The constant laughter makes my bladder scream for release and I point at the bathrooms silently telling Katie where I’m headed. She gives me a nod and elects to stay and dance some more. Hurrying to the bathrooms, I wait for only a couple minutes before I find release, wash my hands and move back to the party. Stopping at the bar, I grab margaritas for Katie and I, but when I return to her, I find that she’s made a friend on the dance floor. And I use the term friend loosely – she’s grinding all up in his business and I’m pretty sure a margarita from me is the last thing she would care about at the moment.
With a smile I make my way back to the bar, set her drink down, and take a seat. Most people are walking along the beach, dancing, or sitting by the multiple fire pits. Many stand around talking. There are plenty of seats available at the bar. The atmosphere is electric. Everyone is relaxed, just wanting to have fun and there is much laughter in the air. It’s impossible to not get caught up in the feeling and I find that a smile curves my lips. Taking a drink of the tart margarita, I close my eyes and enjoy the feeling of the beach breeze in my hair and the sound of laughter in my ears.
“I swear I’m not giving you a cheesy pick up line when I tell you that you’re beautiful.”
Opening my eyes, they widen when I see the husky voice I hear is not only talking to me, but that it belongs to none other than Asher Charming. Smiling before I even realize it, my thoughts leave my mouth, “I’m not sure if I should believe you.”
“Oh, well it’s totally true,” he says while setting his drink on the bar and sitting beside me. An internal part of me wants to scream Asher Charming is freaking sitting next to me, but I reel it in, knowing that he’s a person just like me. One hell of a sexy person though, because hot damn the man is fine. Wearing jeans that are well worn and clearly a favorite, he’s also sporting a white button down shirt that’s been rolled up to his forearms. The white emphasizes his sun kissed skin and makes his blue eyes blaze. “If I were using a pick up line it would have been something like, are you a fruit because honeydew you know how fine you look right now?”
“Oh god. Now I believe you. And do you actually get girls with that line?”
He laughs and my body responds in a way I’ve never felt before. My nipples tighten and I cross my legs and squeeze them together tightly because I’m tingling in places that shouldn’t be tingling from a mere laugh. This is ridiculous.
“No, and I can’t imagine why because come on, it’s a good one.” I laugh again and shake my head in disagreement. “Even though we took a picture together, I guess I never formally introduced myself.”
“Yes, it’s true. You’re rather rude.”
He smiles and gives me a look at his perfect white teeth, “You know, if I were less of a gentleman I could point out that you didn’t introduce yourself either.”
“Good thing you’re a gentleman then.”
“Yes, good thing.” He holds out his hand to me, “Asher Charming, and you are?”
“Gabriella Barrie, my friends call me Ella. So, you can call me Gabriella.”
He laughs, “Beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”
“Okay seriously, you can stop now.” He laughs and his eyes twinkle. I’m downright mesmerized.
“Noted,” he says. “Tell me, what do I have to do to get to Ella status?”
“Hmm, well I guess you can start by buying me a drink.”
“Done,” he says and asks what I’m having before ordering then turns back to me after placing the order with the bartender. “Where is your friend?” he asks looking around. My heart falls and I think that maybe he’s interested in Katie and I don’t like the way that disappointment feels. Pointing toward the dance floor, I stifle a laugh when I see Katie. “She’s dancing with a new friend.” Dancing is being kind. She’s practically having sex in her clothes. Wrinkling my nose, I shake my head at the downright indecent way she’s grinding on some guys leg. There should be a warning label floating above her head or something.
Asher laughs, “Well, she happens to have made friends with one of mine.”
“Oh yeah?” I ask raising a brow, “Jealous?” I ask and then want to slap my hand over my mouth in shock that I said that out loud, but I refrain.
“Not even a little bit. Truth is, I actually knew where she was. I’ve been watching the two of you for a while.”
“You have?”
“Yes.”
“Oh,” I reply not sure what else to say.
“I was trying to get the courage to approach you.”
He needed courage to talk to me? Seriously? So I tease him, “And that line was the best you could do after all that thinking?”
He throws his head back and laughs and I enjoy the sound. “Anyway, don’t worry about your friend-”
“Katie.”
“Katie. The guy she’s with is a good guy.”
“I’m not worried. Katie can handle herself.”
“What about you? Can you handle yourself?” Asher asks me with a smirk and seriously, the urge to jump into his lap, straddle his hips and have my way with him is ridiculous. No wonder he sells millions of tickets to his action movies. Note to self – slow down on the drinks. Or not.
“Absolutely,” I tell him and he laughs, then hands me a drink. Clinking his glass with mine he says, “To the night ahead.” I nod and take a drink. He opens his mouth to speak, but before any words leave that beautiful mouth of his, Katie chirps, “Hi!”
Turning to her in surprise, I see she’s standing next to the man she was dancing with and her eyes are wide as she looks from me to Asher a few times. Smiling and laughing softly, I say, “Asher, allow me to formally introduce you to my best friend, Katie. Katie, you’ve met Asher.”
Katie smiles widely and cocks that hip of hers again. I narrow my eyes wanting to tell her to knock it off. “You owe me another photo. Where the hell is that friend of yours anyway? I need to teach him how to take a photo correctly.”
Asher looks at me in confusion, “What happened?”
“She’s mad because your friend cut all of our heads off.”
Asher laughs, “I promise we can take another one together. Cool?”
“Alright then,” Katie agrees.
Asher gestures to Katie’s dirty dancing partner, “Mick, this is the beautiful Gabriella. Her friends call her ‘Ella’, so you can call her Gabriella.” He says and I swear there’s a little bit of possessiveness in his look and tone. Mick looks at Asher and smirks as if he’s in on some secret joke that Katie and I aren’t aware of.
“Hi, Ella,” Mick says with emphasis and a laugh, “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” I reply, “and don’t worry. Asher has to call me Gabriella too.”
“What? No way. You said I could call you Ella if I bought you a drink.”
I slam back the rest of my jack and coke and smile, “I said you could start with one drink.” He laughs and turns to order me another.
“Ella, can I steal you for just one second?” Katie asks me and I nod, excusing myself.
“I will eagerly await your return,” Asher says and I giggle. I freaking giggle. Oh my god.
As soon as we are out of earshot, Katie turns to me, “Oh my hell!” she whispers with a smile.
“I know. He just came up to me and started talking not long before you came up.” And interrupted I want to say. What is wrong with me? Maybe Asher isn’t the only one feeling a little possessive. Which is insanity – I have no right, no claim – nor does he.
“That’s Asher fucking Charming,” Katie says and her eyes are a little unfocused making me laugh.
“Yeah it is,” I say with a shrug.
“Oh please, you can’t tell me you’re not freaking out.”
“Sure I am a little. On the inside. But whatever, I mean he’s just a guy. A guy I’ll never see again after tonight. May as well enjoy it.”
“That’s my girl,” she says and then a wicked grin curves her lips, “Speaking of enjoying it….”
“Well, Mick and I kind of hit it off. He asked me if I want to leave and go get drinks somewhere. But, I don’t have to go. I shouldn’t. I don’t want to leave you; I’m being stupid. What am I thinking?”
I grasp her upper arm, “You are being stupid, but not because you’re considering going with Mick. I don’t need a babysitter. Go. Have fun. Enjoy it. Please. You’re not here much longer and my god, you’ve catered to me enough the last few days.”
“Cater? Ella, you know better than that.”
“You know what I mean. Please go, seriously. I’ll be mad if you don’t. I’ll be fine. What’s the worst that can happen? And I’ll see you in the morning.”
“The morning?” she asks brows raised.
“Well yeah. I’m totally counting on you getting lucky, then telling me all about it.” We laugh and walk arm in arm back to the guys. She and Asher tell each other goodbye and she gives me one last look as she leaves. I nod telling her without words that I’m fine.
Asher and I look at each other and smile again. “So,” I begin, “What is the Asher Charming doing in Cabo San Lucas? Shouldn’t you be on a movie set somewhere?”
His brow raises, “You’ve seen my movies? I was surprised you and Katie recognized me.”
“Really? Who doesn’t know who you are?” I ask and I swear his face flushes. “You’re face is usually plastered all over the movie theatre. How many Jack Danger movies have you done now?” Jack Danger is the action movie character he’s played in a series of movies about a hit man employed by the government to go on secret assassination missions.
“Well I want to know about you. You didn’t answer my question – have you seen my movies?” he asks again.
“I’ve seen your movies,” I tell him with honesty and now I know there’s no doubt. He’s definitely blushing and I can’t resist pointing it out. “You’re blushing.”
He shrugs and smiles and it’s incredibly endearing, “I don’t know that I’ll ever get used to that.”
“Seriously? You’ve been in how many movies now? You have to deal with screaming crazy fans all the time.”
“Seven, four of them Jack Danger films. But, that doesn’t mean it ever stops being surreal. And I think that the moment it does, I won’t want to do this anymore because I’ll be an ego inflated asshole.”
We each take a sip of our drink, watching each other out of the corner of our eyes as we do so. I almost smile, every cell of my body tuned into his. I notice every movement, every blink of his eyes and twitch of his fingers. “A bachelor party.”
“Excuse me?”
“You asked why I’m here in Cabo. My best buddy got married and we’ve been celebrating. When they decided to get married here they invited guests to make a vacation out of it. It’s been a bachelor party, wedding, and honeymoon vacation. I’m here to attend everything – well not the honeymoon.”
“That’s cool.”
“I’m his best man in the wedding.” I nod my head not sure what else to say. The wedding talk for once isn’t making my stomach drop or sadness surface and it’s a relief that makes me smile. “And you?” he asks.
“Me?”
“Yes. What brings you here?”
I think about my answer, not sure what I want to say. If anyone would understand wanting privacy it would be him I’m sure. I settle for a small truth instead of full disclosure, “Bad breakup.”
He nods, “You know…I can help with that.” His voice drips with sex and suggestion and it makes my body tingle. Everywhere. Shivering at the feeling, my mouth falls open as I gasp wondering if he just propositioned me and why the hell I’m screaming ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’ in my head.
No doubt Asher would give me one hell of a rebound, that’s for damn sure. Before I can give it anymore thought, he lifts up his finger and calls, “Bartender! We need some shots over here!” He smiles at me and somehow I return it, but my body deflates in disappointment. Immediately on the tails of disappointment, I internally freak out because I realize I totally want to have sex with Asher Charming.
“What can I get you to drink?” a cold voice asks me.
The flight attendant looks at me expectantly with a plastic looking smile on her face. Her hair is pulled back in a bun so tight the corners of her eyes pull back just a smidge; it has to be giving her a headache. Maybe that’s the reason she’s wearing a pinched expression every time I look at her. Or maybe she was accidentally mooned along with the rest of the people near my seat. If so, I was certainly judged and found wanting given her frigid attitude. Oh well, that just means I smile widely at her when I answer. “I’d love a diet coke, please.”
Nodding she makes a note on a pad of paper then looks at Faye for an answer, “I’ll have a water, thank you.” When she moves on to another row Faye turns to me, “Is Asher just like the character he plays in those action movies of his, Jack Danger?”
I can’t help it, my head falls back and I laugh. “Wait, so not only do you know who he is, but you’ve seen his movies too?”
Another laugh almost bursts from me when she actually rolls her eyes at me. “Honey, what did I tell you? I’m older, but I’m not dead. I’ve seen his movies. Have you?”
“Yes,” I nod. “And I guess I would say both. He is and isn’t like Jack.” Talking about him makes his face appear in my mind - his dark hair, chiseled cheekbones most women would kill for, the slope of his slightly crooked nose, the only small imperfection he has. If I concentrate hard enough I can see his eyes too although my memory doesn’t do them justice. They’re so expressive it’s really no wonder he’s an actor, he can say so much with a look. My heart automatically aches with longing and I take a deep stuttering breath to try and ease the discomfort in my chest.
“I’m guessing if you spent time with him, and seem upset that it’s over, that he must have been a nice young man?” Smiling and nodding at Faye, I know she’s trying to continue the conversation and encouraging me to share more. Even though I don’t know her well I have no doubt if I elected to quit talking, that would be fine with her, she’s simply being kind. Curious a little, no doubt, but her mannerism and style of communication is encouraging and enabling rather than invasive or inappropriate in any way.
“Yes, he was more than nice. Being with him was strange at times, a bit surreal, but it also felt…right. It was odd how comfortable I was with him too. Almost as if we’ve known each other forever.”
“A bond like that between two people is special. It almost sounds like you were meant to be together.” Looking down my eyes well with tears. I hate how easy they come. “Well get to the good part, honey. Did you sleep with him?”
Gasping, a laugh bubbles up my throat, “Faye!”
“Do I have to remind you again?”
“No! I know! You made it clear before – you have eyes and hormones like the rest of the world that gazes at that man.”
“That’s right, now stop stalling.”
I shake my head in humor at her comment and wonder how much I’m going to need to censor the rest of my story.
“Turn if off,” I mumble, irritated at the annoying sound that wakes me. Rolling over, snuggling my face down into my pillow, I try to fall back under sleep’s spell. It’s not happening and I finally realize the persistent noises are coming from my cell phone. Eyes too heavy to open all the way, I squint at the table next to the bed allowing my mind to wake a bit more. Groaning softly at how fatigued and achy I feel, I stretch my legs and flex my calves, the sheets sliding over my skin like satin. I close my eyes once more with a smile, happy that the beeping seems to have quit. It doesn’t last long. The irritating noise erupts from my phone once again while another phone joins the chorus with annoying vibrations causing a deep frown to form on my tired face. Who needs to get hold of Katie and me badly?
I grudgingly decide to give in. Opening one eye, I reach blindly toward the sound and snatch the phone from the table. Squinting at the screen to determine who the hell is bot
hering me, it takes a moment for the words I’m seeing on the screen to penetrate my mind. When they do, I sit up like a rocket, feeling as if I’ve been launched into an alternate universe. Surely, I’m going crazy.
Among missed calls, multiple social media notifications and texts show up on my screen. A text from Katie somehow manages to stand out from the rest. “Okay, so I’m going to need specific dick details, because it must be HUGE to warrant marriage. And you’re not forgiven.”
Staring open mouthed at my phone one word keeps repeating in my mind over and over again like a mantra. Marriage. Marriage. Marriage? What is she going on about?
I’m still staring at my phone, but I’m not really seeing it because images begin flowing through my mind, touching down briefly before flitting away again. Asher coming up to me at the bar on the beach, him buying me more drinks that I continued to ingest. Dancing with him, our initial hesitant and stunted movements eventually becoming more orchestrated and increasing with desire. I remember my body pressed tightly to the front of his - our hips moving together in ways that felt amazing, sinful and dangerous all at once. Him asking if I wanted to go somewhere else with him, me readily agreeing, and moving our party of two to another bar at another resort, dancing and drinking even more.
When another memory hits me, my mouth falls open and disbelief makes me numb – tingles run through my fingers and toes. I remember the conversation first. The confession. The suggestion. The captivation. Then I remember our actions, and follow through. Shaking my head in denial at the absurdity of my thoughts, I glance down at my hand and freeze.
Charming: A Modern Day Sexy Cinderella Story Page 7