Page 10 of Beautifully Wild

“Thank you,” she says.

“Obrigada,” Bree adds.Thank you.

“Seriously?” Amy says to Bree with her hands on her hips. “You didn’t think to help me then?”

“Babe, you had it under control.”

We all laugh and head in the direction the guy pointed.

Periodically, I catch the scent of salty air drifting from the ocean. It’s a welcome relief from the musky human odor hanging in the air.

Half-naked, exposed skin glistens, and toned bodies move to a rhythmic beat. The laughter, singing, and positive vibe are contagious. Never have I been so overwhelmed with emotion, and learning to ride it is a new skill I’m yet to master.

After buying two caipirinha’s each, we make our way toward the beach side of the stage. Too far away to see the band, we dance in our little group and enjoy the music despite not understanding the foreign lyrics. Two drag queens dance beside me. After downing both drinks, my hands are free, and I have the confidence to dance with them. Bree and Yasmine head to the bar again. Amy joins us, and the dance moves up a tempo, and our new friends take the challenge. I’m laughing at Amy’s competitiveness. She grinds her hips and drops to the ground, and with a quick rebound, she springs up showing her hip-hop style. Taller, and with bigger breasts and longer lashes, they just do sexy better. I stand back and clap at the three of them when Yasmine taps on my shoulder and tilts her head for me to follow.

“We have found some American guys,” she says. “They asked us to hang out with them.”

“Sure.” After waving goodbye to our dance competitors, we weave a short distance to four guys standing together, dressed in plain street clothes.

“We met them at the bar,” Bree explains. “This is Michael.” I nod and smile at the guy a little taller than me with dark hair. “And this is Sean.” I wave at the blond guy with a beard. Bree is smiling at Sean, and I already sense a connection between the two.

Yasmine jabs her thumb toward the next guy. “Harrison,” she says, and he smiles. His eyes, skin, and hair are a darker shade like Yasmine’s. Harrison nudges the fourth guy who’s looking toward the ocean and disinterested in the bloco and apparently also in meeting us. He’s tall, with beach-blond hair, lean, and tanned. Beneath the sleeve of his t-shirt, defined muscles contract with his movement. I take an extra look. His physique is different—strong, not bulky like a gym buff but more natural or earned from hard labor.

“And this is Samuel,” Michael announces. Michael steps to the side as though he’s not going to force his friend to interact.

Samuel turns, his big beautiful blue eyes lock with mine, and my stomach flutters—not of butterflies but the bloody uncoordinated flapping of an emu trying to dance.

“Hey, I’m Yasmine,” Yasmine says in a polite voice. “This is Bree, Amy, and…”

I sense Yasmine staring at me.

“Eden,” I finish. I force the blue haze of a spell his eyes cast over me to clear.

It’s him.

The guy I saw in Salvador.

The guy who made my body hum like I was having an out-of-body experience and floating on the clouds. From the way he’s staring at me, I assume he remembers me also. Something passes between us. The air crackles with physical electricity, and even in this heat, my insides warm. Something zings low in my stomach, reminding me of the joy I’ve deprived myself. I force myself to look away and check on my friends. They’re chatting with the other guys, unaware this man—without even touching me—has awakened my female organs.

I smile at Samuel. “Nice to meet you. Are all four of you from the US?”

He nods. His brow pulls tight as though I’ve given him a vibe. Going by his expression, he’s not pleased. His scowl flusters me.

“As you can tell, we’re Aussies…” I pause, yet he gives me nothing. “We’re here for Carnival and then heading north. What about you? Are you here for Carnival?” Damn, I keep tripping over my words.

He closes his eyes in a slow blink, and by the way his shoulders slowly rise and fall, he’s either taking a deep breath, or it’s a sigh.

What. Am I boring him?

“Please excuse me,” he says in a smooth, deep voice. His gaze leaves mine. “Michael, I have to go.” He waves at Michael before turning and disappearing into the crowd.

My mouth gapes. I push up onto my toes to find him, but it’s useless. What did I say?

I turn back to the group and stand next to Samuel’s friend. “I don’t know what I said to upset your friend, but he’s gone,” I say to Harrison.

Yasmine looks at me, and I shrug.

Michael glances from Yasmine to me. “Don’t worry yourself,” he says. “Samuel’s not one to stay out.”

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