by Heather Beck
“Uh huh,” she mumbled.
“And I bet you’ve been on movie sets and even gone to some premieres.”
Ava nodded, desperate to change the topic as she reached for the overstuffed taco Javier had ordered for her. “So, what kind of taco is this?” she asked, taking a bite.
“Fish with beans, veggies, slaw, and white garlic sauce. Most of it locally sourced, or at least that’s what the menu says.”
“Wow, it’s delicious,” she said in between bites. “And this sauce…it’s to die for.”
Javier chuckled. “Who’s the foodie now?”
Ava shrugged, playful. “So, what about you?” she asked after a beat. “I want to know more about you, too. You said it was just you and your mom, right?”
“Yeah, it has been for a while.”
“Your dad’s not around then?”
“No, he died when I was four.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said, surprised. She’d assumed that his parents were separated or divorced – like the majority of parents she knew in Hollywood – not that his dad had actually passed. “That must’ve been really tough.”
“It was – it still is.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked gently.
“I’m not really sure what to say. Just that it happened eighteen years ago, and that the day he died – the day the police came to my door to tell me and my mom he’d been in a car accident – is still so clear in my mind. It’s true what they say, about it feeling like it was just yesterday.” His eyes fell sadly to the table, but when he caught Ava giving him a sympathetic look, he lifted his head and gave her a small smile, as if to reassure her that he was okay. “Life goes on,” he said. “We can’t live in the past forever.”
“No, we can’t,” she agreed.
“Besides, I should consider myself lucky for having one parent around. I’ve known a lot of guys who had no family at all.”
“That’s awful.” Ava thought about her parents and sister, and even though they weren’t all together right now, she was grateful that they were still a family. “So, tell me about your mom,” she said, trying to make the conversation a little more upbeat. “She must be a strong woman. Raising you by herself and doing such a good job.”
“A good job, huh? So, you think I turned out alright?”
“I’m still deciding,” she teased.
“Well, if I did, it probably is because of my mom. You’re right, she’s strong, considering I wasn’t always the easiest kid.”
“You? A little hellraiser?”
“Yeah, and despite that, my mom was always there for me, putting me first and working hard to make sure I had everything I needed.” He sighed, like he had a lot on his mind. “She still works the same job, as a housekeeper, and the hours are long, like, really long. I want to return the favor, take care of her now, but no matter what I say, I can’t convince her to take it easy. Truth be told, she’s been such a workhorse her entire life that I think doing nothing and just chilling on the beach would drive her crazy.”
“You’re close, aren’t you?”
Javier nodded. “Family’s everything to me, and she’s the only one I got – at least for now.”
“I hope I get to meet her one day.”
“You will,” he promised.
Before they could say anything else, the waiter returned with dessert, placing on the table one large, delicious-looking brownie and two forks.
“Gracias,” Javier said before the waiter hurried away to another table.
Ava picked up her fork, cutting into the brownie. “I didn’t realize you’d ordered dessert,” she said.
“I’m full of surprises, just like this brownie.”
She gave him a curious look, but instead of asking what he meant, she took a bite of the brownie, suddenly understanding. It was soft, chocolatey, and gooey – just like a perfect brownie should be – but it also had a kick to it, with just the right amount of spice.
“Like it?” he asked.
“Yeah, what’s in it?”
“Cayenne powder.”
Ava raised her eyebrows, surprised. “Seriously? Who’d ever think that up?”
“Mexicans.”
“Well, it works.” Ava dug her fork into the brownie again, but this time, instead of eating it herself, she offered it to Javier. “To return the favor,” she said sweetly.
Smiling, Javier took a bite, keeping his eyes on her.
They finished the rest of their dessert in silence, and after the last bite, Ava let out a content sigh. She looked out the window at the breathtaking view, the stars glistening in the night sky, the moon casting a romantic glow upon the lapping water.
“What is it?” Javier asked softly.
“Nothing. It’s just, this place is really something else.”
“They don’t have views like this in Hollywood?” he asked, following her gaze out the window.
She looked at him. “Not quite.”
“Do you want to get out of here? Maybe head down to the beach?”
“I’d love that.”
As Javier signaled for the waiter to bring their check, Ava took out her purse. “Put that away,” he said. “Dinner’s on me.”
Ava hesitated. She knew how hard Javier worked for his money, while she had more than she’d ever need. It didn’t seem fair. “At least let me pay for half of it,” she said, trying to be tactful.
Javier shook his head, a playful smile on his face. “This is my treat, and if you don’t let me pay, it will be an insult to my manhood. You don’t want to insult me, do you?”
“No, I wouldn’t dare.” She smiled back, but secretly, she still felt bad. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it,” Javier said as he slipped several pesos into the book that held the check, leaving a generous tip for the waiter. “Besides, it’s worth every penny if it means spending time with you.”
A blush rose on Ava’s cheeks. She could so get used to his sweet compliments.
A few minutes later, after driving back down the hill, Javier came to a stop alongside the sea. As they got out of the car, the first thing Ava noticed was how quiet it was, the chatter and laughter coming from Tesoro del Mar now too far away to be heard.
“This way,” Javier said, leading her down a well-worn but unmarked path.
“Where are you taking me?” Ava asked, her tone a little flirty.
“To the coolest part of the beach.”
They reached a long wooden fence, but instead of stopping, Javier ducked in between the gap in the rails. “You coming?” he asked, offering his hand to her.
“Why do I get the feeling we’re not allowed to be here?”
A devil-may-care smile came across Javier’s face. “Rules were made to be broken, right?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“If the reward is worth the risk,” Ava said, smiling as she took his hand and slipped through the rails. Normally, she wouldn’t be so willing to blindly follow a guy she’d only known for a few days, especially after everything that had happened, but there was something about Javier that made her feel safe.
As they reached the beach, they began to walk along the rocky shoreline, having to stay close to each other since it was so narrow – not that Ava was complaining.
“So, what makes this part of the beach so special?” she asked.
“Its mystery. Its allure. The fact that there’s more to it than meets the eye.”
“Sort of like you.”
Javier looked at her curiously. “What do you mean?”
“Remember when you asked me if I’ve had a chance to see much of Mexico?” He nodded and she continued. “Well, I actually went to Corazón de Artista today. Rowan gave me and my sister a tour.”
A knowing look crossed Javier’s face. “So, you’ve seen my art?”
“Yeah, and, Javier, it’s good, like unbelievably good.”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but I’m glad you think
so.”
“I do, and so do a lot of other people. Where in the world did you learn to paint like that?”
“Self-taught mostly, but I did take some art classes in school. Painting is just something I’ve always done, something I’ve always loved. There was a while when I got away from it, though.” He fell silent as he kicked a pebble into the water.
“How come?”
“Life got too hectic,” he said, shrugging. “But then I heard about Artista, and once I started painting again, it was like I’d never stopped.”
“I’m glad you got back into it, because if you hadn’t, it would be a waste of your talent.”
“That’s sweet of you to say.”
“It’s the truth. Your paintings…they’re, like, magical. Where do you get your ideas for them, anyway?”
“Mexico’s my inspiration – our culture, our nature, our beliefs. No matter where you go in this town, there’s so much history, or lore, depending on how you look at it.”
“What do you mean?”
He gestured to their surroundings. “Take this place for example. It’s where Mar de Lágrimas – Sea of Tears – got its name.”
Ava looked around, seeing that they were nearing a rocky cove at the end of the beach, a tall, impressive cliff looming above it. She’d been so engrossed in their conversation that she hadn’t really been paying attention to where they were going. “How did it end up with a name like that?” she asked, wrinkling her nose. “It sounds kind of ominous.”
“It is. You sure you want to hear about it?”
She playfully bumped his shoulder. “Don’t be a tease.”
“Okay, you asked for it,” Javier said, his voice lowering, obviously trying to frighten her. “Story goes that on the eve of the Spanish conquest, a cruel, unforgiving captain by the name of Samuel de Barrasa arrived in these waters to colonize the natives. His son, Sebastian, was among the crew, and Captain de Barrasa hoped that one day Sebastian would become a captain like him, powerful and fierce. Only, Sebastian was nothing like his father, and when it came time to brutally colonize the natives, he couldn’t do it, especially after meeting a native girl named Itzel.”
“It always comes down to a girl, doesn’t it?”
Javier just raised his eyebrows teasingly and continued. “Sebastian had sailed many seas and seen many places, but to him, nothing compared to the beauty of Itzel. They fell in love, but when Captain de Barrasa learned their secret, he vowed to kill Itzel. Sebastian and Itzel knew they could never be together, so in desperation, they jumped off this cliff, which we call Acantilado de la Enteridad, or Eternity Cliff, killing themselves in the hope that their spirits would be together in the afterlife. They say this part of the sea is saltier than any other because of the tears Sebastian and Itzel cried right before they died. They also say that once a year, on the anniversary of their deaths, their spirits can be seen here, walking hand in hand, finally together forever.”
Ava fell silent, thinking about the story. “Tell me you’re making this up,” she finally said.
“Why? You don’t believe me? I can take you to any local gift shop where they sell Sebastian and Itzel t-shirts.”
“Okay, so maybe you’re not making it up, but it’s still freaky and very disturbing.”
“Or romantic. Again, it depends on how you look at it, right?”
“Um, I guess,” Ava said as she gazed up at the cliff, “but if I were them, I would’ve found another way to be together.”
“Then there would be no legend, no tale of undying, passionate love.” He came to a stop at the edge of the cove and then looked at her, adding playfully. “Are you always so sensible?”
“No, not always,” she said, her eyes locked on his. “I have my impulsive side, too.”
“Oh, really?” Javier said, giving her a half-smile.
Ava nodded, and when a shiver went through her body, she couldn’t tell if it was because of the sea air, much cooler in these parts, or the fact that Javier was so close to her, looking oh so gorgeous.
“You’re cold,” he said with a frown.
“I’m fine,” she said, not wanting to interrupt the moment.
Javier ran his hand over her arm, making her goosebumps even worse. “You’re cold, and I didn’t even bring a jacket for you.” He shook his head, like he was disappointed in himself. “It’s getting late, anyway. I should probably get you home.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Ava said as they started to walk back the way they’d come. She felt sad that the night had gone in so fast, but she couldn’t deny that she was glad to get away from the cliff and its creepy story.
It was just after ten o’clock when Javier pulled into Ava’s driveway for the second time that night. They’d spent most of the drive back chatting about random things and the rest of it in comfortable silence. It was one of the many things she liked about Javier – how easily their conversation flowed but also how they didn’t have to say anything at all, like nothing had to be forced.
“Let me walk you to your door,” Javier offered as he turned off his car, the night turning that much darker without the headlights on.
“Thanks,” Ava said, unable to remember the last time a date had done that for her. “I would like that.”
As they walked toward her villa, they stayed close to each other, their hands accidentally brushing together a couple of times. Javier looked at her, casting her an adorable smile. “I had a really great time with you tonight,” he said.
She smiled back. “Me, too.”
“Oh, really?” He tried to play it cool, but she saw the glimmer of hope in his eyes.
“Yes, really,” she said as they came to a stop at her front door. She found his vulnerability kind of sweet and refreshing. “I like getting to know you better.”
“So, it wasn’t just me then.” He stepped closer to her, his words more a statement than a question.
“Definitely not,” she said, her heart speeding up in anticipation of what might happen next.
“And if I asked you out again, you’d say…” He let his words trail off, the look of hope never leaving his eyes.
“I’d say yes.”
Javier smiled as he reached out and gently touched her cheek. Staring into his gorgeous hazel eyes, Ava felt almost breathless as he brought his face closer to hers. She closed her eyes, waiting for his soft lips to touch hers.
Rustle. Rustle.
Ava’s eyes flew open and she pulled away from Javier, the sound of something rustling in the green, leafy plants that lined her front yard sending a shiver through her body. It was the same kind of sound she’d heard on the night Miguel had attacked her. The eerie, all too familiar feeling that she was being watched washed over her.
“What’s wrong?” Javier asked with a frown.
“Didn’t you hear that?” she whispered.
“Hear what?”
“Shhh…” Ava stood still for several seconds, listening, watching, but everything was quiet, and as far as she could see in the dim light of the cloud-covered moon, no one was there.
“Ava, what’s going on?”
“I heard a noise coming from over there.” She pointed in the direction of the plants. “I don’t know why, but it felt like someone was hiding there, watching us.”
“Stay here,” Javier said, starting down the driveway.
Ava watched as he disappeared behind the thick greenery, her uneasiness growing as the seconds slowly ticked by. What if Miguel was there? What if Christopher was there? “Javier?” she called out quietly, feeling like he’d been gone for too long. When she didn’t get a response, she began to make her way down the driveway, having no idea what she expected to find.
“Javier?” she called out again, this time much louder. She reached the end of the driveway, just about to step behind the tall plants when someone bumped into her, causing her to stumble backward. She gasped, her heart racing as the person grabbed her arms before she even had the chance to see who it was.
&nb
sp; “Ava, it’s me. Relax.”
Ava looked up, seeing Javier’s chiseled features highlighted in the moonlight, the clouds starting to part every so slightly. “You scared me half to death,” she said, taking a deep breath, trying to calm her heart. “Why didn’t you answer me when I called?”
“Because I was already on my way back to see you.”
“Why? Did you see who was there?” She craned her neck, trying to look past him, but she couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary.
Javier shook his head as he began to lead her back up the driveway. “No one was there.”
“Are…are you sure?” She wrinkled her forehead, thinking about what she’d heard, what she’d felt, but if he said no one was there, then maybe she was wrong.
“Yeah, I looked everywhere. It was probably an animal or even the wind.” He stopped in front of the door and turned to face her, wearing an expression of concern. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. Why would you ask me that?”
“Well, you seem a bit on edge. Not that I’m blaming you. You have been through a lot.”
“I was just being paranoid, and I kind of overreacted,” she said, feeling more embarrassed than anything, “but I’m fine now. I promise.”
“But if you weren’t, you’d tell me, right?”
“Of course,” Ava said, wanting to change the subject. “Besides, how can I not be okay when I have a brave, strong man like you around?”
“Brave and strong, huh?”
“Totally, but don’t let it go to your head, okay?” She playfully hit his chest, which felt rock-solid under his shirt, the tension from moments ago starting to melt away.
“No chance of that happening,” he said with a little laugh. “So, I know this is kind of last minute, but are you free this Sunday?”
“I can be.”
“Good, because I know this amazing place that I’d love to take you. Just be sure to wear comfortable shoes and a lot of sunblock. We’d also have to leave really early in the morning.”
This time it was Ava’s turn to laugh. “Should I be worried?”
“Never. I promise.” He leaned forward and kissed Ava’s cheek, his lips making her skin tingle. “You should probably get inside,” he said with a sigh, as if he didn’t want to say goodbye. “I don’t want your family to worry about you.”