yet see.
“Are you sure it’s open?” Andie asked, her voice quavering slightly as she clutched his hand in the darkness, and he smiled, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“It’s open,” he said, walking ahead of her and pulling her gently behind him. “Follow me.”
They reached another door, heavy, black, and windowless, and Chase reached out, gripping the handle and pulling it open. Immediately, they were assaulted with the light coming from inside, the upbeat Mexican music, the smell of pico de gallo and guacamole and lime and chili peppers.
It was a small room, about eight hundred square feet, with a concrete floor and a handful of tables set up in the corner. There was a wooden bar along the left-hand side, painted bright green with different colored barstools lined up in front of it. The walls themselves were a deep red, with the exception of the far wall, which was a huge, colorful mural of some small Mexican town. From the ceiling hung multi-colored lanterns and strings of lights, and tonight, in the empty space between the bar and the tables, two couples danced what Chase assumed was the salsa, their feet and hips moving so quickly and fluidly that it was almost hard to follow.
He turned then, looking at Andie, a slow smile curving his lips when he saw her expression. Her eyes were scanning the room, her lips parted slightly in awe as she took it all in. She turned to him then, the most beautiful smile on her face, and Chase was just about to lean in and kiss her when he felt a hand come down on his shoulder.
“Senor Chase!”
“Manuel,” Chase smiled. “Como esta?”
“Bien, bien. Long time, no? Quien es esta?” he asked, smiling at Andie. “Su mujer?”
“Si,” Chase said. “Andromeda, this is Manuel. He owns this place.”
Andie smiled at him, reaching out to shake his hand, and he leaned over, giving her a big kiss on the cheek.
“Aye, preciosa. Es mejor que tenga mucho cuidado de éste. Conozco a una buena mujer cuando la veo.”
Chase smiled, looking over at Andie. “I will.”
“Bien. Se sientan,” Manuel said, gesturing at an open table before he turned back toward the bar, telling the waitress in Spanish that Chase was here and to bring the usual.
“What did he say to you?” Andie asked as Chase pulled out the chair for her.
“He said I better take good care of you, that he knows a good woman when he sees one.”
She looked down, a tiny smile on her lips as her cheeks flushed slightly.
“They’re probably just going to bring food out to us,” he said as he sat across from her, “but if you want something specific, I can get you the menu.”
“Whatever you have, I’ll have,” she said before she looked around, taking in her surroundings. “This place is incredible. So…I don’t know the word…authentic? Organic? That doesn’t sound right,” she said, looking back at him, and he smiled.
“I’m glad you like it. Wait until you taste the enchiladas. You’ll never want to go to another Mexican restaurant again,” he said, thanking the waitress as she brought over a pitcher of margaritas and some guacamole.
Chase poured Andie a drink before he poured one for himself, raising his glass. “To our first date.”
“To the best date I’ve ever been on,” she said, tapping her glass to his.
“Way to jinx it. It hasn’t even started yet.”
“Doesn’t matter,” she said softly. “I’m with you.”
Chase tilted his head. “Are you trying to get in my pants on the first date?”
Andie laughed just as a loud whooping and catcalling suddenly erupted, and Chase turned his head to see one of the couples on the dance floor spinning and twisting and twirling so fast that he was surprised they remained on their feet.
“Wow,” Andie said, taking a sip of her margarita. “They’re amazing.”
“Ever take dance lessons?”
“Not like that,” she laughed. “I took some ballet classes when I was young, but it was never really my thing.”
Chase smirked slightly, laughing when he saw Andie bristle.
“Why is that funny?” she asked.
“I’m not laughing at you,” he said over the top of his glass before taking a sip. “I just thought it was sort of amusing that we have that in common.”
Andie froze. “We have what in common?”
Chase laughed again, taking another sip of his drink as he brought his eyes back to the dance floor, trying not to smile but failing when he heard Andie’s drawn-out, “No way! You took ballet?”
“Hey, I’ll have you know we all had to.