Chapter Seven: Part Three
They spent their afternoon immersed in engineering bliss in Kate’s bright living room. Kate was impressed with the ingenuity of the modifications that Rick had made to the design of the solar distillery. At one point, he summarised his intent. ‘With these working, people who have no power and no supply of clean water can have access to safe water. It should be able to process saltwater or even polluted fresh water. It’s close, but the energy budget is paradoxical past this point. If I can get it to work though…’
‘I love it,’ was Kate’s only possible response.
For the rest of the afternoon, Kate found herself distracted, almost willing Rick to make a move. The respect he showed her at all times made it clear that only with effort was he resisting. He really is a throwback to a chivalrous past, she thought at one point, before sinking back into the bliss of their shared engineering Nirvana.
Rick took his leave as the sun was low in the sky. At her door, he turned to her and said, ‘Kate, I have a confession to make. I find myself attracted to you and everything about you.’ He rushed on. ‘I know you have had a rough time of it, so please know that unless you’re comfortable with the idea, I will not push. Please say nothing now, Kate. I want you to have time to think without needing to say anything. We, my parents and I, are visiting with Grandmother at Race, the village on the northern shore where the sea comes in, and we’ll be staying the night. May I offer you a guided exploration of our beautiful island in the later morning?’
Kate did not trust herself to do more than smile and nod, appreciating his consideration whilst processing his words. Standing on the step of the balcony, he kissed her hand for a little longer than chivalry suggested was strictly appropriate before he melted her with a smile and vanished into the early twilight.
Her mind observed drily, Still moving like a big cat! A sexy, big, sexy, confusing, sexy, man-cat!
~~~~~
Kate shared her evening meal with Dom, Edison, Juanita and the girls. ‘Carrie, this dish is wonderful. You have used some of our island’s herbs,’ Dom said.
‘Dom, you have some amazing produce here. I have not even seen some of it before, but tastes and smells don’t lie.’
‘She cooks with her eyes closed half the time,’ teased Dee.
Juanita responded, ‘So do I. Aroma is the language of food. It’s how it talks to you.’
Carrie looked at Juanita with a huge smile. ‘Perfectly said.’
Comfortable and easy conversation filled their relaxed evening. At one point, Kate shivered when the cool evening breeze penetrated her shirt and Dom had his jacket draped over her shoulders in an instant. He gave her shoulder a light squeeze to acknowledge her thanks before she had a chance to say anything. Everyone helped with the cleaning up before saying good night and retiring for the evening.
Indicating the eastern path back to their cabins, Dom offered Kate his arm, and she smiled, nodding her acceptance. As soon as they were alone, Kate said, ‘Rick told me he was interested in me this afternoon.’
‘And how did you respond?’
‘He didn’t give me a chance to answer him. He wanted me to think about it before I said anything.’
‘He’s a smart man. A considered decision is far better than a hasty conversation filler. He is a kind and considerate man by both nature and upbringing, and he’s about as hard as flint as well. How did you want to respond?’
Kate held her breath, thinking. ‘I don’t know where my mind is at. I don’t know if it is him or the whole Alegria thing…’
Dom halted and faced her squarely. ‘Those words pay suitable homage to the perceived expectations and conditioning of society. They are also a total deflection. Kate, what do you want,’ he respectfully touched the centre of her chest, ‘here?’
Kate felt his touch simplify everything, but her instinctive answer confused her, going against her mind’s instinct for self-protection. Kate said in mock frustration, whilst stamping her foot, ‘Will you lot stop being so bloody perfect!’ She was trying to deflect the question, but Dom held her eyes. His question was not going away and they both knew it.
‘Carrie asked the same damn thing this morning. I wanted him to kiss me, all right? I wanted to run away, and I wanted him to stop me and kiss me.’
‘Carrie does not disappoint,’ was all Dom said in response. They resumed their strolling pace in silent companionship, enjoying the sounds and smells of the woods. Kate’s mind replayed his question. She decided in a moment of abject self-honesty that she had even thought about a little more than just a kiss with Rick.
After a couple of minutes, Kate asked, ‘Do you really think it’s that simple Dom?’ ‘Why on earth should it be any more complex?’ He asked. She chuckled and grabbed his arm tighter. ‘One day, I am going to hear you say something that I can argue with.’ They both giggled and strolled on.
Reaching the steps of her cabin, Dom turned and hugged her. ‘Good night, Kate. May you sleep well and dream vividly of wondrous beauty.’ He kissed her respectfully on her forehead and bowed lightly, and then disappeared like smoke into the night. Kate slept from the moment she hit the pillow until light flooded into her room when the sun’s leading edge broke over the horizon the following morning.
~~~~~