“Jake enjoys playing with her,” I say, grabbing his collar to prevent him from going with Brandi as Carl opens the gate. “Looks for her every time we come. Hopefully, we can have another fetch session soon.”
“That would be wonderful,” John says, a grin on his gaunt face.
Evangeline is mostly quiet as she stands a couple of feet away from all of us. My gut tightens. I want her by my side, but I can’t force this.
As they walk away, I turn to her. “Ready to meet Domingo?”
She takes a step back and my heart sinks. I lost my chance.
“Are you sure the tacos will be the best I’ve ever had?”
Oh, hell yes, baby. They will be so good, you’ll keep coming back for more. “Fairly certain,” I say evenly.
“And it’s right over there?” She points to the opposite side of the park.
“Yeah. All out in the open and everything.” Letting go of Jake, I head to the south entrance. “Ready, boy?”
Evangeline falls into step beside me, sending my body on high alert for all the right reasons. “Jake eats tacos, too?”
“Nah. Domingo always gives him a special treat.”
Pulling Jake’s leash out of my pocket, I attach it to his collar. “Mind grabbing my balls?” Oh shit. I shouldn’t have said that, but Evangeline is nodding and not commenting on my thoughtless request.
Wordlessly, she scoops them up as we pass by and hands them to me.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Once we’re out of the dog park, it’s a quick walk to Domingo’s truck. Fortunately, we arrive before a line has formed for dinner.
The smell of chilies, cumin, and garlic fills my senses, reminding me of my mother’s cooking. Funny enough, while my father always had an insult to throw my momma’s way, he sure as hell devoured everything she made and even praised her for the meals. She would live off those compliments for days, and sometimes my dad would give her peace for days, too.
But not often.
“Hola, Hunter. Who is this beautiful woman you brought to me today?” he calls out.
Domingo is barely five feet tall with salt-and-pepper hair and an easy smile. He’s also a huge flirt, and most women love the attention. However, Evangeline isn’t most women.
“Hola, Domingo. This is my special friend, Evangeline. I told her all about your tacos. Please don’t let me down.”
His knowing gaze bounces from me to the woman standing beside me. Well, she would be standing beside me, if she didn’t maintain a distance of four feet between us. I’ll take what I can get from her, and since it’s not her back while she’s walking away, I consider myself a very lucky man.
Evangeline smiles and my breath almost leaves me. Amazing how she can do that. “Nice to meet you, Domingo.”
“Senorita, how may I help you today?” he asks.
“Two tacos with chips and cheese, and a drink, please,” she says.
“A woman who knows what she wants—love it!” He turns to me, a playful frown on his face. “And you, Officer? What can this lowly cook prepare to avoid getting thrown into the pinta?”
I roll my eyes. “Cut it out, Domingo.”
“The usual, then.” It’s not a question. I always get the same thing. Four tacos, tortilla chips with cheese, and a side of guacamole. Domingo tallies up our orders and gives me the total.
“Oh, I can pay for mine,” Evangeline says, hastily stepping in front of me.
He waves her away. “I didn’t charge you.”
“You sure about that?” I ask, handing over two twenties. Normally, I pay twelve fifteen for my order. Today, it’s twenty-four fifty.
Domingo pulls a face. “Charged you double—police especial.”
Evangeline giggles and I can feel a smile forcing its way onto my face. “Food’s worth it,” I admit.
One of Domingo’s assistants hands our orders over to me in a large white bag and gives Evangeline two bottles of water.
We take our food to an empty picnic table. I let Evangeline sit first. Out in the open like this, I don’t feel exactly at ease. I can’t sit with my back to a wall so I can protect it, but I can sit on the side that allows me the most visibility.
“Mind if I sit here? It’s a cop thing—I’m not trying to hit on you,” I explain.
She glances up at me. “Are you sitting on the side that will make you less vulnerable?”
You make me vulnerable. You make me feel things I didn’t know were possible. “Yes.”
“Then by all means, sit.” She scoots to the very edge of the bench, leaving me plenty of room to sit. At six four, I’m a big guy, but I’m not that damn big. She doesn’t want to feel vulnerable, either.
“Someone blue in your family?” I ask, carefully throwing my leg over the bench.
Her cheeks become the prettiest shade of pink. “No,” she says, ducking her head. “I like watching cop shows.”
Opening the container of tacos, I pick up one. “They don’t always get the facts right.”