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.