Read Online Love on the Malecon by Aubrey Parr - Free Book Online Page B

his
eyes from his drink, “ This should be your baby. I still want
my living quarters, but if you take the lead on this and it goes
through, half the finder’s fee and the percentage of revenue will
go directly to you.” Gael’s face lit with excitement. He was
usually rather serious; Derek enjoyed seeing this lighter side.
    “Let’s do a shot.” It was a tradition for
them after coming to a business decision. Gael waved over the
server and asked for two shots of tequila chilled and dressed.
    Derek could tell he was struggling a bit to
keep his composure. This could be quite a chunk of change for Gael. “ This will be on top of your regular salary and bonuses,” he
added.
    “I will drink to that, amigo ,” Gael
laughed and they both threw back their glasses of tequila.
    Glancing at his watch, Derek could see that
it was nearing 11am. He had asked Hector to keep his eye on Nicole
as best he could and to drive her to the bar on the beach. His
run-in with Silvia had been right at the edge of his thoughts all
morning. “ I have somewhere I need to be,” he told Gael, “ Let’s talk later.” He threw enough money on the table to
cover the bill and a sizeable tip.
    “Have fun with your lady,” Gael teased.
    “She’s something,” he told him as he put on
his sunglasses.
    The bar was a short walk away and Derek
enjoyed the little bit of exercise. He hadn’t gone for a run yet
today and his legs were itching to move. He was pleased with his
decision with Gael, who deserved the chance to prove himself.
During the past ten years, he hadn’t had a hectic forty-hour work
week in the concrete jungle, but he did ultimately shoulder all of
the responsibility in his company. It would be nice to have Gael
take on more of partnership role, to have someone that could allow
Derek to take weeks at a time off to disappear to some corner of
the globe, to be unreachable. He knew this wasn’t to be taken
lightly. This would be a serious decision, but he liked where they
were headed.
    He felt like he just may be ready to share
his personal life with someone else now. He could imagine sharing
this world he had created with Nicole. He always knew his lifestyle
would be hard for someone else. Most people would not want to live
away from their family. Nicole didn’t have any family left. Both of
her parents were only children and they were gone now. She didn’t
have grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins. She was very much in
the same situation he was. She was in this world rather alone. Her
situation fit well into his lifestyle.
    With that thought still floating in his mind,
he saw her sitting at the bar. He liked that she had already
ordered herself a drink. It wasn’t a beer this time, but some sort
of mixed drink with an umbrella in it. She was wearing the black
bathing suit from the day he met her. This time she had on a pair
of cute little board shorts and a white tank top with material so
thin, it looked about ready to disintegrate. She was looking out at
the water, lost in her own thoughts. He could see that Hector had
given her the beach bag he asked for.
    He walked up to her and kissed the top of her
head as he slid into the seat next to her. “ Hope I didn’t
keep you waiting.”
    “Hi.” She leaned over and gave him a quick
kiss on the lips, as if she had been doing it her whole life. “ I brought Hector’s mystery bag.” She smiled and lifted the
huge bag off the ground for a second.
    “No mystery, just some beach necessities.
Towels, sun screen for that gorgeous skin, some chips and pico de
gallo to snack on. I figured we could get water and drinks from the
bar.”
    “Hector is too funny. He wouldn’t tell me
what was inside. Just said ‘ Señor Derek’ required some
things.” Her imitation of Hector was hilarious and spot on. “ I wasn’t sure if I should add mule to my resume or expect
whips and chains.”
    “No, love, I never got into drugs with my
fighting career. We can indulge in the occasion