“I’m a workaholic.”
“So am I,” Carmen said. “And I still sneak in a good laugh every now and then.”
“I know you're right, Carmen and all I can do is make excuses for not having fun. And to be honest with you, I'm not having any fun. But I have been working on the case.”
“The case is over, Marcus.”
“It was until you came along.”
“Oh, so I am bothering you? Why didn't you just tell me? Oh yeah, it's my eyes, my piercing, demanding eyes,” Carmen laughed. “Well my eyes demand that you relax, be yourself. Don't be nervous around me. I promise I won't bite you. I only bite when the moon is full. Once you get to know me you'll find out that I'm just people.”
“That's what Garrett said.”
“He's right. So get to know me, Marcus. And give me a chance to get to know you. Not Marcus Douglas the lawyer, but the real person.”
From that point on Marcus tried to relax, no longer intimidated by her beauty. Well maybe just a little. While they enjoyed their meal they talked and got to know each other. Marcus did tell her that he was going through a divorce, but he resisted the temptation to pour his heart out about it. But talking to Carmen caused him to realize that the only way he was going to move past it was to talk to Randa.
Maybe I just need to forgive Randa and move on.
Listening to Marcus talk, Carmen knew he had passion. She felt it coming from him. For her part, Carmen let her guard down too. But she carefully stared the conversation away from Desireé or her family.
“So you're workaholic, huh? So what do you like to do?” Marcus asked.
“Work.”
“Sensible answer, but it really doesn't speak to the question. So, I'll rephrase it. When you are not working, what does Carmen enjoy? Or is your life consumed with being Carmen Taylor the model?”
“Okay, since you put it that way, my favorite color is black; my favorite food is shrimp, favorite dessert is cherry cheesecake. I enjoy reading the most. Going to the movies is a close second. I'm a romantic to the bone. I love being surrounded by candles and incense. I love taking long walks to nowhere in particular. I'm a sucker for interesting conversations, and I love going to plays. I also absolutely love the ballet, but I haven't been in quite a while. Is that a better answer?”
After dinner, they went upstairs to the lounge to listen the Mose Davis Trio. The remainder of the evening was filled with music, cocktails, and lots of laughter and good conversation. Marcus found Carmen to be quite funny. Carmen still thought he was a little stiff, but she liked him. After years of dating fakes and flakes, Marcus was real people. And that to her was a good start. He eased his arm around her. She laid her head on his shoulder. Marcus glanced down at Carmen, and couldn't think of a better way to start his vacation.
When Marcus and Carmen left the plaza, they walked slowly back to the car. Talking and laughing, Carmen even gave Marcus a playful shove when he told her how bad her Stevie impression was. Marcus fought the urge to slide his hand into hers when it brushed up against his.
“I'm not ready to go back to the room yet. I'm having too good a time,” Carmen said.
“What do you want to do?”
“You know what I else I haven't done in years, Marcus?”
“What's that, Carmen?”
“I haven't been dancing in years.”
“Neither have I.”
“Can you dance, Marcus?”
“I used to go dancing all the time back in the day. At least five nights a week. I closed plenty of spots those days.”
“Really?” Carmen asked, not bothering to hide her disbelief.
“Yes really.”
“Somehow I find that hard to believe, Marcus. I just can't picture you being a club king and dancing the night away.”
“You'll see. I may not have been in a professional dance company, like some people, but I used to dance my ass off. You see I haven't got any left,” Marcus joked and Carmen laughed.
“I don't know, Marcus. I think you got a little ass. Emphasis on the word little,” Carmen said with a smile as she got in the car. “But what's there is cute.”