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Writer
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Colorado
Posts: 36
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Monterey Nights
Ok this is my last one for a while. I promise. This one is a romance so it might not be appealing to some. I enjoyed it though. It came from stories my mom told me about when she lived in Monterey, California. A lot of the places are real. Once again I would appreciate some constructive criticism. Ok I’ll stop rambling and let you read the story. Enjoy! (Sorry it's so long)
Chapter One
The salty smell of the sea filled her senses along with the potent stench of fish. Men and women from a variety of ethnic backgrounds crowded the wharf in a rush of movement. She swerved in and out of the people browsing around the carts of fish. Every morning she navigated her way through the Monterey wharf to a lone cart of freshly cooked lobster. She so loved the sweet juicy taste of MacLandan’s steamed lobsters that she bought one in the morning and had it for lunch everyday. MacLandan was a sour old seaman that pretended to care for no one, but Mia knew, despite his denials, that he cared for her.
As she cornered a stand piled high with small sand sharks she ran right into a solid wall of hard muscle. She looked straight at the most perfectly muscled chest she had ever seen. It was tightly incased in a gray-blue T-shirt that tucked into light blue Levi jeans. Her striking green eyes traveled downward very slowly. When they reached an enormous display of manhood straining against the jeans zipper they froze in shock. Her creamy cheeks darkened five shades. Her eyes snapped shut and her breathing became extremely erratic. Strong male hands grabber her upper arms in an attempt to steady her.
“I’m so sorry miss,” said a deep stunning voice when she was righted to her original position. “Are you alright?” he asked with concern. She was afraid to look up. What if this god of manliness was actually an ugly demon, she wondered. Gradually her eyes move up his flawless chest to his muscular neck then to his face. She was absolutely shaken by what she saw before her. Dark auburn silk fell perfectly in place on his head. Forest green eyes pierce deeply into hers. He had the face of a god. No, he was more handsome than any god could be. She was speechless. Absolutely, positively, speechless.
“It’s my fault. I wasn’t watching where I was going. I’m kind of in a hurry. I really am sorry ma’am but I must go.” And with that he was gone. Lost into the scurrying people of the wharf. The man of her dreams just breezed in and out of her life in a matter of seconds, though to her it had seemed like hours. It was just her luck. She didn’t even get a second look much less a first one. She didn’t blame him though. She looked like crud today. Her water in her apartment went out again so she couldn’t shower and she couldn’t wash her clothes. Her hair was disgusting and her clothes were dirty and holey.
She would have to drop by Evelyn’s later and see if she could use her shower. She had to look really good for work today because the Casa Maria’s new owner would be there. If she got fired for her appearance she would never forgive herself.
“Hey Mac,” she said in a sad tired voice as she picked a steamed lobster from the cart. The ruby red treat was wrapped loosely in a piece of yesterday’s newspaper. “I’ll take this one,” she took out her wallet and counted out the price.
“What happened to you?” Mac’s gruff voice asked. “You look like you went swimmin’ in a garbage scow.”
“My water went out again.” The stupid water went out at least once a week. “What’s wrong with you? Your EXTRA grumpy today.” She could always tell when this old sea dog wasn’t in a good mood, even though he sounded like he wasn’t everyday.
On bushy salt n’ pepper eyebrow raised at her frankness, “Nothin’ you nosy girl. You’re worse than those darn seals. Always nosing around in other peoples business,” he elaborately snorted in disgust as he took the money from her hand. “Everything’s just fine with me, girlie,” he said, showing his love for her briefly.
“So Mac, how has you day gone so far? Anything interesting happen?” she asked, fishing for a clue to his unhappiness.
“My pesky nephew has moved out here,” he said with a tinge of annoyance, “The little pip squeak is tryin’ to run my life. If I want to fish, I’ll fish.” MacLandan’s face expressed fully his resentment towards his nephew. “I can take care of myself. I haven’t gone senile yet.”
Bingo, Mia thought. “So that’s why you’re so grumpy Mac,” she said with a smug little smile. “I gotta run,” she replied when he started to lecture her about keeping her nose out of other peoples business. She leaned over the cart, kissed his rough check, and took off.
She traveled swiftly through the crowd at the fish market to the open street. On her was to Evey’s she thought about the handsome roadblock. He was the perfect man. Amazingly gorgeous and, oh, so polite. If only he could be her knight in shinning armor. He could save her from that rat hole she was forced to live in, instead of the comfortable life she led back home. With her high-class parents in Colorado she didn’t have to worry about the water going out or where the monthly rent was coming from. Sometimes she really missed home, but then she would remember her friends.
She looked up and realized that she was at her destination. That was quick, she thought. She walked up the pathway to the little one story Mexican house. It was a quaint little house with a clay tile roof and stucco walls. Hollyhocks, pink and white, grew tall and proud in front of the little stained glass bathroom window. She loved Evey’s place and wished she could one day have her own with a cute little cypress tree growing in the yard, but dreams are dreams. She walked under the front arch and knocked on one of the large wooden double doors.
A petite blonde opened the door. When she saw Mia her classically beautiful face and silver blue eyes lit up with pleasure. “Mia! How good to see you,” she exclaimed with joy. Her face fell when Mia’s appearance registered. “Need my shower again?” she asked. When Mia nodded demurely she continued, “You really need to move out of that place, Mia.”
“I know Evey,” Mia said dejectedly, “But right now I can’t. Once I’m on my feet I’ll move. You understand right?”
“Oh honey. I understand,” she said in a motherly tone of voice. She sometimes treated her like a child even though she was only nine years older than Mia. Although she was thirty-one, Evelyn looked as beautiful as the young Mia. “Come in and take a shower dear.”
Mia followed the older women inside. Evelyn took the bag of her dirty clothes with a promise to clean them. Mia thanked her and entered the small guest bathroom. She cracked the stain glass window just a bit so the room could fill with the sweet sent of hollyhocks. She removed her clothes without haste and stepped under the running water. The water was refreshingly warm unlike the icy water of her apartment. She finished up and dried her hair.
Evelyn knocked softly on the door. “Come in,” Mia called as she was brushing her shiny, clean hair. The door slowly opened. Evey came in holing her nicely folded clean clothes. Mia thanked her, dressed, and thanked her again. Finally she left for work.
She walked quickly down the street towards the Casa Maria’s. As she walked down Calle Principal, the main street in Monterey, she wondered what her new boss was going to be like. Old, fat, and rude was her guess. Mia glanced at the paintings on display in the gallery window. In one of them was a beautiful painting of Fisherman’s Wharf framed in cherry wood. She loved that painting so much but at this rate she would never be able to afford it. Mia was a painter herself. So far she had been unsuccessful in the task of selling her work.
Mia turned on Monterey Boulevard and continued on her way. She looked up at the blue sky searching for signs of rain. Thankfully there was not a cloud in sight. She reached up to adjust the clip with a net attached that held her red hair. The one thing she hated about working at the Casa Maria’s was the uniform. She loved them so much but the color did horrible things to her complexion. It was a little Spanish style dress that ended just above her knees. The bodice was tight to her slim waist then it flared out. A couple of petticoats were attached underneath the shirt to give it some body. The sleeves were short little puffballs. It was adorable except for the fact that it was orange. Red hair did not mix well with orange. The dress was also embroidered with a little Spanish design in green. She just wished they had picked a different color.
She turned down the street that led to the end of Cannery Row where the Casa Maria was located. Mia loved this town so much. It was not at all like the towns in Colorado. People where so colorful here. Many cultures mixed to create one of the most enchanting environments. Mia looked up to glance upon the beautiful Casa Maria. It a stucco building, much like Evelyn’s house, with the red tile roof in the classic Spanish style. The unique thing about the Casa Maria, though, was that it was built on a pier on the ocean. A little wood bridge led up to the large double doors. Mia crossed that bridge and grabbed on of the big brass handles on the doors. She pulled the door open and strolled inside. She took the door to her left that led to the kitchen.
Jack Richards, the old cook, was already busily working in his famous kitchen. Everyone from around here knew Jack and his scrumptious beef fajitas. He was said to be the best cook in all of California. Mia readily agreed with that.
“Hey babe,” he said with a warm kindness. “Glad your not late today, seeing as how we have a new boss and everything.”
“Me too,” her voice was overflowing with relief. She was sure to get fired if she showed up late the first day the new owner was here.
“Oh, I see you brought your lunch again today,” he uttered. “What? You don’t like my cooking babe?”
“You know I adore your cooking, Jake,” she tried to appease his anger. “I just love lobster and you don’t make that here.” She put on her waitress apron, got her notepad, and went to work taking orders.
She just got finished with her fourth order of the day when she looked up to find her dream standing proudly in the doorway. Her breath caught in her throat. Her heart stopped completely then did an odd somersault. His head turned in her direction and he smiled a heart stopping, head turning smile. She melted right then and there before she turned away in embarrassment.
Kevin la Centra suddenly realized why the beautiful scarlet haired women looked so familiar. She was the woman he ran into at the wharf. He intercepted her before she could reach the bar.
“Hello,” he said with a smile that she just couldn’t get enough of. “Aren’t you the one I ran into this morning?”
“Ah…yeah…that was me,” Mia couldn’t say anything more. She was usually very good with men but around him she became utterly speechless.
“You sure clean up nicely,” his green eyes looked her up and down as he spook. “What a surprise.”
“I have to get back to work,” Mia snapped as she quickly found her tongue. She walked past him, completely insulted. To think, she thought he was a dream. God, what was her problem with the picking of men? She always seemed to pick the assholes. She pushed the kitchen door open and angrily strode in.
Kevin didn’t know what he said wrong. He thought he was being nice. The first time he saw her he thought, Wow could anyone be more beautiful than that. It turned out that she could be more beautiful than that. It was really shocking. But what was he to do know? Then realization hit him smack in the face. You sure clean up nicely. He smacked his hand against his forehead. God what was he thinking?
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