Free Armando Returns (Barboza Brothers) by Reeni Austin

his brothers and Mama, especially the hot summer nights when she would bring them here for ice cream. Three rambunctious adolescent boys, oblivious to those romantic surroundings ...until they grew up a little. One night when Victor was fourteen, he saw a man propose to a woman in a small cafe along the river. All of the patrons eating there clapped and cheered when they saw her squeal, “Yes!” He remembered Mama’s eyes welling up as she watched. If he hadn’t been around his ornery brothers, he may have asked how their father proposed to her. Mama was always secretive about him, reluctant to volunteer information unless they wore her down with questions.
    But Victor remembered that night in vivid detail. And he knew, if he ever found that special woman, he would bring her here to propose if he could. And he wanted to, with Alexis. He was disappointed when she refused to take the trip. Something about the high humidity making her hair frizzy. Tonight, Victor was thankful he hadn ’t brought that woman here. Instead, this would be a special place where he would propose to the one, true love of his life: Cara.
    Victor took a deep breath when he caught a clear view of their destination. “Here it is. At the end of the block.”
    “ It’s a hotel?”
    “ Yes, but the restaurant has a separate entrance. We’ll be on the upstairs patio, overlooking the river.” Victor slowed down and pulled off the street as a parking attendant approached.
    A few moments later, after handing off his keys, Victor was holding Cara ’s hand and stepping up on the curb when he put his other hand in his pocket and let out an abrupt, “Shit!” He couldn’t feel the tiny box that held the engagement ring.
    Cara stopped walking, her eyes widening. “What’s wrong?”
    “ Uh...” He turned fully around to see the Mercedes he borrowed from Ramon heading onto the street. He gritted his teeth. “Damn it. I left something...uh...my wallet.” He cleared his throat. “Can’t very well pay for dinner without that, can I?” He smiled and tried to appear calm as he scanned the pavement to see if the ring had fallen out of his pocket.
    A second attendant approached. “Is everything all right, sir? Did I hear you say you left your wallet in your car? We can look for it if you want to go on inside and—”
    “ No,” Victor said. “No, please. I insist. Just tell me where it’s being parked and I’ll run and get it myself.”
    Cara said, “I’ll come with you.”
    The attendant shook his head. “That’s not necessary, sir. I can send him a message right now and have him bring the car back around.”
    “ No...uh...” He squinted at the parking lot across the street. “You park the cars right over there?” He had to think of a way to keep both the helpful valets and Cara from finding out about the ring, which was probably wedged somewhere below the driver’s seat after falling out of his pocket. Think fast...think...you’re usually so good at this... He kept his eyes on the parking lot, afraid to turn around and let Cara see his anxiety. All he wanted was to give her a perfect, romantic evening, and he refused to let his stupid mistake ruin his big secret.
    As Victor wiped his sweaty palm down the front of his suit, he gasped, then chuckled as a wave of relief washed over him. The ring was there all along. He had completely forgotten about moving it to his coat pocket at the very last minute, before they left the house. This woman has no idea how flustered she makes me . His usual calm, logical reasoning evaded him tonight, replaced by anxiety-ridden forgetfulness.
    “ Sir?” The parking attendant asked. “Are you sure there’s nothing we can do to help?”
    Victor was just about to answer when his eyes caught something in the parking lot. A man behind the wheel of an SUV in the front row, only a few spaces from where Victor ’s borrowed car was now parked. The man had been staring at Victor, but now his head was turned the