Summer Rain (Lightning Strikes Book 3) by Barbara Freethy

She couldn't tell Joe she wanted to help Patrick because she liked him, because she wanted to kiss him…
    "Dani knows what I'm going through," Patrick cut in. "Because she lost a parent in a plane crash."
    "Oh, that's right," Joe said. "I hadn't put that together until now."
    She was grateful to Patrick for giving her a reason, but while Joe might accept and respect her motivation, she knew neither the senator nor Erica would feel the same way.
    "Well then," Joe said. "I'll wish you both luck."
    "I am getting out of this," she told Joe, as she got to her feet. "I just wanted to give Patrick a chance to talk to someone who might be able to help."
    "I get it. I'll walk you out." He led them back through the house. At the front door, he said, "I would offer to barbecue for you, but I'm pretty sure you're going for tacos."
    "Good guess," Patrick said. "Thanks again for the help."
    "No problem. You two watch your backs. In DC, you never know who's watching or who's listening."

Seven
    Rico's Tacos was a trendy restaurant in downtown Alexandria, Virginia, just across the Potomac from Washington DC. When they arrived a little before eight, the small restaurant was crowded, but they were able to snag a table.
    "Montalvo does a good business," Patrick said, as they settled into their seats.
    She nodded in agreement. "I looked up the reviews on the way over here. They have a solid four-and-a-half star rating with over two thousand reviews." She glanced at the menu. "A lot of those reviews raved about the shrimp tacos. But look at all the other choices: pork, chicken, beef, vegetarian…"
    "You're sounding hungry," Patrick teased.
    She looked up at him and smiled. "I'm sure you heard my stomach rumbling in the car."
    "I must admit I'm happy Rico owns a restaurant and not a gym or a dry-cleaner."
    "A dry cleaner?" she echoed with a laugh.
    "You know what I mean—any place that doesn't sell food."
    "Yes, I get it, and I'm happy, too. I think we should order the assorted platter to share."
    "That works for me. And maybe a margarita to wash them down."
    She nodded, thinking a cool, icy margarita would taste pretty good. "You were quiet on the drive over here."
    "Just thinking about what Joe told us."
    "I'm surprised that would take an hour. He didn't say that much."
    "You weren't talking, either," he pointed out.
    She shrugged. "I guess I had a few things to think about as well."
    "Like why you're still helping me?"
    "It is a concern. I don't want to lose my job, Patrick."
    "I can't see why you would, but we made a deal, so I won't ask you for any more favors."
    His words should have made her happy, but for some reason they didn't.
    A waiter came over to take their order. "What can I get you?" he asked.
    "We'd like to get the assorted taco platter to share," Dani said. "And I'll take a strawberry margarita."
    "Make mine a regular margarita," Patrick put in. "No salt. Also, we were wondering if Rico Montalvo is here."
    "He's in the back," the waiter said.
    "Would you ask him if he has a moment to speak to us? It's important."
    "Sure, I'll tell him," the waiter said, as he took their menus.
    "He didn't even ask us who we were or what we wanted," Dani said.
    Patrick smiled. "He doesn't care. I learned a long time ago that it's easy to lose perspective when you're deep in investigating something. You think everyone and everything around you is part of it, and you forget there's a normal world going on."
    That was probably true. Since she'd rescued Patrick, she hadn't been able to think about anything or anyone else.
    The waiter set down their drinks and told them that Mr. Montalvo would be with them shortly. She sipped her strawberry margarita with eager delight, happy at the fruity slide of icy liquid down her throat. "This hits the spot."
    "Can you even taste the alcohol?"
    "No, but that's fine. These days I need to be very aware of who I'm talking to and what I'm talking about at all times."
    "Sounds a bit dull."
    "But necessary. And it's