His curly hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and he wore a tie-dye vintage T-shirt, jeans, and the same group of bracelets and rings she saw the last time she was in Georgia.
Carmen immediately released her luggage and ran toward him. His eyes brightened into a smile as she jumped into his open arms. Laughing, he spun twice in a circle before setting her on her feet and then gave her a thorough kiss that made her body wilt against him and her toes curl into the soles of her shoes.
“Mmm,” she said when their lips parted.
“Finally,” Carlos murmured, looking down at her with slitted eyes.
“It’s been forever.” Carmen laced her arms around his neck, certain the love filling her heart must be evident in her eyes.
He looked over her shoulder at the luggage. “You abandoned your bag.”
“I don’t care. Everything in it is replaceable.”
He laughed and rubbed a hand up and down her back. “Come on, let’s get out of here before they tow me. I couldn’t get close to the curb, but I’m right over there.”
Reluctantly, Carmen released him, and Carlos took the handle of the suitcase and led the way to a red, older model Jeep Wrangler with a soft top.
“It looks brand new,” Carmen remarked, standing back to get a good look. The last time she saw the vehicle, it had been clean but looked much more used.
Carlos placed her bag in the back and shut the door. “New paint job.”
“When?”
He held open the passenger door. “Last week. Get in.”
He’d obviously had the interior done as well. The seats and rugs were spotless and had that newly washed smell.
Carmen climbed in. “You didn’t have to do any of this.”
“I wanted to. I hated that you got into my car the last time, in the condition that it was in. That wasn’t good enough. You deserve nothing but the best.” He braced a hand on the seat and kissed her, the firm pressure of his mouth warming her insides. “I’m so glad you’re here,” he whispered.
“Me, too,” she whispered back, letting her fingers trail down his jaw.
The outdoor farmer’s market was crowded on Saturday, with patrons browsing stalls or patiently waiting in line to collect produce from a favorite vendor. Carmen and Carlos walked side by side, their arms brushing against each other every now and again.
They’d decide on a meatless Saturday menu, so the basket in Carlos’s right hand contained a bundle of kale and a large zucchini they’d add to the quinoa and mushrooms he already had at home.
Carmen sniffed a bar of homemade soap infused with rosehip and coconut oil. “Mmm, this smells good.” She lifted the bar to Carlos’s nose, and he took a deep breath.
“It does smell good. Not as good as you, though.”
He pressed a kiss to her neck, and she giggled, swerving away from his roaming hand.
“Cut it out.” She set the soap back on the stack.
He came up behind her and slipped a hand beneath her shirt, spreading his long fingers over her belly. “I think I made a mistake suggesting we stop here. I should have taken you home first.” His low, seductive voice in her ear made tiny shivers trickle down her neck.
“You need to behave. People are looking at us.”
“Are they?” Unperturbed, he kept his gaze on her and bit his bottom lip.
He looked so scrumptious when he did that, and she wanted to replace his teeth with hers. Later, she would, and she’d get a good suck on his lower lip while she was at it.
“We’re here to get food because you didn’t plan ahead for my visit.” Carmen twirled out of the curve of his arm and strolled over to a large table overflowing with corn on one side and green beans on the other.
“I’m sorry. I was excited about your visit, but I also needed to get ready for the festival.”
In a couple of weeks, a big art festival arrived in Tennessee, one that he’d attended last year and from which he’d gotten sales and good exposure.
“There’s no need to apologize. How’s everything going?” They’d talked at length about his preparation for the event, so she knew how important it was to him.
“So far so good. My agent had some good news the other day. She got me in front on the main stage.”
Carmen’s mouth fell open. He’d hoped for the opportunity but wasn’t sure it would happen. “So you’re right there where everybody can see you?”
“They can’t miss me.”
“Oh my goodness, I’m so happy for you!” Carmen flung her arms around his neck and dragged him down for a lip-smacking kiss.
“Now everybody’s really looking at us,” he said.
“I don’t care. Congratulations, mi corazón.”
“Gracias, mi amor.”
“We have to celebrate. How about we stop at the wine store and get champagne? We should probably also get some chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert?”
“How did you manage to read my mind?” Carlos asked.
“Great minds think alike.” Carmen perused the table. “How about some green beans?”
“Sounds good to me. Maybe some garlic, too?”
“Perfect.” As he moved over to a small tub of garlic, she couldn’t take her eyes off him. She was so lucky to have him back in her life.
She started examining the green beans.
“Carmen, is that you?”
Carmen swung in the direction of the vaguely familiar voice and looked into the face of one of her father’s friends and former business associates. She almost didn’t recognize him. The older man was dressed down in jeans and a T-shirt, when in the past she’d only seen him in suits when he met with her father.
“Mr. Jones, how are you?”
“Great. Look at you. You’re all grown up. I wasn’t sure if that was you or not.”
“It’s me.”
“What are you doing in Atlanta?”
Carmen opened her mouth to speak and almost blurted out the truth. At the last minute, she caught herself and answered instead, “I’m here on business for my father, following up on the opening of two new gyms in the Atlanta area.”
Mr. Jones’s bushy gray eyebrows lifted in surprise. “I shouldn’t be surprised Fit Body Gyms has expanded this far south. Alfred had an aggressive plan to grab market share in the States. Good for him, and good for you, I take it? What’s your role in the company?”
“I’m officially the vice president of operations, but I’m learning the ropes in other departments—purchasing, marketing, etc. I’m learning all I can from my father and the other executives.”
“Learning on the job is the best way. Nothing beats it, and I’m sure you’re doing well.”
“Thank you.” She smiled easily, though her insides churned in distress. Mr. Jones hadn’t said a word, so she didn’t think Carlos was standing behind her. But she couldn’t be sure. If Mr. Jones said anything to her father about seeing her with someone fitting Carlos’s description, she’d have a serious problem.
“Tell your parents I said hello, and the next time I’m up north, I expect Alfred to buy me that drink he promised. Tell him that. He’ll know what I’m talking about.” Mr. Jones chuckled.