Emilio collected Carlos as arranged and raced back to the nightclub.
“The woman in red, she is very rich?” Emilio asked.
“Indeed, cousin. Manuel is of the opinion we could ask ten times what we got for the last two.”
Emilio whistled and slowed the car to a halt. Carlos stepped out of the taxi onto the pavement. “Wish me luck, cousin.”
“Of course, good luck, Carlos, much is riding on you tonight.”
Carlos entered the club and scrutinized the room. Making their way to a table by the dance floor were his mark and her companions who stood out like a flare in the dark. With an inner glee he kicked up the corners of his mouth into a satisfied grin. Opportunity had just knocked and he was about to step forward and answer it.
*
“Come on, girls, let’s dance.” Daniel surprised Beth by pulling Loretta and her to their feet and leading them onto the floor. The music pulsed, the vibrations could be felt beneath their feet, and they began to sway to the beat. Loretta moved like a professional. The years of dance lessons Zach insisted on had indeed paid off.
Daniel wasn’t bad either and seemed in his element. He had the moves. She, on the other hand, was total crap and was more than willing to bow out so Loretta and he could dance up a storm. Before she could beat a retreat though, a well-dressed handsome man stepped up and addressed Loretta.
“May I dance with you, señorita?”
“I’d love to.” Her smile was infectious. Beth grinned.
Loretta placed her hand in the Columbian’s, and as they started to move, the crowd swallowed them up.
“Looks like it’s just you and me now, chickadee.” Daniel folded her into his arms and pulled her up against his body in a typical old style dance pose.
“Daniel, please.” She squirmed and broke free.
“I knew you’d beg me for it sooner or later.” He laughed.
“Cut the crap, and don’t spoil our night.”
“Can’t blame a guy for trying.” He opened his arms and smiled. “Come on, let’s dance.”
“Okay, but you’d better behave,” she warned, taking his hand while he placed the other at the small of her back.
*
Loretta beamed at her partner. Fornication, but he was divine. Jet-black eyes twinkling and hair like onyx, shiny and black, olive skin and perfect white teeth, and man, did he smell good. She sniffed again, trying to identify the wonderful exotic aroma—woodsy, masculine. Her attraction was instant, and if she was any judge, the hungry look in his eye declared it was mutual.
“Señorita, you dance so beautiful.”
“Thank you.” Her chest swelled with the praise. “You’re not bad yourself.”
“I am Carlos Santiago, may I know your name?”
“Loretta, Loretta Buchanan.”
“Loretta,” he repeated, rolling the “r” on his tongue. “A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. How long are you in Bogotá?”
“Not long, just another day. My friends were here for work. Tomorrow Daniel returns home while Beth and I visit Cartagena and perhaps Medellin, if time permits.”
“You’re not here for work also?”
“No, ah, I’m between jobs at the moment.” Loretta flinched, she thought she saw censure in his eyes, but he blinked and it was gone, a smile taking its place.
*
Beth was having a top time. Daniel, to his credit, didn’t complain or miss a beat when she stepped on his toes, just smiled and kept on dancing.
Their steps took them near Loretta and her attractive partner, and an idea struck Beth. “They look fabulous. I’d like to get a photo.” She stood on tiptoes and spoke into Daniel’s ear. The music was so loud it was the only way of ensuring he’d hear.
“Okay, sure, whatever you want.” He didn’t relinquish her hand on the way back to their table. “You take the snaps, and I’ll go get us another bottle of bubbly.”
Magdalena’s was fabulous, and a memento of the evening was called for. She took out her camera and pressed the power button on. Daniel returned to the table and appeared in the viewfinder just as she lifted the camera to her eye.
“Smile, Daniel.”
He obliged, striking a pose and giving her a sexy half smile, puckered his lips and blew her a kiss. She laughed and captured the moment, then checked the image on the screen before passing it to him for a look. He was photogenic and so handsome, but she wasn’t about to tell him that.
Then without warning, he pulled her up against him, catching her unawares, one arm wrapping around her shoulder, the other held the camera at arm’s length. “Say sexy monkey, Beth.”
“Sexy monkey.” She giggled. He surprised her then, planting a kiss on her cheek and snapping the selfie.
“Not bad,” he declared, checking the photo. “We make a cute couple.”
She reached for the camera to see. “You’re incorrigible.” And he was. Perhaps, her judgment of him had been too harsh, she thought scrutinizing the dance floor. Time would tell.
As a gap appeared between the gyrating couples, she located her friend in the viewfinder and took a few snaps. Later, she would choose the best one and have it framed as a keepsake for Loretta. Just then the music finished, and the band stopped for a break.
Beth dropped the camera into her purse and turned to Daniel as the dance floor began to empty. “Don’t mention the photos. I want them to be a surprise.”
“My lips are sealed.” He gave her a conspiratorial wink as Loretta arrived with her new friend in tow.
“Guys, meet Carlos. Carlos, this is my best friend Beth and her boss Daniel.”
Beth glanced up and smiled. Carlos was attractive, but not her type.
“Take a load off, Carlos.” Daniel signaled the waiter to bring another glass, and when it arrived he filled it with champagne.
“Thank you for your hospitality, but please let me order a bottle of Aguardiente, our national drink. I think you will enjoy, yes?”
“Sure, we’ll give it a go,” Daniel answered for all of them as Carlos slid into the vacant seat.
A bottle and four shot glasses were placed on the table before them.
“Loretta tells me you are only here for a short visit, Daniel.”
“That’s right. I leave tomorrow, and the girls head off the day after.”
Carlos picked up the bottle and poured a shot each. Loretta raised her glass. “To new friends.”
“Salud,” Carlos responded.
“Salud,” Daniel and she echoed and tossed back the shots before slamming their empty glasses onto the table.
Beth gasped and her eyes watered. The strong alcohol burned the back of her throat all the way to her toes. Daniel and Loretta laughed at her reaction and then held their glasses out for seconds. Carlos poured the refills and looked to Beth.
“Another, señorita?”
“No, thank you.”
“Just one more?”
“No, one is plenty. I have work tomorrow, and I’ve already had heaps to drink.”
His lips tightened and his eyes hooded over. The malevolent expression that darkened his features for an instant gave her gooseflesh. The look was gone in a flash, but it left her uneasy.
Loretta threw back her second shot and then stood. The band had resumed playing. “How about another dance?”
“But of course.” Carlos rose and taking Loretta’s outstretched hand led her onto the floor as the music changed to a slow beat.
“Come, chickadee, let’s you and I hit the floor too.”
Daniel’s invitation broke into her thoughts; she put her uneasiness aside and stood.
“If you think your toes can handle it, I’d love to.” She accepted the invitation with grace. “We can leave when the band takes their next break.”
Daniel stroked his chin, his brows lifting. “Next band break, huh, that could rack up a lot of bruised toes. I don’t know if I could take it for that long.”
She jerked her head up, the merriment reflected in his eyes revealed he was joshing, and that made her laugh. “You almost had me then.”
“I wish.” Daniel replied under his breath as he steered her onto the floor. She let that one slide and cast a troubled look over Loretta and Carlos.
“You don’t like him, do you?”
“You know what they say about first impressions.”
“Perhaps you just jump to conclusions, Beth.”
The underlying implication made her squirm, and perhaps she had with him. “Maybe you’re right.”
“He’s been nothing but pleasant all evening, and Loretta certainly seems to like him.”
“Loretta craves male attention.”
“What are you saying, that she’s an easy lay?”
“No, of course not. I’m saying she’s lonely and gullible. She takes everyone at face value, and she latches onto anyone who gives her attention regardless of what they may be like.”
“It’s only one night. Tomorrow I’ll be on a plane home, and the day after you two will be off to Cartagena, and Carlos will be a distant memory.”
He had a point and made perfect sense. Perhaps Nick’s paranoia was rubbing off on her. But as the evening progressed, the dark feelings she harbored toward the Columbian remained unshakeable.
Loretta and Carlos were still at it when Daniel yawned, not bothering to cover his mouth. She stifled her own yawn then.
“Would you like me to hurry her up?” Daniel offered, stretching his arms. It had been a super night despite her misgivings, but it was nudging the witching hour, and they were both ready to call it a night.
“Thanks, but I’ll do it.” She had prior experience trying to motivate Loretta into doing something against her will, but this time, determination and a newly formed backbone were on her side.
She pulled back her shoulders and sauntered over to the couple engrossed in each other’s arms and swaying provocatively to the rhythmic music. “Are you just about ready to leave?” she asked, tapping her friend’s shoulder. “It’s midnight, and Daniel and I have work tomorrow.”
“You guys go on ahead, don’t wait for me.” Loretta sent her a meaningful look that Beth chose to ignore. “Carlos has promised to see me home later.”
Well, that solves everything. Not. Beth stood her ground, prepared to engage in a verbal battle if necessary. “But that’s silly to take Carlos out of his way when you can come with us.” Although the remark was meant for Loretta, she directed her gaze at the Columbian.
“Querida, your friend is right, it is late, and I must work tomorrow also.”
Carlos was as slick as oil. Although he was being accommodating, prickles ran up her spine.
Loretta shrugged out of his arms and marched to the table, collected her purse, and without another word flounced out the door with Carlos hot on her heels.
Daniel rolled his eyes. “Come on, chickadee, don’t let them get to you.” He tapped her under the chin before taking her hand and leading her down the stairs and out onto the pavement where the other pair waited deep in conversation.
As they approached, Carlos stepped forward and offered his hand. “Good-bye, Daniel, the evening was a pleasure, perhaps we will meet again before you leave.”
“Anything’s possible,” Daniel conceded as he shook the other man’s hand.
“You take this taxi. I will wait for the next one.” Carlos opened the passenger door as it stopped by the curb. “Good-bye, Beth, I hope to meet you again.”
“Good-bye.” She nodded and skidded to the far side of the backseat, leaving room beside her for Loretta, but Daniel got in first. When Loretta didn’t follow, Beth leaned forward to stare out the window. Yep, as suspected, Loretta and Carlos were lip-locked.
Daniel took Beth’s shoulders and turned her to face him, but before she could guess his intentions he pulled her into his arms and covered her mouth with his.
The kiss took her by surprise, it wasn’t repugnant; in fact, it was hot, but when he molded his hand to her breast, brushing his thumb across the center, it had to end before it got out of hand. She drew back. “Daniel, I…”
He lifted his head and graced her with a somber smile. “What’s up, Beth, don’t you like me?”
The capacity to hurt him was in the palm of her hand. Not that she would. Firsthand experience of having her heart stomped on affected her still, and she had no intention of causing him that kind of grief.
“I like you fine, but that’s not the issue.” The sincerity of her words surprised her. The last few days spent in his company had revealed a different Daniel. A more genuine, caring Daniel, not the sleazy one from work, and that pulled her up with a start.
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I’m not a one-night-stand kind of girl, and maybe that’s all you’re looking for.”
“Maybe I’m looking for something more.”
His admission was another surprise. “Really?”
“For you, I’d jump through hoops if you’d let me.”
The temptation was strong. Daniel was certainly growing on her. Zach was a pipe dream and would never be anything else, but the reality was until she exorcised him from her heart, she couldn’t take Daniel up on the offer. It wouldn’t be fair.
A mixture of pain, recrimination, and disappointment manifested as a lone tear, but she blinked it away and attempted a weak smile. “I’m sorry…”
“There’s someone else?”
“Am I that transparent?”
“Why the sad face then?”
“He’s just not into me.”
“Then the guy’s a damn fool.” He drew her into a comforting hug and stroked her hair with a gentle hand. She didn’t resist, instead she dropped her head to his shoulder and he tightened his arms; it felt nice, comfortable.
“Well, thanks for nothing, guys.” Loretta hurled her stiff body into the car and slammed the door after her.
Beth sat up. “Are you seeing him again?”
“Maybe. He’s going to call tomorrow night when he finishes work.” Her gaze fell away and she folded her arms.
Relieved they hadn’t made plans, Beth relaxed against the upholstery, the taste of Daniel’s kiss pleasantly lingering on her lips as the taxi ferried them back to the hotel.
* * * *
Locked in her room and preparing for bed, Beth reflected. It had been a long day full of worry and surprise. Worry over deceiving the family, and surprise over her reaction to Daniel’s kiss. Who’d have thought it? Less than a week ago the guy made her flesh crawl. If only she wasn’t crazy in love with Zach, she’d be tempted to explore her feelings for Daniel. Golly, if Josh and Kevin could hear her now they’d have her committed.
Naked, she fell into bed and burrowed between the sheets. Her mind then turned back to Daniel and the kiss they’d shared in the car. It held passion but lacked the flame that ignited and propelled the liquid fire through her veins the way Zach’s kisses had. She groaned and shifted in the bed. Get over it, girl. Zach. Does. Not. Want. You. She forced her thoughts back to Daniel, conjured his image, imagined his hands touching, stroking, bringing her to within a whisper of fulfillment, but as she succumbed to sleep, Daniel’s face transformed into Zach’s. It was Zach’s lips kissing hers, his hands caressing her body, his face haunting her dreams.