Hot & Enchanting (De La Cruz Saga) (15 page)

Jacqueline is busy working at
her desk in the accounting department. She’s finishing up her last file, zealously talking to her colleagues.

Jacki is excited about su hermana,
si, mi hermana Jessica María is engaged to the De La Cruz, si Jose Enrique De La Cruz. 
The CEO of the De La Cruz, Inc.
Mi boss, wow, this is awesome,
Jacki ponders with joy.

“Yes it’s true, my sister Jessica is marrying the big hunk, the boss,” confirms Jacki to her amigas at work, with an immensely excited voz. “He bought her a beautiful engagement ring. The wedding is going to take place at the end of July,” Jacki is attempting to hurry up to finish her day. Jacki is leaving work early to accompany su hermana Jessy to the bridal stores.

Jacki’s accounting colleagues Sally Ann Mendes, Debbie Green and Susan Staples are listening to Jacki’s every word with excitement.

“Oh wow, this is so exciting,” says Debbie with a dreamy smile.

“Yeah,” agrees Susan “we get the entire real scoop, all the details of the wedding, wow!” she sighs with pleasure.

“You have to make sure to take good notes Jacki. We want every detail about the dresses,” says Sally Ann smiling.

“Yes I will. Jessy and I are going to see the dresses for the wedding party. She wants to have a few to select from, so she can make the final selection on Saturday. The mothers, maid of honor and maids will be getting fitted for the dresses,” says Jacki closing down the computer, picking up all of the magazines, and her purse.

“See ya,” says Jacki with felicidad, smiling, running out of the office. Jacki is in a hurry, exiting the office with her arms full of magazines for her hermana Jessy.

I want Jessy to look at these bridal magazines, maybe she can get some ideas for la boda. I bought these magazines on the way into the office this morning. I hope they will help. I particularly loved some wedding dresses in these magazines. Yeah right. It will be a while until I marry,
muses Jacki.  

Ricky works on the new contracts
, wow it’s almost time to leave,
considers Ricky looking up at his hermano Tony.

Tony runs into Ricky’s office with excitement, “Ricky did you get any information from Bella. Is Jose Enrique for real?” asks Tony with curiosity.

“No, Bella didn’t get anything out of Paty,” Ricky grins, shaking his head. “I bet Jose Enrique is just messing with us.”

“No hermano, I don’t believe he’s messing with us. Jose Enrique acted real serious at dinner,” states Tony falling into a burgundy leather chair in front of Ricky’s desk.

La familia has an architect, Ricky’s hermano, Sebastian Antonio De La Cruz.
Tony has designed the famed and much in-demand buildings with the Mexican influence and eco-friendly environment. Tony is considered one of the most talented architects in today’s building market. Tony has contributed to the growth and success of the familia’s company.

“Well maybe los primos can get something out of Jose Enrique. He’s being really secretive about his novia and engagement,” says Ricky nodding.

“Si, Christian or Alex might be able to get some information out of him, since Bella couldn’t get anything out of Paty,” says Tony shaking his head in amazement. “Well it’s time to go a casa, I’ll see ya there,” he stands and walks out of Ricky’s office.

Los primos are worried. They feel that they’ll be losing another primo. They’re all close and protective of each other, like hermanos. The primos have always been together in the good and in the bad since they were niños. Of course, this is one of the reasons that todos
los primos want to meet and get to know Jose Enrique’s novia. Los primos want to ensure that she is the right one and that she truly loves Jose Enrique. Nobody, absolutely nobody, is allowed to hurt la familia.

Los primos padres, los tres hermanos, had started the familia’s company twenty-five years ago with a lot of hard work and obstacles. Los hermanos started out with the business building of small projects. They struggled in bidding for construction jobs. Even with their limited funds and limited communication skills, la familia was able to start and grow la familia’s company. Only recently has la familia begun to enjoy the fruits of la entire familia’s hard work. The achievements have been impressive.

Damn another day and I haven’t been able to get close to my muñeca. She’s truly a muñeca, hot and sexy. I also remember our hot erotic love making. She has been driving me insane with pasión. She’s the one that has me all worked up every day. What am I thinking? She didn’t want to have anything to do with me. She continues to run away from me. I know that she was hurt and angry the last time she saw me with that puta. I haven’t seen her in days,
ponders Ricky.

He strides out of his office to his carro praying to encounter Jacki. He’s very unhappy about the entire situation.

Jacki leaves work early. Jacki is anxious to get to her casa. 
Hmmmm….. Jessy is waiting for me and I need to hurry. Ricky is just amazing. It was awesome being in his arms. But I need to forget about him, he’s not for me. I know that I’m not his type. Ricky will never seek me out. I haven’t seen him since I saw him with that puta. I know that it’s over. Si I need to keep him buried deep en mi corazon. I need to lock him in mi corazon because he is attempting to come out. This will be painful if I let him out and I’m not a little niña anymore to dream,
ponders Jacki gathering the magazines from her carro.

Jacki enters la casa extremely excited, seeking Jessy. “Jessy, I’m home. Are you ready? I just want to change okay?” she says as she notices Jessy on the phone,
talking to of course, her sexy hunk.  I better hurry.
It looks like Jessy is almost ready. We can see the magazines on our way there,
thinks Jacki
going to her cuarto
.

“Jacki we have to go manana, mi vida is coming to pick me up to see some casas. Okay?” says Jessy walking into Jacki’s cuarto.

Jacki is getting ready and turns to look at Jessy. “Can I still come along with you? This is all so exciting. I want to see las casa’s too,” asks Jacki smiling, looking at Jessy with hope.

“Okay I don’t think it will be a problema with mi vida,” says Jessy. “Hurry, he said he’ll be here in a few,” she says strolling out of su cuarto. She searches for su mama to advise her that they’re leaving.

A few moments later, Jacki is observing su hermana and Jose Enrique look around la casa.
Oh he’s amazing. He truly treats mi hermana like una reina. I want one. Yea, the possibilities of finding one are low. Besides, I don’t like to play games. I really don’t go out. I am always working late at work. The end of the month is crazy in the accounting department. Si, it’s a wonder anybody in the company has seen me. I start early and most days I leave late. When I leave it’s always after everybody has left. It is the nature of the beast, accounting.

They always say being an account takes a certain type. Boy do I believe it. Sometimes I feel like a nerd. If it wasn’t for Jessy that knows all about dressing, colors, and styles, I would really be a nerd. All I’ll need would be the glasses and buck teeth, yea,
thinks Jacki grimacing shaking su cabessa with dislike of the image that came across her mind.

Jacki accompanies Jessy and Jose Enrique to view las casas.
There’s one that Jessy loves. I also like la casa, it’s truly is nice,
considers Jacki nodding in agreement.

“Jacki, can you give us a minute? Jessy and I need to discuss some things in the other cuarto. Okay?” asks Jose Enrique taking Jessy to the other cuarto.

“Si, that’s fine with me. Don’t worry. I’ll just wait here for you,” replies Jacki watching them disappear into the other cuarto to discuss whatever issues are going on with them.

Driving away from viewing la casa Jacki starts to ask questions. “What was that all about? I thought for a minute that there wasn’t going to be a boda. You two were acting strange,” says Jacki looking at them.

“Jacki, it was nothing.  I just wanted to confirm that mi vida likes la casa. We just needed some privacy,” states Jessy smiling.

“Okay, where are we going now?” asks Jacki enjoying her time off work and out of la casa.

“We are going to order the invitations and go have some dinner,” responds Jessy.

Jose Enrique, Jessy, and Jacki were at the restaurant finishing up their dinner and talking about la boda invitations and reception.

“I hope you’re going to have Mariachi’s at the end of the ceremony and at the dinner reception. It would be absolutely romantic,” says Jacki smiling with felicidad.

“I think that’s a great idea Jacki,” replies Jose Enrique turning to Jessy. “What do you think mi amor?”

“Si that’ll be awesome mi vida,” responds Jessy nodding in agreement. “Jacki, that’s a great idea!”

“I’m ready to go para mi casa, why don’t you drop me off at home. You two can go on to sign the purchase contract for your casa, okay?” says Jacki. “I have to be at work early manana.”

“Hermana that sounds good, let’s go mi vida,” says Jessy standing up to leave.

Jose Enrique pulls up into the driveway, turning off the carro. He quickly opens Jessy’s door and assists her out. He then turns to assist Jacki out.

Jessy hugs su hermana. “Thank you for going with us hermana.  I truly enjoyed having you along. You were a great help. See you manana,” says Jessy as she turns to enter the carro.

“Si, thanks for coming along today Jacki. It was enjoyable having your company. See ya later,” says Jose Enrique assisting Jessy back into her seat.

Jacki stands back watching them leave, waving goodbye.
I really didn’t want to come home, but I think that they need some time alone. She went into la casa walking into her cuarto. I’m going to be lonely when Jessy marries and leaves. I know that she’ll be down the street at her casa or at work, but it will not be the same.

Mi hermana is all into Jose Enrique, I don’t blame her.  Jessy has been in love with Jose Enrique since she was in high school. From the moment she saw him at Paty’s casa.

It’s t
oo bad that Ricky is such a sexy wicked playboy. I know that he never noticed me at his casa when I visited Claudia and Vero. I loved visiting them because I always prayed that he would notice me. I never had a chance. I still looked like una niña and I had braces. I only got to see him when he was leaving on a date and I was always in las bebes cuarto. I saw him walk down the hall or when he was getting into his carro. He was always busy with las chicas that were always chasing him. He is always with some exotic hermosa chica. I think he’s just not meant to be mio.

Si, it’s best if I forget our encounters. I know that he did. I will never have a chance with him. I should look at the dresses so I can tell mi hermana which dresses I like for the maids dresses. I know that her maid of honor is Paty. I have always known that. It doesn’t bother me because I am su hermana. I always will be.

Getting comfortable on her cama and looking at the bridal magazines.
It’s simply muy exciting to have a reason to look at the dresses in these magazines. Oh, I like that wedding dress for my wedding. Yeah right, someday if I don’t get too old to catch my own hunk. 

The phone starts to ring.  I wonder who’s calling me.
“Hola, Jacki speaking,” says Jacki frowning.

“Hi Jacki, this is Philip. How are you doing? I thought that you would like to go have dinner again on Friday. I enjoyed having dinner with you a few weeks ago,” says Philip with anxiety in his voz.

Oh, ugh, not Philip, I didn’t like him. No flutters, no melting, no nada, not for me
“Sorry Philip. I have plans, maybe some other time. Thanks for calling, I have to go,” says Jacki in a hurry, ending the call without any regrets.

We just didn’t click. I really don’t know why he bothers. No way will I go out with Philip again. He’s just not for me. It was awful having dinner and waiting for the minutes to go by. I thought I was boring, ugh, he’s boring.

I have been trying to meet mi amor, a new amor that will over power my amor for Ricky. I have gone on several dates with different hombres this year, but we didn’t click. Maybe that’s the only type of hombre that I can attract. Hmmm, maybe I’m going to have to settle for a basic normal nice hombre,
contemplates Jacki.