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“Beer.” Kline looked up at me, and the hint of a smile touched his lips. “You want some help?”
I shook my head. “I got this, baby.”
Destination in sight, I walked away from our loungers, across the sand, and up the wooden stairs that led to the pool deck. Once I reached the bar, a friendly bartender in a colorful bow tie and a name tag that readSamtook my order—beer for Kline and a piña colada for me.
While Sam made our drinks, I took a seat on an empty barstool and waited.
“Excuse me,” a female voice said, startling me from my own little world of stress decompression. I looked to my right to see a fortysomething woman with long red hair grinning at me. I did my best to smile back.
“Um, yes?”
“Can I just say that Iloveyour hair? I’ve always loved beachy waves, but I can never get them to look right.”
“Oh wow, thank you,” I answered, both surprised and delighted at the compliment.
“And your bikini,” she added. “It looks fabulous on you. Actually, both my husband and I noticed you and your husband walking toward the beach earlier, and I told him then how much I envied your whole ensemble.”
I smiled. Normally, it might be a little weird if someone had picked me out of a crowd on the beach and remembered me at the bar, but I knew we’d been leaving quite the wake of recognition this morning with all the commotion we’d caused.
“Let me guess. You noticed the mariachi band that was following us around?”
She grinned. “They did call a little bit of attention,” she admitted with a laugh. “But you’re a gorgeous couple.”
“Oh my goodness, thank you. You are way too kind,” I dismissed sheepishly.
“I’m Paula, by the way,” she introduced herself as she closed the distance between us, moving from her barstool to the empty one beside mine.
“It’s nice to meet you, Paula. I’m Georgia.”
“That’s my husband Frank over there near the pool,” she added and pointed toward a bald man in blue swim trunks. She waved toward him, and immediately, he waved back. That was nice. I always loved to see other couples so happily in love. It gave me hope for the future.
“My husband Kline is back there on the beach,” I said and then smacked my forehead. “I guess you saw him before, though, huh?”
I giggled, and her eyes sparkled, delighted.
“Are you guys enjoying your trip?” she asked and reached forward to gently place her hand over mine. “Cabo is absolutely gorgeous, right?”
“Oh yeah,” I answered, lying a little bit. I mean, it wasn’t exactly Cabo’s fault our trip felt like a dumpster fire. Plus, I figured the less she knew, the less chance it would get out that our suite was the cause for the evacuation last night. “I mean, we’ve had a few speed bumps, but it’s certainly beautiful here.”
“Any big plans tonight?”
I shook my head. “I think my husband is just happy that mariachi band is no longer following us around.”
Paula gently tapped my shoulder with her hand, and giggles fell from her lips. “That band was certainly something.”
“They sure were.” I snorted. “Very talented, but also very loud.”
Paula burst into laughter, her hand brushing my shoulder again. “Beautifulandhilarious? Georgia, you’re adorable.”
“Thank you. You’re such a sweetheart, Paula.” Unsure of what else to say because compliments from strangers always tended to make me feel kind of awkward, I just grinned at her.
“You know what I think?”
“What?”
“I think you and Kline should come to a party with us.”
I tilted my head to the side. “A party? What kind of party?”
