“Holy shite.” It’s not romantic, but my brain won’t form any other words as I lay there trying to convince my heart not to beat its way out of my chest. I hear her laugh softly.
“Yeah,” she agrees, rolling onto her side, freeing my hand. “If we keep this up, it’s only a matter of time before we burst into flames.” I grin at her before sitting up.
“Wait here, I’ll be back.” Walking into the bathroom, I clean myself up before bringing a wet washcloth back to clean Claire. “How aboot a shower?”
When she looks at me with amusement, I assure her, “I promise just a shower. I figure we both need tae go find something tae eat.” I pull her off the bed, picking her up in my arms.
Setting her down in the bathroom, I turn on the water, waiting for it to get to the perfect temperature before pulling her in with me.
* * *
Iapparently can’t get enough of the Cuban fare offered up in Miami. By midafternoon we find ourselves sitting outside at a bistro table finishing our lunch. Claire has on a backless sundress that hits well above her thighs. Her eyes are covered by a pair of sunglasses and it takes all of my concentration not to pull her across the table into my lap.
“We have dinner tonight with Lewis and Antônia,” she says. “They wanted us to come back for a proper New Year’s dinner is what Antônia told me on the phone.” It doesn’t surprise me that they already have exchanged numbers. “We have to be at the University of Miami tomorrow morning by seven, right?” she asks.
“Ye dinnae have tae help with the clinic,” I tell her. “I dinnae bring ye just tae work. I’m sure Antônia would be happy tae spend the day dragging ye around tae all of the best shops.” Actually, I would love to have her help, but this is supposed to be a vacation for her before classes start.
“I would rather help you if that’s okay. I have some ideas on how to organize the groups better.” I watch her in admiration as she lays out her plan for utilizing the volunteers better. She has already been helping me with the media exposure we need.
“Ye know, ye would be fantastic at helping run this. I could certainly use the help if ye’re interested. I always struggle keeping it gaun once the season starts. Ye’d work with my sister in LA who heads it up. Think aboot it,” I say with a shrug when she looks at me. With the sunglasses on, I can’t read her reaction.
It would be easy to coordinate the logistics of the everyday management between LA and Ft. Worth. I could add her as the administrator for the social media without much effort. The waiter brings our food, so it’s a few minutes before she answers.
“Let me visit with my thesis advisor when I get back. I might be able to work it in around my writing. I just have to complete my thesis to graduate, so I have a little more freedom this semester.”
She takes a bite of her tamales before grabbing for her drink. Laughing, she rasps out, “Those are spicy, even by Texas standards!” I watch her continue to tear into her spicy tamales before attempting my own.
“So ye could spend some time in LA next semester?” I ask, searching the table for something to put out the growing fire in my throat. “If ye have more freedom tae come and go?” I add motioning the waiter for more water. I’m trying to formulate a plan to see Claire more, but it’s hard with my eyes watering.
“I guess I could, I hadn’t thought about it.” She grins at me when I wipe my eyes with my napkin. “I take it they don’t have spicy tamales in the Highlands. I figured living in LA you could handle it.”
“Lamb,” I rasp. “We eat lots of boiled lamb in the Highlands.” She laughs as the waiter brings our flan over. Thankfully it helps cut the fire working its way down my throat to my chest. “I ate so much lamb in my childhood, I can count myself tae fall asleep.”
When she throws her head back in a belly laugh, I have just a few seconds to watch her without her seeing me. She’s so amazing, I worry about holding on to her. How did I manage to fall in love with her after knowing her for only a short time? Maybe my Gran was right about there being someone for everyone, you just have to keep your eyes open.
Realizing I’ve been staring at her, her brows knit in the middle. “What?” she asks, smiling at me. She makes me temporarily forget the fire that was raging in my mouth only a few seconds ago.
“Nothing. How dae ye feel aboot more beach time before we head back tae Lewis’ hoose for dinner?” I ask, finishing the flan. Our waiter comes with the check and I fish the bills out of my wallet before leading Claire out of the restaurant.
9
Claire
I’ve spent all day, starting after lunch, with Alex staring at me with a look of thoughtful concentration on his face. I’m not sure what happened over lunch, except for the attempt to set him on fire from the inside, to warrant this much scrutiny. He did receive a text while we were eating but I assumed it was one of his friends.
“That’s the same look he gets before kicking a penalty kick toward the goal,” Antônia whispers at me. We are curled up on their couch, each holding one of their daughters. Scattered between us is a handful of books I read before the girls finally fell asleep in our arms.
“I don’t know what has got him so disconcerted looking,” I answer her softly, trying not to wake up the girls.
“I think it is quite obvious.” I shift slightly so I can see her better. She laughs softly before continuing. “Alexander is in love.”
“That’s insane. You can’t fall in love with someone you barely know. It just doesn’t happen like that.” When I look back at him, he smiles before turning his attention back to Lewis. They are standing across the room in conversation. Well, more like Lewis is talking. I’m not sure Alex is even listening.
“Claire, have you ever watched him play?”
“I’ve seen him on TV. I haven’t had the time to get to a live game in a very long time.”
“Go to a game. Truly watch him play. He plays with his very soul because he loves the game that much. He laughs, he celebrates, he argues, he plays with abandon. Lewis tells me it’s the same way he leads the camps. It’s also how he is with you.” The men walk back across the room to us.
