“Please.” She nodded, and he slid next to her and sat face out, while she faced the bar. This close, she could smell the slight scent of his cologne, of pine and citrus. From his white shirt, rolled up to his elbows, peeked a tattoo, its green hues muted against his dark brown skin.
“So why aren’t you with the rest of the party?” She glanced up as a group began to take shots.
“I’m a little distracted thinking of work.”
“Hence the look.”
An eyebrow shot up. “The look?”
“The frown. Like you’ve just been lowballed in a deal.”
He grinned this beautiful crooked grin, and Diana had to check herself and glance at the drink in front of her. No, she hadn’t downed the whole thing, but her body was heating up like she had.
“You hit it right on the head,” he said, bringing her back to earth. “In fact, maybe you can help me with this dilemma.”
She turned toward him then. There was a charge between them, but she met his eyes and kept contact even as she took another sip of her drink. She swallowed the liquid courage. “I’ve got you.”
He smiled. “Let’s say you’ve been placed in charge of a big project. A project very important, not just to you, but to the whole team. And something unexpected happens.” He accentuated his words with his hands.
“Unexpected like …”
“An external force appears, out of the blue.”
“Is the force people or a thing?” This was reminding her of grand rounds as a med student. It was kind of fun.
“People.”
“Okay …”
“Do you fight that external force, because it’s obviously nefarious? This party wants something undeserved. Or should you agree with what the rest of the … the team, wants to do?”
“And that is …”
“To allow them a piece of the pie. Hell, a free-for-all.”
Diana tried to piece the information together—she was great at puzzles—but her foggy brain failed her. “Crew, it might be that my wine has gone to my head, but I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He laughed. “All right all right. Fine. I suppose since we don’t know each other and I’ll never see you again, I could probably be more specific—”
“This is the kind of suspense that would make me not put a book down, you know?” She grinned against her glass.
He laughed, looking down at his beer for a beat. His gaze softened. “You have a beautiful smile, Ana.”
“Oh no,” she said, still in the mood to joke, though her cheeks heated at the compliment. “You didn’t just go there.”
He winced. “Too much?”
“No. I mean, yes, that was cheesy as hell, but thank you.”
“How long will you be in Manila?”
“So we can talk more about your work?”
“Maybe? Or I can give you some tips on places to visit.” He leaned in closer, and Diana spotted a tiny mole just above the Cupid’s bow of his lips. “Because let me guess. You’re probably going to visit a couple of historic places and then jet on to an all-inclusive resort with an unencumbered view of the water and mountains to watch the sunset. And I’m here to tell you that while that’s all wonderful, there’s way more to see.”
She dragged her eyes away from his oh-so-sincere face. This was minor flirtation, but she was so out of practice, already out of her league. “Well, the offer sounds tempting, but—”
“Let me guess. Despite the theoreticals, there’s someone else.”
“You’re … you’re not wrong,” she said, half laughing. “But it’s not what you think. First, I am actually really good at putting a travel plan together. I have spreadsheets. And second: it’s complicated.”
“The c word. Well how about this, Ana?” He waved the bartender over. “Let’s keep it as simple as possible, then. How about we have something to eat and drink, and you can talk to me about your spreadsheets, and I can give you my thoughts on your list.”
“Hm.” She hesitated. She was in another country, out of her comfort zone. And yet, here she was in another country, making a new acquaintance with this hot guy, and she had no other responsibilities that would need her attention till tomorrow. No patient, no boss, no Carlo, and no family drama. “Oh, sure, why not.”
New Guinea
August 28, 1944
My dearest Leora,
My love, is it true? Is this really true?
I’ve just received your letter. My hands are shaking, and I can’t stop smiling.
Are you sure?
I’m sorry, of course you’re sure. Did you tell your father? Was he upset? What’s going to happen now? Are you okay? And when … when will our baby be born?
I will write my father immediately, so he can give you my pay. I’m not sure what you will need, but you can use it for whatever you need and want.
Oh, Leora. I’m going to be a father! You’re going to be a mother! You have just made me the happiest man in this small country.
You mentioned feeling ill—is that normal? I wish I was there to help you with everything. I want to see you grow, see our baby grow. Damn all these people here, because the only person I should be watching over is you, my dearest Leora.
We must hang on to faith. Take heart that I will see you again, soon. I will see our baby. You have my word. And my word is my soul.
The two of us, Leora. Now the three of us. Can you imagine it?
We are on the move again, sweetheart. But even if time passes, and you might go without hearing from me, I’m with you.
Iniibig kita,
Antonio
Chapter Fifteen
Margo padded down the hallway of the twenty-fourth floor of the Las Cruces Hotel, gripping the hotel key in her hand. She yearned for her daughter, for the hotel room, for sleep. She had been traveling for what felt like a week, the thought of Cameron and his kiss the only things to make her smile through the chaos of changing her travel. Margo was only too grateful that the hotel attendant downstairs gave her no problems when she gave her and Diana’s name. It was as if they had been expecting her.
Finally, room 2440. She took a deep breath. Diana was sure to be surprised. Margo didn’t get a chance to text or email once she got on the plane, and while in the hired car to the hotel, her phone calls went to Diana’s voice mail.
Margo knocked.
Then she knocked a little louder.
From inside the room, Margo heard a thump. With an intake of breath, she listened for it again.
Thump.
She blinked away the sleep in her eyes, gathered her wits. The sound did come from inside, from Diana’s room, right?
Next was a muffle, and another large thump, and Margo let go of her suitcase handle. It was coming from the inside, where her daughter was alone, or supposed to be. All the scenarios played out in her head, and she transformed from noncombative to mama bear. And even without a weapon in her hand, she didn’t hesitate as she reached to swipe the door key. Her old eyes squinted against the bright room lights then landed on Diana.
In bed.
With a man.
There was a stray arm here. A bare back there. And clothes, oh goodness. Clothes on the floor, sheets everywhere.