Miami Spice

Chapter 5

Reaching into her handbag, Maritza extracted a small jewelry box. "It's a pre-birthday present, carina. I knew you wanted these, and my divorce settlement finally came through. And even though your birthday is tomorrow, I had to give you these tonight. It's not every day a gal turns thirty."

"Don't remind me!" Erica eased open the box and stared at a beautiful pair of cluster earrings with seed pearls set in chocolate gold. Unable to adequately express her gratitude, she gave Maritza a heartfelt hug. "They're beautiful, Mari! Thank you so much!"

"Let's see, let's see!" Sacha coaxed and clapped his hands. Erica started the box around the table so everyone could take a good look at her gift.

"You shouldn't have done it, you know," she lightly chastised Maritza with sisterly concern. "I wanted you to save your divorce money for those little odds and ends that always seem to come up."

"That's no fun!" Mari countered. "I spent seven miserable years married to that bum, and I want to enjoy my freedom as well as Ricky's blood money. In fact..." Her gaze took in everyone. "I want to buy the last round for everyone. Let's do tequila shots to finish off the evening."

"Here, here!" Sacha chimed in happily.

Erica allowed her laugh to flow as freely as the combination of champagne and beer did around the table. Turning her head, she spotted the stranger from the corner of her eye. He had taken a seat at the bar, with his back and elbows up against the polished brass railing. With the backlight from behind the bar, Erica had a better view of his good looks and casual, breezy attitude. He appeared to be around her age, and the slight caramel cast to his skin suggested a Latino background.

With a half-smile playing on his lips, he seemed to weigh Erica and her group. Sizing up his competition, perhaps? Ogling the available female meat? His eyes could be considered akin to the bedroom variety, dark, sexy, alluring and hinting at the smoldering passions that lay beneath. Shaking such thoughts away, Erica brought her attention back to her group as her sister announced her exciting news.

"Remember, I told you about my job interview with Adentro Televisión, the Spanish network affiliate here? Well, I got the job as their office manager!" Mari could barely contain her excitement. "And if I do well and learn the ropes, I have a chance to advance and start reporting human interest pieces. The management loved my tests!"

"Well, well," Craig said with a laugh, "sounds as if we have an up-and-coming celebrity in our midst!"

"Congratulations!" Erica gave her sister a quick hug. "I always knew you had the brains, the personality and the looks to make it in broadcasting. After all, it was your dream."

Maritza's eyes glowed with excitement. "And I have you to thank for it!"

"Why is that?" Erica offered a little frown.

"Because you've always inspired me to do my best. The minute I legally and emotionally severed all ties with Ricardo Rivera, I decided to emulate my big sister and start a whole new life. I wanted to be just like you, strong, independent and have a career that challenges my creativity."

Erica felt taken aback. She had no idea her sister looked up to her with such admiration or used her for inspiration. Feeling a bit self-conscious with everyone looking her way, she proposed another toast to her sister's success. Everyone wholeheartedly took up their glasses, the general bonhomie around the table warm and generous and definitely alcohol-tinged.

The next time the waitress made the rounds, Erica ordered several appetizers to counter the buzz effects. She hadn't planned to stay so long, but the atmosphere and the joviality of her friends and family made it too irresistible to leave just yet. Besides, where did she have to run off to so early?

She felt Tai nudge her arm. "Rica, see that man over there? By the bar?"

Erica followed her co-worker's sharp eyes and over to the man who had spoken to her earlier, the attractive hunk in black.

"I went to bed with him once," Tai continued as she inched closer to her colleague. "The guy was great, but he hasn't called me since. So, I'm really pissed. What should I do? Go over and spill my drink in his lap? It was serve him right to cool off his c**k, the bastard."

Erica produced a smile. Once in awhile Tai spoke to her about men and her dating woes. In a way she felt privileged that a co-worker sought her advice, but Erica had really no expertise to share, at least not with any confidence.

"That might work," she offered cautiously, "but I wouldn't advise it. What happened? Did he just want a one night stand?" As she spoke, Erica allowed her gaze to demurely drift to the stranger who had by now swiveled back around to the bar. The man in black seemed to be engaged in conversation with the bartender.