CHAPTER 2 #2
“Would you mind pointing me in the right direction?” She smoothed her wrinkled skirt and stretched, perhaps limbering up after the bus ride from the city. Her movements reminded him of an athlete and showed off a slim figure with curves in all the right places.
“I can show you.” Isaac turned to his brother. In Spanish, he said, “Don’t leave. I’ll be back in less than five minutes. I’m still going on the training ride.”
Vince responded in their language. “I’ll wait. Ask her round the house later for a drink with me.”
Why didn’t his brother ask her himself? They weren’t in middle school. Still, Isaac nodded. What harm could it do? Vince seemed serious. Pretty. American. Temporary. That checked a lot of boxes for his brother.
“Can you watch my bike?” Isaac asked his brother in English so the girl would understand.
“I’m Isaac Vasquez, and this is my brother, Vince Vasquez.
” He paused a heartbeat to see if she recognized his brother’s name, though as an American that might be a longshot.
European women were more likely to follow their particular league of motorcycle racing.
Her cheerful smile remained the same. “I’m Anna.”
“Do you have more luggage?” said Isaac, expecting to collect a couple heavy suitcases from the bus luggage compartment.
“Just the one.” She indicated a small hard case by her feet.
“I’ll take it,” he said, crossing the pavement to collect it.
Up close, her eyes had flecks of yellow in the brown that gave her an exotic look, like a rare bird.
He hefted her suitcase, discovering it weighed less than expected.
She couldn’t have much in it, which was intriguing.
Most people over-packed for long trips. Maybe she was here on business, though he couldn’t imagine what business would take a week or two in Cervera in March, the off season.
Her ponytail swished back and forth when she hefted her laptop bag over her shoulder before picking up an airport shopping bag from Barcelona. He’d bet there was a story behind traveling this far with just carry-on baggage.
“Maybe you can also direct me toward a store or two. I brought a toothbrush, but my trip was spur of the moment.”
For a second, he didn’t recognize the expression.
Americans had odd ways of saying so many things.
Her trip had been unplanned. What would it be like to be so carefree?
His life was accounted for in specific increments.
He measured his time on the motorbike in blocks of forty-five minutes, laps by seconds, and races to the thousandth of a second—infinitesimal differences mattered.
“The inn is this way,” He extended his hand, offering to take her shopping tote bag since she’d insisted on keeping her laptop. She hesitated a second but handed it over, though he was a stranger. It, too, was light. Perhaps not much more than a couple books inside.
As they strolled down Primera Calle, or First Street, she said, “Is there anywhere in town to buy books in English? I hadn’t thought of that before I left Seattle.”
He shook his head. She must plan to spend time reading if the books she had weren’t enough for her week or two. He understood, as he was also an avid reader. “Perhaps online. You could read on your laptop.”
“I have an iPad too. It’s more portable,” she patted her laptop case. “Thanks. That’s a smart idea, even if I like the feel of paper books better.”
“Bigger cities, like Madrid or Barcelona, will have several bookstores with English titles,” he said, ambling at her side.
He wanted to ask her to go to the city with him one day, but Vince would be upset if he thought Isaac was moving in on the pretty American.
The bro-code meant if Vince was interested, Isaac backed off. It was kind of one-sided.
The white-washed Inn stood only two blocks from the town square, with a wrought iron arch out front that read, “La Posada.” In Spanish it meant simply, the Inn—not the most original name, but it fit.
The building was a two-story villa in the village’s heart that had been converted to a bed-and-breakfast about ten years earlier.
Because it was spring, they should still have rooms, even without a reservation.
He could have left Anna at the entrance, but wanting to make sure everything worked out, he accompanied her inside.
A bell jangled as they crossed the cool tile floor and the temperature dropped by several degrees.
Goosebumps rose on his bare arms. Though cool now, old buildings like this were a respite in the summer heat.
An image of himself and Anna flashed through his mind—the two of them snuggling by the fireplace and watching a movie together. What was wrong with him?
Quick footsteps clicked toward them from the hallway ahead and the clerk arrived in the burgundy and tan lobby.
Isaac smiled at the familiar young woman who slid behind the counter.
He’d forgotten that Catarina Navarro worked here—taking over when her father had undergone cancer treatment.
She’d been one of his friends growing up and Vince’s girlfriend for about a month, several years ago.
They’d parted on amicable terms and remained friends.
Not an easy feat, even for someone like Vince.
“Isaac,” Catarina said with a grin.
She came forward and kissed him on both cheeks. Though a common European practice, his face flamed with the pretty American at his side. Would she get the wrong impression about himself and Catarina? Despite Vince’s declaration, Isaac couldn’t deny his attraction.
“Who is this?” Catarina rested her hand on his arm.
He stepped back to put a little more distance between himself and his friend.
“This is Anna,” he said, switching to English once more so the newcomer wouldn’t feel left out.
“She just arrived on the bus and was hoping to find a place to stay for a week or two.” He looked at Anna for confirmation as he handed back her luggage.
“This is Catarina. A friend.” Was he babbling?
Catarina smothered a laugh and winked at him.
He hadn’t meant his interest in Anna to be so obvious.
“Yes, we’re old friends. I’ve known Isaac forever.
He’s like a brother.” She turned to Anna.
“We’ve got four rooms available.” Catarina pulled her long, black braid over her shoulder.
“You can take your pick, but the upstairs ones are nicer.” Her hand, with manicured bright red nails, reached for the tote, and he surrendered it. He passed the suitcase to Anna.
Before he turned away, Isaac said, “Catarina will be more helpful with shopping than I could be. You should ask her for the best places to go.”
“Shopping?” Catarina’s eyes twinkled, “My specialty.” She draped her arm around Anna’s shoulders as she led her away. “Maybe we can go shopping together in a couple of hours when I’m off, and you’re settled.”
Anna shot Isaac one last look over her shoulder. He nodded, and his face warmed.
He hadn’t asked Vince’s question, and now it was too late, but he wasn’t sorry. He shouldn’t care if she dated his brother—but he did. He didn’t move as the two women headed for the stairs, unable to rip his gaze away.
Anna turned back and said in accented Spanish, “I’m not interested in a date with your brother.” She took a deep breath and clutched the handrail. “But if you ask me out for dinner, I’d say yes.”
She’d understood Vince’s words. And his own. Heat rose up his neck and face, but before he could speak, Catarina chortled. “You’re turning down Vince Vasquez? I think we’re going to get along famously.”
Before Isaac stammered something awkward or ridiculous, Anna and Catarina turned the corner of the staircase, and she was gone. He wouldn’t tell Vince the last part. He’d say that he’d forgotten to ask, which was true.
Isaac left the Inn with a spring in his step and returned to his brother, thinking about Anna’s declaration with a smile. He wouldn’t ask for that date, but her unexpected preference filled him with pleasure.
“Well,” said Vince, passing Isaac’s bike back. “Is she coming over later?”
“I didn’t get a chance to ask,” said Isaac. “Catarina has taken her in hand. By this evening, they’ll be best friends. This might be the last we see of her.”
“Catarina is coming on tour with us this year,” said Vince absently as he mounted his bike and pedaled toward the mountain road they favored for daily conditioning rides.
“I talked to HRC about her last week. They hired her as my new umbrella girl because she wants to get back into the racing world and travel. Unlike some girls at the venues, she won’t bother me or be a distraction.
She knows I’m serious when racing. Not like the other one. ”
Vince had asked for the other umbrella girl to be let go.
The first problem had been that she’d kept talking to him on the starting grid.
Anyone with sense would know the MotoGP riders concentrated before races, visualizing each corner and replaying braking markers for each part of the track.
Instead of providing shade and giving him peace, she’d chatted incessantly and snapped her gum. She’d lasted two races.
Isaac wasn’t surprised Vince had gotten someone safe, someone familiar, to accompany them this year.
Too many women on tour were ‘helmet chasers’ who tried to sleep with the racers.
That sounded great in theory, but it wasn’t in practice.
They weren’t Isaac’s type of woman. He’d rather find someone with whom he had something in common.
Vince would be considered a prize, but he’d never been interested in the circuit girls either.
He might casually date at home or in the city, never on the road.
He maintained that racing and dating didn’t mix.
The championship came first. Some riders might welcome the idolization, but Vince had been unimpressed when one had snuck into his trailer, waiting in his bed stark naked.
She’d lost her job on the spot. Women like that were unnecessary distractions.
Isaac had never had trouble. Most of the time, his umbrella was held by one of his mechanics, or his mother if she joined them for a race or two.
He’d long since stopped thinking life was unfair.
It was just how things were. Vince got special treatment, and everyone worked around him.
Isaac couldn’t even begrudge him for it.
Nobody worked more relentlessly to succeed than Vince.