Arturo fills my shot glass again and I shake my head. “Oh no. I definitely don’t need any more.”
“Sí. Of course you do.”
“You realize I’ll be far too drunk to walk home now.”
“I think that’s the point,” Judah says, throwing a smirk and a wave over their shoulder. “Good night, sexy ones. Don’t have too much fun without me.”
“I will walk you home, myself, mi amiga.” Arturo shrugs. “Or you could just stay here.”
“Oh, right. Because that wouldn’t be inappropriate at all.”
“I promise I would not do anything you would not want me to.”
I laugh, “Okay, even that doesn’t sound innocent.”
“My intentions are anything but innocent.”
“And that’s my cue to leave.”
“Why? Do you not trust me?”
“Of course I do, but I respect you—and my position here—too much to compromise it with a stupid decision like sleeping with my boss.”
“Who said anything about sleeping?”
“You’re incorrigible.”
He smiles, that perfect Spanish smile with those eyes that seem to undress me every time I enter the room. Or perhaps that’s just wishful thinking. “I don’t understand.”
“I think you understand more than you let on, Arturo.”
“Perhaps. Come, mi corazón. Let me walk you home.”
“I’m okay. I was kidding about falling over.”
“Then you need another for the road.” Arturo fills my shot glass again and I wince.
“No, no, no. I can’t.”
“Sí tu puedes.”
“You are trouble, Boss Man.”
“But you like trouble, right? Or you would not date boys.”
I open my mouth, pause, and I’m just about to ask what he means by that when someone taps on the glass doors of the restaurant. I turn and see Gabe standing there. I can’t help the smile that crosses my face, or the way my heart slams against my chest.
“Speaking of niños pequeños,” Arturo says, pouring himself another glass.
I frown at him and turn my attention back to my boss. “So I wanted to go over a few things with you, but given that we’ve been drinking and we somehow got wildly off topic, how about I just come in twenty mins early before shift?”
“Sí. That will be fine.”
“Do you need help here cleaning up?”
“No, I have it covered.”
“Okay, well. I’ll see you tomorrow.”