He takes a swig and sets his drink on the hand railing.
“How do you like Miami?” he asks.
“It’s, uh… Overwhelming.”
He laughs while I smile.
“The city or the people?”
“Both…”
I glance away, tipping my chin toward the ocean.
“I like the beach.”
“You haven’t even been to the beach.”
“No, I haven’t,” I say, moving my eyes to him fast, catching him lift his gaze from my legs, looking like he’d like to have his hands on me more than his eyes.
“Maybe you’ll get the chance to spend some time at the beach next time,” he says, trying to remove that impression that he was checking me out.
He’s done it the entire evening, so it’s not exactly a secret.
“Next time?”
“Yeah… You’re here with work now if I got it right from my cousin. She said something about working. That’s what Isla told her.”
“Yeah… Yeah… That’s right. I’ll fly back on, uh… I don’t know. Either Sunday night or Monday morning.”
“You don’t know?”
He tosses a playful smile at me as if I’m teasing him.
“It depends on my boss’ schedule.”
I barely finish saying that when something inside the house catches my eye.
Isla talks to a man dressed in black. My heart almost falls out of my chest. My train of thoughts is completely shattered when I shift my focus to the man in front of me.
“Is something wrong?” he asks.
“No. Nothing’s wrong,” I say, my voice flooded with apprehension.
“If your schedule changes or you have some free time these next two days, call me. We can go to the beach. I know a nice spot.”
“Yes. We can do that,” I say hurriedly, my eyes moving between him and the people partying inside the house.
Isla parleys with Alejandro. I don’t know what he has said to her, but she glances in my direction. He looks this way before setting himself in motion, heading to me.
“Uh… Thank you so much for your invitation. We’ll talk. Yes?” I throw at him, while moving away.
“Sure. I’ll call you.”
“Yes. No. I mean… Do whatever you think it’s best. It was nice talking to you.”
The last few words fly in his direction while I scamper away, waving at him in haste.
I search for a door different than the one Alejandro strides through. How did he find me? And where are the other two?