As she left the bakery, Esmeralda noticed that she had forgotten her wallet on the counter. Right away she turned before it was too late to get it back. As she entered, she saw Joaquín for the first time—a stocky man in a dark suit. She instantly noticed the man’s aftershave shadow.
Joaquín had dark hair, green eyes, and to Esmeralda’s surprise, her wallet too.
“Excuse me,” Esmeralda said as she approached him, “apparently you found my wallet.”
“Is it yours?” Joaquín asked as he moved it close to her. “But how can I know you are not lying?”
“Do I look like a thief?” Esmeralda asked, a little annoyed.
“It’s better to be safe than sorry,” Joaquín said with a smile. “What do you think will be the first thing I find in this wallet?”
“You’re not going to search it,” Esmeralda said, futilely trying to grab it from his hand.
“Let me see what we have here.”
“Really…” she insisted. “Please don’t.”
“I see,” Joaquín said as he took out an identification card. “You’re ashamed of this photo. Aren’t you?”
“Well…” Esmeralda said, stepping away from Joaquín. “Now that you know it’s mine… May I have it back?”
“I think this deserves a reward.”
“You’re cheeky.”
“It’s the least you can do,” Joaquín said. “Imagine if someone else had this photo in their possession.”
“No, seriously…”
“Let me take you out,” Joaquín said. “I know a place nearby that has the best pastries. You could get a coffee, if you want, and with that the due will be settled.”
“Are you going around asking out every woman you come across?”
“This is actually very strange to me,” Joaquín said. “Since I saw you leaving this place I wished with all my heart to have a chance to meet you. It was a surprise to see you approaching me.”
“You are good…”
“Come on,” Joaquín said, “give me a chance and you’ll see, we’re going to have fun.”
“I have things to do…”
“Cheer up,” Joaquín said, taking a step towards her, “I assure you that you’ll enjoy your time with me.”
Esmeralda sighed, having him so close to her. She could see a glint in the man’s green eyes, and she crossed her arms taking a step back. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“For me it was enough to hear your beautiful voice,” Joaquín said, handing over the wallet. “Getting to know the beauty you carry inside may be too much to ask out of life. In any case, I want you to know that it was a pleasure to talk with such a beautiful woman.”
Esmeralda took the wallet and raised her face to let her gaze meet him. “…okay,” she said. “But you better be a…”
Joaquín hugged Esmeralda around her waist and lifted her up with ease, instantly leaving her on the floor. “You have made me the happiest man.”
Esmeralda fell silent and felt the warmth of Joaquín’s hand underneath hers.
“It’s a date,” Joaquín said as he placed Esmeralda’s hand on his arm. “Let’s go then, my lady.”
Nice write up👏👏👏
Thank you 😊
I hope this story continues. This is good!
I’ll give his charm to one of the characters of a novel.
Nice one
Thanks
Are u on Hangout?.
That is an unusual and very sweet story. I enjoyed reading it. I kept waiting for something terrible but was happy it didn’t come. Lovely. Hugs 🤗 Joni
Thanks Joni. It’s not unusual for the girls I know.
How lovely. Everyone wants love, acceptance and to feel grounded by another earthy being who accepts them for whom they are. Probably now more than ever. Hugs Joni
You are right
A gentle banter of opportunity with just enough tension and release. A good flirt.
Flirting is a forgotten art we need to embrace.
Nice story. Great read. But I wished it was more real and not like a Mills & Boon story…
I’m glad you like the story, but it happens more often than you think.
So cute!!!! ☕️💕 I loved it!
We just need to be in the right place at the right time.
Definitely!!
This really speaks to me today. Thank you.
I hope you had a fantastic day.
Everyday I’m a work in progress. So I’ve got that!
I like the suspension in this. great story.
Flirting requires talent, thanks.
ofcourse it requires great talent 🙂
Beutifully honest x
The world needs more honestly, thanks.
Tell Christa that I’ve posted my 11 inch she wanted to see it
😮
Can you please email me musiqjared@gmail.com kindly 🙏🏿
If there’s something you’d like to talk about you can use my contact form.
Finding the beauty inside is what life is about.
The gift that keeps on giving.
I love its, by the way you write very nice, I’m new here In blogging post …. can you be my first followers please https://wp.me/pd1LD2-q
It makes me happy to know you loved my story. I really appreciate you stopping by and inviting me to your blog.
Peculiar ping. Thanks.
There’s a lot more coming soon. Thanks for stopping by.
🤗🤗🤗
I really appreciate your support.
Very enjoyable, thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog too. Stay safe and well.
It’s my pleasure sharing stories my reader would enjoy. Thank you for stopping by and I hope to see you back soon.
Most welcome.
Well said👏👏
Let’s revive the positive aspect of society.
Nice !!🔥🔥
I’m glad you enjoyed it. I hope to see you back for my future stories.
Wonderful
It’s good to know you enjoyed it. I’ll try to come up with more stories like it.
Esmeralda made a choice would like to hear more Thanks for the comment on Taboo
It takes two to tango. Let’s see what happens in a future story.
It is awesome and great
It’s good to know you enjoyed it. Come back next week for more short stories.
Boss
It’s a pleasure.
I think some people deserve to have their real name hidden in obscurity. If you like to know a deeper part of me just read some of my stories.
Why ,I’m not a spie man
So talk to me e get why (natural)
I’m Sebastian, pleased to meet you.
Can I have your WhatsApp number?
I wanna put you on video call
it can take a hell of a different twist
Coming soon on a future short story.
Good
Thanks, tomorrow we’ll see if I can be good again.
You are welcome
💙
Lovely piece of writing.
Makes me happy to know you enjoyed it.
Whoa ! The man is good, lol.
I know, right? Good thing he is kind hearted too.
That’s some good stuff there my friend. All the best and stay safe.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. I come up with more stories if you’d like to come back.
The images and writing together were really able to take me into another world, and that’s something I find lacking in things of today’s world; being able to tell a story. I miss the lack of images in books nowadays and seeing your blog made me feel like that fantasy-part in my soul is a bit more complete.
Are the images your own Artwork? They really are a portal into another world.
I agree, illustrators are important for a complete fantastic experience. Sadly they aren’t originally mine, although I tweak them to maintain the essence of the site.
😌😌 ☺️🥰 loved this! But I want more!!! Nice read!!
I’m happy to know you enjoyed my story. Don’t worry, the internet has opened a door for me to share my stories with you, I’ll keep them coming. I hope to hear from you soon.
Best .. worked for me exactly at the right 👍
Thanks…lets just hope we can know more about their second date.
so true!
I’m happy you think that way. We all need a day like it.
You’ve described the behavior of the men in my country perfectly! I pictured the whole scene 😀
It’s good to know I’m not the only man picking up girls. I hope you enjoyed the scene.
So engaging! This little scene really draws you in and makes you want to know more!
I’m glad you liked it and i’ll try to make more romantic stories for you.
Thanks for the translation. Maybe I can learn a bit of Spanish.
If you enjoyed the story and learned something, that’s more than I expected. I feel a little proud.
Thanks for this read! I really enjoyed it! 🙂
It was my pleasure, I hope you enjoy my next story too.
First time I have seen this, but it won’t be the last. I enjoyed reading it.
I’m glad you enjoyed it and I hope to see you back soon.
Time well spent! Thank you for sharing your gift. 🙂
It’s good to know you enjoyed it. I hope my next story is of your liking too.
Your relato corto speaks to social consequences of the global pandemic..social distancing becomes social disconnection becomes social isolation becomes..you get the picture..where the universally beautiful, very human act of flirting becomes a potential vector for COVID-19 transmission..yet if we are to be fully human again, flirting has to be rekindled..there are few experiences that compare to crossing paths with a total stranger who makes your heart momentarily stop..what an exhilarating feeling!
Our nature will prevail and we’ll get out of this stronger than before. Thanks for your thoughts.
I like it. Good job creating tension and suspense.
Thanks, I’m glad you liked it. Flirting has always been one of my passions.
Easier said then done! Because of the many who DON’T do this who try to FORCE you to conform (be like them)…tis why its bravery!😊 Scary as *uck this ACTUALLY is, because of the tremendous amount of opposition…societal pressure
I agree…if it wasn’t scary it wouldn’t be so fun. Thanks for your thoughts, I hope to see you back soon.
That Is Such A Great Quote.
I hope it’s helpful in this earthly journey.
Sebastian, that was an amazing story. Very emotional. Loved it.
Jessie, I’m happy to know you enjoyed it. I would love to have you read tomorrow’s story.
What a nice story! The gentleman was really walking the line, though! I was worried he would go too far with his teasing, but in the end, it was sweet.
Thanks Judy, he likes to push the boundaries… it worries me too. I’m happy you found it sweet.
This is so profound, an eye opener for me, many times I try to run away from situations that risk my pride but you have to be brave to face your situations and not loose your sincerity in what you are doing.🙏🙂
It’s my pleasure…after all, we’re always receiving fear signals. Sometimes we have to risk it all.
Indeed!
Awsome page! Nice stories. 🙂
It’s my pleasure Victoria, please come anytime you want. Tomorrow we’ll have a brand new story.
Haha 😆
I can only think of one thing, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” (I John 4:18 NKJV) 🙌
Just what I was thinking. Perfect, thanks for your comment, I hope to see you back soon.
Wonderful! 😃
Definitely, sir.
Just hoping to find a better way of being notified when new stuff drop in.
You could sign up to my mailing list and be notified for every new story: http://eepurl.com/gqYxPn
I have to say, as I am slightly jaded, that story terrified me! What was she thinking?? I mean I know he is kind-hearted, but only because you said so, she couldn’t know! But your story was most certainly engaging-good job!
One can never be sure what will happen in the next chapter. Thank you for your comment and I hope to see you soon for more short stories.
What a wonderful wholesome story! We need more writers like you.
I’m very happy to know that you enjoyed it, I hope that my next stories will also be to your liking. Come back soon.
I am planning on visiting you quite a bit and I am sure you won’t let me down
Flirting – I love this little story! So sad that flirting is a dying art – and one that can get many accused of sexual harassment these days.
Hi Gina… you’re right, flirting shouldn’t disappear. Although, it’s becoming harder every day. I hope you’re enjoying my stories. I hope to see you back soon.
Truth!
Scottye, I see that you continue to enjoy my stories. What a joy!
Fun. Do men generally continue with efforts to persuade no matter how the woman is responding? I saw a couple do this (without the wallet part) in Acapulco a long time ago. Thank you for liking my blog post too.
I’m happy that you liked Mary. I think it all depends on the man and the woman’s responses, for me it was very difficult to learn to differentiate between a no and a maybe.
Very brave of you to share that comment, and much appreciated. Would you care to offer a sentence or two about your insights for a course I am working on?
And that is what I have chosen to do.
The more power to you Ozy, but be gentle. The world needs more gentlemen.
Wow, you are right my brother. But many take gentlemen to be dummy
Nicely rendered! 👍🏾
I hope you enjoyed every moment, Lawrence. Thanks and come back soon.
I shall be back🤓
Lovely write up.
Thank you and I hope you like my other stories, too.
Let me check.
A beautiful story. Enjoyed reading it.
Thanks Kritika, I’m happy to know you enjoyed it. I’ll try to create more like it.
Lovely it would be. Thank you for sharing these wonderful short stories. 🙂
Thanks for the like much apreciated I shared your stories love them thanks Tom
Tom, thanks for your support. I’m very happy to know that you are enjoying my work. I’ll continue creating weekly stories.
I’ve regained my youth! Love is what makes us human. It brings back memories of my youth.
J Clarence, I’m glad to hear that you got your youth back. Time takes the things we used to love away from us and I think fiction helps us remember. I hope you continue to enjoy my stories.
Very well written and mesmerizing!!
Vabs, I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed it. Hope to see you back soon for my weekly stories.
I like that quote!
It’s all about believing in oneself.
Good read.
And thanks for liking my joke post on my blog.
Terryberry, it’s my pleasure. I hope you’re taking the entire tour of my fiction blog.
Thanks. I like what I have read.I will be sure to tour . t’s a pity with having my type of illness I find it difficult reading alot of things especially when one of my symptoms is getting ideas of reference(thinking all the time people are refering to me) . It’s why I find it difficult watching movies as well. I have written a bit about my illness on my blog. Thanks again.
Dear Terriberry, it isn’t an illness, it’s an opportunity (as Dr. Joe Dispenza says). Personally I believe it is a gift, like blogging (and like a t-shirt!). Be free.
In that case, I’m even happier to know that you read my story. I hope your days are full of light.
Nice. You showed more than told. This is a good construction.
Mary, good to have you here. Thanks for that, my goal is to make my readers happy.
Nice story, Sebastián. Thanks for visiting my website and liking my post about prose as poetry. Clearly you are someone who sees the poetry in life!
It’s very difficult not to see poetry in life.
This was nicely written…sounds like a prelude to a sweet romance – something rare in society that should be appreciated. I especially like the quote that precedes this short story : “Life is for the brave, for those who are willing to risk their pride and be sincere. Leave fear behind and enjoy the ride”. -It’s amazing how much could be accomplished and how lives can be impacted in a positive way, when our pride does not get in the way.
A valuable lesson society doesn’t want to embrace.
Very true, Mrs. Gonzalez. Funny coincidence that came in my email today about a 3-star review of a book on how to flirt for shy men. Personally I believe the nuances in storytelling such as Sebastian’s are much more effective than telling others how they should behave. Every flirt is unique!
Flirting is an art that we continue to improve throughout life.
This is beautiful. Reading your work makes me smile. I appreciate the like on my work. I’m not terribly confident with it yet. It feels rusty. Thank you for sharing your gift.
The least we can do is keep working, eventually everything will be as we expect.
I agree.
Terribly sweet beginning for Esmerelda. I appreciate your work, and the likes on my newer works. It’s far from perfect and feels awkward. Yours has wonderful flow, surprise and feels “insert appropriate word” [drawing a blank because I cannot place any flavor of word in the English language to express what I mean].
😌
This is great
It was fun writing it.
This is Awesome. Still new to this wordpress world, but Thank You for the support.
Keep going, blogging is a great adventure.
Very nice
A nice story, Sebastian, but don’t stop there! I want to know what happens next. I suspect something unpleasant.
At first I thought the man to be a giant creep. I still do. But after looking at the title I realized that he might be a gentleman after all. Still, it leaves a big opening for things to take a turn for the worse. I would love to see this turned into a horror or action film. One where Joaquin fights for her or Joaquin is a creepy gentleman who kills anyone who comes near his girl with flirtatious motives. (Just food for thought)