Chapter 8: Epic Fail

J

Jasmine

Jasmine was taken aback by Zain’s forwardness at kissing the top of her head. But she didn’t mind. She liked that people in his culture were so friendly and affectionate. But it would take her a bit to get used to. Although her parents were affectionate, it wasn’t like this. But she wasn’t complaining.

“Sorry about that,” he replied, seeing her reaction.

“I’m not.” She shrugged. “With you, it feels natural.” If any other guy had done that, she would have probably decked him without thinking. But not Zain. He was different. With him, everything was different in ways she couldn’t explain.

“Here you go!” Miguel announced, setting two rectangle paper containers lined with thin paper on the counter. “Let me know if you’d like anything else.” Then he smiled at Jasmine. “It’s nice to meet you, miss. Make sure to keep this one out of trouble.” He laughed, pointing his thumb toward Zain.

“Okay, okay! Don’t scare her off,” Zain said, taking both containers.

Miguel shrugged. “She doesn’t look like she scares easily to me.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t.” Jasmine smiled as she lifted the sodas from the counter. “Are you sure we can’t pay you?”

Miguel held a hand to his chest as if she had just mortally wounded him. “If you do, fair lady, I shall be highly offended.”

Jasmine liked him already.

“Well, I want to make a good impression and I don’t want to offend you. But next time, I’ll pay.” She smiled, holding up one of the sodas. “Thanks, again!” Then she headed toward Zain, who had set the bowls on a portable plastic table near the truck. Obviously, Miguel had brought the tables them with him and set them up every day.

“I like this one, Zain!” Miguel yelled out, pointing at Jasmine, causing him to laugh.

“Thanks!” he yelled back, shaking his head as he turned back to Jasmine. “Sorry about him. I hope he didn’t scare you off.”

“Just like I said, I don’t scare easily.” The aroma from the Tostones and Cuban sandwiches filled the air. “Man, this smells good!”

Zain picked up his sandwich. “Wait ‘til you taste it.” He took a big bite and rolled his eyes, moaning with delight.

For a moment, Jasmine wondered if that was the look he had on his face when he made love to a woman. She smiled, shaking her head, unable to believe that her thoughts had betrayed her like that. She had never been with a man before, after all, and thoughts like that could get her into trouble. But listening to him groan over his sandwich like that filled her mind with obscene thoughts of things he could probably teach her, or that she wanted him to teach her.

She let out a deep breath, forcing herself to turn her attention back to her sandwich and laughed. “Taste good?”

Zain rolled his eyes. “Ah! The best! I’ve really missed these.” Then he waved at his uncle, getting his attention, and gave him a thumbs up.

Miguel chuckled. “Good?”

“Just as I remembered!” Zain took another bite and looked over at Jasmine. “Aren’t you hungry?”

Jasmine giggled, nodding as she picked up her sandwich. Oh, she was hungry alright. Was it getting hotter out here, or was it just her?

“What?” Zain stopped chewing and looked at her as the most innocent look imaginable spread across his face, which made it even funnier.

Jasmine shook her head. “Nothing. I was just enjoying watching you eat.”

“Well, take a bite, and you’ll see why.” Zain watched her, waiting to see her reaction.

Jasmine took a bite and the savory flavors fill her mouth. “Oh, wow! This is delicious!”

A triumphant grin spread across his face. “See? Told you!” Then he turned his attention back to his sandwich.

She continued eating, resisting the urge to wolf it down. Then she saw the fried circles. “What are those?”

“Tostones.” Zain wiped his mouth and then picked one up. “You dip it in sauce and eat it. I warn you, though. The sauce is a little spicy.” Then he looked up at her. “Do you like spicy food?”

She nodded. “Yes, but as long as it’s not too spicy.”

“Here.” He held up the tostone dipped in sauce for her to try. “Try one.”

She slowly took a bite, looking into his eyes, gauging his reaction, but then the savory flavor filled her mouth. “Ah! This is delicious!” She took another, not caring if she looked like a pig.

Zain laughed. “I told you so!”

“Man! You weren’t kidding!” As she ate, the flavors took over and the thought of eating like a lady went right out the window. When she finished eating, Jasmine was so full she thought she would bust, but she still had the other half of her sandwich left. “You want the rest of my sandwich? I can’t eat another bite.”

Zain shook his head. “No, between my sandwich and the Tostones, I’m good.” He thought for a moment and then added, “Want me to ask my uncle if he’ll wrap it up for you?”

“If he doesn’t mind....”

“Are you kidding me?” Zain chuckled. “He’d be thrilled that you didn’t want to throw it away.”

Jasmine laughed. “No way! This is the best sandwich I’ve ever had! Until what time does he usually stay here? I’d like to bring my mom and dad up here sometime.”

Zain’s eyebrows rose innocently. “Really?”

She nodded, smiling. “Of course!”

“He’s usually here until four o’clock at least,” Zain replied. “Sometimes five, if he’s busy.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Zain picked up her sandwich container from the table as he stood. “I’ll be right back.”

“Thanks.” She watched as he headed toward his uncle’s food truck, enjoying the view. He had the best tush, the most gorgeous legs, and the best body she had ever seen on a man in her life. And muscles like that only came from daily workouts.

Zain said something to his uncle that she couldn’t hear, and then Miguel held his hand up and waved to her. Jasmine waved back, and Zain came back with her sandwich, smiling.

“Ready?” he asked, handing it to her, now neatly wrapped in white paper.

“I’m ready if you are.” Together, they cleaned up their mess and then headed back. “So, what did your uncle say to you?”

Zain chuckled as he ran his fingers through his short, dark hair. “I’d rather not say.”

Jasmine tilted her head to the side, smiling, trying her best to flirt. “Tell me.”

“Well, don’t get mad. Okay?”

Jasmine looked at him as if he had four heads. “Your uncle is so nice! I can’t imagine him saying anything inappropriate.”

“Well, it wasn’t inappropriate....”

She batted her eyes, trying to make her voice sound sexy. “Tell me?”

Zain laughed. “Wow! You really do want to know, don’t you?”

“Okay. Now I feel like a complete idiot.” Jasmine walked off, feeling color fill her cheeks, trying to forget that her flirting was an epic fail. It had been the first time that she had ever consciously tried to flirt, and it would be a long time before she ever tried it again.

“Hey! Where’re you going?” Zain yelled, jogging up fast behind her. When he grabbed her shoulder and turned her around, she could feel her cheeks burning red as tears filled her eyes with embarrassment, threatening to spill over. She hated that her anger and humiliation were hardwired to her tear ducts.

“Whoa!” Zain pulled her against his chest, and she couldn’t find it in herself to pull away. After a moment, he placed his finger under her chin and turned her face toward his. “I’m so sorry. I was only teasing.” He bit his lower lip as he stared into her eyes, sexy as hell. “If you really must know, he told me not to let you get away.”

Her heart soared, but she maintained her cool exterior. “And what did you say in return?”

Zain looked directly into her eyes. “That I don’t intend to.”