Chapter 2 #2
The resort was built along a gorgeous strip of coastline with white sand and turquoise water and Derius had no trouble locating his friends and their dates.
Several of the guys were surfing, which sounded good to him, so he signed out a board from the kiosk, charging it to his room, and headed for the breakers.
Surfing—simply being near the ocean actually—always cleared his head and riding the waves worked the tension out of his body.
He had time to think about Leonie while waiting for the next good wave to arrive but was at a loss for how to move them forward.
Obviously the two of them weren’t going to be doing the couples activities the resort had laid on for the Ardannans but he hated the idea of her sitting in the hotel room working.
The group came together for lunch, with the men going to pick up a huge takeout order at a café on the edge of the beach and then spreading the food out picnic style on blankets on th sand.
The three girls were pleasant and Derius could tell at least a couple of his friends were well on the way to being smitten with their human dates.
Braden was nowhere to be seen but Derius remembered he’d said he had something else lined up even though his date hadn’t shown up.
“We’re going shopping tomorrow afternoon,” Serita, one of the dates told Derius as she dipped fried shrimp into a hot sauce.
“There are so many cute stores on the strand. Would your date like to come? I know the guys are planning to go hang gliding or spearfishing while we’re spending credits.
” She leaned a little closer. “I understand you and your girl have a rough history so I was thinking if she wanted to get out but not be with you—”
“That’s kind of you. I don’t think Leonie’s much for shopping but I’ll mention it to her.”
When lunch was over the men policed the picnic site with military thoroughness and then the others went to play beach volleyball.
Nikko had reserved a net for this time slot.
Derius refused the offer to rotate in and out with one of the other men to keep the numbers even and walked to the hotel.
Anxious about Leonie he was uncomfortable enjoying himself when she was miserable.
Knowing her state of mind was all his fault, stemming from his craven decision three years ago didn’t help.
But how was he going to fix things if she wouldn’t agree to hear his explanation and apology?
When he walked into their room, she was sitting at the table, the remnants of a room service lunch at her elbow, working away on a large handheld, data chits and other devices scattered within convenient arm’s reach.
She looked up, startled and he had to fight not to lose himself in her deep blue eyes.
He strode to the table, pulled the central device away from her and said, “You shouldn’t be working your fingers to the bone on such a lovely day with the entire planet out there to explore. ”
She blinked. “I can see the ocean from the balcony window.”
“Seeing it is not the same as sitting next to it or wading out into the waves. Listen, I know you don’t want to spend time with me but I hate to see you working when you could be out on the beach relaxing.
And knowing it’s because of me. If you’d met any other Ardannan for this date you’d be out there having fun.
Instead you’re avoiding me. If I promise not to bother you, will you change clothes and come to the beach?
” Guilt ate at him that she was denying herself any relaxation or recreation simply because of him and his massive screwup three years before.
“I don’t know if you remember but I told you I’m an independent management consultant. I’m working on my proposal for a new job, which I’m excited about and which would pay my bills for a year if I get it.”
He blocked her from retrieving the device from his side of the table. “Babe, really, tell me the truth. If you were here in this room with any other Ardannan, would you be working on a proposal?”
Obviously torn between admitting he was right and the temptation to lie Leonie licked her lips and fidgeted with her handheld. “No.”
“I rest my case. I’ll wait while you change and then I’ll escort you to the beach, make sure you’re set up with a chair and a cute drink with an umbrella and then I’ll leave you alone.”
He was sure she’d refuse him but he had to try.
The moment lengthened as Leonie stared at his face, her lips pursed.
Then she gave a brisk nod, put her hands on the tabletop and rose.
“All right. I’ll concede a bit of downtime between jobs might be a good thing.
You don’t have to escort me down there.”
“I’ll wait,” he said. “I want to be sure you get set up the way you’d like and at least close to our group.”
She didn’t say anything as she crossed the room and went into her bedroom. He heard the lock click and sighed. She was never going to trust him again, was she? And he deserved her suspicion and reserve. But at least she hadn’t said no to the beach. That was a start, maybe.
Leonie re-emerged in ten minutes in a colorful two piece bathing suit, hot pink beach sandals and a striped coverup, carrying a bag with cavorting sea creatures on the side in vivid colors. “Lead on,” she said with a gesture at the door.
He waited while she grabbed her handheld from the table and stuffed it into the bag, then opened the door to the room and allowed her to precede him.
It was a short walk from the hotel to the spot where his group was established for the day.
Despite the crowd of Ardannans and their dates, Derius was able to get one of the comfortable beach chairs with its own umbrella for her and set it up close to the spot where he and his friends had their chairs and towels.
Without asking he jogged to one of the many bar stations and got her the promised fruity tropical drink with an umbrella and brought it to her as she was arranging herself and the book she’d brought to read in the chair.
“I remember your drink order from…well, from before, so I ordered the closest thing they had on the menu,” he said, handing her the frosted glass.
“Nothing for yourself?” she asked, taking the feelgood and drinking a tiny sip. “Oh yeah, that’s good. Thank you.”
“I’ll have refreshment later,” he said. “I’m going back to surfing now so enjoy your book.”
He wanted to stay and try to talk to her since she’d unbent a fraction but he sensed it wasn’t the time to push so he turned and ran to the waves, diving under an incoming breaker and emerging on the other side stroking hard.
The ocean always had a calming effect on him and he reveled in using its power to body surf.
Out here he could stop thinking too much and hoping for a breakthrough with Leonie and exist in the moment, savoring the rush of riding a wave with only his muscles and instincts to save him from disaster.