Bitch, please, I irritatingly thought as I clutched my purse strap tighter. My stomach began to churn as if I was getting sick. Yes, this attraction was nothing short of sickening. Vile. Beyond appalling.
Breathe.
It's not that serious, Cara.
"Cara?" he softly chimed, taking a step closer to me. "I asked you a question."
Damn him.
My head remained unmoving, staring straight ahead. "I'm heading to Sweden on Sunday to see River." My tone was cool, unfeeling.
"Well, I'm heading to Barcelona tomorrow night. Why don't you come? You'll be catching your flight from there, no? Why not make the most of it?" he cajoled, remaining hopeful.
I considered his question with great gravity.
Party with him? Right.
Happiness all around? Not.
The thought of being close to him for hours on end didn't seem all that feasible to me. He was probably on some happy recreational medicine because it was abnormal to be this cheerful all the goddamn time.
Maybe you're what's wrong with you? Maybe it's your darn attitude that needs a hefty dose of whatever it was he's having?
I frowned, wondering if there was any truth to that thought. There probably was. I mean, there was a good reason I wasn't popular in any of the schools I had attended, due to this bitchy persona. And still, years later, the sparkly temperament hadn't worn off. Well, imagine that.
The lift had finally arrived and the doors parted. I immediately darted into it, needing space from him.
Color me not so surprised when Juan joined in, unwilling to let go of the subject. "You'll like Barcelona. It's a beautiful city with a lot to offer. It's time you explore Spain. We don't get enough days off as it is."
Damn. He was targeting my weak spots. Experiencing culture firsthand was something I had a hard time resisting. And one I couldn't indulge as much due to all sorts of reasons. Now here came an opportunity, and I wasn't even blinking twice before my mind immediately rejected the offer.
Apart from the view of the airport, I didn't know much about Pablo Picasso's city.
Barcelona, how I want to meet thee.
Maybe suffering his presence for a short span of time wouldn't be so bad. He wasn't all that annoying when I had alcohol in my system. Maybe I was being too hasty and judgmental, which tended to be the case when I didn't know how to handle certain situations, like a virile men named Juan Torres.
"I … don't know," I found myself saying, highly considering his invitation now.
The lift dinged our arrival, depositing us on our level. We both simultaneously stepped out of the moving steel contraption. My eyes were glued to the wide, sweeping, intricate patterns on the carpet while I strolled alongside him, deeply pensive.
"Live a little. I'll show you the city with what little time we have, then we go party afterwards," he continued to enticingly drawl.
His words stuck to me, resulting in deep contemplation.
Should I or should I?
Since I was already heading that way, why shouldn't I jump at the chance, right? Juan, though a massive flirt of epic proportion, wouldn't dare cross the line. And if he did … well, my fighting classes would come handy.
I only had one life to live. Might as well indulge once in a while.
"Fine, I'll go, but do let me know which hotel we're staying at so I can book my own room." We were nearing my suite, so I pulled my keycard out of my purse, not willing to waste another minute.
Juan's eyes crinkled as he triumphantly grinned at me, quite ecstatic on his tiny accomplishment of getting me onboard. "There's no need. We have a place to stay. I promise you will have your own bedroom. Does that satisfy your requirements?"
He was one of those people with expressive faces, and when he smiled, his entire face lit up, granting you one of those heart-warming, unforgettable expressions.
Sometimes, I begrudgingly admitted, he could be quite disarming, annoyingly so.
"Sounds … fine." I halted as we reached my room.
Exhausted from the long day we had, inviting him inside just didn't sit well in my already grumpy state. However, Juan seemed like he didn't feel like parting from my stellar company. Well, too bad. He had to find another person to entertain him. Before the sex scenes, I was that person, but since then, I had avoided him like a plague.
Going for an overnight in Barcelona contradicted my actions. But, oh well, I was a young woman, and females were famously known for being prone to indecisiveness.
"Okay, we'll leave right after we wrap up tomorrow night."
"Got it, thanks."
"Te estaré observando, Cara." He made a little bow, as if quite honored, before he threw me one last lingering look, heavily loaded of contemplation and wonderment. Then he retreated across the hall, assumingly heading back to his quarters.