Sarita grabbed my hand, pulled me up, and we began to dance to the music. I looked around, and several people had amused looks on their faces because we were the only ones dancing. I don’t think Sarita expected I would know how to salsa. The way she moved could best be described as delicate and sensual, and she had this sexy little wiggle. I knew that I would never forget the experience, and was sure the people watching felt the same. Sarita’s hips moved in ways I didn’t think were possible.
She taught me some other Cuban dances like the mambo and cha-cha. I was in heaven. I, in turn, taught her the swing. It was one of the best first dates I’d ever had. Sarita had a good sense of humor and was smart. She could talk about almost anything. I loved that she could break down her brother’s baseball game like a professional. Coach Conde needed to recruit her to help him.
We spent the afternoon dancing and having a good time. When it started to get dark, Sarita became shy again.
“I hate to have today end,” she admitted.
“It doesn’t have to.”
Sarita blushed, which made me smile.
“Your brother was right, you’re a naughty girl.”
She made a rude remark in Spanish. I gave her a haughty look.
“I’m not that kind of boy! You’d need to, at the very least, take me somewhere for dinner and a conversation.”
“I know just where to take you,” Sarita announced.
◊◊◊
I appreciated that she took me off the beaten path. Fritz would have had a cow if he saw the neighborhood, but Paul just followed at a distance. Havana was in dire need of a major facelift. The city was slowly decaying due to a lack of funds to make much-needed repairs. To this point, I’d only seen the tourist areas, which were in better shape.
What it was, though, was clean. I also didn’t feel unsafe. Sarita and I did get some looks, but I got the feeling it was more that they didn’t know who I was. She took me to a jazz place that had a live band. I was impressed when we were whisked to a table on the edge of the dance floor.
“You must be somebody to get us this table,” I commented.
“You have no idea how lucky you are to be out on a date with me.”
“I’m starting to see that.”
I looked up to see a young man weave among the tables towards us. He carried himself with a smooth masculine grace and proprietary air. That told me who he was even before he stopped at our table and soundly thumped Sarita on the back. Without waiting for an introduction, her brother turned and gave me a grave look.
“You don’t know how happy my parents are going to be when they hear that my sister finally found a man. They’ve been after me to provide them with grandchildren because they’d lost all hope with Sarita.”
“It was the least I could do when she paid to get me out on bail,” I shot back.
“She never has had the best taste in men. Sarita always wanted the bad boys, but she was always so painfully shy she could never talk to them. It’s good she finally figured out a way to get one to notice her. I have to warn you, though, my sister is tightfisted. She’ll be getting into your pocket before the night is out.”
I liked this guy.
“Your brother, Luis, already warned me. That’s why I stashed some extra cash in my shoe. I might need it to grab a taxi home.”
“Good plan! I’ll have to remember that the next time she and I go out.”
“Are you two about done?” Sarita asked, acting put out.
“Paz,” he said, sticking out his hand.
“David,” I said as I shook it.
Paz pulled up a chair and joined us, to the dismay of his sister.
“So, you’re the famous movie star she’s been babbling about.”
“Paz!”
“He’s so handsome … Sarita Dawson sounds dreamy … he needs a good Cuban girl,” he said, mimicking his sister.
“I’d be careful. I know a girl who superglued her brother’s balls to his thigh while he was asleep,” I warned.
Sarita got an evil look, Paz gave her one of mock horror, and then both broke down laughing.
“I’d suggest the
