Fresh Temptation

evening and instead of being alone in a hotel room, Victor had whisked her off to a restaurant. She smiled, trying to hide her disappointment as she watched him speak to the hostess. When he finished, Cara said, “So, you still haven’t told me who we’re meeting for dinner. Is it one of the guys from Lochmere?”
    Victor glanced at his phone again. “No. We’re meeting my brother, Ramon.”
    Cara’s eyes widened. “What?”
    Victor laughed. “Don’t be scared.”
    “I’m not scared, I’m surprised. Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”
    “Because it took me two days to get up with him, and then I wasn’t sure he could get here. He runs a ranch about three hours away, near San Antonio. I try to see him if I happen to be in Texas but he can’t always get away on short notice.”
    “Your brother owns a ranch?”
    “Yes. It’s the same ranch where we all worked when we left Mexico.”
    “So, he moved there and never left the ranch?”
    Victor laughed. “It’s funny to hear you put it that way. But yes, that’s essentially what happened. I went off to college, and Armando followed my lead a few years later. But Ramon always knew that wasn’t for him. He liked the outdoors, the hard physical labor. But these days he oversees that ranch and two others.” He shook his head. “I don’t know how he does it. He’s not outside in the fresh air nearly as much these days but he puts in more hours than ever.”
    Cara examined Victor from head to toe. He was so polished in his black fitted suit, it was hard to imagine him working as a ranch hand. Cara asked, “So, what does Armando do for a living?”
    With a light shrug, Victor said, “Same thing as me, mostly. Asset management, helping venture capitalists find new investments. But he’s in Los Angeles.”
    “Do you see your brothers very often?”
    He let out a sad sigh. “Not nearly as often as I’d like.”
    Just then, Victor turned around in the direction of a surprise slap on his shoulder. His face lit up when he saw Ramon.
    Cara watched as they hugged. Ramon was as handsome as Victor, but his face was obviously a little more weathered from being outdoors in the hot Texas sun.
    Ramon put his arm around Victor. “Leave it to you to pick some ritzy restaurant like this. Make me wear a suit.”
    Victor smirked. “It’s good for you once in a while.”
    Ramon peered down at his dark gray ensemble. “Can you see the dust on this thing?” He sighed and gave Victor’s back a hearty slap, then extended his hand to Cara. “Hello there. My name is Ramon Barboza. Please forgive my rude brother for not introducing us himself.”
    Victor elbowed him. “You didn’t give me time.” He motioned to Cara. “Cara, my brother, Ramon.” He looked at Ramon and gestured to Cara. “Ramon, Cara Green.”
    Cara felt the rough skin on Ramon’s hand as she shook it. “Nice to meet you.”
    “Nice to meet you as well.” Ramon smiled and gave her hand a quick shake then turned to his brother. “So, co-worker? Girlfriend?”
    Victor’s eyes narrowed at him as he considered his response.
    Cara spoke up. “We just started working together last week.”
    Ramon nodded and shot Victor a sly glance. “And yet, he brought you with him to meet his brother. That sounds pretty serious.”
    Victor knew his youngest brother too well. Ramon wanted to embarrass him. It wasn’t malicious. It was just Ramon’s way. “It’s none of your business.” He smiled. “Now that you’re here I’ll tell the hostess we’re ready for our table.”
    As they trailed behind the hostess and Ramon to their table, Victor took Cara’s arm and whispered in her ear, “Just so you know, I was going to say you were my girlfriend.”
    Cara blushed and tucked her head down to hide her smile.
    Soon they were seated around a small round table in the bustling restaurant.
    Victor quietly nudged Cara as Ramon placed his drink order. “Order something that’ll make you crazy for me later. But pace yourself. I definitely need you awake.”
    Cara giggled. “I’ll see what I can do.” When the waitress came to her, Cara ordered a rum and coke.
    Victor thought about telling Cara how nice it was to see her so relaxed, even without the assistance of alcohol. But he was afraid it would appeal to her stubbornness, causing her to rebel and put her guard up. The wiser choice was to stay quiet.
    After the waitress left, Victor said, “So how’s business? You turning a good profit this