It wasn't until they were strolling across Parque Benito Juarez that Sara realized that Nick was still holding her hand. A smile pulled at the corners of her mouth and she had finally stopped rambling. Her thoughts drifted back to just a short time earlier with Nick tickling her on the bed in their hotel room and the thoughts that had gone through her mind that had propelled her off of the bed. She did not want her mind drifting into dangerous territory when it was clear that they were friends and nothing more. Flirting aside, she needed to keep a clear head, especially since she had been the one to give Juan Carlos the impression that she and Nick were together.
Nick noticed her lapse into silence as they walked and he stole a glance at her, feeling his smile broaden as he noticed her smile. Things were definitely looking favorable at the moment, but given her quick departure from the bed, he was going to have to go very slow or he was going to scare her away, especially since they were still at the beginning of their vacation. As it was, he wondered if tickling her like that had been a little too much.
They neared the far side of the plaza, which was lined with hotels, shops and restaurants before Nick said anything. "You're pretty quiet."
Sara cast him a sidelong glance and smirked. "You mean as opposed to the whole way here."
Nick couldn't help but chuckle at her admission. "Well, I don't think that I would have ever learned that you prefer 'petal pink' polish to 'shimmering rose' on your toes otherwise."
Sara tried to swallow an embarrassed smile and pulled her hand out of Nick's grip, taking a tiny step away from him to get her bearings. "I told you that?" Clearly her mind had been elsewhere while her mouth had been left to ramble freely. She only hoped that she hadn't blurted out what she'd been thinking back in the hotel room.
Nick nodded and thought at that moment she looked utterly adorable the way that her curls framed her face and the fact that she was wearing a skirt that let him see enough of her legs for his mind to be dangerous just added to it. "Yeah, you did."
Sara let out a soft groan and rested her forehead in the palm of her hand, glancing at Nick out of the corner of her eye. "Can we just forget everything that I said?" If she had ever felt awkward around Nick, this would be the moment. She had no idea what she had told him other than a vague recollection of bits and pieces.
Nick considered that for a moment, feigning a serious expression as he shook his head. "Unfortunately, I think the entire monologue is indelibly burned into my memory." There were at least a few of the things that she said that he decided he was going to put to use at just the right moment to surprise her.
Sara felt her cheeks flush slightly and she crossed her arms over her chest and tried to keep from smiling.
"I mean, it might come in handy someday while we're working a crime scene that you really like extra cheese on your veggie soft tacos, hold the guacamole, especially if I need to make a food run." His eyes were dancing in amusement.
Sara laughed nervously and stepped towards him, threading her arm through his as they began walking again. "Let's go get something to eat, ok?"
"Sure." He grinned widely as he chuckled. "What do you want? Tacos, tacos, or tacos?"
Sara rolled her eyes and giggled at his impishness and then smiled thoughtfully as she propelled them towards the malecón. "Tacos on the boardwalk."
They bought fish tacos from vendor near the beach and settled themselves on one of the many benches that dotted the boardwalk watching a pair of parasailers being towed by a speedboat out on the water.
"These are really good." Nick mumbled with his mouth partially full of food as he held up his taco.
Sara shook her head and smirked at him. "Didn't your mother teach you any manners?"
"Plenty. I like to save them for special occasions." He winked at her and took another bite.
Sara laughed and finished off her taco, leaning back into the bench, just enjoying the scenery and Nick's company. She was glad that he had invited her on this trip because she really couldn't remember the last time she'd taken a real vacation. Nick's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"So I hear that on Sundays they have live music and dancing in the plaza." He gestured back in the direction that they had come from and then took the last bite of his second taco.
Sara felt her stomach flip for a moment as a smile crept over her face. "Are you suggesting that we go?" The idea of dancing with Nick Stokes was very appealing, even if Sunday was still days away.
"Yeah, what do you think?" He looked at her with anticipation, hoping that she'd go for the idea. Dancing was a legitimate way he could hold her close without her catching on that he'd like to push things a little further between them, at least until he determined whether she might feel the same way.
"It sounds fun." She couldn't restrain her smile.
Nick found that he couldn't resist touching her just then, reaching over to rest his hand on her shoulder and caressing it with his thumb. "What do you say we do a little shopping before we go back and wait for hurricane Juan Carlos?"
"Ok." Her smiled widened into a gap-toothed grin.
Nick stood up and then grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet.
Sara felt her cheeks warming again as she realized he was making no move to let go of it after she had stood up. She decided to just cut to the chase even as a flock of butterflies decided to take up residence in her stomach. "This is getting to be a habit with you." She hoped the tone of her voice sounded lighter than if felt in her own ears.
Nick just grinned at her and winked as he pulled her along with him towards the plaza. "Can I help it if I like holding hands with such a beautiful woman?"
