Hot & Spicy: De La Cruz Saga (5 page)

CHAPTER SIX
 

“HOLA
AMIGA
I
’
M
OVER
HERE
waiting for you. I’m a little early. Do you want me to order your lunch?” asks Jessy immensely excited.

“Hola Jessy, si that will be great. This will allow us to have some extra time talking y reviewing our game plan. I want un taco de carne asada y un taco de pollo with everything on it y a diet Coke,” said Paty. “I’m leaving now and will be there in five minutes, okay?”

“Okay” said Jessy ending the call to order their lunch.

I need to hurry. Maybe I will not run into Bella. I should take the stairs. No, it will take too long. Hmmm, we are talking about nineteen floors.
She pushes the elevator button stepping into it with a sigh of relief.
Good. Nobody sees me leave.
She enters the parking garage without anyone seeing her. She strides toward her carro, a nice silver coupe Mercedes.

Great, I almost made it. Jose Enrique is waiting for me. I bet he knows that I will be meeting Jessy.

“No, you cannot go, absolutely not. You cannot come with me. Tu novia y yo will be reviewing the plan. I have to pep talk her. She is also extremely nervous, you know. You are a big catch even if it is just pretending. She does remember you,” states Paty with lots of frustration glaring at Jose Enrique.

“Okay, okay. I thought I will try it, I know you will not allow me to accompany you,” said Jose Enrique with a big sigh, crossing his brazos.

“I think I will walk to the sandwich shop down the street all by myself,” said Jose Enrique attempting to make her feel bad.

“Stop it. It will not work, so stop it! Adios!” said Paty as she enters her carro locking the doors. Just in case he tries to get in. She smiles waving sweetly to her hermano as she backs out of the parking space.

That was close. Dios mio, good thing he did not push hard
, thought Paty driving down the road toward her favorite taco stand.
It’s such a hermoso day to eat outdoors under the shade. I hope Jessy gets a real good table. Oh, good. There’s a parking space right next to Jessy’s carro.

She slides into the parking spot jumping out in a hurry as soon as she turns off the carro. She quickly grabs her purse as she exits the carro.

“Hola Jessy” Paty shouts in greeting as she runs toward Jessy giving her a hug.

“I’m starving. Jose Enrique tried to tag along, and I did not allow it,” laughs Paty, sitting down.

Jessy looks around all worried. “Are you sure he did not follow you?” Jessy asks, looking around. She heaves a sigh of relief when she didn’t see him turning back to talk to Paty.

“Paty, I’m so nervous. What if he doesn’t like me? I know he will like mi work, no problema. What if he doesn’t like me?” asks Jessy real anxious. “Do you like what I’m wearing? Is mi makeup okay? You don’t think I put too much makeup on? Is mi lipstick too dark? Oh, look at mi cute pumps. I think they are so sexy, don’t you?” she asks excited y wanting confirmation.

Paty is amazed looking at her best amiga ever with disbelief. She tries not to choke on her taco.
I cannot believe her. She is extremely bella and doesn’t know it. Maybe it’s because Jose Enrique never noticed her before?

“Jessy, you need to eat y stop worrying. Everything will be okay. I told you before that Jose Enrique will love you. Okay? Stop it! Let me eat mi lunch in peace,” said Paty, laughing at her.

Jessy stares at her best amiga in astonishment.
I cannot believe Paty is so calm.
Grabbing her taco very irritated thinking,
yeah, she’s calm because it’s not her that is sticking her cabeza out, Geez.

Paty observes Jessy’s emotions y refrains from laughing.
Jose Enrique y Jessy are going to drive me crazy. I can just image if they do get married. What a pain they will be when they get mad at each other. Oh dios mio, I didn’t think of this before matching them up.
She looks Jessy over deciding that
she accomplished to look professional y real sexy. Everything will be okay
.

“Jessy, did you bring your best interior design presentation for us to review? I hope you included some Mexican influenced designs. Most of our buildings have an elegant Mexican influence and are eco-friendly. I think warm colors will be best. What do you think?” asks Paty.

“Si, amiga I think the same and I did some research on your buildings. I decided to use more Mexican-influenced designs for your office buildings. I know that you will like them,” said Jessy with felicidad.

“Okay. Just be your professional self. Jose Enrique will be impressed. You look great,” said Paty, attempting to calm her amiga down.

“Let’s finish our lunch so we can get to the conference room early. I want to get back before everybody returns from lunch,” said Paty. “Jose Enrique might ask you out to dinner, so you two can get to know each other better,” Paty adds, trying to forewarn Jessy.

“I think that will be a good idea. The grand day is in ten weeks, isn’t it?” asks Jessy, drinking some of her water.

“Si, but la familia is anxious to meet you y has been constantly questioning Jose Enrique. Mi papa questioned Jose Enrique last night about his novia. Mis padres requested to meet the novia that everybody is talking about. Jose Enrique promise to bring you over to introduce you soon,” said Paty looking at Jessy to see how she is assimilating this news.

“I hope you are okay with this. You will probably spend lots of time with Jose Enrique at the office with the interior designs of the building offices y as his novia,” Paty continues, wondering if it will be a huge problema with Jessy.
Hmmm, I will think not.

Oh, great
, thought Jessy. I
don’t know if I can handle spending so much time with Jose Enrique. What if I fall deeper in love with him y end up getting hurt? Uh, hmm, I think it is a risk I will take a thousand times. This allows me the opportunity y the real possibility of him falling in love with me. It will be like dating. La familia will think it is much more serious, but it is only a little less than ten weeks for the official engagement to be announced at the twenty-fifth anniversary celebration. I have time to work on Jose Enrique.
Nodding at Paty, Jessy stands walking towards their carros.

CHAPTER SEVEN
 

JOSE
ENRIQUE
SITS
AT
THE
conference table waiting for his novia to show up. I just want to be here before they do so I can take a good look at her before they realize I’m here. I have a good feeling about this. I have been endeavoring to remember Paty’s amigas from high school. I don’t recall any of them coming over to la casa. Paty is right. I never paid attention to them. I was too busy studying, going to school, y assisting on mi free time at la familia’s company. I have faith in Paty. Paty says mi novia is hermosa, smart, y muy sexy.

Paty y Jessy are laughing as they enter the conference room. Jessy steps into the cuarto first.
Oh dios mio, Jose Enrique is waiting. He looks hotter than ever before. Mi corazon will not stop pounding. Mi chest, it’s going to explode. I’m going to die. I’m going to stop breathing.

Take a deep breath, stay calm. I need to be professional, sophisticated, y sexy. Yeah, right! Geez! Smile and greet him. I need to put mi portfolio on the desk and be ready for his greetings
, thought Jessy.
Take control. Don’t tremble y definitely do not sweat. Okay, I can do this. Smile.

Jose Enrique observes his novia enter the cuarto first.
Dios mio, Wow! Gracias dios mio. It’s the bella chica that I saw at the club on Friday. I do owe Paty big, big time.
Smiling, Jose Enrique approaches his novia reaching out to enfold her in a tight hug.

“Hola, novia mia,” Jose Enrique said proceeding to give her a beso.

What is he doing? He is kissing me! Relax. Return his beso
, thought Jessy.

Jose Enrique almost releases her when he feels her tremble y stiffens. He is about to step back and release her when he feels her relax.
Dios mio, I have never felt so much attraction in a simple beso. Her lips are so soft y silky. She tastes like heaven. She’s trembling. Hmmm maybe I am scaring her. I should stop this beso.
Jose Enrique feels her melting into him as she parts her lips inviting him to deepen the beso.

Jose Enrique did not stop to think. He takes full advantage softly entering her mouth to explore every sweet inch.
She feels so good. She feels like she is made especially para me.

Jose Enrique feels her brazos creep up around his neck. She is responding to his beso. He feels her tongue slipping slowly past his lips deepening his beso. He then hears her moan.

Jessy lost track of time y forgot all about Paty.
I cannot think
.
Oh dios mio, I have dreamt of Jose Enrique’s besos forever. He is so hot y sexy. I always knew he would smell scrumptious. He smells like spice and sandalwood. He tastes better than I could ever image. I need to get closer to him.
Jessy takes a step closer rising up on tiptoes
. I need more of him
, thought Jessy.

Okay, this has to stop
, thought Paty.
They forgot all about me y the meeting.
Jose Enrique doesn’t even remember her. Great! This is getting out of hand.

Walking over to the desk, Paty slams down her file on the desk hoping to get a reaction.
I cannot believe this. They didn’t even react.

“Well, hello! You two need to stop! Okay, we have a meeting!” yells Paty.

Jose Enrique y Jessy step back but didn’t release each other from their embrace. They are intensely contemplating each other’s ojos, reflecting on the amazing passion y physical attraction that they just experience. It is so unexpected that they were stunned.

I cannot believe it. It is the bella chica from the club from last Friday night. Her ojos are unbelievable, y they really glow. Right now I can see in her lindo ojos the passion y pleasure that exploded, threatening to escape our control. Thanks to Paty I was able to stop.

Jose Enrique is amazing. He really is spicy and hot like I always imagined. I have never, ever, responded to a simple beso with so much passion. Si, I have kissed other chicos. Not one of the chicos that I have kissed has ever caused this type reaction. Si, of course, I have never kissed in front of an audience. Paty is mi best amiga, but still, geez. I did not even care. I really forgot where I was, and who was here. Look at his incredible green ojos. I can see the burning passion y astonishment in his ojos. Oh, I’m genuinely in love. Definitely he is todo mio. Jose Enrique only doesn’t realize it now.

“Uh, okay you two it’s time for the introductions. Especially since we skipped first base y ran right into second base,” said Paty, looking at her best amiga y hermano with amusement.

I always knew it. I knew en mi corazon that they are right for each other. It was only a matter of time until they met y fell in love. I really think that Jessy is in love y has always loved Jose Enrique. I know Jose Enrique will fall in love with Jessy. No problema.

He pulls away from the embrace but he continues to hold Jessy’s right mano, Jose Enrique introduces himself. “Jose Enrique De La Cruz,” he said with a huge feliz smile as he bends over Jessy’s mano placing a warm beso on the back of her wrist.

“Hola, Jessica Maria Cortez!” said Jessy with a smile. “You can call me, mi amor,” said Jessy with a mischievous twinkle in huge golden ojos.

Releasing Jessy’s mano, Jose Enrique moves around to pull out a chair for Jessy, the one right next to him on his right side. Jessy sits down looking at him. He pulls a chair for Paty on his left side.

“It is a pleasure to finally meet you, mi amor,” said Jose Enrique with a very wicked smile. “You know mi bella novia you can call me, mi vida.”

Paty simply observes them rolling her ojos up shaking her cabeza.
Oh dios mio, are they ever going to stop? Maybe I should leave.

“Mi amor, I will like to apologize for not remembering you. Paty is right I was always busy y I didn’t realize that Paty had such a bella amiga. Can you please forgive me?” asks Jose Enrique with a sincere hopeful look.

Jessy looks into he’s ojos.
I cannot believe it. Jose Enrique is finally noticing me.
“Mi vida, I know you were always busy. I was just a wimpy niña with braces, so don’t worry about it,” said Jessy. “I never lost hope, mi vida,” she grins at him.

“Mi amor estoy muy feliz that you didn’t give up on me,” said Jose Enrique with a sincere smile looking into her ojos.
Damn, she is serious. How did I ever overlook her?

“Nunca,” said Jessy in a breathless voz looking at Jose Enrique’s incredible green ojos.

“You know, mi amor, I think that I saw you at the club last Friday night. You were there with some of tu amigas. I was going to approach you to ask you to dance, when mis primos show up interrupting me. Then when I turned to go to invite you to dance, you were gone. This made me real mad at mis primos,” said Jose Enrique smiling at Jessy.
I never dreamed that la chica of mis dreams is mi novia
, thought Jose Enrique.

“Really you were there Friday night? I had to leave early because I promise mi mama y hermana that I would go with them shopping on Saturday morning,” said Jessy, smiling at Jose Enrique with felicidad.

“Oh, what did you get? I hope that you bought some sexy outfits to wear when we go out?” asks Jose Enrique in a flirty teasing voz.

“Hey, you two, maybe we can start the meeting on the presentation that Jessy has prepared for us? Jessy has put together several elegant Mexican-inspired interior designs for our office buildings. I think that she has an awesome understanding of exactly what we are looking for,” said Paty, rolling her ojos.

“Really, I will love to see your proposal, mi amor. It does sounds like it is what we have been looking for and have been trying to obtain from several interior design companies. All the other interior design companies have not been able to visualize or understand the concept that we are looking for. I think we will review your proposals and have a meeting with Tony to see if the designs will suit our office buildings,” said Jose Enrique, smiling at Jessy. “Tony has designed our office buildings with an elegant Mexican influence and eco-friendly design. What do you think?” Jose Enrique asks as he looks at Jessy y Paty.

Jessy starts to open her portfolio to get the packet that holds her interior designs.
Dios mio, please help me. I pray they will love them,
thought Jessy.
Geez, I’m so excited for this opportunity. I worked hard to include all the colors and features with the concept that Paty said they want for the office buildings with an elegant Mexican influence.
Jessy hands her work proposal to Jose Enrique.

Paty stands up to go and look at the interior designs over Jose Enrique’s right shoulder.

Jessy looks at their expressions y prays. She tries to appear compose and professional.
This has nothing to do with our love life. Mi work is exactly what they have been looking for. They will like mi interior designs. It has everything to do with mi career. I have worked hard to get to this point. If they like mi designs, maybe they will hire me to do all their buildings. At least they are not making faces. It appears that they like what I designed.

Jose Enrique looks up and smiles. Paty’s ojos are sparkling with excitement.

“Mi amor, it looks like you hit it right on the mark. This is exactly what we have been looking for, don’t you agree, Paty?” asks Jose Enrique as he looks at Jessy.
I cannot believe that she is so qualified and capable for this job. Not only is she bella but she is also smart. Paty did tell me, but now I truly believe it. I can see that mi novia is a very special mujer. I can honestly feel that we can work together without our love life causing any issues. Jessy has earned this opportunity and our admiration.

“Si, Jessy, you did it. I don’t see any problemas with your proposal. I think that you have exceeded our expectations. Your interior designs will work magnifico with Tony’s building designs,” said Paty, turning to Jose Enrique. “Maybe we need to call him to come and see Jessy’s designs.”

“I wish he could come to our meeting to meet Jessy and to see her excellent interior designs. Paty, remember he is in a meeting with one of our clients,” said Jose Enrique. “Maybe we can meet again mañana and show him the designs.”

“I don’t see any problema. I know Tony will like them,” said Paty, looking at Jose Enrique.

“Mi amor, will you like to work for us? I can see the advantage of having our own interior designer,” said Jose Enrique, looking at Jessy.

“The more I think about it and the more I think this idea is a great idea. This idea really appeals to me. We can then also offer our clients our service in interior design for their new buildings as an extra service. I think this idea is fantastico!” exclaims Jose Enrique, turning to Paty y Jessy with satisfaction.

“Why did we not think of this before, Paty? This additional service will also take la familia’s company in a new direction and will provide a higher level of service,” he said.

“Si, I can see where you’re going hermano. I think it will work. Instead of just hiring Jessy for only these office buildings interior-decorating projects, we can hire her on full time as our interior design manager. Jessy will be in charge of all and any interior designs that our clients will need,” said Paty. “I know that Bella, Tony, y Ricky will love the idea.”

“Dios mio, are you serious?” whispers Jessy, looking at Jose Enrique y Paty. “This is the opportunity and position that I always dreamed of.”

Jessy jumps up from her seat to hug Paty. Then she turns to hug Jose Enrique, who has also risen.

Jose Enrique takes advantages of this opportunity to hug her y take a quick beso.
I will never stop from craving her, kissing her
, thought Jose Enrique.

Wow, he’s kissing me again, y I just love it
, thought Jessy as she deepens the beso.

“No, not again, you two stop it,” said Paty with a higher note in her voz to make sure they hear her looking up at the ceiling.