The Club was crowded, and space was at a premium. For Chris, standing just a few feet away, it gave her companions an excuse to press up close to her, lean against her body, run their hands over her, all in the name of camaraderie.

Ana Isabel on the other hand seemed to have a force-field around her. The men kept a respectable distance, leaving her on an island of solitude in the midst of the entertainment. It seemed to place her in a spotlight, standing tall among the hoi-poloi. She seemed above it all.

To me it looked lonely.

Doing my best Spaniard impression, I reached around her waist,...