Read Online Kiss Me, Lynn by Linda George - Free Book Online

utterly inappropriate response to their guide paying equal attention to the others. He wasn’t only her guide on this tour. He was everyone’s guide. Still, with the chairs so close together, if they’d sat next to each other, their knees might’ve touched. She realized suddenly that the restaurant was rather warm.
    She focused on the food, which was quite good and different from what she’d expected. In temperature, everything was about the same—neither hot nor cold. The flavors blended so well, she often couldn’t tell the difference between something new and what she’d tasted before. She’d have to admit that she’d expected unique flavors, but almost everything had a sauce. Some of the meats had no sauce, but they weren’t plain, either. Some looked like they’d been barbecued, while others were roasted. Nothing seemed to be fried, but could’ve been beneath the sauces. She enjoyed getting to make comparisons between Peruvian food and what she was used to eating in Virginia.
    She had a Pisco Sour with her meal, while a couple of the ladies had opted for Inka Cola, which was yellow instead of brown, like colas at home. Sharon offered her a taste. It was exceptionally sweet, almost syrupy. She noticed that Alex was drinking Inka Cola, too.
    While she was looking at him, he turned and winked at her! Instead of blushing and turning away, which seemed silly for a woman her age, she raised her glass to him in a toast. He did the same, and they sipped their drinks still looking at each other. Then he turned away to answer another question from Dorothy and Barb.
    Lynn’s feelings of jealousy evaporated completely. She’d have to remember that she was one of the group from now on. The next time he smiled at her, she nodded to let him know she understood.
    Sharon nudged her. “Look at those dancers!”
    Entertainment provided by musicians and dancers from the coast, then from the highlands, included vigorous music. Shouting from the dancers and diners continued to drown all attempts at conversation. The dance that drew the most laughter and shouting came at the end of the performance. The women attached a cloth “tail” to the backs of their short skirts that stood out over crinolines, then did a Peruvian version of the hula, circling their hips while the men, with lighted candles, tried to set the tails on fire. Only a couple of the men succeeded. The dancers pulled diners onto the stage to participate—women and men—which produced even more laugher from on that side of the large room.
    One of the men stepped down from the stage and took Lynn’s hand, leading her back on stage where one of the women attached her “tail.” Alex immediately followed her and accepted a lighted candle from one of the other men. At first, they had different partners. By the time they were paired, Lynn was laughing and doing her best not to let her “tail” be burned. Alex tried to hold the candle under the end of the cloth, but Lynn always managed to maneuver it away. When the song ended, all the women stood still and allowed their “tails” to be burned, including Lynn. Hugs followed, along with shouting and laughter and happy tears.
    Alex helped Lynn down from the stage, then picked her up and twirled her around. Cheers erupted all over the restaurant. Almost everyone in their group had another Pisco Sour, which Lynn loved, since it gave her a light feeling that helped to banish any thoughts other than enjoying the evening.
    By the time they left the restaurant, Lynn’s ears were ringing . Lively conversation on the way back to the hotel was the perfect end to the day. By the time they got off the bus, Lynn was about to collapse. She begged off sitting in the lobby to talk and went straight to their room. She had to get some sleep! They had to be up early in the morning, again, for another day of touring, beginning with the pyramids of Caral, where Alex promised there was sunshine to lift her spirits and make the day