If Nathan’s simple smile turns my blood into thick honey, what could his lips do to me? Am I ready to find out? Even as this question flashes in me, I know it’s the last remainder of my rationality. It is as weak as a feather and in fact, the next exhale of Nathan sweeps it away as if it had never been there.
I nod imperceptibly, and Nathan closes the distance between us.
The light of the streetlamp from the parking lot fades away as I close my eyes and abandon myself in this moment I’ve desired so long.
I’ve wanted this for quite some time now, but was too much of a coward to even admit it to myself. All my molecules are dancing and basking in the delightful sensation that his kiss unleashes in me.
Who cares where this will lead when it awakens the most marvelous sensations in me? I just want to savor this moment and analyze it later. Or maybe just skip the latter part altogether and never stop what we’re doing. Licks of electricity rush down my veins as our breaths unite and Nathan’s hand gently slides to my nape, holding me in a strong and safe cocoon.
There is a loud knock on the car’s window on my side. Its unexpected sound startles us. I turn to see who disturbed us, but I can’t see anybody.
By the time I blink back at Nathan, he’s sitting stiff-backed in the driver seat. His expression isn’t lustful or tender anymore. His face is set in a confused frown. Is he as overwhelmed by the intensity of the chemistry between us as I am?
Before I can ask, Judy’s face appears on the other side of the windshield. She waves and taps at her wrist, mouthing, “Are you coming?”
“I think you need to go,” Nathan says.
I nod. “Yes, you’re right. I have to. Sorry.”
I signal to Judy that I’m coming, and she steps back from the window.
How should I leave him? After what we just…uhm, I could very well lean in and give him a feathery kiss, couldn’t I? But before I can muster up the courage, Nathan opens his door and jumps out. He comes around to my side and helps me out of the car. As he releases my hand, he says, “Good luck with your new choreography, Eva. I’d love to come and watch you dance, but I can’t. I have to catch up on some work.”
My heart drops.
I’d decided to trust Nathan when I kissed him. I don’t want to back out on him. But when he gives me only a soft peck on my cheek and hurries back to his driver seat, my faith wavers. Is he having second thoughts about what happened?
Nathan opens his car door and his eyes travel to mine. “Is it okay if I drive by your place tomorrow after lunch? I have two meetings in the morning, but I should be done by twelve with those. Or do you still have concerns about me meeting your grandmother again?”
He gives me a grin and the conspiratorial inclination of the word still reassures me that for him, too, we’ve crossed a line. We are in unexplored territory together. We’ve left the notion of friendship for good.
Elation rushes through me. “No, no. It’s a great idea. I think Abuelita would love to meet you again. Also Juan has made a painting. He’d certainly be proud to show you.”
My enthusiasm lures a bright smile from him. “Fine. I’m glad we don’t have to hide that we’re dating,” he says, then winks at me.
He hops behind the wheel, and his Jaguar jumps to life with a loud roar.
After he drives off, Judy pokes me between my ribs. “Oh-la-la, Evita! And I thought you were writing off this charmer because he has too much money, which”—she wiggles her brows at me—“should never be a problem, if you ask me.”
“Well, let’s say that I’m giving him a chance to prove me wrong.” I shrug nonchalantly. I’m not ready to discuss Nathan with Judy just yet. With our kiss replaying in my head like a stuck record, I doubt I could formulate many intelligible words about him other than a gushing. “Oh, he’s just so…”
Judy snakes her arm around my elbow, and we walk to the bar together.
My eyes are glued to the sky where a couple of stars are paying us a visit already. While admiring their bright shine, I almost trip on a styrofoam cup. I lower my eyes, just in time to avoid a few crushed soda cans and a bunch of cigarette butts amassed in a tiny hill. Great, some of the truck drivers must have arrived before the opening hour and decided to bide their time in the parking lot.
The clacking of our heels on the asphalt mixes with the screeching tires of a car in the distance. Could it be Nathan’s? I wonder what he’s thinking about our kiss…
“Evita!”
I shoot a questioning glance at Judy. Did she say something?
Then the voice speaks again, and I’m robbed of air. “Evita! Long time no see.”
No, it didn’t come from Judy. But its familiar cadence and brash undertone makes the small hairs on my back rise at once. Not in anticipatory pleasure.
In full alert.
“It’s Fernando,” Judy whispers into my ear, but she doesn’t need to. I would recognize my ex’s commanding tone even in my deepest sleep.
And my dream would turn into a nightmare.
Chapter 24
(Eva)
I whip around, all nerves in my body contracting at once.
Fernando strolls toward us with lazy steps, grinning as if he’s coming to an arranged meeting with me. As if bumping into him in front of my workplace—where he’s been banned from by Alfonso since even before I left town—wouldn’t be awkward or unusual.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Evita,” he says as he reaches us.
I square my shoulders but leave his comment unanswered. I have
