She smiled. “I suppose that’s one way of putting it.”

“And don’t think I go around talking out of school, eh? Mum’s the word.”

Alicia looked into his eyes. Fernandito gulped. Peering into those depths always set his pulse racing.

“Would you really like to work with me?” she asked at last.

Fernandito’s eyes were popping out of his head. “Nothing in the world would make me happier.”

“Not even marrying Candelita?”

“Don’t be mean. Sometimes you’re very mean, Señorita Alicia . . .”

Alicia nodded, agreeing with the accusation.

“Look,” he said, “I don’t want you to think I’m getting my hopes up. I know I’ll never love anyone the way I’ve loved you, but that’s my problem. I’ve known for a long time that you’ll never love me.”

“Fernandito . . .”

“Let me finish. Now that at last I feel bold enough to speak to you frankly, I wouldn’t like to leave anything unsaid. I don’t think I’ll ever again pluck up enough courage to tell you what I feel.”

She gave an approving nod.

“What I’m trying to say, and I know it’s none of my business, and don’t get angry with me if I’m telling you this, is that it’s OK if you don’t love me because I’m a poor idiot, but one day you’ll have to love somebody. Life’s a bitch and too short to live like this . . . alone.”

Alicia looked down. “We don’t choose who we love, Fernandito. Perhaps it’s just that I don’t know how to love anyone, and I don’t know how to let anyone love me.”

“I don’t believe that. Is that your boyfriend, that hunk of a policeman who goes around with you?”

“Vargas? No. He’s just a work colleague. And a good friend, I think.”

“Maybe I can be too.”

“A friend, or a work colleague?”

“Both things. If you’ll let me.”

For a long time Alicia kept silent. Fernandito waited without saying a word, watching her with religious devotion.

“What if it was dangerous?” she asked finally.

“More dangerous than carrying boxes full of bottles up the staircases in this neighborhood?”

She nodded.

“From the moment I met you, I knew you were the dangerous sort, Señorita Alicia. I’m only asking you to give me an opportunity. If you see I’m no good, fire me. No questions asked. What do you say?” Fernandito held out his hand.

Instead of shaking it, Alicia took it and kissed it as if he were a damsel, then placed it against her cheek. The boy went the color of a ripe peach.

“Fine. A week’s trial. If after a few days you see that this isn’t for you, we terminate the agreement.”

“Really?”

Alicia nodded.

“Thank you so much. I won’t fail you. I swear.”

“I know, Fernandito. I haven’t the slightest doubt.”

“Will I need to be armed? I say that because my father still has his militiaman’s rifle—”

“So long as you’re armed with prudence, that should be enough.”