Chapter 2

Stephanie's POV

Holy shit! What was that? That kiss, I feel like I'm drunk. I thought that once I told him about my Burg upbringing, he'd be gone in seconds flat, but then he kissed me, pulling me close to him. His body feels delicious, so firm, yet soft. Being held in his arms feels so right, so perfect. God, how did I get so lucky?

As we are walking towards the exit, I spy the bathroom. I don't really need to go, but I do need a second to gather my thoughts. I am so caught up in Carlos. I've never felt this way before. It actually scares me a bit. Don't get me wrong. I'm not a nun. Far from one. I've had sex, voluntarily, before. Yes, I was raped as my first sexual encounter, but since starting college two years ago, I've dated guys, and we've had sex. I have also flirted and kissed guys at parties, some who never managed to take me on a date and others who didn't last beyond a first date. By no means am I easy, but I do enjoy men.

However, I've never felt this type of connection with anyone before. I have no idea what this week will bring, but I hope to get to know Carlos better. Now that I've met him, I can't imagine life without him. I quickly use the bathroom once it's my turn, washing my hands before leaving the bathroom. I check my hair and make-up in the mirror, glad I took the extra time to curl my hair. At least Carlos is getting the best version of me I can manage. When I exit the bathroom, I find Carlos leaning against the wall, ignoring everyone around him. As I approach, he reaches for my hand. We depart, hand-in-hand.

"Did you live close to here growing up?" I ask.

"Not too far, about ten blocks away. As you go that way," he says, pointing to his right, "the area becomes more residential. I grew up in what is known as Little Havana. My Abuela still lives there."

"Did you come to the clubs often?"

"No, not at all. The owners are strict in this area about letting in underage kids. They can spot a fake ID a mile away. Instead, Lester and I hung out on the beach, playing soccer with our friends, picking up girls, and strutting our stuff."

I glance at him in time to see him wince. I guess he told me too much. I thought I was the only person without a filter between my brain and my mouth. "I used to go to Point Pleasant as much as I could once my best friend, Mary Lou, got a car. We'd go after school, on weekends, and we even worked on the boardwalk last summer, selling hot dogs. I never want to see a hot dog again."

"Tell me about it."

"Well, we used to get in trouble if we had too many leftover hot dogs at the end of the night. Ten minutes before close, we were allowed to sell them at a discount, but if we had more than ten unpurchased, our boss would dock our paycheck. So, on those nights that we didn't sell enough, Mary Lou and I would eat however many we needed to get to ten. Let me tell you, Tums became my best friend."

"Where's Mary Lou?"

"In Trenton. She's married and pregnant with her first child. She'd due in September."

"How old are you?"

"Twenty."

"Twenty?"

"Yeah. I'll be twenty-one in October."

"And your friend is pregnant?"

"Married and pregnant. Mar got married last August, so she's the perfect Burg daughter. My mother is hoping that Mary Lou will be a good influence on me."

By now, we have reached the beach. I pause at the edge of the sand to remove my shoes, while Carlos does the same. It is now that I finally take in what he is wearing. Carlos is wearing khaki cargo pants with a grey button-down short-sleeved shirt over a black tank top with sneakers. Even in the light of the full moon, Carlos looks delicious.

"Why does your mother want you married? Doesn't she want you to finish college, to have a career?"

I can't help but laugh at that thought. "No, that is not proper for a Burg girl unless you are going to school to become a teacher or a nurse."

"My sisters would never put up with that."

"How many sisters do you have?"

"Four sisters and a brother, all older. I'm the baby of the family. My brother, Javier, is the oldest at thirty-five. He's a pediatrician. My sister Anita is thirty-three and a corporate attorney. Rosa is twenty-nine. She's an accountant, while Mariela is a pharmacist. She's two years younger than Rosa. Then comes Celia, who three years older than me. She's the black sheep who never went to college. Instead, she became a hairstylist and works at some big-named salon in Manhattan. My parents always encouraged us to have a career, to do something that we'd be proud of. They never wanted my sisters to have to rely on a man to support them. Though, they did instill in my brother and me that we are to take care of our woman."

"That must be so wonderful to have parents that support you."

"Well, it comes with a high price, high expectations. When I was younger, I was used to getting my way all the time. I could never do anything wrong, that is until I got involved with a local gang. Then, as an alternative to juvie, I was sent here to Miami to stay with my Abuela. She straightened me out, and I'm grateful for her influence."

"I have two grandmas who have been my support, too. They are my Grandma Mazur, who is crazy, and my Grandma Plum. I love them both to death because they are the only ones who understand that I want more from my life than the Burg. I hope to get a job someplace away from Trenton when I graduate and to make my own way, kind of like Mary Tyler Moore in the Mary Tyler Moore Show."

"Then why are you dating the lawyer?"

"Because it's what is expected of me, even though I don't see myself marrying the jerk. Ugh. I mean, his name is Dickie, for goodness sake."

I pause along the beach, looking out to the ocean. I'd love to sit down, but I'm not entirely dressed for the sand.

"Babe, there's a rock outcrop about 300 yards away. If you want, we can sit there."

"I'd like that," I reply sincerely. We walk over there in silence. It's not an awkward silence. Instead, it's peaceful and comfortable. When we get there, Carlos settles himself on one of the rocks, then helps me sit on his lap.

"You'll be more comfortable this way."

"Tell me about the Army. What is your training like?"

Carlos tells me all about basic training, how he and Les met Pierre and Bobby, and what he hopes to accomplish. I'm so impressed by his maturity. I can tell that he is a natural leader. Listening to his voice, with his hands rubbing small circles on my arms, is lulling me to sleep. As much as I try to stay awake, I can't help but dose off.

Rose's POV

"So, Bobby, you're a medic?"

"Well, I'm studying to become one. I've always wanted to be a doctor, but there is no way that my parents could afford to send me to college. So, this is the only way that I'm going to get training."

"I'm an EMT. I love it. It's such an adrenaline rush saving someone, but it's hard being a woman in a man's world."

"I hear you. There are a few female medics in the Army, and they put up with a lot of grief, even though they are often better than their male counterparts."

Bobby and I have been talking almost since the start. We definitely have a lot in common, but I don't see him in a romantic way. He's like a cool brother, someone I could hang with, but not someone I want to sleep with. I'm glad that Steph introduced us to Carlos and his crew."

"Rose, have you seen Stephanie?"

"She was dancing with Carlos the last time I checked."

"They are nowhere to be found," Dani replies. Shit. How could we lose our girl on the first night? We always vowed to watch each other's back. Even though the guys seem nice, one never knows.

"They probably went for a walk on the beach. Carlos doesn't like hanging in bars and clubs too long. The loud music gets to him after a while."

"On the beach? At night? That isn't smart. Why does Steph always cause problems?" Lisa asks.

"Li, Steph is fine. She wouldn't go if she didn't feel safe." Dani answers.

"You two are so naïve. You think everyone is nice has good intentions. I don't know why I'm here. I would have been happier staying home."

"No one is forcing you to stay here, Lisa," I respond. I always wonder how we're related. She's so unlike me.

"I understand your concern for your friend, but trust us, she's in the best hands. Carlos is probably the safest guy here. His eye is set on his future. He won't do anything to jeopardize that future." Lester says.

"Do you know where they are?"

"My cousin and I went to high school here in Miami. We know this area well, and I pretty sure he's in one of two locations. Look, if they aren't back in forty-five minutes, we'll go out looking for them if no one hears from them. Is that fair?"

"Yes, Lester, thank you," I reply. I song I love comes on, so I ask Bobby to dance with me. He agrees, and we head off to the dance floor together.

"Rose, I know you're concerned about your friend, but you really don't have to be. First off, we are all on leave from the Army. If we fuck up and do something wrong, we'll be dishonorably discharged and could face time in military prison. Second, Carlos is on the fast track to bars. Look, Carlos doesn't have to push a woman to be with him. He's never had any problems getting a willing partner. He'd never force someone to be with him. He has four sisters and would beat the shit out of any man who disrespected any of his sisters."

"I don't know why, but I trust you, and I trust Carlos. I know Stephanie is usually a pretty good judge of character, so if she trusts Carlos, he must be okay. It's just that we are in a strange city, with guys we met only today. We wouldn't be good friends if we didn't have her back."

"I hear you. Look, I'm actually glad you showed up when you did. The girl that was all over Carlos was no good. She was trying too hard to get his attention. That's the type of girl who wants in a guy's pants tonight but will be the first one to blame him for their actions in the morning. She's on the prowl, and I think she was looking to set her teeth in Carlos. Girls like her, look for guys who are horny and desperate, hoping to get pregnant and trap them. I think if Stephanie didn't show up, Carlos would have caved. I can tell you, he's hardly stopped talking about her since they bumped into each other this afternoon. It's very unlike Carlos."

"What, is he a man whore?"

"More of a player. He knows that women are attracted to him. He finds the one who interests him the most, then he plays her like a violin, straight into bed or a car. But I can tell you this much; Stephanie is not his type. I've never seen him with someone who looks like her. Rachel is more like the girls he usually ends up with, Latina with a nice rack."

I take what Bobby told me into consideration and feel better about Stephanie and Carlos being alone. Knowing that he usually wouldn't take a second glance at Steph has me feeling reassured that he's not looking for her to be a booty call. I know that she hasn't stopped talking about him since she arrived at our room, and it took her until nine to convince us to meet up with Carlos. That's why we were so late. Another song comes on, this one with a Latin beat.

"Do you know how to salsa?"

"A little. I'm not too graceful."

"Then, just follow my lead."

Carlos's POV

I can't believe how much I'm telling Stephanie about my life. I don't usually share any information with women. The less they know, the better, but I want her to know all about me. This is the first time I have ever felt this way. Even though this rocky outcrop isn't that comfortable, I'm enjoying the feel of Steph in my arms. I don't know when it happened, but at some point, I started to rub her arms, and then I heard her breathing change. She fell asleep on me, literally. This is not the way I envisioned tonight.

Since the moment I left Steph at her room this afternoon, all I could think about was kissing her, being inside her, feeling her writhe beneath me in ecstasy. Even when we left the club, I thought for sure that we'd come out here and I'd get to third base. I mean, with that sexy little skirt she's wearing, it wouldn't be challenging to take her on the beach without removing clothes. But instead, I'm enjoying the conversation, the closeness.

I know that Steph is attracted to me. I saw the way her eyes looked over my body; I felt her react to our kiss. But, on the other hand, she wants to know about ME, not just getting into my pants. Most girls are all over me once we start dancing, but not Stephanie. No, don't get me wrong, she is clearly into me, but she is not out just to be a one-night stand. From listening to her talk about her family and herself, I can't help but want to save her. For the first time, a part of me wishes that I wasn't in the Army. I have no idea what my future holds, but I want Stephanie to be a part of that future.

I'm not sure how long we are sitting on the rock, but I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket. I carefully remove it, flipping it open to answer.

"Yo."

"Carlos, where are you? Steph's friends are getting a little anxious. They are afraid you kidnapped her or something. You're not in our room, are you?"

"No, we're on the beach. We'll head back to the club in a few minutes. Steph's fine."

"I'm not going to have to call Abuela to bail you out of jail for public nudity or for having sex on the beach, am I?"

"I'm hanging up now, Santos." I flip my phone closed, taking a moment to observe Steph's features. I decide to wake her up with kisses on her neck. I feel when she starts to wake up, hearing a moan escape her lips.

"Nice to see you're awake, Sleeping Beauty."

"Oh my! I'm so sorry! I've never done that before. I mean, I fell asleep on you. You must think that you bored me."

"No, Babe, it's okay. I enjoyed sitting here with you in the silence since clubs and bars really aren't my scene. They are too loud for me. I prefer the quiet of the beach or a cabin in the woods."

"Then why did you go?"

"Because the guys wanted to go. Besides, I enjoy dancing, especially when I find a good partner. Tonight, I had probably my best partner ever."

I watch as Steph blushes, clearly not believing me. "If that is one of your pick-up lines, it's a good one."

"It's not a line, Babe; it's the truth. Come, let's head back. Your friends are about to call in the calvary."

"How long have we been out here?"

"About two hours."

"How long have I been asleep?"

"About twenty minutes. Believe it or not, we spend a lot of time talking. I never talk to anyone that much, especially a woman."

"Why not?"

"I'm usually too busy doing other things with my mouth," I reply as I trail kisses down her neck from her ear to her shoulder, around the back, and up the other side.

"Mmm."

I chuckle, "Babe, hang out with me tomorrow. I don't care if your friends want to come or not. I enjoy spending time with you, and I want to get to know you better."

"You mean as a friend?"

"Friend?"

I watch as Steph gets up, standing on the sand before grabbing her shoes in her left hand. She looks down at her feet, clearly trying to decide what she should say. I stay seated, deciding it would be best to wait her out. Slowly she starts to walk back towards the club, and I follow her, partially to keep her safe and partly to hear what she has to say, though part of me thinks I'm not going to like it.

"I know I'm going to regret saying this, but I will. I was kind of expecting something other than talking when we decided to take a walk. I thought that you were more into me. Not that I expected us to have sex or anything, but I did think we'd make out more. But, that is not usually my role when we go out. I'm usually the one who is stuck with the friend who doesn't want to be there because he's the wingman and Dani or Rose are getting the action. I thought since you asked me to come here tonight that you were interested in me as more than a friend."

Shit. Now I feel bad. Dios, I want this girl, but I don't want to fuck her on the beach. She deserves so much more than that. I want to make love to her, not fuck her. "Stephanie, Babe, please look at me," I tell her as I lift her chin up. "I want you more right now than you want to know. But I enjoyed talking to you, getting to know you, and I want to get to know you better. Yes, Babe, I want you in my bed, but not tonight. Please let me pick you up tomorrow morning; let me show you around Miami. I want to spend the day with you. If you want to spend it on the beach, we can do that too. Please, Babe."

Damn it. I can't believe I'm begging this woman. I'm glad Lester isn't here to hear me now. I'd definitely lose my alpha male card. I watch Steph's face, trying to read what she's thinking, but her emotions are running too fast for me to follow.

"Okay, Carlos, I'll spend the day with you under one condition."

"What's that?"

"Kiss me again like you did when we were dancing." I can't help but smile. I would kiss her again anyway, but no need to let her know that was my plan.

"If I kiss you, then you'll spend the day with me tomorrow?"

"Yes."

I pull Steph up against me, lean my face down towards her, and kiss her. I trace her lips with my tongue, and she obediently opens her mouth for me. Her taste is sweet and minty, with a hint of the alcohol she drank before. Her tongue battles mine, and I can't think of anything else except kissing Steph. I have no idea how long we are standing there kissing when suddenly a wolf-whistle that could only belong to Lester is heard.

Steph immediately goes to pull away, but I keep her up against me. I don't need the guys seeing the boner I am sporting. They will definitely know I didn't get any action, which would be bad for my reputation.

"Wow, Steph, did you touch his tonsils? That was disgusting." Lisa says.

"Steph, it's almost 2. We were going to go to an all-night diner. Are you in?"

"Yes! I could use a snack. Carlos?"

"I'm game, guys?"

"Sure, why not? A little grub never hurt. Besides, someone has to watch your tails. You ladies stand out here in Miami."

I shake my head at Bobby's insensitivity, but then I watch as Rose starts to laugh. "I like you, Bobby. You know, we may stand out, but we can defend ourselves."

"I wouldn't want to see you have to. That's our job."

"Oh, come on, man. Don't go all caveman on me now. Just when I thought you were cool."

I see the apparent banter between the two and realize that they are on their way to becoming friends. While I observe no lust between them, I see two people who enjoy each other's company. I can tell that Lisa isn't too keen on getting something to eat, but the girls seem to ignore her. Tank, I can tell, is trying to engage her in conversation, but she is ignoring his attempts.

We head to the diner, and I feel that we will be a group this week. Now, I only hope I can pull Stephanie away from the others for at least one night.

Dani's POV

After Rose and Bobby head to the dance floor, I turn my attention fully to Lester. While I have had my share of boyfriends, I've never had a one-night stand. I know that Steph gets frustrated and jealous that guys seem to flock to me, but I don't know why. I get why they gravitate towards Rose. She's outgoing, pretty, with her red hair and green eyes, and can hold her own when it comes to alcohol. Steph and I are two drinks, max. I think, to some extent, guys sense that Stephanie has issues regarding relationships, and it forces them to steer clear of her. Carlos taking an interest in Steph is throwing her for a loop. However, it seems like they are one-half of a whole.

"So, Lester, what's your favorite place to go that has nothing to do with visiting family?"

"Hmm, that's a good question. I am an adrenaline junkie, which should be no surprise considering I'm in the Army, so I'd have to say any amusement park with large, crazy roller coasters. The faster, the steeper, and the more loops, the better. What about you?"

"Disney. It doesn't matter if it's Disney World or Disneyland. I love them both. I could live in those parks. In fact, part of me would like to work for them."

Lester laughs. "Well then, Dani, maybe we can take a side trip to Disney for you this week."

"As much as I'd love that, I don't think Rose and Lisa will be too into it. And seeing how Stephanie and Carlos are, I don't see them wanting to go, though Stephanie always says she should channel her inner Tinkerbell."

"Inner Tinkerbell?"

"Stephanie says that the Disney Princesses are too pure and good, but Tinkerbell, while overall a good fairy, has a wicked, mischievous side to her. I mean, she tries to keep Wendy from Peter Pan."

"Does Stephanie have a wicked side to her?"

"Stephanie wants to be Wonder Woman. However, she feels like Dopey from Snow White more than a superhero."

"That's great. Carlos always wanted to be Batman. We could have Wonder Woman and Batman team up together, and we'd be in trouble."

"We would be. What time is it?"

"It's about one-thirty; why?"

"Stephanie and Carlos have been gone almost an hour and a half. I'm worried."

I see Lester sigh, but he understands where I'm coming from. "Let's gather the troops, and we'll go looking for them. Let me call him first, though."

Once we step outside, I call Carlos. While I'm ninety-nine percent sure he's on the beach, there is a slight chance that he could have taken her to the marina. When he answers, he informs me that he did indeed pick the beach.

"They're at the beach. Let's go."

Lisa rolls her eyes. "Could you be any vaguer? There's nothing but beach around here."

"Don't worry, Lisa, I know where I'm going. Carlos and I lived here for six years; I know exactly where he is."

We all walk towards the beach while Lester advises us on some of the best places to eat in Miami. When we finally reach the beach about ten minutes later, it's to see Carlos and Stephanie's arms wrapped around each other as they share an intense, passionate kiss. Lester whistles, which breaks them apart. Once we decide to go to the diner, we head off in that direction.