A Proposal They Can't Refuse (Vega Family Love Stories, #1)

by Natalie Caña

“They give me light brown poop water and call it coffee.”

The Boricuas of Chicago flocked to El Coquí because no one did Puerto Rican food better than Abuela Rosa Luz. And because no one entertained more than Abuelo Papo and his salsa band, Los Rumberos.

“Miss Cucu always thinking she knows better because she went to culinary school.”

The father of six, grandfather to eighteen, and great-grandfather to almost a dozen,

Everything about this street announced loudly and with pride that this was a Puerto Rican neighborhood where Boricuas could be Boricuas, even if they were on the mainland. Her family had always been a part of it.

At some point Liam had turned into a whole snack, and she was feeling decidedly peckish.

It belongs to the woman you love as much as Killian loved your nana.”

“Kamilah Lorena Vega Ramos,”

“That’s why Kamilah is moving in with Liam,” Abuelo said. “So they can spend more time together.”

And I want to feast like a Las Vegas tourist at an all-you-can-eat buffet.

His love was dark and resentful and needy.

“Antes caerá el mentiroso que el cojo.”

“Whenever we go to visit her, I gorge on them. I gorge on everything when we go to Puerto Rico.”

“According to legend, there was a beautiful goddess who was infatuated with Coquí, the son of a great Taíno chief. She would protect him. In return, he would worship her. One evening, she changed herself into a Taíno maiden so she could go to him. They fell in love.” Her eyes went soft and dreamy at the mention of love. “They made plans to see each other the next night, but instead the evil and jealous Juracán arrived.” Her voice lowered and deepened. “The sky blackened, and his winds howled. The goddess tried to protect Coquí, but Juracán snatched him away.” Her hands made a snatching motion, then folded over her heart as she said, “The goddess didn’t know how she could go on without her love, so she created this tiny frog that will forever call for him, just like her heart.”

She created the coquí to call for him, because she hoped in her heart of hearts that she would find him and they could reunite. It’s why the frog means so much to us. It represents the never-flagging hope for something better and the resilience to keep fighting for it even when all seems lost. If we call out to each other, then we are never alone.”

“A man could happily get lost in the taste, if he’s not careful.”

“Distract me. Please. I need you, Liam.”

“I want to strip you bare,” he whispered. “And once you’re naked, I’m going to sit you down on my tasting table and do exactly what its name dictates I do.” Kamilah inhaled shakily. “That’s right. I’m going to taste you. I’m going to savor you like one of my whiskeys, and I’m not going to stop until I’m drunk on you.”

“I need to hear you say it out loud,” he told her. “I need you to say yes. I need you to tell me that I’m not fucking everything up like I did at your prom.”

“I have been waiting to undress you for fifteen years.”

“I plan to enjoy the fuck out of it, and not even you are going to take that pleasure from me.”

“I fucking love that you wear my clothes because you want to smell me wherever you are.”

Life is a series of unexpected, uncomfortable, and usually-unwanted incidents that you can either grow or hide from.

When sacrifices are made in excess, out of duty, or with resentment, they cease to mean anything positive.”

“Y eso es lo que te pasa por pendeja.”

“The crown for loyalty because you are the most steadfast grandson. Your life’s work is an honor to your family and your legacy: dedication from your grandfather, craft from your father, history from your grandmother, and beauty from your mother. The hands for friendship because you’ve been my best friend since before I even knew what friendship meant. You understand me like no one else does, you support me even when it’s inconvenient for you, but you also call me on my shit. Lastly, a heart for love because I don’t know anyone who loves as hard as you do. You love so deeply that it pains you, and yet you still do it.” She swallowed thickly. “And while you’re going through this final round of judging, I want you to remember that this—” she pointed to the design “—is who you are. A loving and loyal friend who is so much more than this contest. You are more than Kane Distillery. You are...everything.”

“I named this whiskey Coquí, because, like the goddess to her love, my heart has always called for you.”

“Number one. The particulars of your relationship are private. A relationship concerns only the people in it. Don’t let outside forces intrude in its growth or affect its progress. Keep each other’s counsel, because you need to trust one another.” Killian held up two fingers. “Number two. Be present. Loving someone is not easy. You both have to show up ready to put in the work and stay even when things get hard, and they will. But they will also be good, so enjoy each other, and enjoy the way you feel together. Life is too unexpected to waste it not living every moment to the fullest.” “Number three,” Abuelo said. “Support each other. You don’t always have to agree or understand each other, but you have to remember that you have a partnership. Life is full of ups and downs, but together you can not

overserious surgeon; Alex, the overcompensating