think Enrique let me pass because he felt sorry for me. My hair hanging in wet ropes, my limbs rubbery, and my waterproof make-up most likely smudged, I probably looked like a drowned rat.
From behind, I heard the slapping of feet on the wet boards of the pier. “Hey, ladies!”
It was George. He’d wanted to talk to our instructor after class, so we’d left him behind to get some lunch. Now it looked as if he wanted to join our little group.
My ploy worked , I thought, not without some satisfaction.
Janice used a towel to wipe the remaining drops of water from her face and then fluffed her short, damp hair with her fingers. I’d never seen Janice primp before. Usually she couldn’t care less if she were sweaty or mussed up. She must really like this guy.
George caught up to us. “I’m taking you two to lunch.”
“You are?” Janice asked.
Why did this girl have to answer statements with questions? He was a guy, he was cute—the answer should have been a resounding yes.
“We’d love to,” I interjected. Might as well skip the hemming and hawing that would inevitably ensue if I left Janice in charge of the conversation.
George smiled broadly and crooked his arms, giving us each one to hold on to. “Then, shall we?”
Janice linked her arm with his, and I did the same. As he led us in the direction of the hotel, I had a brilliant idea.
“Oh, no!” I gasped, doing my best to sound disappointed.
“What is it?” Janice looked at me.
“James. I told him I would call again today. He’ll think I forgot all about him.” This actually was true. We got home late last night after our dinner with Joaquin, so I’d never even bothered to check if he’d left a message. This morning, Janice got me out of bed so early, my brain only thought about coffee and a shower.
“Yes, James,” my friend echoed sadly. “Guess we should go back to the room instead.”
“Huh?” I couldn’t believe she didn’t take the ball I was handing her and run with it. “No, no! You go ahead with George. I’ll catch up in a bit. All right?” Good thing I was around to help her out. This girl had almost no instincts when it came to men.
“If you’re sure—” Her eyes lit up, and her pencil-thin mouth turned up in a slight smile.
“Of course I’m sure.” I pulled myself out of George’s grasp.
“Good, it’s decided then,” George said. “We’ll meet you in the café later?”
“You got it,” I grinned back at them, an oddly well-matched couple.
As they strolled away, I watched them together for a moment. George with his swarthy appearance and stocky, but muscular, build; and Janice with her pale complexion and slight, athletic figure. A light appeared in Janice’s eyes that I had never seen before. I would make sure to take my time joining them for lunch.
I made my way toward the north entrance of the hotel and the banks of elevators. It worried me I may have missed James’s call. And what would he think when I didn’t contact him by this morning? It was now well past noon, and he would be in the middle of his conference. I could try his cell, but he usually got so caught up in the computer displays and gadgets at those types of events that answering his cell phone would be the last thing on his mind. I’d be lucky if he even remembered to charge the thing.
Standing in the elevator, I decided to call his cell number first, and if there was no answer, call his room and leave a message. I could imagine him forgetting to check his cell phone for messages, but a red flashing light on the phone in his hotel room would certainly get his attention.
The elevator stopped on our floor. I headed toward the suite. Someone tall in a finely-tailored gray suit stood outside our door knocking quietly. At first, I didn’t recognize him from behind. Then, I heard his voice.
“Suzie, are you there?”
Joaquin, his broad shoulders straining at the fabric of his suit, leaned forward and knocked a little more
From behind, I heard the slapping of feet on the wet boards of the pier. “Hey, ladies!”
It was George. He’d wanted to talk to our instructor after class, so we’d left him behind to get some lunch. Now it looked as if he wanted to join our little group.
My ploy worked , I thought, not without some satisfaction.
Janice used a towel to wipe the remaining drops of water from her face and then fluffed her short, damp hair with her fingers. I’d never seen Janice primp before. Usually she couldn’t care less if she were sweaty or mussed up. She must really like this guy.
George caught up to us. “I’m taking you two to lunch.”
“You are?” Janice asked.
Why did this girl have to answer statements with questions? He was a guy, he was cute—the answer should have been a resounding yes.
“We’d love to,” I interjected. Might as well skip the hemming and hawing that would inevitably ensue if I left Janice in charge of the conversation.
George smiled broadly and crooked his arms, giving us each one to hold on to. “Then, shall we?”
Janice linked her arm with his, and I did the same. As he led us in the direction of the hotel, I had a brilliant idea.
“Oh, no!” I gasped, doing my best to sound disappointed.
“What is it?” Janice looked at me.
“James. I told him I would call again today. He’ll think I forgot all about him.” This actually was true. We got home late last night after our dinner with Joaquin, so I’d never even bothered to check if he’d left a message. This morning, Janice got me out of bed so early, my brain only thought about coffee and a shower.
“Yes, James,” my friend echoed sadly. “Guess we should go back to the room instead.”
“Huh?” I couldn’t believe she didn’t take the ball I was handing her and run with it. “No, no! You go ahead with George. I’ll catch up in a bit. All right?” Good thing I was around to help her out. This girl had almost no instincts when it came to men.
“If you’re sure—” Her eyes lit up, and her pencil-thin mouth turned up in a slight smile.
“Of course I’m sure.” I pulled myself out of George’s grasp.
“Good, it’s decided then,” George said. “We’ll meet you in the café later?”
“You got it,” I grinned back at them, an oddly well-matched couple.
As they strolled away, I watched them together for a moment. George with his swarthy appearance and stocky, but muscular, build; and Janice with her pale complexion and slight, athletic figure. A light appeared in Janice’s eyes that I had never seen before. I would make sure to take my time joining them for lunch.
I made my way toward the north entrance of the hotel and the banks of elevators. It worried me I may have missed James’s call. And what would he think when I didn’t contact him by this morning? It was now well past noon, and he would be in the middle of his conference. I could try his cell, but he usually got so caught up in the computer displays and gadgets at those types of events that answering his cell phone would be the last thing on his mind. I’d be lucky if he even remembered to charge the thing.
Standing in the elevator, I decided to call his cell number first, and if there was no answer, call his room and leave a message. I could imagine him forgetting to check his cell phone for messages, but a red flashing light on the phone in his hotel room would certainly get his attention.
The elevator stopped on our floor. I headed toward the suite. Someone tall in a finely-tailored gray suit stood outside our door knocking quietly. At first, I didn’t recognize him from behind. Then, I heard his voice.
“Suzie, are you there?”
Joaquin, his broad shoulders straining at the fabric of his suit, leaned forward and knocked a little more
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