South beach (17 page)

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"Where else have you traveled recently?" Diego asked. The two of them began slowly walking away from the Rose Bar, toward the double doors that led to the garden. Alexa thought fleetingly of Holly; she'd wonder where they were when she returned from the bar. But when Alexa felt the back of Diego's hand lightly brush against her arm, her concern evaporated. Holly would find them somehow.

"Cuba," Alexa answered, after a moment. "I went with my dad when he was studying the architecture in Havana. We had to fly through Canada to get there. The trip was so eye-opening. Like nothing I've ever experienced."

Diego's face lit up and Alexa felt a rush of pleasure, knowing she'd made him happy somehow. "My parents are from Havana," he said. "But I've never been. Neither has my sister -- we were both born here in Miami."

They had reached the double doors but stood still for a moment, facing each other.

"I feel really close to my Cuban background," Diego went on. "But since I've never seen Havana ... it's like this essential piece of me is still missing."

Alexa stared into Diego's dark eyes, feeling a sharp tug on her heart. He was killing her.

"What was Havana like?" he asked. "I've only seen my parents' old photos, but it must look different now..."

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"I took a lot of pictures," Alexa told him. "Maybe I can ... send them to you." She'd almost said
show them to you.
But that would mean she expected -- hoped -- to see him again.

"I'd like that," Diego said. He held one of the doors open for her. The humid night air blew in, lifting the hem of Alexa's dress. "Are you an aspiring photographer?" he asked.

Alexa smiled, pleased that he'd so insightfully picked up on her passion. "I like to document all my travels, when I can," Alexa replied as they walked out onto the back patio. She realized then that she hadn't yet taken any pictures in South Beach. And if there was any place that deserved to be captured on film, it was the back orchard of the Delano.

Lazy hammocks were strung up between giant tree trunks, and indoor lamps swung from branches, casting a warm glow. A row of cozy white cabanas, each containing a white sofa with a white gauze curtain, caught Alexa's eye. A few of the cabanas were occupied by couples, hidden in their own private cocoon. Palm and ficus trees were everywhere, creating a dense canopy through which moonlight filtered dreamily.

"Wow," Alexa said, breathless.

"I know," Diego said. "The pool is even better." He

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put a hand on the small of her back as he guided her down the steps. Alexa was tempted to sink back against him, so he would encircle her waist with his arms. She wanted to feel his lips against the nape of her neck. But she resisted. She still wasn't sure what he thought of her.

They walked to the infinity pool -- a flat sheet of clear, blue water. People lay around on white lounges, sipping drinks. Beyond the grounds lay the beach, and Alexa caught a glimpse of the ocean behind the palms. She and Diego stood side by side, their shoulders rubbing lightly as they admired the pool. Then Alexa tipped her head back. It was a sticky, too-warm night, and the sky was cloudy, but she could make out a brilliant sprinkling of stars, glinting in the blackness.

"What sort of photographs do you take, Alexandria?" Diego asked.

Alexa looked away from the stars, back at Diego. She loved how he spoke her full name, pronouncing certain vowels with a lilting Spanish accent. But hardly anybody called her Alexandria, especially not her friends. And she did want Diego to be her friend.

"Will you call me Alexa?" she replied softly. The wind blew tendrils of hair into her face. She thought she heard the distant rumble of thunder.

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"Alexa," Diego echoed. He reached over and brushed the hair away from her eyes. For a minute, Alexa forgot what they had been talking about.

"I ... I like to capture people in public places," Alexa said, coming to. "On street corners, or in cafés. Actually, I was hoping to take pictures of Lincoln Road one night this week."

They drifted toward one of the unoccupied, white-draped cabanas, their conversation unspooling naturally, fluidly. Alexa sat down on the soft white sofa, and her rose-colored skirt spilled out around her, princesslike. She felt incredibly elegant, being here with Diego. He sat next to her, setting his drink down on the glass table in front of them, and she inhaled his spicy Cool Water cologne. She was dying to find out what his lips tasted like, felt like. Was it the humidity that was making her feel so sensual? she wondered, watching as people paraded past.

Alexa noticed a brown-haired girl in a lace dress go by "I wonder if Holly's still inside," Alexa mused aloud. Of course, she had no intention of going back in to find Holly; she felt deliciously languorous sitting right where she was.

"I bet Ian's hitting on her." Diego's eyes flashed mischievously. "I guess it's pretty obvious he's on the make, huh?"

"No kidding." Alexa rolled her eyes, then smiled at

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Diego. "Poor Holly. She's not very good at handling advances from boys." Alexa remembered how antsy Holly had been on the beach after kissing the surfer dude. "I think she just needs some experience," Alexa added thoughtfully. "With the right guy"

There was a moment of silence, and Diego moved closer to Alexa on the sofa. When he spoke, his breath tickled her ear.

"How about you?" he asked, his voice suddenly husky. "Have you found the right guy?"

Alexa turned to look at him. His dark eyes were fixed on her intently.

"You mean am I seeing anyone?" she asked. Suddenly, her palms were clammy and her heart was thumping like mad. "No," she said. "I just came out of a relationship. And he wasn't the right guy He didn't get me the way -- "
You do,
she wanted to say.
The way you do.

Very gently, Diego traced his fingers up and down her arm.
Yes,
Alexa thought. Her entire body tingled, responding to the feel of his warm fingertips on her skin. She couldn't believe he was touching her so deliberately. Was something going to happen between them?

"I broke up with my girlfriend this past year," he said. "And it was the same thing. I felt like we never really connected." He paused, then let his hand float up her arm over to her back, tickling her ever so

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slightly. Alexa closed her eyes. His touch was setting her skin on fire.

"You know when you have that connection with someone," Diego whispered. "You just feel it."

When Alexa opened her eyes, Diego's face was very close to hers.

"Do you feel it now?" Alexa asked him, her lips brushing against his. She was heady with lust.

Diego didn't answer. Instead, he leaned in and kissed her.

It was a serious kiss. Deep, and slow, and full of longing. Diego's full mouth felt sublime pressed against hers. Alexa was already greedy for the next kiss. She couldn't get enough of him.

The humidity that had lingered all evening exploded in a clap of thunder. Fat, heavy drops of rain began to fall, splashing on Alexa's bare arms, and legs. She was disappointed when Diego pulled away, stood, and drew the gauzy white drape across the cabana, shielding them from the rain. But then he returned to the sofa and resumed kissing her, even more passionately this time. Alexa twined her arms around his neck, drinking in his kisses. Then, she drew back to catch her breath. Her mouth felt wonderfully tender. Alexa realized she didn't want to kiss five guys in one night. Kissing Diego, and only Diego, was almost more than she could take.

Diego slowly stroked the back of her neck, his lips

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teasing her earlobe. Then he reached up and undid her loose bun, so her hair spilled around her shoulders.

"Qué linda,"
he murmured, gazing at her. "You are so pretty.'"

"Say something else in Spanish," Alexa whispered, nuzzling his neck.

Diego smiled. "Do you like that?" he asked. "There
is
something sexy about speaking a foreign language. You really got me back there when you spoke French."

"I did?" Alexa asked in surprise. "Up until, like, two seconds ago, I didn't even think you
liked
me."

Diego shook his head, his dimples deepening. "No way. As soon as you got out of that car last night -- "

"Oh, stop." Alexa put her fingers on his lips.

"I'm serious," Diego went on, caressing her arm. "It's wasn't only how you looked. You had this fire and energy that I've never seen in anyone, except..."

"Yourself?" Alexa finished for him.

"I guess," he said with a slow smile. He slid his arms around her waist, pulling her in closer. "I wanted to see you again, but I thought you hated
me.
I didn't expect you to come tonight."

"But I did," Alexa whispered, leaning in to kiss him again. "And I'm happy I did. So happy."

I'm miserable,
Holly thought as she stood in the Rose Bar, having failed at her attempt to order a drink.

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When she'd managed to flag down a bartender, she had hesitated, then ordered an apple martini, which was what she'd overheard the girls beside her order. But the bartender had asked to see Holly's ID, promptly ending their exchange. Ian had offered to buy Holly a drink -- he looked old enough that nobody thought to card him -- but Holly had refused. She'd read in
Cosmo Girl
that boys expected something from you if they bought you alcohol. And Holly did not want to go down that road with, of all people, Diego's friend.

But why did talking to Diego feel so lackluster?
Holly wondered as she stood there, drinkless and boyless. She watched as Ian chatted up a girl at the other end of the bar; he seemed to have no problem making conversation. Holly remembered her awkward silences with Alexa on the plane ride to Miami.
It's me,
she thought.
I must be socially inept.

"Why so blue, Holly?"

Holly turned to see Aaron standing very close. He smiled, his aquamarine eyes boring into her.

Holly looked around. Thomas, Kaitlin, Daisy, and Jonathan were nowhere to be seen.

"Oh, I'm not blue," Holly lied, annoyed that Aaron had cornered her.

"Promise?" he asked "Are you okay? I mean, I feel like you've been avoiding me or something."

"That's because I am avoiding you," Holly retorted.

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She paused, startled by her own response. Maybe it was her frustration both over being carded and the way things were going with Diego, but suddenly she felt a lot more gutsy than usual.

Aaron looked surprised, but he didn't back down. "Well, maybe we could hang out sometime," he continued. "You seem like a really special girl."

That rattled Holly for a minute. Aaron was definitely adorable and he did seem kind of into her. Perhaps she was being foolish, pining for Diego, when another guy was willing and available.

Then Holly remembered being with Diego that morning -- the easy way they'd laughed over their memories. And the tantalizing, unspoken promise that more memories were waiting to be made. Holly couldn't just throw that promise away It was
for Diego
that she'd come to Miami in the first place. Not Aaron.

"Someone's waiting for me," Holly told Aaron. She stepped around him, and walked back into the lobby with a burst of determination. This time, she wasn't going to make lame small talk. She was going to walk right up to Diego ... and kiss him. That would certainly loosen things up, she decided boldly.

But, as Holly scanned all the fabulous people milling about, she couldn't spot Diego. Maybe he'd gone outside. Alexa wasn't around, either, but Holly figured she was off somewhere with the other Flamingo kids.

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Not wanting to lose her nerve, Holly hurried out the double doors into the back garden. The night air was thick with moisture. There were ominous sounds of thunder overhead and the palm trees were swaying wildly in a gathering wind. Holly cut across the lawn, threading past couples snuggling in hammocks. She checked out the pool, deflated. No Diego.

It felt all too fitting when the skies opened up and it started to rain: a sudden, violent thunderstorm. Everyone started running for cover, girls shrieking and using their designer cardigans as makeshift umbrellas. Holly was wearing white -- not a good plan in a downpour. She lowered her head and began hurrying back to the hotel. She was sprinting past the row of romantic cabanas when she heard the unmistakable sound of Alexa's laugh coming from one of the white-curtained booths.

Holly paused, suddenly seized with the desire to talk to her old friend. Holly hadn't fully realized until now how much closer she'd felt to Alexa in the past couple days. Alexa probably suspected Holly's crush on Diego, anyway -- it was silly for her to keep that secret. And Holly hadn't had time to text Meghan or Jess that day, so she was dying to indulge in some good girl talk. Now would be the perfect time to unburden herself to Alexa.