when he got to the front room, though, down a second flight of stairs into the basement. To the left was the kitchen. Around the corner from the staircase was a long C-shaped booth with a low table in the center. They threaded their way around the table, until they’d filled the booth completely. It wasn’t a surprise that Alex eased into the corner beside Lynn.
A new server appeared and introduced himself as Sergio .
Dorothy frowned. “But the bartender upstairs—”
“—was Sergio. I am Sergio, too.”
Lynn was really glad Dorothy had asked! Thanks to the whirling in her head, she thought she might have gotten completely mixed up in the space of five minutes.
After a brief welcome, Sergio told them he’d be bringing tapas for them to sample—and more drinks—whatever they wanted.
Vicki asked if they ’d ever made a Pisco martini.
“Of course! You’ll love it!”
Lynn looked at her glass, which had only a sip left. She finished it, then ordered another. “I shouldn’t, but they’re so delicious.”
Sharon lifted her glass, drained it, then ordered another one. “Why not? We aren’t driving tonight! And getting one of these in Virginia will probably be impossible!”
Lynn began to wonder if she’d be able to walk!
The tapas arrived one at a time and they all sampled them. Lynn’s favorite by far was the shrimp skewer—three shrimp grilled in some sort of delectable sauce. “I could eat a dozen of these,” she murmured.
Alex motioned to Sergio to bring four more skewers of shrimp for Lynn and handed him some money from his pocket.
Lynn tried to repay him, but he refused her offer. “I am pleased to give you something that makes you so happy, Querida .”
Lynn thought she knew what querida meant. Yo quiero meant “I like.” Or was it “I want?” The way Alex had used the word, it must mean “friend” or “someone I like.”
He reached for her hand and kissed her fingers, just as he’d done before.
She didn’t feel the least bit like blushing.
By the time Lynn had eaten half a dozen more shrimp and sampled the other tapas, her head had cleared nicely. As tempted as she was to order another strawberry Sour, she declined Sergio’s offer to bring her a third and had more shrimp instead.
Some people across the room decided it was time to dance . They stayed near their tables, but were in sight of everyone at the booth.
Alex got up and danced next to their table. Vicki, Cathi, and Barb joined him. The others cheered. When Alex held his hand out to Lynn, inviting her to dance, too, she laughed and shook her head. “Not tonight!” So, he invited Dorothy and the others to join him, but only Sharon got up. Lynn loved watching them, and wished she were more coordinated. In college she’d enjoyed dancing. She hadn’t danced since… It took her a minute to remember the last time. It was before she’d met Bill. He hated dancing. But she hadn’t!
Lynn finished her Pisco Sour and got up to join them. Alex laughed when he saw her trying to imitate their movements—and failing. But she had a great time and no one seemed to worry that she wasn’t that great at whatever dance they were doing.
Alex took her hand and twirled her around, then pulled her closer, then away. When the music ended, he hugged her, then the others. She could hardly catch her breath!
Andrew took the opportunity to excuse himself because he had a meeting scheduled early tomorrow. “At ten. That’s as early as I do anything in Cusco!”
Everyone thanked him for including the Museo on their itinerary and for assigning Alex as their guide. Andrew beamed with pleasure. “Everyone loves Alex!” He bid them all good night.
T hey agreed they’d better get back to the hotel. Alex assured them, “I promise you’ll enjoy the tour tomorrow, and we don’t have to leave the hotel until 8:30.”
Sharon groaned. “Why didn’t you tell us that sooner?”
Lynn told her, “Because he’s a good guide. He wasn’t
A new server appeared and introduced himself as Sergio .
Dorothy frowned. “But the bartender upstairs—”
“—was Sergio. I am Sergio, too.”
Lynn was really glad Dorothy had asked! Thanks to the whirling in her head, she thought she might have gotten completely mixed up in the space of five minutes.
After a brief welcome, Sergio told them he’d be bringing tapas for them to sample—and more drinks—whatever they wanted.
Vicki asked if they ’d ever made a Pisco martini.
“Of course! You’ll love it!”
Lynn looked at her glass, which had only a sip left. She finished it, then ordered another. “I shouldn’t, but they’re so delicious.”
Sharon lifted her glass, drained it, then ordered another one. “Why not? We aren’t driving tonight! And getting one of these in Virginia will probably be impossible!”
Lynn began to wonder if she’d be able to walk!
The tapas arrived one at a time and they all sampled them. Lynn’s favorite by far was the shrimp skewer—three shrimp grilled in some sort of delectable sauce. “I could eat a dozen of these,” she murmured.
Alex motioned to Sergio to bring four more skewers of shrimp for Lynn and handed him some money from his pocket.
Lynn tried to repay him, but he refused her offer. “I am pleased to give you something that makes you so happy, Querida .”
Lynn thought she knew what querida meant. Yo quiero meant “I like.” Or was it “I want?” The way Alex had used the word, it must mean “friend” or “someone I like.”
He reached for her hand and kissed her fingers, just as he’d done before.
She didn’t feel the least bit like blushing.
By the time Lynn had eaten half a dozen more shrimp and sampled the other tapas, her head had cleared nicely. As tempted as she was to order another strawberry Sour, she declined Sergio’s offer to bring her a third and had more shrimp instead.
Some people across the room decided it was time to dance . They stayed near their tables, but were in sight of everyone at the booth.
Alex got up and danced next to their table. Vicki, Cathi, and Barb joined him. The others cheered. When Alex held his hand out to Lynn, inviting her to dance, too, she laughed and shook her head. “Not tonight!” So, he invited Dorothy and the others to join him, but only Sharon got up. Lynn loved watching them, and wished she were more coordinated. In college she’d enjoyed dancing. She hadn’t danced since… It took her a minute to remember the last time. It was before she’d met Bill. He hated dancing. But she hadn’t!
Lynn finished her Pisco Sour and got up to join them. Alex laughed when he saw her trying to imitate their movements—and failing. But she had a great time and no one seemed to worry that she wasn’t that great at whatever dance they were doing.
Alex took her hand and twirled her around, then pulled her closer, then away. When the music ended, he hugged her, then the others. She could hardly catch her breath!
Andrew took the opportunity to excuse himself because he had a meeting scheduled early tomorrow. “At ten. That’s as early as I do anything in Cusco!”
Everyone thanked him for including the Museo on their itinerary and for assigning Alex as their guide. Andrew beamed with pleasure. “Everyone loves Alex!” He bid them all good night.
T hey agreed they’d better get back to the hotel. Alex assured them, “I promise you’ll enjoy the tour tomorrow, and we don’t have to leave the hotel until 8:30.”
Sharon groaned. “Why didn’t you tell us that sooner?”
Lynn told her, “Because he’s a good guide. He wasn’t
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