Joaquin Mendoza had swept her off her feet from the moment he’d first walked into Robinson Tech several months ago. Actually he’d captivated her the first time she’d met him when her sister Rachel married his brother Matteo, last year. They’d been paired as maid of honor and best man, but the focus of the weekend had been on the bride and groom and, at the time, Zoe had no idea her father would end up hiring him as a programmer at Robinson Tech to work on a special project.
It wasn’t simply that he was older and tall and good-looking—no, scratch that—the guy was gorgeous. There was something about the cool way he held himself, and he had the strangest ability to put all of her senses on high alert the minute he ventured within five yards of her. It was like his superpower. Zoe had been ruined for other men since Joaquin Mendoza had walked back into her life three months ago. It was too bad he seemed more interested in work than in getting to know her better.
He hadn’t messed with her equilibrium on purpose, of course. In fact, even after all this time, he didn’t seem to recognize she was a woman who was interested in a man.
A very specific man.
“Okay, if you’re going to be stubborn, maybe you need to take things into your own hands. Who says you have to wait for him to ask you out?” Ronnie continued, straining so that her voice was heard above the music. “I mean, if you like him, maybe you’re the one who needs to break the ice—make sure he knows you’re interested in him. In the past, you’ve never had a problem with making your intentions known.”
Zoe sucked in a long, calming breath, blew it out in a measured gust and took in the Gilded Pig’s decor. A decade ago the space had housed an antiques market. Keeping true to its roots, the Pig was decorated with vintage pieces such as the ornately carved church pews that served as seats for the booths, mirrors with light-reflecting mercury glass that seemed to double the already expansive space, and old wooden chests of drawers and sideboards that held napkins, silverware, condiments, steaming coffeemakers and sweating pitchers of iced tea.
“I don’t know, Ronnie. This feels different.”
“How so?” Ronnie asked.
Zoe thought about it for a moment, but she couldn’t really put it into words. She knew Ronnie thought it was because Joaquin hadn’t pursued her like the other guys. But putting that aside, he wasn’t like anyone else she’d ever known. This was different. Even if she couldn’t define it, she could feel it in her bones.
“Trust me. With him, I think the old-fashioned approach will work better than coming on like gangbusters. He’s a little older than I am and I get the vibe that he likes to be the pursuer. So that’s the new preamble to my Husband List. Let the guy be the hunter and stake his claim.”
“You have a new preamble to the list?” Ronnie asked flatly.
Zoe lifted her chin. “Yes.”
For as far back as Zoe could remember she’d had a list of deal-breaker qualities she wanted in a boyfriend. Over the years the Boyfriend List had morphed into the Husband List. It included things such as must love animals; must make me laugh; must be passionate about his work but must not let work come before me.
“Girl, you are no wallflower. You’ve never had any qualms about making the first move. I would so not sit at home and wait around for a man who can’t seem to catch a clue.”
“Who says I’m sitting around at home?”
“Didn’t you just say you’re waiting for Prince Charming to make the first move?”
“Just because I’m holding out for Prince Charming to ask me out doesn’t mean I’m sitting around.”
“All I’m saying is even Cinderella had to put herself out there to get what she wanted.”
Zoe smiled and sat a little straighter. “I do feel like Cinderella. Only in reverse. Because I’m the one searching for the perfect fit. I’m the new-millennium Cinderella.”
Yeah. She liked that.
Ronnie took a long sip of her sweet tea and then set it down and gave Zoe one of her looks.
“In my book, the new-millennium Cinderella doesn’t even need a prince. She’s her own woman and all she wants is a fun night out and a great outfit.”
The two girlfriends laughed. But Zoe found nothing funny about the way Joaquin looked right past her unless she spoke first. When she spoke, he was always charming and amiable. So at least he didn’t hate her. But there had to be a way to get through to him. Because these dead ends made her feel as though she was losing her mojo. She wasn’t about to toss in the towel without a good try. Well, a try that involved getting him to make the first move.
The server refilled their iced tea and set a mountain of red-velvet cake and ice cream between them. The dessert was so big it could’ve easily fed four hungry adults. But in anticipation of a treat, Zoe had kept lunch light, ordering a salad with grilled chicken. She fully intended to do her fair share of damage to the Pig’s signature dessert.
“Is there anything else I can get for you girls?” the server asked.
Yes, please. One surefire plan for how to get the guy?
“We’re fine, thanks,” said Zoe.
The server smiled. “Just holler if you need me.”
She left them and went to a table across the way where a man was flagging her down.
Zoe settled back into the red-checked cushion that lined the booth’s stark, hard wood.
“Okay, we are not leaving this restaurant until we come up with a foolproof plan to get Joaquin Mendoza to ask me out.”
Veronica sighed and propped her elbow on the table, resting her chin on her left hand and forking up a healthy bite of the cake with her other hand. “Why are you asking me? This is so not my department, Zoe. You’ve always been the one who gets the guys.”
“You’re only as good as your last victory,” Zoe said. “Joaquin is always working, rarely looks up from his computer.”
“Isn’t that why your dad hired him?”
Yes, but...wait a minute...
“I think you’re on to something, Ronnie.”
“I am? Okay.”
“I don’t know why I didn’t think of this myself.”
“Um. You lost me somewhere between the first bite and the bit about Joaquin’s computer obsession?”
“My dad. He mentioned that he loves Joaquin’s work ethic, but he also said he wished he would get more involved around the office.”
“Did he really say that?”
Zoe nodded.
“In so many words.” She shrugged. “Actually, it was more like he thought Joaquin was sharp and hoped he could find a permanent position for him after he finished the consulting job. So you could interpret that to mean he should get involved.”
Zoe shrugged again as she scooped up a forkful of cake. “Well, he should get involved. With me.” She nodded resolutely and put the bite into her mouth.
“I don’t know, Zoe. Don’t you think you should be careful?”
Zoe swallowed. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, is this going to turn out like all the others?”
Zoe poked at the cake’s white icing with her fork, leaving tine marks that looked like tiny bird footprints on a snowy lawn.
“The others?”
“Come on, Zoe, don’t be coy. You know you love the thrill of the chase. Once you get the guy, you lose interest, you move on.”
That was partially true, but not simply because she had a short attention span. She believed