Read Online Moonlight and Margaritas by Cindy Stark - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Cindy Stark
Tags: Romance, Literature & Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Women, Women's Fiction
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mentioned a family business back in California, not diving expeditions in Cabo.
It was obviously his loud departure that morning that had her on edge. She needed to chill. Yes, she had met him at one of the hotel's clubs, and the hotel did sponsor this excursion, but as much as she'd like to see him one more time, her lover was not their guide.
The boat powered-down as it reached the dock, bumping repeatedly against the side from the swell of the waves. She held her breath as the cabin door opened…and out appeared the man who'd invaded her every thought since she'd met him.
"No," she whispered, gripping Mercedes's arm.
"What is it, chica?"
"It's Joe. It's the guy from last night."
"What?" Mercedes peeked over the shoulder of the man in front of her. "Oh, look at that." She sounded excited as she hooked her arm firmly through Elena's, anchoring her in place. "What a coincidence."
It took her all of a second to put the pieces together. "You knew, didn't you?"
Mercedes gave her a brilliant smile, her lips the same hot pink as her bikini top. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."
Elena wasn't sure if she should be mad, sick to her stomach, or excited. As much as she'd planned to see him only one time, her pulse jumped at the sight of him. "I know I agreed to 'whatever', Mercedes, but you can't interfere like this."
"I wouldn't dream of it, chica."
Elena looked back to see the hotel's van heading down the road, the bright morning sunshine reflecting off the white paint. Great. Her choices were now limited to facing the morning after awkwardness that she'd tried to avoid or trying to find a taxi to take her back to the hotel.
"I can't believe you did this, Mercedes." Elena jabbed a sharp elbow into her friend's ribs. The group of her fellow passengers picked up their bags and backpacks, preparing to board the boat. She positioned herself behind a tall man, hoping she could avoid catching Joe's attention until she figured out what to do.
"You're too young to worry so much, Elena. You need to let loose and go with the moment." Her friend seemed to take Elena's anger in stride which only irritated her further.
"Joe was supposed to have been a one-night stand," she whispered. "One night. You know, love them and leave them? Never to see them again? You of all people should understand that concept."
The smile on Mercedes's face dropped, and Elena hoped she'd gotten her point across about meddling in others' affairs. "Yes, amiga. I know all about quick sexual encounters used solely for pleasure." She held her gaze for a second and then looked away. Mercedes bit her lip, but not before Elena was sure she caught a slight tremble. Her friend forced a laugh. "Just the other day, Carmen called me The Queen of One Nighters, so yes, I guess you could say I'm an expert."
Elena faltered, surprised that she'd pierced Mercedes's armor. This was the first time ever her friend had seemed ashamed of the number of men she'd slept with, and twice that she'd acted out of character since they'd arrived in Cabo. It made her sick to think she'd hurt her. "Oh, God, Mercedes. I didn't mean it like that."
Mercedes remained silent.
"What's going on? This isn't like you."
Mercedes stared off into the distance for a moment and then tossed a strand of silky dark hair over her shoulder and grinned what seemed to be a genuine smile. "Of course, it's like me. It's exactly like me." Any trace of her momentary angst had vanished. "Stop trying to change the subject. Today is about you." She leaned close to Elena's ear. "You and Joe," she whispered.
"Ladies? Are you going to keep us waiting all day?"
CHAPTER FIVE
Elena jerked her head toward the familiar voice, although now it contained sharp edges and not the soft, sexy tones of her lover from the previous night. Joe stood at the edge of the boat, his stance rigid and tight. The
It was obviously his loud departure that morning that had her on edge. She needed to chill. Yes, she had met him at one of the hotel's clubs, and the hotel did sponsor this excursion, but as much as she'd like to see him one more time, her lover was not their guide.
The boat powered-down as it reached the dock, bumping repeatedly against the side from the swell of the waves. She held her breath as the cabin door opened…and out appeared the man who'd invaded her every thought since she'd met him.
"No," she whispered, gripping Mercedes's arm.
"What is it, chica?"
"It's Joe. It's the guy from last night."
"What?" Mercedes peeked over the shoulder of the man in front of her. "Oh, look at that." She sounded excited as she hooked her arm firmly through Elena's, anchoring her in place. "What a coincidence."
It took her all of a second to put the pieces together. "You knew, didn't you?"
Mercedes gave her a brilliant smile, her lips the same hot pink as her bikini top. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."
Elena wasn't sure if she should be mad, sick to her stomach, or excited. As much as she'd planned to see him only one time, her pulse jumped at the sight of him. "I know I agreed to 'whatever', Mercedes, but you can't interfere like this."
"I wouldn't dream of it, chica."
Elena looked back to see the hotel's van heading down the road, the bright morning sunshine reflecting off the white paint. Great. Her choices were now limited to facing the morning after awkwardness that she'd tried to avoid or trying to find a taxi to take her back to the hotel.
"I can't believe you did this, Mercedes." Elena jabbed a sharp elbow into her friend's ribs. The group of her fellow passengers picked up their bags and backpacks, preparing to board the boat. She positioned herself behind a tall man, hoping she could avoid catching Joe's attention until she figured out what to do.
"You're too young to worry so much, Elena. You need to let loose and go with the moment." Her friend seemed to take Elena's anger in stride which only irritated her further.
"Joe was supposed to have been a one-night stand," she whispered. "One night. You know, love them and leave them? Never to see them again? You of all people should understand that concept."
The smile on Mercedes's face dropped, and Elena hoped she'd gotten her point across about meddling in others' affairs. "Yes, amiga. I know all about quick sexual encounters used solely for pleasure." She held her gaze for a second and then looked away. Mercedes bit her lip, but not before Elena was sure she caught a slight tremble. Her friend forced a laugh. "Just the other day, Carmen called me The Queen of One Nighters, so yes, I guess you could say I'm an expert."
Elena faltered, surprised that she'd pierced Mercedes's armor. This was the first time ever her friend had seemed ashamed of the number of men she'd slept with, and twice that she'd acted out of character since they'd arrived in Cabo. It made her sick to think she'd hurt her. "Oh, God, Mercedes. I didn't mean it like that."
Mercedes remained silent.
"What's going on? This isn't like you."
Mercedes stared off into the distance for a moment and then tossed a strand of silky dark hair over her shoulder and grinned what seemed to be a genuine smile. "Of course, it's like me. It's exactly like me." Any trace of her momentary angst had vanished. "Stop trying to change the subject. Today is about you." She leaned close to Elena's ear. "You and Joe," she whispered.
"Ladies? Are you going to keep us waiting all day?"
CHAPTER FIVE
Elena jerked her head toward the familiar voice, although now it contained sharp edges and not the soft, sexy tones of her lover from the previous night. Joe stood at the edge of the boat, his stance rigid and tight. The
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