Page 15 of What Matters Most

“No, it’s the bogeyman,” Carla teased.

“I take it you met someone?” Nancy’s voice was soft and curious.

“Yup.”

“Tell me about your day.” The moonlight silhouetted her roommate against the wall. Nancy was sitting on the side of the mattress.

“It’s the guy I met yesterday.” Carla couldn’t disguise the wistful note in her voice.

“What happened? When I asked this morning, the looks you gave me said you didn’t want to have anything to do with him.”

“That was this morning.”

Fluffing up her pillow, Nancy positioned it against the headboard, leaned against it, and put her hands behind her head. “I’m glad things worked out.”

“Me, too.” Carla moved into the room and began to undress.

“I can’t believe how much I like Eduardo,” Nancy said pensively as she stared dreamily at the ceiling. “I can’t even begin to tell you what a marvelous day we had.”

Carla slipped the silk nightie over her head. “The funny part was, I had no intention of seeing Philip again.”

Nancy sighed unevenly and slid down so her head rested in the thick of the pillow. “He gave me a tour of Mazatlán that will hold memories to last a lifetime. And later tonight when he kissed me I could have cried, it was so incredibly beautiful.”

“But then Philip was there, and I’d been so miserable all day, and he suggested we have dinner, and not for the life of me could I refuse.”

“I’ve never felt this strongly about a man. And I’ve barely known Eduardo more than twenty-four hours.”

Carla pulled back the bedcovers and paused, holding the pillow to her stomach. “I’m meeting Philip first thing in the morning.”

“Eduardo says he can’t believe that someone as beautiful as I would be interested in him. And just because he broke his leg. He keeps assuring me he really isn’t a klutz. As if I’d ever think such a thing.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep. Every time I close my eyes I know Philip will be there. I don’t know how to explain it. To look at him, you’d be unimpressed. But he’s the most gentle man. Tender.”

“I can’t sleep. Every time I try, my heart hammers and I wonder if I’m going crazy to feel like this.”

The sheets felt cool against Carla’s legs as she slipped between the covers and yawned. “I guess I should get some sleep. Night, Nance.”

“Night,” Nancy answered with a yawn of her own.

“By the way,” Carla asked absently, “how’d your day go?”

“Fantastic. How about you?”

“Wonderful.”

“I’m glad. Good night.”

“Night.”

—

Philip was already seated in the hotel restaurant when Carla arrived. Her gaze met his, and she smiled. She enjoyed the way he was watching her. The sleeveless pink-and-blue crinkle-cotton sundress was her favorite, and she knew she looked good. She’d spent extra time with her makeup, and one glance from him confirmed that the effort had been well spent.

“Morning.” Philip stood and pulled out her chair.

“Did you sleep well?”

He leaned forward and kissed her cheek lightly. “Like a baby. How about you?”

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