both men gorgeous. At least I was able to indulge in the local eye candy.
The corner location was bustling as usual. The lunch and early afternoon crowd would give way soon enough to the happy hour group, enjoying their share of wine and liquor, something I’d yet to indulge in away from the flat.
“Savannah,” the woman behind the counter said, her accent pronounced as she struggled with her English. “I miss you yesterday.”
“Yesterday was crazy, Angelina.”
“But I made your favorite bread,” she said, shaking her head.
Out of the blue I’d made a pseudo friend who also knew my habits far too well in a single week. Maybe it was time to explore more of the city, finding at least one new location to haunt. “I’m just so busy. If you will, two very large coffees today.”
“While understood, you need to get out more. You’re a beautiful girl. You need a boyfriend. There are many gorgeous men in this town. Go to the beach.” Angelina winked as she moved to the other counter, grabbing two cups.
“The last thing I need is a boyfriend. I have far too much work to do.” What I hadn’t experienced was even a single trip to one of the glorious beaches surrounding the city. Maybe this weekend.
She shook her head, mumbling something in Spanish. Chuckling, I took the time to scan the eclectic crowd, everyone seemingly in a good mood. At least I was able to hear music from my aunt’s flat, the balcony of the rather tiny apartment my favorite spot in the cramped space. Being in Spain was a far cry from what I was used to back home.
When Angelina returned, she pushed a folded piece of paper across the counter. “Here. Reason for you to come out tonight.”
“Ugh. Do I want to know?” I hadn’t told anyone, including my aunt, about the attack. While I chided myself for being skittish, going out at night still troubled me.
As she took my credit card, she rolled her eyes. “More than a single reason, American girl. Music. Dancing. Drinking. Sex. Not necessarily in that order.”
“Very funny, Angelina.”
“And I am not kidding.”
I glared at her, unable to keep a smile off my face. After the transaction was complete, I was prepared to slip out as another crowd came rushing when she stormed from around the counter, shoving the paper into my purse.
“You will thank me later. Trust me.” Angelina gave me a pouting look, shaking her head.
I waved her off even though my curiosity was piqued.
“Dress like the sexy girl you are, Savannah. You need to enjoy yourself while you’re here,” she continued, her words said loudly enough several people glanced in my direction.
I’d never felt so damn uncomfortable in my life.
Nope. It wasn’t going to happen.
“One look. For me,” she insisted.
I rolled my eyes, allowing my curiosity to get the better of me.
I wasn’t the kind of girl to find a model attractive, even with his dazzling eyes, chiseled features, and perfectly white teeth. I preferred men who were rugged in every manner, the kind of rough and tumble guy you expected leading a cattle drive. Usually, the combination was a figment of my imagination. When I opened the paper, I was surprised that the face staring back at me fit the criteria from my imagination almost perfectly.
He had dark curly hair that seemed to kiss the top of his shoulders, so luxurious that I longed to run my fingers through his thick strands. He sat on the corner of a table, his legs trapped in tight jeans hugging every inch of his muscular frame. Even the crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, was sexy as hell. He exuded power, a man comfortable in his own skin, the kind that grabbed the attention of every person when he walked into a room. But his eyes were the dead giveaway to his soul. I’d never seen such intense cobalt blue eyes in my life, his expression piercing. I pressed the back of my hand across my mouth to keep from moaning.
I pulled the picture closer, studying one side of his face. While the lighting used had been dim, I could swear he had a scar running down the length of one of his cheeks. In truth, it added to his allure. A mysterious man with a dubious past. Maybe I’d been reading too many romance novels.
Still, his name alone invoked a tremendous pull on every ounce of my being, an odd combination of electricity