73

"And how do you like it?" Carlos wanted to know curiously as we stood a little further away from the busy beach and let our eyes wander over the many celebrating people.

"It's definitely something new," I smiled, because it definitely wasn't comparable to the celebrations in Germany.

The sun had already set, but there were many large torches around an even larger area in the sand, which gave this place a really romantic, exuberant touch. The music played by the band on a stage further back was pleasantly rhythmic and one could relax to it but also swing your hips at the same time.

Despite the sandy beach, the people were all very well dressed and while most of the women danced exuberantly in their pretty dresses, the men stood around at the round bar tables and watched the dancers in a good mood and their drinks.

"People seem a lot more open to me than they do back home," I let Carlos know and as soon as I finished speaking, he grabbed my hand with a satisfied smile.

"I'm sure they are too. It's what counts here today. Not yesterday or tomorrow," he explained and you could literally feel how proud he was of his Spanish origins.

With my eyes fixed on the beautiful, dark sea, I let Carlos pull me along a paved path, where a wide staircase then led down directly to the beach.

"Wow," I whispered enthusiastically into the silence, because now that I was padding somewhat awkwardly over the uneven sand while feeling the fresh sea breeze blowing through my hair, I felt more like I was daydreaming than like it was all just really happen.

Maybe I should really go out into the world more and read less...

"That's refreshing, isn't it?" Carlos asked in his typical Spanish accent, pointing to the stage in front of us. "The quiet music to the soft sounds of the waves. In addition, the warm sand below us and the light wind," he explained and slowly it became a little too romantic with him.

"Yes, really very nice," I replied uncertainly, deftly removing my hand from his and then pretending to look for something in my small, black bag while he continued to enthusiastically survey our surroundings.

Was it his first time at a fiesta or was it me?

"Tell me, Isalie," he suddenly started a conversation again and I was very happy when we finally arrived at one of the back bar tables and I was able to support myself. No matter how nice the sand was, walking across it in flip flops was far from pleasant. "Why are you so tight-lipped?"

Perplexed, I caught Carlo's eye and laid my bag on the dark wooden table in front of us, frowning slightly in confusion.

"Zugeknöpft?"

He scratched the back of his head in embarrassment and glanced past me at the live band before placing his arms on the table and eyeing me intensely.

"Well, you seem like you don't really notice attempts to flirt," he said suddenly and I widened my eyes in disbelief and didn't really know what to say to that now.

Actually, I should have made it clear to him by now at the latest that I certainly had what it takes to flirt and that he just wasn't my type, but I didn't feel like spoiling the entire evening again before it had even started.

"I don't have time for flirting," I lied, smiling mildly, immediately avoiding his gaze to let my eyes wander over some dancing women again, until I suddenly noticed his hand on mine again and took a look at everything tensed me uncomfortably.

"You should always find time for fun," I heard him breathe and it just made me uncomfortable that I also felt his warm breath on my cheek. I just wanted to get out of this intimate conversation and free myself from his overwhelming closeness.

"I'd really like a drink," I gave him back a bit bitchy, pulling my hand out of his, whereupon he raised an eyebrow and grinned, probably sure that alcohol would loosen me up.

"What you want to drink?"

"Water," I smiled and watched, slightly amused, as his arrogant grin disappeared immediately, which I also felt sorry for at the same time. After all, he made every effort to somehow make eyes at me.

My poor donkey... But he didn't seem discouraged.

"I'll be right back."

He suddenly kissed me on the cheek, then grinned stupidly again and disappeared between the other revelers, dancing slightly, while I watched him shake my head.

"What an idiot," I mumbled, rolling my eyes with a tiny smirk before turning back to our table. As soon as I turned my face back to the other side, I froze in an instant and almost had a heart attack from what, quite unexpectedly, unfolded before my wide-open eyes.

"Idiot?"

The unknown stranger suddenly stood right in front of me with a questioning expression, looking so much better than I remembered him doing.

He leaned his arms casually on the table between us, looking at me expectantly with his dark eyes and unfortunately I couldn't avoid letting my gaze wander briefly over his chest, on which I could see the lines of his through the white shirt could examine many tattoos.

His sudden proximity made my heart beat so uncontrollably and extremely fast that I could feel my pulse even in my throat, where a big lump formed at that moment, which left me completely speechless in this overwhelming situation.

"You okay?" he asked with a dirty grin and I parted my lips but couldn't get a single sound out. It was as if I had forgotten how to speak because of his aura and because my whole behavior seemed so embarrassing to me, I immediately felt my cheeks glowing, which of course he also seemed to notice.

Very slowly, as if enjoying the way I reacted to him, he let his dark irises sweep over my cheekbones. He eyed me with a curiosity that drove me almost insane, just like the feeling he aroused in me with his intense, fiery gaze alone.

He was unpredictable, because where he seemed cold as ice at the same time, he could at the same moment trigger the hottest fire in me.

"So you're feeling better," I breathed without thinking and was glad that anything escaped my lips at all, while in contrast to me he seemed completely calm and continued to stare at me without expression.

"Who's an idiot?" he asked me suddenly, running a hand through his thick, black hair as if he knew exactly how good he looked.

"My companion," I whispered and wanted to look out for Carlos, but then I felt a hand on mine, which I immediately pulled away from the table in shock. My eyes were lost in the stranger's and I only glanced down at his hand, which had just, without much effort, triggered so much in me that it was already frightening.

He, too, seemed fascinated by our so innocent touch and suddenly seemed very thoughtful with his eyes fixed on me. Maybe he was also thinking about how he could possibly get rid of me after all and just wanted to make sure nobody would miss me.

"You know something," I blurted out, because I was so heated and overwhelmed that I just couldn't help but quickly change the subject. I remembered the story of the Torres family because at that very moment, that scent of his perfume flew into my mind again. "I think I know who did this to you and don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

While I really had problems controlling my much too fast breathing because of his charisma, he suddenly seemed completely taken aback by my words. He looked at me even more intensely than before, but suddenly put on such a beautiful smile that I couldn't help but enjoy it to the fullest.

"And who do you think that was?" he asked with a raised eyebrow and I glanced around to make sure none of the revelers were overhearing our conversation. Only then did I boldly lean a little further towards him.

"My companion told me about this Torres family," I began, and he seemed very interested in what I had to tell. He immediately moved a little further to me and continued to listen to me attentively.

"And what did he tell you?" he wanted to know curiously and I tried to remember Carlo's words exactly, while I remembered the son's name again.

"That this family is very criminal!" I explained and looked around again before I looked deep into his eyes. "Especially that arrogant Emilio. I'm sure you know him!"

He nodded and while I didn't understand why he suddenly put on a dirty grin, I put it down to the fact that he was probably glad that I was on his side.

"Yes, I know him but I actually thought he was a really handsome, attractive man," the stranger said, taking a step closer around the table so that our shoulders almost touched.

"Well, he's forcing his own perfume on the whole town. That strikes me as very arrogant and pretentious. I'm curious to see how he looks. Totally snooty for sure. Also, I thought this fiesta was in his honor, but he is not there. That just goes to show how self-absorbed he is."

As soon as I looked at the stranger curiously about his reaction to my words, I was snapped out of my rigidity by Carlos, who was walking towards us with two pretty women and drinks in hand.

"There you are again", I greeted him and although at the same time I was glad not to have to stand around alone with the stranger anymore, I was also slightly disappointed. He seemed really nice when he wasn't storming into someone else's apartment at night, half bleeding to death.

"Yes," Carlos said coolly, but looked past me. I followed his gaze and noticed the stranger looking at him like he was about to put a bullet in Carlos' head and that made me feel completely uncomfortable again.

"Emilio! We've been looking for you," one of the women who had accompanied Carlos tore me out of my thoughts and I lost any clear thought at that moment. As if in slow motion, I felt my heart racing again and, at the same time, the ice-cold shiver that crept up my back and up my neck.

Holding my breath, I turned to the stranger again, noticing his blank gaze directly at me as he raised his hand and held it out to me.

"Emilio Torres. Nice to meet you."