Romance on the Coast

I remember the first time I heard the song, as it took me by surprise. My heart stirred as I listened to the melody, and felt the ocean breeze warmly blow across my face. There were not many in the hotel cantina, just me and a few tourists. My travels were not personal, yet at this moment in time I felt as though I was on an adventure.


I was standing under the canopy that connected the main bar and the beach area ... somewhat like the perfect segue from relaxation to paradise.
As the song ended, I felt suddenly alone. That's when my eyes caught hers.
My initial reaction was to shyly turn away, but I could not. I was captivated as she flowed across the room. She smiled in my direction - and it sent a shiver down my spine. She sat at the bar and started a conversation with an older couple wearing floral printed shirts and shorts.
A laugh erupted from somewhere inside of me as I reflected on my boyish reaction to her beauty. I felt so young as I turned to walk out towards the ocean and feel the light spray dance across my skin.
The sun was just about below the horizon, when it appears as a bright orange glow. I swallowed the last of my grapefruit juice and jostled the ice with my straw. Seemed to be a good way to end my day and return to my room.

Turning back, to my surprise, there was the mystery woman right behind me. "There is nothing better than the sun going down into the Pacific", she said.
My best reply was, "I know, couldn't agree more".
My mind raced. Surely you can come up with something better than that, I thought.
Before a new sentence could form, she reached out her hand to mine.
"I haven't danced in such a long time ... care to join me inside?", she charmingly requested.
I said, "Well, any other time my answer surely would be yes, but my gut is all bound up from eating 5 chili dogs ... man, I need to take a dump"