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have held the sleeping arrangements for the two men, and there was the receiving room and the small kitchen with a breakfast area. The trailer could not be more than 200 square feet, including the mysterious space behind the two curtains.
    Soledad shifted shyly, the floor protesting underneath her with a creak. Every move seemed exaggerated in the tiny trailer, especially when Xavier moved closer to her.
    He brought his face into hers and whispered, “Do you really like the flowers?”
    “Sí.” Soledad’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Very much.”
    Xavier’s breath was sweet, enticing. The pressure became too much, and Soledad shifted away. “Where’s your father?” She didn’t mean to change to subject.
    “He’s off tonight, so he’s probably out on the town playing with women.” There was scorn in his voice.
    “Is that a bad thing?”
    “Well, no, I guess not for him.” His mood changed instantly, and he laughed.
    “Do you think that’s something you would do?”
    Xavier’s cool humor did not lighten her slight scrutiny.
    “No.” His voice grew serious. “My mother raised me to love and respect a woman. Actually, my father taught me that as well.”
    “And then?”
    “Then she was gone, and my father was broken. Now he does mostly as he pleases.”
    “I’m so sorry.” She took his hand.
    “I’m okay. It was hard at first, but time is definitely a healer. Anyway, life is starting to look up again.” He smiled sweetly at her.
    “I think I feel the same.”
    “Think?” he teased her.
    “Know.” She corrected herself. “I feel the same.”
    “If life is starting to look up for you, too, then where are you coming from?”
    “Well, it’s not as traumatic as your story.”
    “It’s still important.”
    “You’ll think I am a spoiled, ungrateful brat.”
    “Try me. Do you mind?” He moved over to a bucket of water and washed his hands, never taking his eyes off of her.
    “No, of course not.”
    “Okay, go on.” He nodded at her.
    “Well, my father and I seem to be distant lately. I don’t know what it’s like at home right now since I haven’t been there to test the waters, so I lay awake at night worrying about it. I’m nervous about going to college, and I had to battle my parents about it. I still may have to.”
    He stopped whatever it was he was preparing and looked at her with what seemed like all the intrigue in the world. “That’s amazing. Where will you go?”
    “Stanford. It’s in California, where my aunt lives.”
    He lingered on her for just a few seconds more. “Even with family out there you still had to convince them?”
    “They can be very difficult sometimes.”
    “What will you study?”
    “Law.”
    “Well, Senorita , I feel that you may be out of my league.” His laugh held a nervous undercurrent.
    “And you see, that’s my other issue. I mean, not that I’ve had much time to grow a relationship, but boys don’t like me anyway. They don’t even tolerate me. I’ve basically had to compete with them all my life. And they are intimidated, sometimes even angry at me for my goals and achievements and my intelligence, I guess.”
    Soledad could only guess the display of her face, until Xavier’s voice became tender.
    “I was only kidding. I truly admire you. I’m so proud to know a girl like you, and even more proud that you would do me the honor of spending this time with me.”
    “Really?” As she finished, he was waiting with a spoon to her lips.
    The smell was unmistakable. Then her tongue confirmed the sweet honey taste. Flan.
    “It’s delightful! Did you make this?”
    “Yes, earlier today. It was my mother’s recipe, but inspired by a very lovely young woman. So it’s laced with my two best girls.”
    Xavier’s gaze darkened. Did he mean her? She swallowed. Silence.
    “In case you’re confused,”—he nodded—“Yes. I’m referring to you.”
    “Well, I accept, then.”
    “Well, I thank you, then.”
    Their ensuing