Sebastian 

I am nervous. I have never been nervous to go on a date with a woman before. Not ever in my life. Yet I am. The amber liquid swirls around in my crystal glass, brandy is needed to calm my nerves. Whilst I try to ascertain exactly why I have a fluttering sensation in my stomach I knock my brandy back in one, just to take the edge off. Even the mountain views from my wrap around balcony do nothing to pacify me.

She doesn't know anything about my life, who I really am and the secret I have. The same secret I have managed to keep from everyone except my parents. I try to dismiss it but it's difficult to do. It is such a huge part of my life that at some point I am going to have to let it out. 

I am considering pouring myself another drink but check the time. It's already nearly half past seven so I need to make my way downstairs to my car and driver. My heart begins to race at the thought of seeing the American girl again, it flutters at the thought of spending a few hours with her. I adjust my sapphire cufflinks and give myself the once over in the long antique mirror in my bedroom. Quickly I run my hands through my mop of dark hair and consider myself ready to go and meet her.

"Good evening sir." My driver Pedro says as he holds the door open for me. I have already notified him of where we will be going. The restaurant is nestled amongst the hills of Santa Fe and will take us around thirty minutes to get to. 

"Good evening Pedro. Let us wait for the lady." He raises his eyebrows slightly. I forgot to mention I would have company. He nods and remains standing with the door open until the American girl comes down. I am ashamed to say I already know her name is Ava because I checked the rooming list. To be honest it is my hotel and I am always on top of who is staying with us. I like to keep abreast of our guests and if we have anyone famous coming in. It is not uncommon for our hotel to be a secret hideaway for many celebrities who are looking for luxury without compromising their privacy. 

Then I see her. She is a vision in white wide bottomed trousers that show off her stunning legs and accentuates her small waist. Her orange silk blouse shows off her auburn hair that she is wearing down. I want to stroke her hair and remind myself tonight is a no touch evening. I do not want to rush anything with the beautiful woman who comes towards me. I watch as her hips sway gently and feel a stirring in my loins. Deftly I clasp both my hands together and place them in front of my centre and beg my mind to calm down my budding erection.

"You look stunning American girl." She half smiles, it is my intention that by the end of this evening she will be smiling broadly and perhaps even laughing.

"Wow a limo." She states. Pedro places a hand out to assist her getting into the car. "Thank you." She says to him and sits herself perfectly behind the driver's seat. Her legs are tucked to the left and she reaches for her seatbelt. I nod at Pedro who makes his way to the other side of the car and holds my door open for me. 

"Thank you Pedro." I get inside and duck my head as I do so. Sometimes being six foot tall can be a hinderance. 

"You have a driver?" She asks and ensures that her hands are firmly clasped between her legs. Is this my opening to tell her exactly who I am or will it scare her away? She checks her seatbelt is in properly and I wait for Pedro to slide into the driver's seat. He checks his rearview and I give him the nod to pull away. The car is silent as he begins to drive around our centre fountain and make his way for the iron gates at the bottom of the hotel's entrance drive.

"Thank you for joining me. It is an honor that you will dine with me this evening." I smile at her and see her move slightly in her seat. Is she actually trying to shrink away from me? Strange she openly accepted my invitation. Now I feel even more nervous. Trust me when I say, I am anything but a nervous or hesitant man. Her lips are pushed together in a tight line. This doesn't look too good. I hope she isn't scared of me.

"So do you make a habit of chatting up foreign women and inviting them to dinner?"

I am bewildered. Is this what she thinks? That I prey on young female tourists. "Absolutely not I can assure you. You are my first." I wink at her. She squirms in her seat it amuses me some. 

"Well that's reassuring then. So where is your wife tonight?" Wow she's like a firing squad. Now I am considering giving her my full resume to appease her. 

"She is at home doing the ironing." I quip back. She opens her luminous brown eyes wide and then narrows them like she is scrutinizing me. I can't help myself when I continue. "We have an arrangement. She stays home and looks after the house and my four children and I enamor American tourists with my good looks and charm." I chuckle. She doesn't. If her eyes were throwing daggers which they look like they are, I'd be covered in blood around my entire chest.

"Is that a joke?" She now folds her arms tightly in front of her. I can see the crinkle of Pedro's eyes in his rearview mirror. Clearly he is finding my lines amusing. Good, so he should. This girl doesn't seem to want to have small talk but then I can see that she is merely ascertaining if I am a legit guy or not. Naturally I am. I would never cheat on any woman. Ever. Period. Full Stop. 

"Sorry forgive me. I do not mean to make light of your questions. Let me introduce myself to you properly." She nods expectantly. Her lips still drawn in a fine line. I want to place my lips on hers and prize them open with my moist tongue and run it along her budding lips that look like they should be kissed until they are bruised with passion, longing and desire. 

I gather myself since I am in a tight position here in the car and my pants are not exactly forgiving. A bulge at this point would be a definite give away. "I am Sebastian Garcia." I pause wondering if she has heard of my name, it is not just here in Spain that I am well known but across most of America, the Middle East and Europe. Our select luxury hotels are famous for quality and superiority. I see her eyes shed some acknowledgement. I am hoping it is not recognition from all the social media that shows me mostly out and about with glamorous women. They are all pictures taken ordinarily at galas, charity events and important functions for my business. Why I even need to be seen with other women is beyond me, however my publicist seems to think it affords me greater attention and is better for the business. This I think is debatable.

"Never heard of that name. What do you do?" I am wondering if she is telling me a white lie and wants me to squirm and admit I am a billionaire, a famous one. Funny, I have never felt like squirming before but she is putting me on the spot. All of a sudden I feel slightly embarrassed by my status. This is a first for me. 

Her head is tilted slightly away from me and her eyebrows are raised. "I own hotels. I am a businessman." I don't want to tell her I am a billionaire because I am afraid to. She seems a perfectly normal woman to me, someone who would have a job, a house, perhaps a cat or a dog. I also don't want her to like me because I am rich.

"How many hotels? The hotel I am staying at too?" She is staring at me. 

"Yes, I own the hotel where you are staying." She lets out a slow whistle. I can understand why since it is a sprawling five star hotel at the upper end of luxury set amidst hazelnut groves and vineyards. I refrain from telling her that I am the proud owner of over five hundred similar establishments and on-going projects in new to us areas, for example Morocco. 

"I'm Ava by the way. I'm a travel vlogger and your hotel will be included." She appears smug. Now she has me worried, what if she gives me a bad review publicly? I remind myself to drop a message to my staff to ensure that Ava has absolutely everything she could possibly imagine. 

"Ava." I say slowly. "This is a very beautiful name." Before I can ask her if she is named after the famous actress her lips move and she interrupts me. 

"Please don't ask if I am named after Ava Gardner. I am. How long have you been in the hotel business? Tell me more." 

I tell her the history of my father and his start in the industry and how I was encouraged to follow in his footsteps. I don't leave out that I had to start at the bottom and when I wanted to branch out I had to pay him every euro back, that he gave to me as the start up. This has all come to me with hard work, sweat and tears. Her eyes are fixed on mine as I talk. I feel like I am drowning into her. Melting. My heart is threatening to come out of my chest. She is so close yet so far. The distance she has put between us is almost tangible. 

Pedro stops the car. We have arrived and before I can tell her more he has stepped out of the car to open the door for Ava who takes his hand graciously and steps out. Not without me checking out her very fine, tight arse. I love the way her hips move as with her and taper to her neat waist. The same waist I long to put my arms around, to pull her into my chest and feel her heart beating against mine.