchases.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

  THEIR ERRANDS ARE NOW COMPLETE and now are proceeding to pick up Jessy. Jose Enrique went to get her.

  Javier remains in the carro thinking of Gabriella. Mi chiquita is going to get all excited with her bracelet and rings. Hmm, she probably can’t wear them around la casa. I can’t wait to see her.

  Jose Enrique and Jessy were out of la casa approaching the carro. Jose Enrique assists Jessy into el carro.

  Jessy turns to Javier. “Hola, Javier,” she said, animated. “We’re going to have lots of fun.”

  “Si Jessy, I can’t wait to go to have some lunch,” said Javier, smiling. Hmmm, I’m going to see her, but when am I going to be able to love her?

  They arrive at the Italian restaurant. Chris, Mona, and Gabriella are waiting for them outside.

  Jose Enrique assists Jessy out of el carro. Javier is already striding toward the entrance of the restaurant, anxious to see his chiquita. I need to see her to wish her feliz cumpleanos.

  Javier turns the corner stopping when he sees his hermosa chiquita. Wow, what happen? She really doesn’t look seventeen. Mi chiquita es toda una bella mujer, mi mujer, he thought, walking toward her beaming with gusto. “Feliz cumpleanos, Gabriella,” he said, giving her a hug y un beso on her cheek, whispering, “I love you,” pulling back to enjoy her huge sparkling brown ojos.

  “Gracias, Javier.” She smiles, gazing into his hermoso green ojos, appreciating todo su amor, wishing she could give him un beso.

  “Primo, so you know that Gabriella es toda una mujer?” asks Chris, observing his primo’s reaction y amor in his ojos. Hmm, what’s going on, or better still, what went on? I need to look into this. It’s okay if he’s serious, pero if Javier is playing; no way in hell will I allow that.

  “Si primo, Gabriella es toda una mujer and is going to college to be a medical assistant,” said Javier smiling. “Una mujer that knows what she wants.” And she wants me.

  Jose Enrique y Jessy approaches the group, watching Javier greet Gabriella with un beso on her cheek y a hug. They didn’t hear the exchange until they drew closer

  “Hola, primos,” said Jose Enrique, beholding Gabriella. Hmm, so this is mi hermano’s mujer, y he is right. She sure as hell doesn’t look like she’s only seventeen. Oh dios mio, no wonder mi poor hermano fell so hard for her. She’s una belleza, and you can see that she truly loves mi hermano. I will definitely have to help them. Good thing that Javier confided in me. He is right. She deserves the rings and anything else. She is una buena mujer.

  “Hola primos,” said Chris, noticing that Javier is still holding Gabriella en his brazos, not realizing that he still did.

  “Hola,” said Mona cheerfully, thinking, I wonder if Javier is interested in mi hermana. It will be fantastic. I know he is un gran hombre, and he appears like he doesn’t want to let her go.

  “Hermano, Jessy, this is Gabriella Acosta, Monique’s hermana,” said Javier, smiling, glancing at his hermano. “It’s her cumpleanos today.”

  “Gabriella, this is mi hermano Jose Enrique y su bella novia Jessy,” said Javier.

  Jose Enrique walks over to her. “Mucho gusto, Gabriella, y feliz cumpleanos,” he said, giving her a hug stepping back.

  Jessy went over to her. “Feliz cumpleanos Gabriella, mucho gusto,” said Jessy, giving her a hug y un beso on her cheek.

  “Gracias,” said Gabriella blushing, thinking, I pray, Dios mio, don’t allow anybody to ask mi age. I don’t need to remind them of mi age. I only want mi baby.

  “Okay, let’s enter to have lunch and celebrate,” said Chris smiling, walking into restaurant.

  Jose Enrique walks over to Javier. “Hermano, we’re going in,” he said, smiling at Gabriella. “I’ll give you a few moments.”

  “Si hermano,” said Javier, smiling at Gabriella, pulling her a little closer.

  Jose Enrique and Jessy enter the restaurant following Chris y Mona. Hmmm, this is really complicated because they can’t hide their feelings. I know that Chris y Mona noticed it. Maybe I need to get them on board.

  They sit down around the table, leaving two chairs for Javier y Gabriella.

  “Primo did you notice Javier’s interest in Gabriella?” asks Chris, looking at his primo.

  “Si primo, will that be un problema?” asks Jose Enrique, looking into Chris’s ojos to evaluate what he’s thinking. “I believe that Javier is sincerely interested in Gabriella as su novio.”

  Mona hears the insinuation of a relationship and is extremely pleased. “I don’t see why it should be a problema. They are both young y single,” said Mona, nodding her cabeza wit
h pleasure.

  “Claro, if Javier is interested in a sincerely serious relationship as su novio, I don’t think there will be any problemas with mi suegro,” said Chris smiling, nodding in agreement.

  “Si, I believe that he’s interested in Gabriella, and I think that we should be supportive,” said Jose Enrique pleased.

  “Okay, I agree and only if he’s serious,” said Chris. “He still needs to talk to mi suegro.”

  “Si, I absolutely agree, but I also believe that since he’s still in the Navy, he should wait until he’s out. Why cause any ripples in the water when it will not be often that he’s en casa? While he’s in the Navy and when he is on leave, they can go out with us as couples. Then when he is finished with his duty in the Navy, he can go and speak to her padres,” said Jose Enrique, smiling at Chris y Mona.

  “Primo, I see your point, and I think it will work until he’s out. When he’s out, he needs to talk to mi suegro because I don’t want any problemas,” said Chris, glancing at Mona. “What do you think?”

  “Baby, I consider that if they love each other, we should support whatever they want. I recognize that mi hermana is a little joven, but she’s toda una mujer. She’s going to college, and I substantiate that she knows what she wants. I don’t have any issues as long as she doesn’t get pregnant. Mi padre will be pissed about that,” said Mona smiling. “I don’t know what’s going on with them, but I will find out.”

  “Mona, I’m elated that you agree,” said Jose Enrique. “The idea behind this outing is to allow them time to talk and see each other. Javier got her a birthday gift.”

  “I see that he is interested,” said Chris delighted.

  “I don’t see the problema,” said Jessy. “We know when we find our amor, our alma, the one.”

  “Si, but the issue is that Gabriella is a little joven,” said Jose Enrique, looking at Mona, praying she doesn’t say her age.

  Mona is considering Jose Enrique and immediately realizes exactly what his concern is. Si, that is an issue, but we can work around it, she thought “Si, she’s a little joven, but they can work around that with our help,” said Mona smiling, agreeing with Jose Enrique, noting his nod.