Star-Crossed(57)

“Can we get the round booth by the window?” Jules asked with a wince as she helped herself to three menus. “I know it’s not your section.”

“I’m sure we can arrange something,” Melody said with a smile. “Be my guest.”

“Are we expecting someone?” Chuito asked curiously.

“It does feel like something exciting’s ’bout to happen,” Alaine agreed, looking enthusiastic about the prospect. “Good thing too, ’cause everyone’s looking at us. Far as I’m concerned, a distraction can show up anytime now.”

“I’ll sit next to Jules,” Chuito said, the good humor disappearing from his voice.

“No,” Alaine argued. “We’re allowed to be friends. We’re at lunch together for once. You can sit next to me.”

Chuito didn’t complain, but he did seem very aware of the eyes on them as he slid into the booth, settling between Jules and Alaine as if being next to both of them made

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the sin a little less noticeable. He put a hand to his forehead, looking out the window and mumbling, “Why’d I agree to this?”

An uncomfortable silence fell over the table before Alaine finally whispered, “I don’t care what he thinks, ya know?”

“But I do.” Chuito sighed.

Alaine dipped her head, hiding behind a curtain of strawberry-blonde hair as she reviewed the menu. Pale anyway, the freckles on her nose stood out more starkly than usual, and Chuito studied her for one long moment before he turned back to the window again. Then he frowned, leaning in closer with his gaze trained on the parking lot.

Jules knew what he was looking at, and rather than press her face against the glass like a lovesick fool, she observed the other patrons of Hal’s Diner. The wave of curiosity was a tangible pulse that resonated through the restaurant, starting with the people sitting closest to the windows and spreading outward until everyone’s gaze was not so subtly on the parking lot.

The temptation was too much to resist. Jules leaned into Chuito just in time to see Romeo crawl out of the hottest car that had ever graced the fine roads of Garnet County. That black Ferrari stood out like a sore thumb, and Jules realized everyone had been looking at the car until that moment. Now the not so subtle looking turned into full-out shock; the murmur of curiosity was brash and obvious.

“Holy shit.” Chuito glanced at Jules and then back to the parking lot as he shook his head and then said under his breath, “Ahora si se va poner bueno la casa. ”

“What?” Jules said defensively, though she couldn’t look away from Romeo.

“Nothing,” Chuito said with a small laugh of disbelief. “I got nothing to say about anything.”

“Isn’t that the guy who fought Clay?” Alaine asked Chuito curiously. “The Gladiator or something.”



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“His real name’s Romeo,” Chuito offered.

Alaine laughed. “That’s a strange coincidence.”

“Yeah, it is, isn’t it?” Chuito agreed as if he saw right through Jules.

Jules knew she should be panicking over being so obvious. If Chuito saw the writing on the wall, it was a sure bet her twin and best friend would, but right then she didn’t care what Wyatt or Clay would think. All she could do was stare at Romeo next to that beautiful Ferrari, looking tan and handsome wearing a black leather jacket and jeans. His brother got out of the car and jumped where he stood as if trying to shake feeling into his legs while Romeo stretched his arms, showing off that big, beautiful chest in a tight black T-shirt underneath his jacket. She felt breathless, and it wasn’t until that moment she realized how desperately she’d missed him. Which should be insane; she’d only spent one night with him, but now it was more—so much more, and him being in Garnet made Jules feel like her entire life had just clicked into place.

“How much does a car like that cost?”

“About three hundred thousand base model,” Chuito told Alaine while giving Jules another pointed look. “And that car is not base model.”

“Wow, he must have more sponsors than we realized,” Jules said in surprise.

“Okay,” Chuito said in disbelief. “Now’s the point where you stop giving Alaine shit about being naive.”

Alaine gave Jules a hurt look. “What does that mean?”

“Yes, what does it mean?” Jules asked Chuito, though it was unlikely she was asking the same question as Alaine.

“He hasn’t even won a UFC title yet,” Chuito said as if it was obvious. “I have a title, and I live over your office.”

“You live over the office by choice.”