Escape From Paradise (2 page)

When I was finally relaxed enough to let go of the guilt, I came alive. The first two days flew by in a blur of late nights and waking hours soaking up sun. I was open to meeting a guy, but when that didn’t happen I was happy to keep an eye on my three friends and make sure we all made it back to the room safely each night. During the days the other three might sneak off with guys they’d met, but at night we all came home together—no sketchy hotel flings. When Megan had asked to stay out longer the night before, and the guy she was with offered to walk her back to our room, we shot them down and dragged her back, ignoring her drunken pleas.

She was still bitter when we all woke at ten the next morning.

“He was the cutest guy I’ve met here! What if I can’t find him again? It’s our last day!”

“There’s tons of guys here, Meg,” Sabrina grumbled from her hungover fetal position on our bed.

Megan flung her forearm over her eyes. “You guys are evil. Seriously. Spawns of the horned one.”

We smiled at that, because we knew she loved us.

“He could’ve been a serial killer using his baby face as a disguise,” I told her. I was the only one up and about, moving around the room getting ready.

“Or some guy on a mission to knock-up as many girls as possible,” Caryn said from her spot next to Meg.

“Or a herpes and HIV carrier with a vengeance against women,” Sabrina chimed from her fetal position.

“Ugh!” Megan flopped onto her belly and groaned into her pillow.

I leaned forward and smacked her butt, making her jump. “Come on. Last day on the beach. Let’s go!”

“Geez, someone’s all hot to trot after moping the whole first day,” Caryn said. She was looking just as groggy as Megan.

“I didn’t mope the
whole
time.” I grabbed my brush and ran it through my shoulder-length layers. “Just the first couple hours.”

“I need some fucking coffee,” Sabrina said, rubbing her temples. “But I can’t move.”

I sighed. “You guys suck. How about I go get us some coffees and those pastry things? But when I get back you have to get your little asses out of bed. Deal?”

They grumbled their agreement, and Sabrina pointed to her purse with the money. I took what I needed and headed out.

We’d discovered an amazing cafe and restaurant near the hotel the day before. I smiled at the aproned woman behind the counter.

“Quatro cafe con leches, por favor,” I said.

She brightened at my use of Spanish and said, “Ah, bueno” as she got to work.

The bell to the door chimed as I hovered over the pastry counter, staring in at the mouth-watering delicacies. I bit my lip, trying to decide between the little strawberry shortcakes or fruit-filled pastries. The rolls also looked heavenly.

“It’s hard to decide, no?” said a rich male voice from behind me.

I turned and my insides swooped at the sight of the gorgeous Hispanic guy. Definitely a local with his smooth, accented English, tanned skin, and black wavy hair. But he was dressed in expensive-looking clothes—crisp dark jeans that fit perfectly and an unwrinkled button down shirt.

A fierce blush rose to my cheeks when I realized I’d been staring. I smiled a little and glanced back at the case, saying, “Yes…everything looks so good.”

The guy stepped closer. I couldn’t get a read on how old he might be. Most likely older than me, probably mid-twenties.

“It is all good, trust me. But my favorite is the chicken soup.”

“Chicken soup?”

He stood next to me again.

“Sí. The arroz con pollo. It’s delicious.” Rice with chicken. He smiled with straight, white teeth, and my tummy wobbled with excited nerves.

“That sounds...good.” I would have never bought chicken soup by choice, but with this guy recommending it I wanted to buy the whole pot.

“My name is Fernando.”

He stuck out a warm, firm hand and I shook it, glad when he didn’t let go right away.

“I’m Angela.”

“Angela.” The way he said my name in his accented English, giving the “g” an “h” sound made me shiver.

Dude. This guy was…wow.

The cafe matron slid my four coffees across the counter in a beverage carrier. She shot a misgiving frown at Fernando before smiling at me.

“Anything else, bonita?”

“Um, yes.” Since she’d asked me in English, and I was flustered by Fernando’s presence, I found myself slipping back into English myself. “Four arroz con pollos, and four rolls to go, please.”

Again she shot a glare that I couldn’t read toward Fernando, but when he stared back at her she quickly dropped her eyes and began ladling soup into containers. She handed me a large bag after I paid, and we exchanged smiles. Her eyes darted to Fernando for a fraction of a second. I couldn’t understand why he made her nervous.

“Thank you so much,” I said.

“Enjoy, Miss. And be safe.” She didn’t look toward Fernando again, even to ask what he wanted, and he didn’t try to order. It was all very strange.

But Fernando beamed at me, so I suppose I’d misread the awkwardness. Or maybe there was some history there. Small town family drama or something.

“Your hands are very full, Angela. May I help you?”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that.”

“Please. Let me.”

I handed him the bag of food while I held the coffees. “Thanks.”

“De nada,” he said, then laughed. “I mean, you’re welcome.”

I laughed too, because oh my gosh, he was too cute. The girls were never going to believe I’d picked up a sexy local on a coffee run.

Outside in the sunshine I started to feel bad. It was only a couple blocks to the hotel, but I was sure he probably had stuff to do. I mean, he went in the cafe and didn’t even get anything.

“You really don’t have to walk me all the way to the hotel,” I said.

“Don’t you worry. My destination is farther. However, if you wish to repay me I have a request.”

My heart jumped a little. “Oh? And what’s that?”

“That you come to this club tonight.” He adjusted the bag to one arm and pulled a business card from his back pocket, holding it up between his fingers for me to see before slipping it into the bag.

“I’ll talk to my friends, but I’m sure we can swing it.” And what I really meant by that was that I would beg, scream, and kill to get to the club if I had to.

“I would be very sad not to see you again, Angela.” He was smooth. Probably too smooth. The kind of guy I’d normally veer from, but he’d already ensnared me and there was no turning back now.

“I’ll be at the beach all day today,” I said, embarrassed by the hope in my voice.

“That would be a beautiful sight. However I have much work to do.”

We stopped in front of the high rise, moving to the side next to a palm tree to let people pass. I balanced the coffee carrier on one outstretched hand and reached for the bag of food. He handed it over with a grin and gave me a bow of his head.

“Until tonight, then.”

“Yeah. Tonight. Thank you.”

I bit my lip to hold back my enthusiasm, and turned to enter the hotel. As soon as I was inside the smile overtook my face. I was still geeking out when I got to our room. The girls were in bed, but they were at least sitting up now.

“What the hell are you smiling about?” Sabrina asked, but seeing me had caused her to break into a grin, too.

“Hottest guy ever.” I set down the food and drinks and flopped onto the bed on my back.

All three of them pounced.

“Who?” “Where?” “What’s his name?”

I told them the whole story, leaving out the weirdness about the cafe lady, and they fawned with me. Megan grabbed a pillow, crushing her hips against it and said, “Oh, yes, Fernando!” I swatted her hip.

“Ew, hussie. Get your crotch off my pillow!” Sabrina snatched it away.

“This looks legit,” Caryn said, reading the business card for the club. “We should definitely check it out.”

That made me sit up and clap my hands. I might have even kicked my heels in the air a little. We were all in good moods now. They didn’t even complain about the chicken and rice soup, which, by the way, was as delicious as Fernando’d promised—light and flavorful—definitely the healthiest thing we’d eaten since we got there.

After we ate and got our caffeine fixes, we put on our suits and headed out for our last rays of Mexico sun. The day was amazing. My skin was as dark and beautiful as it had ever been. We made friends with some of the other people in the hotel, and played games of volleyball. Megan found her guy from the night before, promptly attaching her mouth to his for the duration of the afternoon.

The giddy excited feeling Fernando had given me stayed with me all day. I couldn’t stop thinking about the gorgeous, dark-eyed guy, and how nice he’d been. It had been a long time since I felt excited about a guy. Trevor and I stuck it out through our freshman year of college before admitting to ourselves that it didn’t feel right anymore. After that I made out with a few guys at parties, but never felt any connections. Nobody had turned me on enough to make me think about sex again. Until now.

My nerves were still jumping that night when we showed the business card and got free admission into the darkened dance club. My eyes started scanning before they were adjusted to the lack of light. I didn’t bother trying not to look eager. It didn’t seem necessary since he was the one who’d pursued me.

In the end, Fernando was the one who found us.

“Hola, Angela,” he said into my ear. I could feel the heat of him behind me, and I saw my three friends as they practically licked him up and down with their eyes.

I turned and hugged him, surprising myself, but he only chuckled and hugged me back. I pulled away, motioning to the girls.

“Fernando, this is Caryn, Sabrina, and Megan. Girls, this is Fernando.”

“It is a pleasure to meet Angela’s beautiful friends.”

When he smiled they all melted into giggles, and I wanted to shout, “I told you! Hottest guy ever!”

Fernando knocked on the bar behind him, and a handsome older man raised his eyebrows.

“Anything these four women want tonight is on me, sí?”

“Sí, Señor.” He looked at us girls. “What are we having tonight, eh? Something fresh and fruity?”

I stepped back with Fernando while the girls moved to the bar and proceeded to laugh at everything the bartender said.

“Are you working?” I asked.

He tweaked my chin. “My work is done for today. Now I can enjoy. Do you dance?”

An unfamiliar song was blaring through the club, but it had a good beat.

“Sure.” I took his hand and tapped Sabrina’s shoulder. When she looked, I pointed to the dance floor to let her know where I’d be and she winked.

Fernando led me into the swarm of people under flashing lights, and within moments our bodies were pressed together, my hands on his shoulders and his hands on my hips. He had the moves. I could feel his toned body under his clothes, and I loved the spicy scent of his cologne—especially the fact that he’d used it sparingly. I was feeling him, everything about him, and when I looked up into his dark eyes I let it be known.

His arms slipped behind my back as my arms went around his neck and he tugged me until our mouths met. His lips and tongue worked mine in a perfect balance of harmony. I’d never been kissed like that. Never had a kiss affect my whole body, making me weak and hyper at the same time.

His hands slid down over my bottom and squeezed hard, making me gasp against his mouth. He laughed and moved his hands back to my waist before looking in my eyes.

“So fucking beautiful.”

I needed to catch my breath. I was feeling reckless…thinking thoughts that were not me. Wishing he’d push me up against the wall and feel me up in public. The thought both shamed and thrilled me. He was a total stranger. But this was my last night in Cancun—on the trip that only happened because I’d been rebellious—and I wanted to be wild and carefree, just this once.

I felt like all these thoughts were plastered across my face as Fernando looked down on me, studying me, moving strands of hair from my face with his nimble fingers.

A new song started and he turned me around, pulling me against his chest, and grabbing my hips to grind his sexy self into the back of my skirt. I arched my back, lifting my butt for better leverage, and he nipped my ear.

“Bad little girl.”

Sounds of my friends’ laughter and voices trailed to us as they entered the dance floor, drinks held above their heads.

“Oh, my gawd,” Sabrina hissed in my ear. “He is hot as shit.”

I tried not to giggle like an idiot as Megan and Caryn waggled their eyebrows and made lewd gestures when Fernando turned to say something to some guys who’d walked up.

The guys surrounded us and each took a girl. They were all good-looking, but nothing like Fernando. We danced until we were tired and sweating lightly.

“Let’s get a drink,” Fernando shouted.

The eight of us made our way back to the bar.

“What would you like, beautiful?” Fernando asked me.

“Just a soda, please.”

He cocked his head as if curious, but nodded and turned to the bartender.

“Una cerveza y una coca-cola, por favor. Hagala
especial
.”

A special coke?

The bartender stiffened and raked me with his eyes before looking back at Fernando. “Una nińa Americana—estas seguro?”
An American girl—are you sure?
What was that supposed to mean? Did he have something against Americans?

“
No te metas en mis asuntos
.” Fernando snapped.
Get out of my business.

“What’s wrong?” I asked Fernando.

His eyes were dark. “You like cherries, yes?”

“Um…yeah?” I watched the bartender’s back as he turned to make my drink. He didn’t pour any alcohol, so at least I knew it wasn’t some spiked special, not that I thought Fernando would do that. When the man turned back around he plunked two fat cherries on top with grenadine syrup and slid it to me. Ah...the “especial” cola had cherries.

“Thank you.” I smiled at the bartender, but he only scowled down at the bar, refusing to look at us. Fernando smiled and the awkwardness between he and the bartender slipped away. I took a big drink and felt refreshed after all that dancing.