She flashed an enigmatic smile. “A chef must always be prepared. I wasn’t sure where to find some of the ingredients that I’d need here, so I brought them from home, including my special spice mix for the pork.”
“Good call,” he said with an approving nod. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing muscular forearms lightly dusted with hair. “Need any help? I’m no cook, but you can put me to work.” His lopsided grin made her want to drop everything and wrap her arms around his neck for more kisses.
“I would love some help, but no hanky-panky.” Who was she fooling? She’d been having all kinds of racy thoughts about him since he’d kissed her last night.
His lips curved in a sexy smirk. “No hanky-panky? Why can’t we work and have some of that too?”
“In the kitchen, work comes before play,” she said with mock sternness as she waved her wooden spoon at him.
“Noted, but let’s not rule out the hanky-panky.” The wicked glint in his eyes made her lightheaded with anticipation. “How about we work now and play later?”
She raised a brow. “What did you have in mind?”
“A trip to Rockefeller Center to see the tree and then ice skating. How does that sound?”
“Sounds fun, but I have to warn you…I’ve never ice skated in my life.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll catch you if you fall,” he said confidently.
Her nose wrinkled. “I’m not too sporty. I may bring both of us down.”
He snorted. “A little thing like you? Not a chance. I played ice hockey in high school and college.”
Pilar’s gaze skimmed his athletic build appreciatively. Broad shoulders, lean hips, and a tight butt. He had a powerful physique perfectly suited for ice hockey, a dangerous sport that required strength, speed and agility. She could only imagine how hot he looked racing across the ice with the puck in his hands.
A tingly shiver darted through her at the thought of all those glorious muscles in action, and she had to turn her gaze away. “Let’s get to work. These tamales aren’t going to make themselves. If I was back home, we’d all be gathered for a tamalada.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a tamale making party. My grandmother leads it, and we have a lot of fun catching up and ribbing each other,” she said with a pang of nostalgia. “We usually wait until Nico flies in, so we have a lot of helpers. Abuelita sets up the stations, and we all get to work. This will be the first time I won’t be there.”
“Are you feeling homesick?” Jake’s eyes searched hers.
“A little, but I’m really enjoying being here with you and Emily. You’ve been wonderful hosts.” She didn’t want him to think she didn’t appreciate their hospitality. She grabbed one of Emily’s aprons hanging on the side of the supply closet and handed it to him. “Put this on so you don’t ruin your nice shirt.”
“Forget it.” He raised a restraining hand. “I draw the line at wearing frilly aprons.”
Amused by his knee-jerk reaction, Pilar said, “Aw, too bad. I was hoping to Instagram it.”
His lips twitched. “No, thanks.” He picked up the spoon and tasted the chicken filling. “Mmm, so good. What is the chicken mixed with?”
“Mole sauce.” She grinned. “You know I had to make something with chocolate in it.”
The corners of his eyes creased. “Of course.” He shook his head in amusement. “You and my mother. Die-hard chocoholics. What’s in the other pot?”
“Shredded pork and green chilies. I’m thrilled your mom has an Instant Pot. The pork was ready in only an hour. The chicken was even faster.”
“Great. How many people are coming tomorrow?”
“Only nine. You, Emily, Choco Bear, Gracie and her husband, Jean Claude and his wife, Myla and me. Your mom said she’s treating the salesgirls to a holiday lunch on Monday.”
“Yeah, she does that for them every year. A nice lunch with a nice bonus.” He pointed to the cornhusks. “What are you doing with those?”
“They form the outer shell for the tamales. The masa is ready to go inside them.” She pointed to the pillowy dough resting in a large ceramic bowl.
He eyed her incredulously. “I’m amazed you made all this while I was out.”
She wrapped a dishtowel around his front, and he looked down at her, a smile lurking when she tucked the ends into the sides of his jeans.
“Did you get everything you wanted?” she asked, drawn in by his winsome smile.
“Not yet. I have one more gift to buy. Has my mother checked in?”
“Yes, she picked up Suzette and left with her about an hour ago. She said she’s going to visit a friend and won’t be home until later tonight.” Pilar indicated the cornhusks that she’d softened and separated. “These are ready to fill. I could use your help assembling them.”
“Sure, just show me how.”
“You put the husks together like this, add the dough and spoon in a generous heaping of the filling. Then you pull the ends of the husks to overlap like this, so it forms a little canoe. Secure the ends and it up with a piece of butcher’s twine.”
“Sounds complicated.”
“Nah, you’ll get the hang of it in no time.”
He lifted one of her hands and studied it. His grip was gentle making her aware of how well he tempered his strength. Her breath caught at the electrifying current that flowed from his big hand into hers.
“Your hands are beautiful. So soft and graceful,” he murmured. “They slay me.”
Her gaze flew to his, stunned by the heat engulfing her. He turned her hand over and pressed a soft kiss in the palm, the brush of his lips warm velvet against her skin. A shot of lust shook her to the core as she stared into his gleaming eyes. She swallowed hard and tore her gaze away, willing the flare of hot desire to subside.
“Don’t forget our deal. Work now and play later,” she managed to utter in lightheaded arousal.
He released her hand with a resigned sigh. “That’s right, we agreed to no hanky-panky…for now.” A wry smile lingered. “Did they deliver the wine yet?” he said, smoothly changing the subject.
“Yes, I told the delivery guy to put the case in the dining room. Since we have two pregnant ladies coming tomorrow, I’m also making a nonalcoholic fruit punch called Ponche Navideño. Have you ever had it?”
“I don’t think so.”
“It’s a warm, spiced Christmas punch. The base is comprised of piloncillo, which is dark brown unrefined sugar, mixed with cinnamon sticks and water. To that we add citrus and other fruits in season, but the key ingredient is the tejocote fruit.”
His brow knitted. “I’ve never heard of tejocote.”
“They’re kind of like crabapples. I brought canned ones in case I couldn’t find them fresh here. On Christmas Eve, the whole house smells heavenly while it simmers on the stove.”
“It can’t possibly smell more heavenly than you,” he said, kissing the top of her head.
She leaned her head on his shoulder and smiled to herself. He was incorrigible, glibly agreeing to work hard, yet continuing to distract her with sweet seduction. She gave him a quick hug. “You smell wonderful too, now back to work.”
“Hi, kids. Sorry to interrupt you. Again,” she heard Emily call out with an ironic laugh, startling Pilar.
She and Jake turned in unison. Emily held Suzette in her arms and smiled at them.
“Look who I ran into,” Emily said casually. Standing beside her, Jessica looked gorgeous and sleek in her cashmere coat and angora hat.
Pilar’s high spirits plummeted when she saw how comfortable Jessica looked in Emily’s home. It was the type of ease acquired over many years.
“Hi, there,” Jessica said. “What a surprise to see you cooking, Jake. Never thought I’d see the day.” A taunting smile played at her lips.
“Hey, Jess, what are you doing here?” Jake said.
She held up a shopping bag. “You left this behind at my parents’ place. Didn’t you notice you were missing a ba
g?”
“No, I didn’t,” Jake said. “Thanks for bringing it over.”
Jessica slanted a special smile at Jake as if he were the only one in the room. “It’s the least I could do after the wonderful lunch we had.”
With growing unease, Pilar considered Jessica’s self-assured familiarity with Jake. Clearly, she was smitten with him and out to capture his heart, but Jake had assured Pilar that they were childhood friends and nothing else. Distrust reared its head as she watched Jessica lower her lashes and send Jake a smoldering look.
Pilar’s narrowed gaze flicked to Jake. He didn’t look the least bit guilty over not mentioning that he’d had lunch with Jessica and visited with her parents. It wouldn’t have mattered so much if he hadn’t been flirting with her just now, seducing her with hot kisses and sexy banter.
“Excuse me,” Pilar said. “I have to make a phone call.” Avoiding Jake’s eyes and Emily’s questioning gaze, she exited the kitchen quickly.
As soon as she got inside her room, she sat on the edge of the bed and hunched forward, letting her head drop in her hands. Just when things were heating up between her and Jake, Jessica had to arrive and ruin everything.
And then there was Jake. What was his deal? Was he toying with her? She couldn’t tell.
Men. Though she had two brothers, she still couldn’t figure them out. She hated the way she felt, her heart hurting and her trust dissipating rapidly. She might be overreacting, but she’d been hurt too badly by Ben not to recoil from even a hint of deception.
Why had she blindly accepted everything Jake had told her? He was too good to be true. She should have stayed strong and not let him sweep her off her feet. There had to be a reason why he was being so attentive and sweet to her…
It’s because he’s trying to get into your pants, her sister would’ve bluntly said. Maybe Erica was right. Pilar hated to believe it, but that might’ve been Jake’s sole goal from the start. He was leaving the country in a month and hadn’t mentioned when he’d be back.
It’s not as if she didn’t want him to make love to her. She thought of it all the time, but she wanted more. She needed romance and a commitment. Was that too much to ask? She also wanted to get married and have babies. She wasn’t the fling type. She was too sensitive for that. Her heart had already been crushed by Ben and she missed his little Molly dearly.
Pilar drew in deep breaths, attempting to lighten the leaden weight in her heart as she made a crucial decision. It wouldn’t be easy, but she had to do it.
Chapter 11
Jake waited until Jessica left and Emily took Suzette for a walk before seeking out Pilar. She hadn’t resurfaced since abandoning the tamale making, and he was eager to resume their banter in the kitchen. A wide grin spread over his face as he remembered her dance to “Feliz Navidad” wiggling her shapely bottom and shimmying her high, round breasts. Those curves were dangerous. Just thinking about them put him in a maddening state of arousal.
He switched his mental image to how she’d reacted when she caught him watching her. She had spazzed out, her arms flailing and her cheeks turning red. She was so damned cute and sexy, he could have watched her all day.
He reached her door and was about to knock on it when she flung it open, catching him by surprise.
“Oh,” she said, stepping back. “What are you doing here?” Her tone didn’t sound welcoming.
“I came to see what’s holding you up.”
“I told you I needed to make a phone call,” she said in an even tone.
“That was a long time ago,” he remarked casually, wondering why she had a fight-or-flight look in her eyes.
“Excuse me. I need to get back to work.” She brushed past him and headed to the kitchen without a backward glance.
He followed behind, happily distracted by the enticing sway of her round hips below her small waist. What he would give to wrap his hands around that little waist and pull her in for a long session of lovemaking.
“Is everything OK?” he inquired when they got to the kitchen, and she remained silent.
“Everything is fine,” she said not meeting his gaze. She reached for a cornhusk and began to fill it.
Taking his place beside her, he said, “Don’t you want me to do that so you can fold and tie them up?”
“No, thank you. I can do it myself.” She gave him the side-eye. “I’m sure you have better things to do.”
Taken aback, he stared at her, trying to gauge what had happened to dampen her previous cheerful mood. “Not really. I’m on vacation.”
“Well, I’m not on vacation.” Her stiff tone held a formal edge that he’d never heard before.
“I want to help so later we can see the tree at Rockefeller Center and go ice skating. That was the deal, wasn’t it?”
She made a production of folding the edges of the cornhusk over the filled tamale. “I can’t go out with you tonight. I have too much to do.” She tied the ends together with a snap, her hands tense. “Thanks, anyway.”
“What’s wrong?” He tilted her chin to meet his gaze when she didn’t respond. “Have I done something to upset you?”
Her solemn gaze flickered to his and held it without softening. “I’m upset with myself. I’ve been very unprofessional,” she said quietly.
He frowned. “What does that mean?”
“Emily flew me up here for a job. She is hosting me in her home and paying me generously to cater her party tomorrow. I am also doing the desserts for the anniversary party,” she reminded him. “I need to work, but you just want to play.”
“I want you,” he countered. The smile died on his lips when he saw the stark wariness in her eyes.
“You’re distracting me, Jake. Please let me get back to work,” she said, returning to her task.
Wham. Her firm rejection slammed into him ruthlessly. Why was she giving him the deep freeze? What had happened during her phone call to elicit this behavior when a while ago she was all honey and spice?
He gazed at her in consternation. Something had her apron in a twist. “Fair enough. I’ll leave you to your tasks,” he said reluctantly. “I’m going for a walk. If you change your mind, call me.”
He strode out of the kitchen and grabbed his coat, muffler and gloves on his way to the door. Stepping outside, he decided to seek out his mother on the usual path she took with Suzette. They were long overdue for a talk about The Sweet Spot.
As he descended the stone stairwell, Jake spotted Emily several houses down the block and noticed that her gait was slower and more measured than in years past. He also noted she was favoring her recently broken foot. She needed to move to Naples as soon as possible and avoid the icy streets in the upcoming months. There were no ifs, ands or buts about it.
She’d been lucky that her broken foot had been a clean break and healed well. Dr. Blake, her orthopedic surgeon, had cautioned that next time Emily might not be so fortunate. He’d seen many patients end up with a concussion or worse from a fall on black ice. The fact that Mom was in her mid-70s and had arthritis made it all the more perilous if she were to fall again. When the doctor had suggested she start taking cars everywhere, she’d rejected the idea like a native New Yorker accustomed to walking everywhere.
Sprinting toward her, Jake reached her side in no time. “Hey, Mom, wait up. I want to walk with you.” He bent down and scratched Suzette behind her fuzzy ears. “We need to talk.” He took the dog’s leash in his hands and fell in step with Emily.
“I’m always happy to chat with my favorite son,” she said cheerfully. “Sorry I interrupted your cozy moment with Pilar. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so into cooking. Must’ve been the sweet company,” she said, eyes twinkling impishly.
“Yeah, well, her company is more on the salty side now.”
“Salty?” She shot him a quizzical glance. “What do you mean by that?”
Jake ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “She’s upset with me, and I have no idea why.”
; Emily stopped and studied him for a long moment. “You truly don’t know why?”
“No,” he said, puzzled by her incredulous look. “I’m not a mind reader.”
“Don’t be dense, Jake. I saw Pilar’s reaction when Jessica started flirting with you. She didn’t look very happy about it.”
Jake made a scoffing sound. “Jess wasn’t flirting. She acts like that with everyone.” He lifted a dismissive hand. “Even if she were flirting, she’d be wasting her time. I’m not into her romantically. I enjoy her company but only as a friend.”
“Then tell that to Pilar.”
“I did.”
“Jessica moved back here to win you over,” Emily continued with a hint of impatience. “Don’t tell me you haven’t realized that. I can practically see the wheels turning in her head when she flutters her lashes at you. She acts like you’re Adonis.”
He laughed shortly. “Who says I’m not?” When Emily rolled her eyes, he said, “All kidding aside, I don’t have to keep telling Pilar that I don’t have feelings for Jess. One time should be enough.”
“Actions speak louder than words, Jake,” Emily said, unconvinced. “You may have said that you weren’t interested in Jessica, but you had lunch with her, and then visited with her parents. What were you thinking?”
“It’s no big deal. Her parents have always been wonderful to me, and I enjoy spending time with her father. We had a lot to catch up on.” He blew out sharp breath and watched it form a puffy cloud in the frigid air. “I don’t want to talk about Jessica anymore,” he said, impatient to end the conversation. The less Mom opined about his personal life, the better. “Let’s talk about the future of The Sweet Spot.”
“Yes, let’s.” She gave him a sidelong glance.
“I came up with a plan I think will work for everyone.”
“You have?” She peered up at him with a hopeful smile. “How wonderful! I knew you couldn’t be so cold-hearted.”
“I am not cold-hearted,” he replied, “but before you get too excited, let me explain. I’ve reached out to a few promising buyers, and I may have a bite—”
The Holiday Sweet Spot: An opposites attract, gorgeous, feel-good romantic comedy (Falcons in Love Book 2) Page 9