Page 11 of Until You Came Along

When they separated, Baco took my hand and introduced me.

“This is Delfina Darner, she’s a great friend of mine.”

“Happy birthday and lovely to meet you,” I congratulated her while greeting her with a kiss on the cheek.

“The pleasure is mine, sweetheart. Thank you so much for accompanying my son. This rascal had already mentioned he was bringing a friend, but he forgot to tell me his friend was such a beauty,” she said, looking at me with a warm smile. “He alsotold me you encouraged him to give me that wonderful painting, and I thank you for that. It was very moving to receive it, and let me tell you it holds a special place in my home and in my heart. We’ll talk about that later, Baco,” she stated, looking at her son with love.

“Whenever you want, Mom.”

“Does your brother know Delfina yet?” she asked, looking around as if searching for the cause of my nervousness. “Look, he’s over there talking. Go introduce her to him; he’ll be very pleased to see you so well accompanied.”

“They already know each other,” Baco stated, looking at me and giving me a wink.

“Are you friends with Hermes too?” she asked with surprise.

“No, ma’am, we only met once when he came to visit Baco.”

“Oh, for goodness’ sake! Don’t call me ma’am. My name is Catalina, but close friends call me Cati, so please call me that.”

“Thank you, I will,” I said with a smile.

“Go have fun,” she suggested kindly.

I felt his presence before turning to confirm it, and electricity ran through my entire body.

“Hermes, darling. Look who’s here. Come say hello to Delfina and your brother,” his mother said, stretching out her arm as if beckoning him to come closer.

Baco and I turned to face the man who had lately been sneaking into my dreams and whom I thought about more than I wanted to admit. When I faced him, I had to make a great effort to hide the impression seeing him so elegant caused me. If on previous occasions I had found him handsome, that day, dressed in a tuxedo, he was out of this world.

“Brother, how are you?” Baco greeted, giving him a hug and patting his back.

“Baco,” he said, returning his hug, but I couldn’t help noticing that he never took his eyes off me.

“Good evening,” he greeted.

“Good evening,” I responded.

“Hermes, please, don’t be so formal with Delfina and greet her properly.”

“And what’s proper according to you, Mother?”

“With a kiss, as it should be.”

Baco was watching us but didn’t intervene. I got the impression he was enjoying the moment, probably remembering our altercation.

“If I may,” Hermes said, approaching me and leaning in to give me a kiss on the cheek.

I just stared at him completely paralyzed as he brushed his soft lips against my cheek, and I found myself holding my breath. I swear the spot where his lips touched felt like it was burning as if he had left a mark. When he pulled away, for a few seconds we looked into each other’s eyes, and it was as if in that room there were only the two of us, until Catalina’s voice brought me back to reality.

“Well, go have fun, don’t stay with the older folks who only know how to talk about illnesses and money,” she said with a smile, making a gesture for us to move away. “Hermes, you should do the same, stop talking about work and enjoy yourself.”

I don’t know what he answered because his brother took my hand and pulled me across the room to go out to a beautiful and immense backyard where there was a pergola illuminated with tiny lights, under which many of the guests were dancing. The songs playing were performed by a musical group with a femalesinger. At that moment, she was performing Norah Jones’s “Don’t Know Why” and doing it sublimely. Baco led me there.

“Would you dance with me, beautiful?” he asked with his conquistador smile.

“Of course, but stop dragging me all over the house because I’m not your pet.”

Baco laughed and stretched out his arms for me to take. I approached him, he put one arm around my waist and took my hand with the other. I placed my free hand on his shoulder, and we began to twirl.