We Met In Argentina

by Alexis Gold

  He nodded. “I get that.”

  Dillian returned with the calamari. He set it down and removed the lid. The golden, fried dish steamed in the candle light.

  “Perfect, thank you, Dillian. I believe we will go ahead and order as well. I’ll take the cheese ravioli.”

  “And I’ll take the veal,” Jenna said as she grabbed a hot piece of the appetizer.

  “Very well, those will be out soon for you two. Enjoy!”

  He disappeared again, and Jenna surveyed the restaurant. The band was still out mingling; some had gone to the bar to grab a glass of wine and others were snacking on food the restaurant had provided for them.

  The two conversed until dinner arrived. They chatted about childhood memories and friends, Jenna’s time growing up next to a horse farm, and Lance’s teenage adventures at sea on a sailboat with his father. Their meals arrived, and Jenna’s eyes grew wide as the platter was set before her. The steam and exquisite smell rolled off and into her nose, and she couldn’t get enough of the it.

  “Oh, man. This smells like heaven.” She picked up her fork and gave a small dance of joy at her food.

  Lance had already dived into his and spoke through a mouthful of food. “Wait till you try it.”

  The two dug in. They sipped wine and continued to talk as they indulged in their meals. The band resumed playing and they had to speak up, but as they shouted and laughed, they didn’t mind the music one bit. Lance couldn’t help but order the cassata cake for dessert, claiming that Italy didn’t have better cake. The two split the fluffy white and smooth red cake, their eyes meeting as Lance’s foot stroked her leg beneath the table.

  The time seemed to pass much too quickly, and before they had realized it, the band made the call for one last song. At that, Lance stood and reached out a hand.

  “A dance, beautiful?”

  She smiled and took his hand, as they walked across the restaurant to the dance area. He grabbed her waist with those giant, gentle hands, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him close.

  “I could get used to this,” Jenna said with a smile.

  Lance nodded in agreement. “Me too.”

  The two danced to the soft music, the strings and horns working perfectly to bring the warm atmosphere together. They held each other close, while she took in his deep scent and he relished in the warmth of her body pressed against him. The song ended much too soon and the two parted. Their eyes held their gaze as he held her hand.

  “Let me pay the bill and let’s head back to my place. I would like to show you around.”

  Without another word, he was off. Jenna waited for him as he shook Dillian’s hand and handed him the cash. By the big smile on his face, Jenna could tell that Lance had done him a nice favor with the tip.

  They returned to the car. He brought the engine to life with the turn of his key, and they began the journey toward his house.

  “So, are you downtown?”

  He snorted. “Opposite, we have a bit of a drive. My place, the one I want to show you, isn’t an apartment in the city, but it’s about an hour drive. I hope you don’t mind?” He looked at her with a flash of concern.

  She rested her hand on his leg. “Not at all.”

  The drive wound through forest, fields, and hills, but at last they arrived at a large cabin tucked on a private hillside, overlooking a lake.

  She looked out with a shocked face. It may have been dark, but the moon stretched across the lake and the leaves fluttered in the summer night’s breeze. The cabin glowed warmly in the dark of the forest. It seemed to invite her in as the large windows that wrapped around the entire porch peered down with a soft glow from the faux candle lights.

  “Lance, this is gorgeous.”

  “What can I say, I’m drawn to beauty.” He stepped behind her now and pressed himself against the curves of her body.

  She smiled and felt her heart melt at the statement, for as corny and cheesy he could be, he could switch to the most affectionate of words.

  “Come on, let me show you around the place.”

  He took her hand and guided her up the stairs, the entire place a deep, dark rich stain on wood. The porch glowed and rocking chairs were set up beside coffee tables that were finely crafted and fit perfectly. There was a bar that ran along the windows that opened into the living room. The openness and height of the place made anyone seem small and gave the impression of being surrounded by a wooden palace.

  He opened the door, and Jenna’s eyes widened at the sight. The entire downstairs consisted of windows; the panoramic view of the hillside and lake was dark, but the blue moonlight cascaded around the dips and tree lines. She felt that she had fallen into a tranquil sea of nature, and her heart leapt at the thought of seeing this beautiful place in the daytime.

  The inside was minimalist. The wood was dark and smooth, the furniture steel and black leather. The lights lit the place so that one's eyes never felt strained. Jenna felt herself take a deep breath and relax under the warmth of it. An open staircase spiraled up toward the loft, and the dark wood wrapped around it and hid the contents of the rooms up there. A giant skylight opened up above the bedroom, and Jenna could imagine Lance falling asleep naked beneath the pale moonlight, like some kind of mystical god.

  “Lance, this is… this is absolutely breathtaking.”

  He stepped up behind her and squeezed her around the waist.

  “I’m glad you like it.”

  She was left speechless, but he grabbed her hand and pulled her through the living room and kitchen to where the porch wrapped around in the back. A bar was on this side as well. The patio sprawled out and dropped down to cobblestone paths that wound through the artistically sculpted backyard. The path, flower beds, rock formations, unique trees, and fencing went all the way until they reached the lake. There Lance had setup an array of waterslides, another small cabin, and what looked to be a tiny coliseum around a giant fire pit.

  They paused to grab some drinks and then he led her down the path, the wood creaking under their footsteps as they slowly made their way down. Both drank in the awe of the night as an owl hooted off in the distance and a coyote called back.

  “This is unreal.” She sighed as her eyes looked up at the star-filled sky.

  He didn't say anything but wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. They approached the fire pit, and she realized it was set up as a stage, the coliseum-like appearance given by the slabs of marble that were curved and placed in the gentle hillside. It was a natural stage of sorts. She had seen them at a few parks but never in someone’s backyard.

  “I like to host musicians; some friends are in theatre and will do private shows here. Designing it was an absolute dream for me.”

  She gasped. “You designed all this?” Her hand swept out over the land.

  He gave a bit of an embarrassed laugh. “I did.”

  She reached up and kissed him. “I have never seen anything quite like this. It’s amazing, Lance.”

  He leaned in and kissed her, then wrapped his arms around her and rubbed to try and warm her skin, which had begun to cool in the night air.

  “Thank you, I appreciate that. Would you like to warm up by a fire?”

  She nodded and followed him over to the fire pit. A loveseat had been brought close to the pit. He walked over to a shed and brought over a wheelbarrow full of kindling and firewood. He grabbed the kindling and used a kit to light the dry and brittle wood. A flame licked hungrily at the fuel, and he methodically added twigs and other small pieces. He used his breath to clear the smoke and help it grow, and a short time later, the fire crackled peacefully. They sat next to it in the love seat, curled beneath a blanket he had brought.

  “Is this your only place?”Jenna asked curiously.

  He shook his head. “No, I have three others that I designed.”

  Her mouth gaped open. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this.”

  He gave her a smile. “I hope you d
on’t. I’m a big believer in staying humble.”

  Jenna looked at him. “You’ve done a good job at it, I must say.”

  “Thank you, but you have to work for it, or you end up like Lia… ” he trailed off and Jenna leaned into him.

  “Hey, you can’t beat yourself up about that.” She looked up at him.

  “I know. It’s just a lot to take in. She’s my sister. I didn’t think she was going to end up getting brainwashed and becoming some radical crime lord one day.” He shook his head and took a sip of his whiskey.

  “Do you think she ended up in that position because she didn’t work to stay humble with your family’s lifestyle?”

  “No, she didn’t. She constantly asked for more. She was always the life of the party and knew how to have fun, but she’s selfish. She fell for the shit down there because she saw herself being more powerful and having more money.”

  Jenna sipped her wine. “It’s unfortunate.”

  “It is.”

  The two fell silent for a moment, and Jenna turned to her own thoughts. This was all so much, but it brought the fear and anxiety back to her. She nervously ran her finger along the edge of her wine glass and shifted a bit away from Lance. He gave her a concerned look.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She swallowed. “Just, worried I guess.”

  “About what?” He laid his hand on her leg.

  “That one day you’re going to realize I’m just a boring girl from Ohio and you’re tired of hanging out with me, and just… not want to be with me anymore.” She sighed.

  He shifted and sat up straighter, his eyes cast down.

  “Well, I’m sorry if I’ve given you the impression I am easily bored with others and throw them away like waste.” His tone was hurt.

  Jenna felt a punch to her heart; her own selfish fears had indirectly pushed at him, and she felt the pain go through her.

  “Lance, no, I’m sorry. That wasn’t about you. That came out wrong. I’m talking about my fear, of… of not being good enough.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed. Her eyes looked up at his, and he met them.

  “What could possibly make you not good enough? The fact that you don’t have billions of dollars?”

  She sighed. “More like the lack of life experiences that come with it, I guess.”

  He took her hand in his once more. “Jenna, I don’t care. I am telling you, this is about you and me and what we feel. All the other shit, it’s just that, shit. This...” he held her hand tighter, “this is all about you and me.”

  Jenna felt the tears well in her eyes. “Ok, thank you.”

  “I promise, beautiful. I know that it’s a leap of faith considering the short amount of time we’ve known each other, but I feel it too. You’re not alone. There’s something here.”

  She paused. “I agree handsome, and I’m looking forward to spending the future by your side.

  He nodded and kissed her forehead. A moment of silence fell over them, and Jenna let her thoughts wander to the deep feeling that she knew him, like a long-lost friend.

  “Why do you think we feel this way with some people and not others? I mean, what is this connection?”

  He chuckled. “That’s quite the philosophical question.”

  “Just curious, I guess.”

  “Hmmm, my guess? It’s just how the pieces of life sometimes fall perfectly together. Like the natural design of things, the leaves, the roots, chemical reactions, stars exploding. All of it happens because all these little dominos fall and create this beautiful big picture. I think when certain people meet, it’s those pieces coming together in a perfect way.”

  Jenna smiled. “I like that theory.”

  “What do you think?” he asked inquisitively.

  “I haven’t thought about it too much, I suppose because I’ve never felt something quite like this until now. But, I feel in life we find different people who just… make us whole. Not just in these relationships, but our friendships, our families.”

  Lance nodded. “And it’s important we have those connections.”

  “Agreed,” she replied.

  He paused. “I like Danielle. She seems like a down-to-earth friend.”

  Jenna laughed. “She’s a sweetheart. Crazy and unapologetically real sometimes, but I love her.”

  Lance smiled. “That’s cool. You two act like you could be sisters.”

  “Yeah, we fight like it sometimes. Trust me.” She snuggled closer to him.

  “That’s one thing I’ve never found in the entire world.” He sipped his drink, and she looked up at him in confusion.

  “A best friend?”

  He nodded. “I’m not saying that to bring in the pity party, but when your family either owns the land you stand on, or you’re just passing through, it keeps people… at a distance. I’ve made many acquaintances and I have others I enjoy certain activities with, but no one who feels like a sibling.”

  Jenna thought for a moment. “I bet Danielle could fill that spot for ya.”

  He laughed and nodded. “We can share her.”

  Jenna burst out laughing at that and held her hand out to shake on it. “Oh! Deal! For sure!”

  They both smiled and wrapped their arms around each other. He held her tight, burying his face in her curls, and she buried hers in his broad chest. The two of them sat beside the fire for a while, but once the flames began to quiet, Lance rubbed her back and looked at her.

  “Would you like to head in and have another drink?”

  She nodded and followed him back up to the house. He slid the glass door open, went behind the bar in the living room, and took out two wine glasses. He uncorked a bottle and poured. The dark liquid was almost black and was velvety soft against Jenna’s lips as she sipped.

  “Mmm, that’s wonderful.” The silky flavor sat on her tongue a moment after she swallowed.

  He nodded. “A rare one, but one of my favorites.”

  They sat at the bar on the large stools; soft black leather encompassed Jenna and she slowly spun around to take in the view of the room.

  “How often are you here?”

  He thought for a few moments. “Probably only a couple months every year, but it’s one of my favorites.”

  “I can see why.”

  The two of them drank their wine in silence, each soaked in the experience of being in the moment with the other. After a while, Lance reached over and placed a big hand on her knee. He squeezed, and when she looked over to him, he had his head leaned back, his eyes closed with a small smile on his face.

  Even though he couldn’t see her, she smiled back. She got it; it was a perfect night.

  He opened his eyes and looked at her. “Would you like to see the skylight?”

  “Of course.”

  The two stood and took the final sips of their wine. Then Lance grabbed her hand again and led her up the spiral stairs. Jenna looked on in awe at all the fine details. The railing was handcrafted black steel with fine little geometric designs. The swirl of the curved stairs left her dizzy, but she felt the sensation that they encompassed the open room and brought it together. They reached the top, and he gestured a hand invitingly at the giant king-sized bed, which was washed in chalky, pale blue moonlight.

  She took off her shoes and reached behind to take off her necklace, but Lance stepped up and grabbed the clasp for her.

  “Actually, let me grab you something more comfortable.” Lance stepped over to the walk-in closet, switched the light on, and stood in front of rows upon rows of clothes. He reached in and grabbed a black kimono.

  “A bit big for you, but I don’t think you’ll mind too much.” He handed her the silky piece of fabric and she nodded.

  “What about you?”

  “Oh, don’t you worry about me.”

  He gave her a coy smile and began to unbutton his shirt.

  She smiled. “Good, just want to make sure you’re comfortable.”

  At that, Jenna reached back, unzipped her dress, and
let it fall to the ground. Next, she pulled down the straps of her bra, unsnapped it, and let it tumble alongside of her dress. Finally, reaching down, her fingertips ran along her thong, and she looked up to see Lance was drinking in the sight with smoldering eyes.

  She smirked, but acted like she didn’t see him and slowed down her actions to play with her panties. As she did so, he stepped up next to her, slowly taking off his shirt and letting it fall away. Yet he didn’t come close enough for her to run her hands along his body. He smiled mischievously; two could play the teasing game.