Mendoza's Return by Susan Crosby Page B

young woman with long brown hair. She stepped into the lobby. “We’ll be able to seat you in just a moment. Unless you’d like to go to the bar?”
    â€œNeither, thanks. I’ve got a takeout order coming.”He extended his hand toward her. “I’m Rafe. Marcos’s brother.”
    Her brown eyes took on some sparkle. Her handshake was firm and direct. “Oh! You’re the one who’s come home again. I’m Wendy Fortune.”
    â€œFortune?”
    â€œI know, I know. The Fortunes are famous in Red Rock. I’m from the Atlanta branch. Actually, I was exiled here.” She glanced past Rafe. “But that’s a long, boring story,” she said. “Here’s Marcos now. It was nice to meet you.”
    â€œThanks. You, too.”
    â€œAbout ten minutes for your order,” Marcos told his brother.
    Rafe waited until Wendy was out of sight then said, “She’s cute.”
    â€œSpoiled. Youngest of six kids and been indulged all her life.”
    Rafe heard something in Marcos’s voice that he couldn’t identify. “It sounds like you didn’t want to hire her, so why did you?”
    â€œI didn’t have a say. Plus she’s connected to our half-sister through marriage, you know.” He shrugged. “She’s learning. It’s not an easy job.”
    â€œWell, she’s attractive. That’ll help.”
    â€œI guess.”
    Rafe grinned. “You guess? I saw you watching her walk away—and you weren’t looking at her feet, hermano. ” He held up both hands in surrender whilehis brother pretended to throw a punch. “Dad finally told me he’s having a hard time coping.”
    Marcos shifted gears just as easily. “He actually admitted it? Good.”
    The brothers talked until the order was ready, then Rafe made his way back to Melina’s office. Through the open door to the conference room he saw Melina laughing with a tall man whose straight black hair was as long as hers. He spotted Rafe then whispered something to her.
    Melina whirled around. “Rafe! That was fast.”
    Did she looked embarrassed? Flustered? Excited? He couldn’t tell for sure. He only knew he felt pinpricks of jealousy stab him everywhere.
    â€œThis is my partner,” she said. “Quanah Ruiz. Everyone calls him Q.”
    Partner? Oh, business partner. Q reached for one of the bags of food and set it on the table, then shook Rafe’s hand.
    â€œRafe Mendoza,” he said.
    â€œI guessed as much. Melina was just telling me the great news about Elliot. Well done.”
    â€œThanks. There’s plenty here for three if you want to join us. Chicken enchiladas, chile rellenos and Spanish rice. Taquitos and guac. Mexican chocolate cake,” he added, looking at Melina, who made a sound close to a whimper.
    â€œFrom Red?”
    â€œOf course. Q?”
    Rafe wasn’t sure whether he wanted the buffer ornot, but was surprisingly pleased when Q said he had other plans.
    Melina started opening up the foil containers the moment Q left. She’d rounded up paper plates, plastic silverware and a couple of Cokes.
    â€œI don’t think I’ve ever heard the name Quanah,” he said.
    â€œIt’s Comanche—his mother’s side. You can see it in his cheekbones, I think. For all his imposing height and that long hair, kids respond to him instantly. He tends to work mostly with the children, and I take on most of the adults, but sometimes a child takes a shine to me instead, or an adult to Q, so then we adapt. It keeps us both fresh that way, too.”
    They sat down and started serving themselves and each other. “I noticed your grandfather is in a wheelchair,” Rafe said.
    â€œHe doesn’t use it all the time, just when he’d be on his feet for long periods. He needs hip replacement but won’t do the surgery. He says he’s too old.”
    â€œIs