Chapter 9
Of Mimosas and Mattering
[Unknown number]
Alianna noted the time the message was coming through as she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, hanging up her apron at work.
“See you, Tom,” she shouted as she pulled it out and began walking home.
She saved his number in her phone, under a name she knew Natasha would approve of.
Ali
17:02: Youre punctual. I would like that. When you thinking? Tonight? Tomorrow?
Hot Max From The Beach
17:04: Tonight would be wonderful. It’s a beautiful evening.
Ali
17:05: Ok. I will get Shadow (my dog) and meet you. Do you want to meet by West Beach, main entrance near the shops? We can walk across town from there to East. I can be there in 45 mins. Just let me freshen up and get changed.
Hot Max From The Beach
17:06: Alright. I’ll see you in 45 minutes.
***************
Alianna walked to the beach slightly behind schedule, hurrying along. She had quickly sent Max a message:
On the way. Not standing you up, promise. See you in a bit
She had typed out her and Natasha’s regular ‘xo’ sign off, before deleting it and hitting send. That seemed a bit too…something that they weren’t. Shadow pulled her along the road, knowing that they were heading for one of his two favourite places, eager to run around the sand.
Alianna had given not too small an amount of consideration as to what she would wear for a beach walk.
She wanted to look like she’d made an effort, but didn’t want it to be obvious that she had made an effort.
She also wanted to look nice, but not overdressed, because she was going for a walk on the beach.
Also, Shadow was going to jump on her at some point, so anything white was out of the question.
Alianna had settled on a black strapless top which cut across her chest and hugged her form.
She paired this with a denim skirt that stopped just above her knees.
She had kept her footwear simple – sandals – and had left her hair unbound.
It fell down her back in gentle sweeps and waves.
She had quickly applied some bronzer to her cheeks, nose, and chest, topping up her lipstick before heading out.
She had gone with the same dusky pink colour that she had worn so far today.
She rounded the corner, with the main entrance of West Beach coming into view. Rionan was leaning against a wall, waiting for her.
He wore a grey shirt, unbuttoned down to the middle of his chest – reasonable, in the balmy evening.
She tried not to spend much time looking at the well-defined muscles of his chest, which were now visible.
He was wearing his usual well-fitted black long trousers and had rolled up his shirt sleeves, exposing lightly muscled forearms.
Rionan lifted his arm and swept his hair off his forehead, turning and spotting her as he did so. He smiled, dropping his arm to his side and moving towards her.
“Hi,” Alianna said breathlessly, now aware she was panting slightly at the speed she’d been walking, and wishing she had taken a moment to compose herself. “Sorry I’m late. Getting out the door was…well, I don’t have a reason. I’m late.”
“I like your honesty,” Rionan smiled. “And it is no trouble. It’s a nice evening, and I’m in no rush to return to a hotel room where I will only sit on my own.”
Alianna noted the revelation that he did spend his evenings in The Rinniel alone – whether he had meant to share this intentionally, or whether he was simply saying he had nothing else to do, she didn’t know.
Rionan bent down to let Shadow approach him. “Hello, boy. We’ve met before. Thank you for your help on the beach.”
Shadow leaned in to Rionan’s touch and rested his weight against his legs, eager for the attention and the possibility of making a new friend.
“Shall we go? It’s not a long walk, not really, and Shadow is eager to run around when we get there.”
“Absolutely.”
***************
“So, you’ve never actually had a mimosa?” Alianna asked, toes curling in the sand as they sat on the beach together. The sun was lowering in the sky, which was now ablaze with orange and pink, as Shadow leapt in and out of the sea, doubling back on himself whenever he reached the shore.
“No, I have not. Nobody has ever made me one, and it isn’t something I have thought to make either.”
“Well, we will change that.”
She looked at Rionan, who was lying back on the sand, hands behind his head, eyes closed, soaking up the warmth of the sun. He smirked, knowing she was looking at him without having to open his eyes. “Is that a second date secured, Ali?”
“It’s a mimosa. Don’t let it go to your head.”
As they’d walked back and forth along the beach for the last two hours, they’d talked about her work, her dog, her favourite things about living here, exciting things that had happened recently.
She told him about how she used to draw but in truth was terrible at it, so gave up.
She told him that she liked to read cheesy romance novels.
She loved nature documentaries and was watching one about wolf cubs right now.
Rionan had admired the long stretch of beach, the crystal water, and asked about the ‘I Love Porthan’ selfie frame that stood upright in the sand for passing friends, walkers, families and couples to take photos in. Alianna hadn’t suggested that they take a photograph together.
Shadow ran back over to them, showering Rionan with seawater and kicking sand over him as he went, missing his face and hair but covering his legs. He flopped in between Alianna and Rionan, as Rionan sat up, ignoring the sand that remained on him and giving the dog a good scratch behind the ear.
“I haven’t given you much chance to tell me about yourself, Max.” Alianna noted, looking down at her dog, who was now rolling around in the sand as if to completely blend in with his surroundings, covering himself in it as effectively as he could.
“There’s not much to tell, to be honest,” Rionan shrugged, joining Alianna in watching Shadow.
“Oh, sure. That’s what everyone says, and then they drop some grand reveal like I’m actually a millionaire, or I’m a wanted criminal. You’re not a wanted criminal, are you?”
Rionan laughed and looked up at her earnestly.
“No, I am not a wanted criminal. I’m not very good at talking about myself.
I like artwork. I suppose I have a taste for finery, although you have mocked me for wearing formal trousers to the beach enough times that you may have figured that out yourself.
I love my gardens, and walking in the woods. ”
“Gardens? Plural?”
“Yes…gardens, plural. You know how some homes have more than one?”
“Like a front and back?”
“Yes, like a front and back. Well, I have more than one, and I like them.”
“Do you grow anything in your gardens?”
“I did. Flowers of different colours. Different trees and shrubs. I have…friends who help me with the gardening. They’re better at it than I am. They could tell you what the plants were, more than I could.”
“They sound lovely. I’d like to see them sometime,” Alianna cringed. “Not that I’m inviting myself to your house. I just think the flowers sound nice.”
Alianna fought for something else to say, rather than leave an awkward silence and allow him to think she’d been inviting herself to his home after one date. “You haven’t actually told me where you’re from. I know you’re here on business, but where is home?”
“A long way from here,” Rionan said, his face turning grave for a moment. As quickly as she noticed his expression, he snapped out of it, looking up at her, his appearance softening. “Not somewhere you’re likely to have heard of. Bit of a washed-up place really.”
“If it’s washed-up, why do you live there?”
“I’ve told you that before. A sense of community. Of mattering. It won’t be washed up forever.”
Alianna felt a warmth grow in her chest at that, and she held his stare. “Community and mattering. It sounds nice.”
Rionan broke their eye contact and looked back out to the sea. She followed his gaze, adjusting her position in the sand, all too aware of his hand, which was mere inches from hers.
“Is there a garden near here?” Rionan asked quietly.
“A public garden? Yes, there is. It’s about a thirty-five-minute walk from here.
It isn’t as nice as it used to be. The plants there used to be wonderful, with different colours and smells around every corner, but the local council had to make cutbacks, and there aren’t enough volunteers to look after it.
It’s still nice, but it isn’t like it used to be. ”
“I’m sure it’s still lovely, and would be even lovelier if walking through it in good company,” Rionan’s eyes landed on her again, and she felt a fluttering in her stomach, which she decided she would not acknowledge right now.
“Would you like to meet for a walk there, maybe over the next day or two?”
“Hmmm. Deal. I can’t do tomorrow, I’m tied up with work, and then I have plans with Tasha. I’m sure you probably have some actual work to be doing yourself while you’re here, too. How about the next day?”
“Sounds perfect.” Rionan smiled at her, returning his gaze to the sea, while she continued to ignore the feeling in her chest, and the colour she knew was creeping onto her cheeks.