CHAPTER EIGHT
KATY
December 14
The next morning, a cautious sense of anticipation filled Katy as she got ready to go out. She’d arranged to meet Marcus for breakfast near Plaza Mayor. As she approached him on the street, he hadn’t noticed her yet. He looked like a fish out of water, with his tall frame and American clothes.
Handsome. Definitely handsome. Especially when he smiled, as he was doing now.
“Good morning,” he said. “I hope you didn’t have the same karaoke singer singing eighties’ music to you last night.”
“I didn’t.”
“Lucky you.”
Cesar’s was a hole-in-the-wall, crowded to the rafters with patrons. The Spanish chatter in the small building was deafening.
“They must need their energy to keep up with their posadas,” Marcus shouted over the din.
“Precisely.” She bobbed her head in approval. “You’re catching on.”
Marcus picked up the menu. “So what’s good around here?”
“Pretty much your choices are black beans, fried plantain slices, fresh cheese, and eggs.”
“Wow, that sounds like a meal-meal, not breakfast.”
“I know,” Katy said. “Isn’t it great?”
In the end, Marcus ate cheese and eggs, and more cheese. “This is good,” he said, plowing through his third plate.
Katy watched him, amused. “Don’t forget you’ve got the beans too.”
“I’ll pass. I’m not a big fan.” He took another bite of cheese. “Tell me about our adventure today.”
Katy took a bite of beans. They were warm and slightly on the salty side. “Pacaya is a short drive from here and then about an hour and a half hike. We’ll want to bring our own water. No drinking from the tap or springs.”
“Learned my lesson. Yes’m.”
“I suggest you eat an early dinner so we can trek out at sunset.”
“Would you like to join me?” he asked casually, as if he were asking for the time, or for her to pass the salt and pepper.
Her eyes widened. “For dinner?”
He arched an eyebrow. “I believe that’s what I said.”
“I’ll have to check my schedule.” She hid behind her mug of hot chocolate to hide her smile.
“Do I have to go through your scheduling secretary?”
She pretended to dial a number. “Katy Stevens’s schedule,” she said in a nasal voice.
He snorted. “I need you to work for me. Maybe people will leave me alone.”
“You want to be left alone?”
Marcus nodded. “All day, solicitations. Gets old real fast.”
“Your secretary should screen your calls better.”
“She tries. Sometimes people get through.” He gazed at her pointedly. “Like women who have a cause they want you to consider for a million dollars.”
“Oh,” she said, making a face. “Those women.”
“Yes. Those.”
“Thanks for not calling security on me,” she said.
“Anytime.”
***
MARCUS
Marcus didn’t understand why he kept flirting with Katy, despite his resolve to not get involved with her.
Would you like to join me?
Palm to face.
He was obviously dinged in the head, crazy as they come. A fool.
Because nothing good could come of it. She was too sincere, too sweet, to be trifled with. Some girls in his past life he could have a dinner date with, he could even kiss them, and they understood when he moved on.
But Katy, now. She would misinterpret everything as a build-up to a marriage proposal.
What would be so bad about that?
It would mean dating, kissing, loving…and opening himself up to hurt again.
He closed his eyes to the pain that washed over him. He used to carry a picture of Amanda in his wallet but he took it out a few months ago. He wished now that he had kept it in the credit card slot. It was a good reminder of why he should keep his distance from Katy.
Of course, seeing Katy in person when he picked her up for dinner demolished his well-laid plans.
“Hello,” she said, smiling broadly on Mama Muni’s porch.
“Hi.” He gazed at her attractive black tunic and matching pants and averted his eyes.
Why did she have to look so pretty?
He went to the curb to hail a taxi. On the ride over, he was quiet and answered her questions in monosyllables until she took the hint and looked out the window instead. Once seated at a relatively upscale restaurant, he mustered a stern expression.
“Do you still feel sick from the strawberries?” she asked.
“No,” he said. “This is just my determined-to-stay-single face.”
Katy blinked. “Oh. You are funny.”
“You’re not supposed to find me funny. You’re supposed to run as far away from me as you can.”
“Why should I do that?”
“Because I sacrifice maidens to the gods.”
She glanced at him, concerned. Leaning over, she felt his forehead. Her touch did tricks to his body, made him want to lean close and kiss her.
“Are you sick?” she asked.
“Yes.” He was sick in the head.
“But you’re not warm.”
His body tingled with pleasure at her touch.
Warmth seeped from his face to his neck and spread across his chest. “I woke up punchy this morning,” he said. “I know I’’m sick, but the cure is…complicated.”
“Oh dear. There’s probably pharmacies around here.”
That cured inappropriate crushes? Because this was what it was.
He doubted it.
“Maybe,” he said. “Maybe I’ll find the answer up on Mount Pike.”
“Pacaya.”
“Yes, that.”
She scrunched her nose. “You’re acting funny. I wonder if this high altitude is affecting your brain.”
“It’s certainly affected my heart.”
Katy looked even more panicked. “The exertion, is that it?”
“Yes. Yes, that’s it,” he lied.