by Stark, Cindy
"Friendship?" She didn't want to leave with this weird, detached feeling between them. "I would like to look back on this experience and laugh about what a great time I had."
He hesitated a second before he relaxed his features. "Friends? Okay, you're right. We should be friends."
"Good." That made her feel better. "More than anything else from this vacation, I'll remember you, Joe Stephens, and our hot night in Cabo." She smiled and held out a hand. "Thank you."
His frown returned. He took her hand, but instead of shaking it, he tugged her toward him, embracing her in a hug. She leaned into him, enjoying the feel of his solid body against hers. She wanted to keep him like that forever—a source of pleasure and love with no-strings, no conditions, and no expectations attached.
He didn't immediately let her go, and she wondered if he'd be open to spending a second night together. "I'm having dinner tonight at Playa de Cortez. I'd love it if you'd join me."
He pulled back, and she could see the tentative look in his eyes.
"Wait. Don't answer." She didn't want to hear him say "no". "Just…I'll be there at seven. Come if you want, okay? If not, then we part as friends." She turned and left before he could reply.
She dared a smile at the possibility she might have another evening with him. He'd been hesitant, but he'd also held her in a powerful embrace for longer than necessary.
She found she liked playing the odds.
Mercedes waited for her in the marina parking lot, the rest of the passengers already loaded inside the hotel's van. "You sure you're okay, chica? I was really worried about you." She surveyed the red snaking wounds on Elena's arm. "Those are some nasty welts."
Elena handed off her gear to the driver to stow in the back of the van before she wrapped her good arm around her friend. "I'm fine, and I'm sorry about what I said to you earlier. I know I hurt you, and I’m deeply sorry."
Mercedes nodded, giving her an accepting smile. "It's okay."
"I just worry about you, you know?"
"I'm a big girl, Elena."
"I know, but you're also my friend, and I want the best for you." This was a peace offering to her friend, but she hoped Mercedes knew she wasn't about to sit back and watch her drown in a pool of self-destructive behavior.
The issue was far from over.
* * *
Joe strode through the door of Mojitos, looking forward to the assault of cool air, dim lighting and loud music. He wasn't disappointed. It was still early evening and the number of guests hadn't reached full throttle yet, but there were more than a handful of women there who might be willing to flood his mind with new memories.
He was certain that's what he needed.
Being in his favorite haunt would put things in perspective for him. A strong shot of tequila was in order, and his good drinking buddy Marcus had already navigated his way to their spot at the bar. No surprise that his friend hadn't lost his fondness for Hawaiian shirts, but for some reason, tonight Joe welcomed the familiarity. Everything was back to normal.
He waited until the cowboy lifted his beer bottle to his lips before approaching and clapping Marcus on the shoulder. His friend choked on his drink, giving Joe a good chuckle. "How's it going, buddy?"
Marcus coughed. "Good God, Joe. Y'all trying to kill me?"
"Toughen up, man. I barely touched you." Joe slid onto his barstool, nodding to the bartender who already had his usual Corona ready. "I'll need a shot of your best tequila, too." He glanced at Marcus.
His friend eyed him through watery eyes. "What you celebrating?"
"Freedom." Joe took the shot of tequila straight from the bartender's hand and downed it. He gasped out his appreciation as he slammed the glass on the bar and then sucked on the lemon.
"I'm all for freedom." Marcus lifted his bottle and touched it to Joe's. "Hope you brought your wallet tonight. I spent a little too much last night and need a booster."
Joe laughed. "I did." He swiveled in his seat, excited that he'd be making back some of his money because he wasn't going home alone. "But it's not going to help you any because I'll be taking your money tonight." He scanned the crowd, searching for a woman who could be his drug of choice to erase Elena from his mind.
No one in particular stood out.
He turned to Marcus, reminding himself to be patient. "Anyone caught your eye, yet?"
He tipped his cowboy hat. "Damn right. I ain't been sitting here burnin' daylight." He grinned and nodded toward the back of the bar. "See them two buxom blondes in the corner?"
Joe spotted the women who were dressed almost identically in amazingly short denim cutoffs and skimpy lime green bikini tops. He barked a laugh. Marcus definitely had a "type" he preferred. Of course, any red-blooded man wouldn't mind taking a moment to admire the curves they seemed to enjoy displaying. One of the women caught his eye and winked. "The twins?"
"Yup." Marcus grinned like a man who'd just discovered a chest full of Aztec gold.
"Setting your sights high, man. Which one you going for?" Maybe he'd see if he could find solace in the other one's company.
"Both."
Joe snorted and glanced wide-eyed at his friend. "Then I really hope you brought some cash. If you're going for two, then you're paying double when you strike out."
Marcus laughed. "No problemo." He picked up his beer bottle and stood. "Watch this."
Joe rolled his eyes as Marcus swaggered his way to the twins' table. Within five minutes, he had his arm wrapped around the waist of one, while the other leaned forward whispering in his ear.
Damn. What the hell did women see in him? Was it his southern drawl? Maybe Joe needed to try faking one.
"What's the matter?" a female voice asked from behind him. "Your friend won't share?"
He turned to find a long-legged brunette holding a mixed drink and smiling at him. She wasn't over-the-top erotic like Marcus's blondes, but still exuded a fair amount of sex appeal. Score one for him. "Yeah, I don't know about that hick. He's, uh, quite the player. Apparently, women go for that sort of thing."
"Hmm…" She purred. "Not me. I like someone…more like you." She sucked the thin red straw sticking out of her fruity drink, watching him over the rim of her glass. "Do you like to dance?"
Joe became aware of the couples dancing to a slow beat. "Sure." This was the first step in his recovery, and he couldn't be happier. He left his drink on the bar and led the brunette to the dance floor. Her perfume caught his attention as he pulled her close, but the scent was too strong, not subtly sexy like Elena's.
"How long have you been in Cabo?" she whispered in his ear.
"I’m actually living here for the moment," he answered.
A few awkward seconds went by before she spoke again. "What do you do for a living?"
"I'm a tour guide for diving expeditions." Which reminded him, after his quick ascension earlier chasing after Elena, he'd better let Gelinas know he'd need to send any interested guests to another local dive company. His body would need extra time to rid itself of the nitrogen before he dove again, and it wouldn't hurt him to have a few days off.
The woman in his arms pulled back and looked at him expectantly. "You know, after you answer my question, you're supposed to follow with one of your own. It keeps the conversation flowing."
"Sorry." His foot caught on hers, and they stumbled a bit. "Double sorry. You're probably regretting asking me to dance."
"Too much alcohol?" she asked, peering at him with dark eyes.
He laughed. "No. Probably not enough."
She returned the laugh, but he could tell she wasn't impressed.
The music droned on, and he tried to stay focused on where his feet were landing so he didn't screw up again. It had been so easy to dance with Elena, but this? This was torturous, and he knew it wasn't his partner's fault. As beautiful as she was, their chemistry rated a zero on the attraction scale.
When the song finally ended he had to clamp down on a sigh of relief. She followed him b
ack to the bar where they'd left their drinks and picked up her glass now covered in condensation. "Thanks for the dance."
"Yeah." He felt like a total ass. "Sorry about your toes. I'm usually a much better dancer."
She hesitated, then spoke. "Look, don't take this the wrong way or anything, but you don't belong here in this meat market. It's obvious your mind is elsewhere."
"You're probably right." His plan to erase Elena wasn't working so well.
"Yeah." She nodded, giving him a friendly smile before she left.
Damn it. He downed the rest of his drink, then drummed his fingers on the bar. How the hell was he supposed to forget Elena when he couldn't get her out of his head long enough to give another woman a chance? Something had to give.
He didn't want to admit it, but he wanted to see Elena again. That he couldn't deny. Right now, she was probably wondering if he'd show at the restaurant, and the thought of her sitting there alone nipped at his conscience. Problem was, he couldn't allow himself to become emotionally involved. That would screw up everything.
Okay, wait a minute. Maybe he was coming at it from the wrong angle. Maybe…his strong attraction to her stemmed more from the fact that she'd done the leaving that morning instead of him. Sure, she was beautiful and intelligent, but no more so than the woman he'd just danced with. It was his ego that couldn't forget her, not his heart.
That had to be it.
He wasn't used to women reacting that way. She'd left him off-balance. That was all. She had no great mysterious power that would tether him. In fact, he'd be better off if he did see her again. That way he could recognize she was nothing more than great in bed, and he'd be able to forget her once she left Cabo.
He left his barstool and headed for the door, more than a little relieved that he'd figured things out.
* * *
At dinner, Elena dined on lobster. She skipped the oysters that Mercedes was probably feeding to her latest lover. She hadn't seen her since their group had emptied out of the hotel's van, and Elena hoped more than anything her friend was okay. Mercedes had offered to cancel her date, but Elena couldn't ask her to do that, not after their earlier exchange. Elena would let her have her wild night, but tomorrow, they were going to have a serious discussion and intervention if necessary.
Elena had dressed carefully for the evening, wearing a black tank top with a bright tropical skirt that stopped just above her knees. She'd thrown on a chunky silver necklace and a pair of flat silver sandals, so she could walk along the beach after dinner.
Not that her choice of clothes mattered. Joe hadn't shown.
She'd sipped on two margaritas and waited until 7:30 before she'd ordered dinner, wishing that he would come. He hadn't. Deep down, she'd known he wouldn't. As much as they were friends, something was off between them. She didn't need anyone to tell her there was a reason one-night stands only lasted one night.
That was okay. She was fine being alone. Since the beginning of her second life, as she liked to call it, she'd come to find solitude had its advantages. Like eating what she preferred, when she preferred. Or having the whole bed to herself. The quiet gave her a chance to reflect on past choices and future decisions.
But, sometimes she did get lonely. There were moments she'd willingly trade half the bed for someone to listen to her at the end of her day. Even so, Joe would never be that person. He'd been her island fling. That was all.
She paid her dinner bill and headed out toward the beach. The breeze was a little stronger than the previous night, the air heavy with the smell of brine. A few thin clouds glided across the big moon, leaving the atmosphere with a feeling of expectation, like a storm might move in. Or maybe it was just the heat of the day moving out.
Still, it was a lovely evening. Perfect for strolling in the sand as the sun bowed to the coming night.
When they'd planned their trip, Elena had laughed and gone along with Mercedes's idea of a wild, tropical vacation, but honestly, this was what she craved. Peace, tranquility, something to soothe her restless soul. Though her divorce had been the right choice for her, it had taken its toll. Several years had passed before she'd found and appreciated the peace inside her.
She wished Mercedes might find a similar peace. At one point, Elena had hoped her friend might take an interest in her flower delivery guy, Emilio. He was a sweetheart and had a huge crush on her friend. Of course, with him being ten years older than Mercedes, he'd confided to Elena that he didn't expect that he'd have a chance to win Mercedes's affection. Elena didn't vocalize it, but she pretty much agreed. Mercedes liked her men young, ripped and rich, not salt and pepper-haired with a kind smile. Still, Mercedes and Emilio seemed pretty friendly whenever they'd come across each other at her flower shop.
But after Mercedes's current actions, there would be no way she'd encourage that relationship. Emilio was too nice, and he'd end up hurt. As much as she loved her friend, Mercedes could be a piranha when it came to men. More so now than ever, apparently.
Elena passed a young couple holding hands as she neared the end of the walkway. Her thoughts drifted back to the previous night, and she couldn't help missing Joe, wishing he was there to share her evening. She removed her sandals and strolled through the cooling sand toward the water.
The sound of waves rushing toward the shore fed her spirit. The warm breeze blew her skirt around her knees and teased her hair across her shoulders. This was truly paradise.
She made her way along the beach, her feet splashing in the shallow water. In some aspects, this vacation had been a wonderful idea. It would be completely perfect if not for the awkwardness with Joe and for Mercedes's meltdown.
Elena had needed to get away, to get her bearings without life crashing all around her. Life had been very transitory during the past several years. So many changes. Most of them for the better. Still, the stress had taken its toll.
Now, she felt like maybe she could breathe again. Could live again. Could look forward to the future again. It was great. She inhaled and then blew out her breath, loving the way the fresh air cleaned the murky cobwebs from her spirit.
She'd been certain she'd never want a man again, too, but something about being with Joe last night made her question that. For one thing, she missed sex…and companionship.
Not that she and Richard had been great companions, but perhaps it was possible she might meet someone to share a few laughs with. Another marriage was too great of a mountain for her to consider. She'd barely gained her independence and couldn't, no, make that wouldn't, lose herself again in a marriage, but a friend with benefits wasn't out of the question. In order to do that though, she had to be willing to trust another man, at least a little bit.
When she pulled herself from her thoughts, she realized she'd traveled a far distance down the beach. Darkness surrounded her, with only the moon to light her way. A perfect example of when it might be nice to have a man around. She smiled. Instead of feeling a bit nervous because she was alone, she would have enjoyed the privacy. She turned back toward the more populated area of the beach.
Several minutes passed before she spied another lone figure walking her way. Someone else enjoying the beautiful solitude of the Cabo beach after hours.
As she got closer, her senses heightened. She'd only known Joe twenty-four hours, but she'd studied him plenty, and she was almost positive he was the someone heading toward her. Her pulse leapt. Was it coincidence or had he come looking for her? She quickened her steps.
* * *
When Joe caught sight of Elena, he slowed. He knew the minute she recognized him because her pace increased, but he liked watching her, and he wanted to savor the sweetness of her coming to him, hopefully with a smile on her face. He liked that about her, the way her lips would tilt, and how it heated him from the inside out.
Now that he'd figured things out and knew he could handle himself, he could relax around her. Just because she was the most tempting thing to enter his life in a damn long time, didn't m
ean anything. He'd been tempted many times before and had always been able to walk away if he'd chosen to.
If he were lucky, maybe he'd find himself in her arms again that night, and he'd be able to prove his point the following morning when they parted.
Elena reached him, an uncertain look in her eye, her shoes dangling from her fingers. He inhaled as need slammed into him full force. Twilight cascaded over her bare shoulders, her soft, pink lips hovering close to a smile. She stole his breath and left him aching for her.
What the hell had he been thinking when he'd compared Elena to the woman he'd met earlier at Mojitos? That was like saying an incandescent light held the splendor of a Cabo sunset.
"Hello." She searched his face with cool green eyes, but he kept his demeanor composed.
"Hey." See? Self-control, despite the need raging inside him.
She nipped her bottom lip, then took a breath. "Taking a walk, too?"
"I was actually looking for you."
"Oh?" She seemed surprised. "I didn't expect to see you again when you didn't make it for dinner."
"Yeah, sorry about that." Of course, now he felt like a total ass for letting her dine alone. "I got held up. By the time I did arrive at the restaurant, you'd already left. The maître d' said you'd mentioned a walk on the beach, so I came looking for you. How's the arm doing?"
She scrunched her nose. "Itches. Thanks for reminding me."
"I feel bad you got stung on my watch." If he could take her pain, he would.
"I should have paid better attention to what was in front of me."
They walked for a few moments in silence before she tilted her head, looking up at him. "What made you change your mind about seeing me again?"
Shit. Had he been so easy to read? "What makes you think I didn't want to see you?"
Her eyes twinkled when she gave him a look that said she didn't believe a word he said.
"Okay, fine. I was hesitant about seeing you again." Nothing like honesty to ruin his chances with a woman. "I'm not really sure why. I don't like complicated situations. I just…keep getting this feeling that whatever's between us isn't over yet." Shit again, had he really said that? That was not why he'd sought her out.
