I make a face. “Burritos stuffed with gold flakes and caviar? That sounds disgusting. Also, can you even digest gold?” Or does it come back out? I decide not to ask.
“Not stuffed, just topped with gold and caviar.”
“Still a big fat no from me.” Don’t need somebody breaking into my home to steal my shit. Literally.
“Right?” She smiles. “I knew you had good taste.”
“Okay, well… Is there a particular restaurant you like?”
“How about Manny’s Tacos?”
If she’s going to be this specific, we’re having Mexican. “Why don’t you call and see if we can get a table?”
“Got it.”
Yuna manages to score a private party room for us at Manny’s without dropping my name. I have to admit, I’m impressed.
“How did you do that?” I ask.
“The usual way—connections and networking.” She winks. “A friend of mine’s uncle owns the chain, actually. And nobody’s using the party room.”
“Come on. Let’s go.”
We go to the garage and climb into my green Lamborghini. Yuna regards the car without much interest, like she carries one in her purse or something. It’s a…different reaction. Most women tend to fawn. But I like it that she’s cool. Makes me feel like an actual person rather than a celeb to score so you can brag about it.
“So where did you park?”
She frowns. “Park?”
“Yeah, park. Your car.”
“Oh. Don’t have one.”
“How come? No time to go buy one?”
She’s only been in the city for a few days. She might not have had time to shop. Although with the kind of money her family has, why would she need more than a day to leave the lot with a Porsche or something?
“Among other things.”
“You need to get one soon. It’s hard to get around in the city without your own wheels.”
“I know.” She smiles politely, but doesn’t elaborate.
Maybe she’s one of those people who likes to spend a lot of time shopping. My stepmom Chantel is like that. To her, half the fun is looking around. I don’t get it, because isn’t it more efficient and sensible to just get what you want and get the hell away from pushy salespeople?
The car is starting to take on Yuna’s aroma. The same hot-as-hell floral scent combined with warm, sweet woman. I inha
le deeply, then sigh over how addictive it is. She must’ve laced her body wash with opium. There’s no other explanation for why I not only want to inhale her but consume her. I can’t just ignore her and think about something else like I did with my exes. Her very presence puts my nervous system on full alert.
I watch her surreptitiously to see if she’s checking me out. Her eyes shift my way a couple of times, but she doesn’t look like she’s really cataloging my assets. I even flex my arms a little, but—nothing.
Well, whatever. It’s just the first day out of eight weeks we’re going to spend together, and my face and body are all the convincing that’s needed. She’s playing it cool now, but eventually she’ll crack.
Forty minutes later, we pull into a garage with a few empty spaces and park the car. I slap on a pair of sunglasses, and we walk over to the restaurant.
Manny’s Tacos is crowded, the cool air replete with the smell of Mexican food that starts making my mouth water. After Yuna speaks to the hostess, we’re taken to a private room in the back, where Yuna immediately orders the beef taco lunch that comes with a side salad and a Diet Coke. I order my favorite, the beef burrito special—no rice—and mineral water.
Our server brings a generous basket of chips and salsa. Yuna immediately digs in.