44- Dancers ready

“Never mind that, who’s this new girl I hear have you tied up in knots?”

I turned to glare at Tony who had a sudden renewed interest in the sky. Blabbermouth. “What are you talking about momma?”

“Oh it’s like that is it? Do I need to come home?”

“Why would you do that? You still have weeks left on your vacation.”

“Yes, but it isn’t every day I have the prospect of a daughter in law lurking on the horizon. I hear she’s a real beauty but nothing like your usual fare.”

Damn Tony, what the hell did you tell this woman? His ass was keeping his distance as he pretended to play with his phone. Nosy ass!

I don’t think she bought it. She just kept fishing for information that I didn’t have.

I guess the fact that my best friend found it necessary to call her halfway around the world and tell her about Annabelle was enough proof for her that I was more interested than usual.

I didn’t say shit to him after hanging up the phone and if I didn’t respect his mom, I would’ve gone ahead with my threat to tattle on his dumb ass. He knows it too the jerk.

That night I took my private jet back to Miami and for the first time didn’t feel the excitement I normally did when looking down at the city from the air.

South Beach reminds me of old New York. The bright lights and late night revelers. Stores and restaurants that stayed open until all hours of the early morning, and nightclubs and luxury hotels on every corner.

I went straight to my place on Fisher Island as soon as we landed. I’d bought the five million dollar mansion because it was right on the water and more importantly because there was a guesthouse that was perfect for my shadow to live in while we were here.

“I know you won’t do it out of sheer stubbornness, so I did it for you. The girl did fine on her first day. The manager’s already singing her praises and Celeste says she’s a natural.”

“Who the fuck are you all of a sudden, Dear Abby?” I hid my smile as I walked through the door and slammed it in his face. He knows me too damn well. Maybe I should ask him what the hell is up with me.

I was proud of her and didn’t know why. It’s not my habit to keep such a close watch on my floor staff. I doubt I know half of them other than to say hello and goodbye.

By the time I dropped my tired ass into bed I knew I wasn’t fooling anyone. My anger had already worn off somewhere over the water and I was already regretting my hasty departure.

That fact bothered me more than a little bit since it had never happened before. Not since my teens have I allowed a female to plague me as much as this one.

It might be the fact that she was such a mystery still. A Colombia student who wanted to dance half naked on stage. Nothing about her fit.

Her mouth for one didn’t quite fit with her small angelic like stature. And she had way too much damn attitude for someone who seemed to be in need.

Or maybe I’d become too accustomed to people kowtowing to me. It was a safe bet that she never would. She’d as soon spit in my eye is my guess.

With that attitude of hers she reminded me more of the boriquas on the block I grew up on. Those fierce Puerto Rican chicks who would as soon cut you as look at you.

She had that kind of fearless force about her. But underneath, if you look into her eyes long enough, you’d see the vulnerability.

That must be it. That vulnerability I saw in her that reminded me of my young mother and the

struggles she’d gone through. But with the vulnerability there was also an inner strength and an independent streak a mile wide. Just like mom’s.

Maybe that’s why I feel this connection to her, this need to protect her. If only that was all it was. But I knew deep down that there was something else going on here. Something more than I was willing to admit.

The next day I went to the club first thing in the early afternoon and locked myself away in my office. I’m usually more relaxed here, but not today.

I kept wanting to call and check up on her, but I was sure she’d accuse me of stalking her or some shit with that mouth of hers.

I gave serious thought to finding a way to keep track of her and asked myself what the fuck I was thinking. She had me bent.

I wasn’t in love with her, that much I knew. I would know if I was, wouldn’t I? Sure I found her attractive, but instead of a wild need to take her to bed and fuck her into the hereafter, my feelings

were of a gentler nature.

Not that I wouldn’t fuck her, she was more than desirable in that aspect. But all the women I’d been attracted to in the past had ended up in my bed not long after we first met.

Lust would burn hot and quick, and die just as suddenly. And my lust never came with any other emotion. I never kept anyone in my thoughts, it was always out of sight out of mind.

There was a nagging little voice in my head telling me that maybe that was the difference. I never kept any of the others around for more than a few weeks if that. Somehow I couldn’t imagine not seeing her again. The thought left me cold.

I had that knowing feeling deep down inside, that she was someone I wanted to keep around. Like Tony! In just a short while she’d come to matter. That at least was nothing new. I can usually tell within the first few minutes if I like someone.