by Mei Silk
* * *
Sara felt Mateo’s eyes following her while she was helping Lydia. She stole a glance at him and trembled. If Mateo was gorgeous on land, he was sublime in water. With one casual glance at that bronze body shimmering with water beads, Sara’s body reacted with an intense want. She quickly averted her eyes from him. My God! It had been a mistake to agree to volunteer. She was leading herself straight to temptation. A temptation that was irresistible to any female with normal, functioning sexual organs. She shook her head subtly, focusing her attention on her job for the rest of the session.
“I owe you one,” Mateo said to Sara as they were waiting for the girls to get out of the pool. “You’ve been a great help. I can see the girls love you.”
Indeed, more than one girl had asked her whether they would see her again.
“Don’t mention it,” Sara said quickly. “I enjoy doing it.”
“I still owe you. Can I buy you dinner tonight?”
“Not tonight,” Sara said quickly. “I have a lecture to prepare for.”
“You’re a teacher? Where do you teach?”
“I teach math at WCC.”
“Wow! A college professor volunteering for me. I’ve got to treat you dinner,” Mateo insisted. “What about this Friday?”
“Uhm . . .” Sara’s heart raced. Dinner with this gorgeous guy? She had to be dreaming.
While she hesitated Mateo asked, “You have plans?”
“Not really, but . . .”
“Then we’re set. What kind of food do you like? Chinese? Mexican? Italian?”
Sara was still trying to make sure that she wasn’t dreaming. “Whatever,” she said weakly.
“Then we’ll go for Chinese. We’ve got a variety of Chinese restaurants here. Pick your favorite one. Let me know on Thursday.”
“Thursday?”
“Yes, you’ll come again on Thursday, won’t you?”
“I will? But I thought I was only a substitute.”
“Yes, you are.”
“When is the regular employee coming back?”
“There isn’t a regular employee for that position yet.”
“What does it mean?”
“It means that you are needed until we find someone.”
“What?” Sara glared at him.
“Calm down. Look at the upside. I’ll treat you to dinner every week.”
“Well, thanks!” Sara rolled her eyes, and without thinking, she said, “What about dinner twice a week, since I’d be volunteering twice a week?”
“Deal!”
Elena walked towards them. Ignoring Sara, she said to Mateo, “Hurry up, Mateo. I need to be home by five-thirty.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Sara stared after them as they left, wondering just what exactly was going on between the two of them.
Chapter 4
Mateo drove his BMW through the quiet neighborhood in Monterey Hills. It was called the Beverly Hills of Asian communities and he knew it well. In the beginning of his real estate career, he worked for a broker that specialized in this area. Later, after he had gotten his own broker license, he decided to focus on regions further east, following the movement of the Asian communities. The area had changed over the past few years. There were a lot more upscale condos than before and still more were being built. The amazing thing was that he had not seen a single For Sale sign on his way up. Even though he’d been in the real-estate business for almost a decade, Mateo couldn’t understand why people would rather spend a million on a three-story modern condo than a simple traditional house with a nice big yard.
He parked in front of a condo community on Granola Drive that fit the description Sara had given him over the phone. White enclosures and black rooftops, the community was bordered with well-trimmed dwarfed pines. The gate was unlocked. Instead of calling Sara, he thought he would give her a little surprise. All he needed to do was to look for unit twenty-eight.
Charming, he thought as he walked past the common area, his gaze flicking over the well-maintained garden with trees and pebble-paved paths. It was quiet, even on a Friday night, although laughter and sounds of TVs could be heard every time he passed a unit, and once or twice a dog barked. There was a small yard for every unit, and the entrances were all decorated in an Asian style. Some with hanging lanterns, and some with characters printed on red squares of paper. He knew enough about Asian culture to know that they thought the decorations would bring good luck.
He stopped in front of unit twenty-eight. The yard was so clean and empty, that for a moment, he doubted anyone was living here at all. He saw the light through the second floor window, and at the same time, detected an intoxicating fragrance, like ripe apple or banana. He went towards the only tree in the yard. It was a Magnolia Champaca, with small white flowers blooming madly. He stopped in front of the tree and inhaled deeply, then closed his eyes to savor the memory that bore the same sweet fragrance.
* * *
Mateo had said he’d pick her up at six. At five-thirty, Sara was ready to go. She sat down in the living room facing her garden, and picked up the newest issue of Time magazine. After five minutes of still staring at the first line, she gave up and went up to her en suite to examine her makeup. She was wearing her usual gold eyeshadow and Wine with everything lipstick. But as she inspected herself, she decided to change things up. A light but brighter color would make her more cheerful. She added a shade of pink on her eyelids and picked out a lipstick with purple shade. The effect stunned her. Imagining Mateo staring at her velvety lips made her blush. And her eyes, they certainly looked seductive. Seductive! Shocked pleasure coursed through her. What was she thinking? Was she trying to seduce him? Mateo was too hot and too young for her! True, she might still find a man later on in her life, but what she needed was a reliable, older man who could father and raise her children! Mateo looked no more than twenty-five. Just how could anyone so successful be so young? Maybe he was older than he looked. Could he be at least thirty? She sighed. Mateo, with his good looks, sexy body, and charming smile, was definitely not what she was looking for! Using her pinky, she carefully wiped off the lipstick, when the doorbell rang.
* * *
Sara felt weak at the sight of the tall and handsome lifeguard, now dressed in a bright blue polo shirt, which was tucked into his jeans and secure with a brown leather belt. He looked casual but chic. His hair also looked carefully styled. She glanced down at her comfortable t-shirt and old jeans, and gulped down her embarrassment.
“Oh, you’re early. How did you get in?” she asked as she gestured for him to step inside.
“The gate was open,” he said.
“I hate that they always leave the gate open.” Sara said, closing the door behind her.
“Don’t worry. It’s a nice neighborhood.”
“You never know.” She turned toward him and saw he was slipping off his shoes. “Oh, you can leave your shoes on!”
Mateo shook his head, and slipped his feet into the slippers intended for guests. “It’s no trouble.”
She told him to have a seat on the sofa and brought him a glass of orange juice.
“You’re pretty good at directions. The place, I understand, is hard to find. I got lost when I was here the first time.”
“Yeah. But I’m quite familiar with the geography of the area. I was a real estate agent here.”
“No wonder!”
After taking a sip from his glass, Mateo said, “This complex was built after I stopped showing houses, but from experience, I know that it must have been hard to get.”
“You’re right. Even though the market was going down, there were five other offers besides mine, and one of them was going to pay cash.”
“How did you beat them?”
“I got lucky. Three of them couldn’t get loan approvals. And the one offering cash changed his mind.”
“How lucky!”
“Yes. I waited a long time to get it. I came to see it three times. Once during w
inter break and twice in the middle of spring quarter.”
“It’s worth it,” Mateo said, complimenting her. “Your persistence got rewarded. Most people would just give up and look for something else.”
“I know. In fact, I was considering other units in the area. And there were things that I didn’t like about this condo, like the detached garage. But somehow I just got hooked by it. It’s hard to explain, really. There are plenty of spaces between units, unlike most of other places where units are crammed in together in a row. Besides, twenty-eight is my favorite number.”
“Really? Why?”
Sara smiled. “Twenty-eight is a perfect number. A perfect number is the sum of all its divisors excluding itself. Twenty-eight is the sum of one, two, four, seven, and fourteen.”
Mateo was fascinated by what he had heard. “That’s interesting.”
“Yes, it is. Besides, twenty-eight is my lucky number. I was born when both of my parents were twenty-eight years old. And I got my Ph.D. when I was twenty-eight.”
“No kidding!” Mateo exclaimed. “You know what? It might be my lucky number as well.”
“Really?” Sara looked surprised.
“Yes. Because I turned twenty-eight the day I met you.”
“What a coincidence.” Sara smiled incredulously, but only for a brief moment. “You’re only twenty-eight?”
“Yeah, why? Do I look older?”
“Uh, no. You look younger than twenty-five.”
There was a moment’s silence between them, and then Mateo said, “Are you ready? Should we get going?”
Sara hesitated. “Uh, actually, I think I need to change.”
His gaze scrutinized her. “No, you don’t. You look perfect. I like the butterfly.”
The emphasis on ‘butterfly’ made her blush. She remembered what he had called her the first day they met. Oh no, he probably thought that she had put it on, on purpose! She lowered her eyes and said, “I’m not sure whether I should take a jacket.”
“You should. It’s a bit cool outside.”
His soft voice and his proximity only heightened her arousal. Sara excused herself and fled upstairs. Twenty-eight! He was only twenty-eight! Five years younger than herself.
* * *
Mateo stepped outside as he waited for Sara to change. The way she’d blushed at his words had sent a spark through him. She was a gorgeous woman. He wanted to trace her curves with his hands, with his mouth. He looked up at the Champaca as he heard her voice calling for him.
“Mateo, where are you?”
“You’ve got a nice Champaca,” he said when she stepped outside.
“The Chinese call it Jade Orchid.”
“It’s beautiful. They are quite popular in this area. I’m always amazed by the scent of the bloom—so sweet and intoxicating. I want one in my yard. I’ve got gardenia, sweet olive, and jasmines, but this is the queen of fragrant flowers.”
Sara nodded, and Mateo watched as she picked a flower and gave it to him. “Here, you can wear it behind your ear. It’ll be like wearing perfume.”
Mateo took the flower and sniffed it. “Wow! It’s so strong. I’m afraid I’ll get drunk if I put it too close to my nose,” he said as he stuck it into his shirt pocket.
“I’m glad you like it. It’s my mom’s favorite. We had one in our yard for a while. It sort of brings back childhood memories,” Sara said,
“So is it another reason that you chose this unit?” Mateo asked softly.
Sara nodded. “My mom used to put the flowers in a bowl filled with water, and offer them to our ancestors’ altar.”
“It brings back memories for me, too,” Mateo said after a brief pause. “One of my childhood friends gave me a necklace made of Champaca. That’s how I know the flower.”
“My mom used to make those necklaces, too.” Sara’s voice was excited, but Mateo thought he could detect a hint of sadness underneath the excitement. “Too bad the flower necklaces don’t last.”
“You mean, they don’t stay fresh,” Mateo corrected her. “I still have the necklace my friend gave me. It’s hard and dried, and looks like it’s carved out of wood. But I think it’s the prettiest necklace on earth.”
Mateo saw that irresistibly sexy blush creep up her skin again. He was sure his tone was the cause of it. He’d deliberately lowered his voice into the most sensual tone he could muster.
She forced a laugh and said, “Wow, you remind me of the legend.”
“What legend?”
“Legend of the Jade Orchid, or Champaca.”
“What’s it about?”
“Jade Orchid was the nickname of the prettiest girl in a little village in Southern China. She was named so because she always wore a necklace of jade orchid flowers in summers, and brought the fragrance with her, whenever she went. These necklaces were made by Big Tiger, a young man in the village who was in love with her. But the two couldn’t marry each other because Big Tiger was poor. Soon, Jade Orchid was engaged to be the concubine of a wealthy old man in a nearby village. The day before her wedding, they met under a jade orchid tree, and Big Tiger made her one last necklace, then they parted in tears.
“Many years later, Jade Orchid’s husband died and she returned home a rich widow. The jade orchid tree was no more and Big Tiger had joined the army. When he finally returned home, he was blind. Jade Orchid came to see him the first day he came home, wearing the necklaces that he had made her, now dried like wood, but with a fragrance like vintage wine.
“The two married and stayed together ever after. Jade Orchid always wore her flower necklaces so that her husband could find her easily.”
Mateo noticed Sara avoided his eyes as she spoke. He could tell she was embarrassed about the theme of the story, but the story fascinated him. When Sara stopped, he said, “Wow, that’s such a beautiful story. Thank you. And yes, the dry flowers do have a stronger fragrance.”
“That’s why Jade Orchid is a symbol of long lasting love.” Sara said, still avoiding his eyes.
And then, as if being woken from a dream, she added, “It’s just a legend. Nothing lasts in this world. Love’s not an exception.”
Mateo watched the change on her face, wondering what had gone through her mind, but decided it wasn’t a good time to ask. To change the topic, he pointed to the empty flower beds next to the front door, and asked, “What are you going to plant over there?”
“Uh, I’m not sure yet. I haven’t had time to really plan it. But it’s probably either roses or herbs.”
“I would suggest roses. I know a great place in San Gabriel. Do you have time tomorrow? We could go together.”
Sara didn’t answer, Mateo was undaunted by her silence. He knew there was a reason for her retreating upstairs for so long. She was holding her jacket without the slightest intention of putting it on.
Without giving her a chance to make up an excuse to get out of the date, he took over her jacket, shook it and wrapped it over her shoulders.
“It’s getting dark and my stomach is making funny noises,” he joked.
Sara sighed. “Let me go lock the door.”
“Okay.” Mateo saw her going back to the house with his heart in his mouth until Sara emerged again. Damn. When had he become so lacking in his confidence?
Then, as if afraid she would change her mind again, he put his arm tightly around her shoulder as soon as she was next to him, and led her out of the yard.
Chapter 5
When the valet took Mateo’s car key at the parking lot of Shanghai Bistro, Sara was slightly shocked by what she was seeing. She had expected a small, family-run restaurant as the term bistro had suggested. But Shanghai Bistro was not a typical Chinese restaurant she would usually go to. Located at the foot of San Gabriel Mountains, the restaurant was a marvel. The premises were marked by a gate guarded by stone lions. The parking lot was on one side of the driveway, and on another, was a miniature Suzhou garden. A small lake was decorated with rocks, waterfalls, and a pavilion. A w
inding bridge was above the water, and it led to the main building of the restaurant, which was built in the style of an imperial palace with its pointed roof and columns, and red lanterns.
“Wow,” Sara exclaimed as they walked along the veranda. “This is unbelievable. This is China!”
Sara had only been to China once, back when she was still a teen. While the memories of filthy streets and messy market places in the cities faded long ago, the gorgeous natural sceneries of the suburbs remained vivid in her mind. Among them was Suzhou.
She and her parents had been sightseeing in a garden and she still remembered their tour guide telling them that the philosophy of Suzhou gardens was to bring the serenity of mountains, lakes, and forests into the middle of a boisterous city.
“I’m glad you like it.” Mateo stood closer to her as she was stopping to admire the scenery, “We should come here during the day. There are gold fish in the water and soon the lotus flowers will bloom.”
There was no one in proximity and not a sound except a frog calling in the pond. Sara could hear Mateo’s breathing and her own heartbeat at the same time. She could even feel the heat radiating from his body. Unknowingly, she found herself leaning against his arm. Oh no, she shouldn’t be so close to this man who was too young, too handsome, and too successful for her. But she felt too weak to move even an inch. Instead, she started to imagine how it would feel to be in his arms and listen to the sound of the night.
“Or, maybe I should take you to Huntington library to see the Suzhou garden over there. It’s bigger and more authentic.”
Was he suggesting another date? Sara’s heart pounded at the possibility. She imagined being in the Huntington library gardens with this gorgeous guy. Perhaps people would be gazing at him instead of the garden sceneries.
Involuntarily, she glanced over at his handsome face and his smile changed when she met his gaze. As he stared at her, she tried to decide what to do. If she kept still, would he kiss her? His eyes were so suggestive that she couldn’t bear to look at them longer. She lowered her eyes and they lingered on his lips. His lips were so sensual, she desperately wanted to feel them against hers.