Denial

Today’s WordPress writing prompt is “denial”. Well there is no denying the attraction building between Detective Sebastian Garcia and Melinda Jones. Here is  excerpt  #2 from Havana Heat! The attraction is there, there is no denying it.

 

As Melinda looks up and down the street and glances up at the busy balconies of the apartments she relaxes and enjoys the new culture she’s been exposed to.

“Which way from here Sebastian?”

“Ah, I’m not a hundred percent sure… let’s head this way.”

Sebastian points in a direction away from the hotel.

“You don’t know where the beach is?”

“Melinda relax, we’ll find it.”

The pair smile at each other and lower their sunglasses as they set off in the opposite direction of their hotel Casa De Amour. As Melinda and Sebastian walk along the busy street the pair are lead away from the residential area, into a lively hub of bars and restaurants. The bars and restaurants are busy with couples and groups of friends dining outside in the late afternoon sun. Salsa music floats out onto the pavement from every bar and restaurant they pass.  The atmosphere along the strip is buzzing. Melinda turns and looks up at Sebastian.

“Wow, this area looks like a melting pot of fun!”

“It sure does, what do you say we skip the beach and head into one of these bars for a dance.”

“Dance? Are you serious?”

“Why not, you scared of your two left feet.”

Melinda playfully slaps Sebastian on the arm.

“I am not, and who says I have two left feet? I could probably dance you off the dance floor.”

“Yeah? You better prove it then.”

Sebastian grabs Melinda’s hand and leads her into the next bar they pass. The bar is buzzing with Cubans sitting outside smoking cigars and drinking local Cuban beer. The barman greets the couple as they tumble in, in a fit of giggles.

“Hola”

“Hola señor, dos de sus mejores cervezas cubanas por favor y un puro también.”

Sebastian replies in rapid Spanish ordering two beers and a Cuban cigar. He glances around the busy bar, and then smiles as he spies a mini dancefloor with a couple dancing to salsa.

The bar has traditional Cuban décor with pale orange walls and brown wooden beams exposed on the ceiling. A high raised dark wood bar and matching wood bar stools are to the left of the main bar as the pair enter, behind it is a well- stocked shelf with a selection of spirits and glasses. To the right of the bar the wall is painted with a sketch of curvy Latina lady, in a revealing bright red carnival outfit. Salsa music rings out of the boom box in the corner. Above it is a large screen TV on mute showing the latest soccer match. The male drinkers in the bar glance up at the screen every now and then, shouting comments at the soccer players in Spanish, and waving their cigars around in frustration at the game.  Couples laugh and joke oblivious to the game playing out on the TV. Small groups of male and female friends gather around tables filled with Tequila shot glasses and chips enjoying each other’s company.  Melinda and Sebastian feel welcome as foreigners and safe in the downtown Havana drinking spot, Casa De Amigos located on a busy strip section of the strip.

Sebastian leads Melinda over to a table with a good view of the dance floor. The couple settle themselves around the small table. Melinda opens their conversation as she studies Sebastian’s profile. He’s busy watching the action on the dancefloor as the Cuban couple salsa with ease and style.

“Wow Sebastian you speak Spanish?”

Without taking his eyes off the couple on the dance floor Sebastian responds.

“Sure do … I am Spanish after all.”

“Double wow, what part are you from?”

“Madrid.”

“Interesting.”

Sebastian blesses Melinda with a wide smile.

“Have you ever been to Spain before?”

“Many years ago, yes. I went to Barcelona it’s a really vibrant city. I remember walking down the ramblers and the market area. Busy is not the word!”

“Ah Barcelona I do enjoy the city too.”

“I also watched a bull fight, that was an experience. Not sure one I want to repeat but it was an experience.”

Sebastian lets out high pitched laugh.

“Bull fighting, hmm I agree even as a Spaniard I can’t say it’s my thing either.”

Sebastian relaxes physically in his chair as the waiter comes over, then places two cool large beers on the table along with his Cuban cigar. Sebastian looks up at Melinda now watching the couple dance.

“You don’t mind do you Melinda?”

Sebastian points to his cigar he’s about to light.

“Oh, no not at all, it’s fine.”

The pair sit nursing their cool beers, a welcome refreshment from the dry heat floating in from the open front bar. Three beers, and two Tequila shots later Melinda and Sebastian are dancing the late afternoon away with the other couples on the small crowded dance floor. As the beat slows down from the last song the pair separate and look at each other both damp with perspiration. The bar’s lack of air- conditioning does not have the same effect on the locals on the dance floor with them, fully accustomed to the humid Havana heat. Catching her breath and wiping her damp face with a napkin Melinda looks up at Sebastian as he orders two more beers and Tequila shots in Spanish.

“See I told you I don’t have two left feet.”

“Melinda, you’re right I’ll give props where they are due you can move and have good rhythm.” Melinda looks up at Sebastian just as he pushes her away and twirls her around.

“Woah! Easy Mr. I don’t want to end up on my ass on the floor.”

“Don’t worry I’ve got you … and your ass for that matter.”

With a cheeky smile Sebastian pulls Melinda back in toward him, his hands slide down the side of her curves and he pulls her closer to him from her waist. Without a second thought Melinda leans in and kisses him lightly on the lips. Sebastian hesitates to return her passion but gives in. Dr Black’s voice rings out in his mind “find yourself a holiday romance, have fun just don’t think about work or London.” Sebastian’s inner voice is a trigger for him to overcome his guilt of kissing another woman so close to his late girlfriend’s death. He leans in and responds to Melinda’s kiss with an equal amount of passion. Held in a tight embrace the pair passionately kiss, the attraction and passion between them is building and neither can deny it.... TO BE CONTINUED!

Book Blurb

Havana Heat is book one of the Romance in Paradise Series of modern,steamy, suspenseful and romantic stories, set in exotic locations around the world. In Havana Heat readers are transported to the paradise of Cuba’s capital Havana, following the romance and heat build between Spaniard Detective Sebastian Garcia, and London born and bred wedding planner Melinda Jones.Melinda’s path crosses with the handsome and charming Detective at Casa de Amour Hotel as a guest at her client’s exotic location wedding. Both characters are in search of a slice of paradise, away from their own troubled love life back home in London. Once their paths cross the romance and sizzle begins.

When all hell breaks out at Casa de Amour Hotel, and conflict builds over their past both characters are faced with a decision to take a risk and see out their romance, or walk away forever asking themselves what could have been. Romance, thrills and excitement await in book one of this modern romance series set in paradise in the Caribbean.

Release date: 18th May 2017! On Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, Apple Ibooks and Nook.