"Now you're a big shot working at the palace." His eyes twinkled. "Have you had any reporters hassling you yet? Wanting to find out what goes on behind the walls of the lofty building?"
"I signed an NDA and even if that wasn't the case, I don't discuss my employers with anyone."
"That's a good principle. Not even with friends?" He looked so charmingly hopeful that she had to laugh.
"We're not friends."
"Now see, you've gone and hurt my feelings and here I thought we were on our way to being best friends." He grinned and toasted her with his coffee. "We Americans have to stick together. I've seen the prince around. He has been to the gallery a couple of times. We have not spoken of course, because unlike his dear mother, the queen, the man is unapproachable. You've met him of course."
"Briefly." Picking up her cup, she took a sip and closed her eyes in delight. "This is very good."
"I think that's my cue to stop talking about things that don't concern me."
Antoinette eyed him over the rim of her cup. "You're a smart guy. I think we might be friends after all."
They spent the rest of the meal talking about the state of their country and the places they had been to.
"Well, this was pleasant."
"We ought to do it again." He settled the bill and insisted on leaving the tip as well. "I enjoyed myself."
"You're very easy to please," she commented.
"That I am. But being in the company of a beautiful woman and one who speaks a language I can readily understand is such a bonus. Where to now?"
"I was thinking of taking a walk in the market."
His eyes lit up. "I hope you won't think it too forward of me to ask if I can accompany you. It so happens that I need to pick up some produce as well." He quickly took her jacket and helped her on with it.
"Thanks. Not at all."
*****
She felt like a tourist. The market was filled with hawkers and buyers. Stalls with colorful fruits on full display were everywhere. The chatter rang out mostly in Spanish, with a few local dialects interspersed with English and several other languages.
Antoinette veered toward a cart with the fruits she had come to love: cherimoya, quince, and her personal favorite, loquat.Luther stepped back and watched as she haggled with the various vendors, speaking like a native.
Grabbing a basket, he carried it as she heaped fruits and vegetables before going on to the homemade crafts and local souvenirs.
"I have several people I would love to send things back home for," she murmured as she caught his look of curiosity.
"Which is why we're buying out the market," he said teasingly. He felt quite content to just follow her around and enjoy her presence.
She had a sparkling personality when she let down her guard. He wanted to ask her about the subtle vulnerability he saw on her lovely face but knew instinctively that it was too soon.
"Is the basket too heavy?"
He sent her a wounded look that had her grinning.
"You're offending my fragile manhood."
"I'm offering to help you with the load, but as usual, men think they're superheroes."
"Not superheroes precisely."
"But you just want to assure the 'little lady' that you're strong enough to bear the weight." She turned to pick up an unusual-looking pair of earrings and missed the pained look on his face.
"You don't have a favorable opinion of our sex, do you?"
