A Walk In The Wilderness (22 page)

       Caitlin looked at him quizzically. 

      “The hotel will trace the calls when you press the pound key and code.”  He explained.  “Let’s go.”

     They came out of the hotel to face a beautiful, summer day.  Caitlin breathed deeply, and smiled.  David stole a look at her in her chic, white suit and grinned.  He took her hand.

     After a fine brunch, they went to a jewelry store.  Caitlin wandered aimlessly, admiring the many fine things that were in the front case.  

     David, however, was in the back corner of the store, she discovered, deep in conversation with the proprietor.   Money was exchanging hands, she noticed, and the shop keeper looked pleased, indeed.  He was gesturing to David with excitement and assurance.  David nodded, and smiled. 

     He looked up and saw Caitlin watching, and came to join her.  “See anything that you like?”  he asked lightly.

    “No, of course not.”  she refused immediately.  “You must have, though.  Did you find something for your mother?”

     David withdrew a bit, and then turned his eyes to her.  “I was hoping that you would help me with that.  What do you think she’d like?”

    Caitlin wrinkled her brow.  “Well, gold is always safe.”  she said uncertainly.  She wondered what in the world David had been purchasing, if not something for his mother?

     “And diamonds?” he asked lightly.

    Caitlin smiled.  “You know it.  You can’t go wrong with diamonds.”  she said immediately. 

     David laughed.  “I thought maybe that word would do it.”  He showed her a gold brooch with several diamonds, that was lovely.

     “I know that she’d love anything that you gave her, David.  She adores you so.”  Caitlin assured him.

     He smiled.  “Yeah. Well, I’m glad of it.  I’m not sure I deserve it.”

   Caitlin looked at him quizzically.  “Don’t be silly.  Of course, you do.”  she scolded.  “No woman could ask for a finer son.  She’s very proud of you.”

     He looked at her with a bit of embarrassment, and smiled.  “Thanks.”  he said.  “I just feel as if I’ve rather … deserted her, you know.  I’m never home anymore.  I hated leaving her alone;  I’m so glad you’re with her now.”

   She grinned at him and scanned the cases thoughtfully.  “What about a bracelet?” she asked thoughtfully.

     David smiled.  “Of course.  She’s crazy about those diamond bracelets.  What do they call them? Tennis bracelets.”

     Caitlin’s eyebrows went up a bit.  That would be quite a purchase.  But David seemed to have his mind made up.  He went to the shopkeeper, and made the deal.  But he came away empty-handed. 

     “Didn’t you find what you wanted, after all?” she asked worriedly.

    “Oh, yes.”  he assured her.  “I’ll pick them up on my last day here.  That way, I won’t have to worry about securing them.”  he explained.

    “Oh.”  she said softly.  What exactly was he up to?  He’d said ‘them’, not ‘it’, and he’d obviously been making a purchase before his mother’s.  Or had he just been making a deposit, or a payment on something he’d already agreed to buy?  There was no way to know.  And it was really none of her business.

    They decided to go back to the hotel.  They were both a bit tired.  After retreating to their rooms, David popped in at the door.  “Want to go for a swim?”  he asked lightly.

      “Don’t you need a nap?”  she asked wearily.

      “Yes.  We could swim after, I suppose.”  he agreed.

      “That makes more sense, doesn’t it?” she asked slowly.

    “Sure.  I can sleep now, let’s do it that way.”  he agreed.  He winked, and disappeared. 

    Caitlin heard his deep breathing in a few short minutes.   She couldn’t seem to get to sleep.  There was something bothering her, and she couldn’t quite make out what it was.   David, for once since they’d come to Paris, seemed to be fine.  For that, she was grateful. 

    David woke up at three, feeling very much better.  He went to Caitlin’s door and peeked in.  She was curled up on the bed, sound asleep.   He smiled and closed the door quietly.  Then, he went to the piano that waited in the bay window of his room and sat down to play quietly.

     Caitlin slept for another hour, which was just about the right amount of time for David to rehearse.   She sat up, hearing strains of music that she knew to be David’s.  She smiled, and went to the door.  She opened it and put her head through. 

     David was sitting at the piano, bare-chested.  She blushed until she saw that he had shorts on.  He looked up and smiled. 

     “Hello, sleepyhead.”  he greeted her lightly.  “Ready for that swim?”

     “Sure.”  she agreed.  “But don’t hurry your rehearsal.”

    “No.  I’ve been about an hour, that’s plenty for today.”  he assured. “Open the door when you’re ready.”

      She smiled at him, and closed the door to change clothes.  She changed into her suit, and covered up with her terry kimono.  She took a towel from the bath and found David waiting for her at the piano.  He kept his eyes on her face, avoiding any other part of her body.

     She smiled at him, and her shining green eyes made him wonder what she was thinking.  He could swear that he saw affection beaming out at him. 

      He put an arm around her and grinned down at her.   “All ready?”

     She nodded, and they went out to the pool.  As she took off the terry cover, David had a wild urge to pick her up and throw her in the water.  He resisted.  He didn’t want to do anything to alarm Cait, and he wasn’t at all sure what might do it at this point.  He felt very certain of her in some areas, but in others, he couldn’t tell.  After Skyler, he was not about to take any chances.  She didn’t need it.

     She dove into the water with straight, beautiful form, and his eyebrows went up again.  She hadn’t been kidding about being a good swimmer.  She was superb. 

     And as he had suspected, he had ample time to get an eyeful of long, slim legs, slender waist, curved back and other various charms as she dove.  He shook his head ruefully.   She was a very beautiful girl.  He’d had little doubt, but it was a different thing to have it so confirmed. He discovered that his focus was quickly swayed by the sight of her in the relatively revealing suit.

     He joined her in the water, and shot the length of the pool underwater.  It felt good to get a bit of exercise, and to feel the cool water course around his body.  It was a good distraction, too.   David knew there was no percentage in dwelling on Caitlin’s slim curves.  None at all.  That would only make for a long night tonight, and a longer tour.

     He surfaced at the other end of the pool and found her close by, her eyes big and round, and her hair streaming over her shoulders.  “You’re a strong swimmer, David.” 

     He laughed. “Well, I get a bit of practice too.”  He pointed out.  “So, tell me.  Are you a good sport in the water, or is horseplay off limits?”

     Caitlin gave him a sideways glance.  “That all depends, David.  How do you categorize horseplay?”

     He shrugged.  “You’ll either have to take your chances, or miss the fun.”  He warned.  “Or, I may decide for you.  I’ve been a long time without anyone to play with.”

     She stifled a chuckle, and gave him a naughty look.  “You look and sound as though you could be quite difficult.”

      He tipped his head in acknowledgment.  “Could be so.” 

    She couldn’t help her smile.  “You’re incorrigible.  I’m going to get dunked whether I want it or not, aren’t I?”

     David sighed.  “Well, you know.  You were very kind to Skyler, even when he was rotten.  And you have decided what I’m going to do, so I may as well go ahead.  You will forgive me, won’t you?” he entreated.

     She laughed.  “David,”  she warned.  “Don’t even think it.” 

    As he advanced on her, her smile grew broader, her eyes wider.  Then he dove.  He could hear her incredulous laughter above him, as he came up beneath her like a locomotive.  His shoulders picked up her legs and she grabbed his head, gasping as he lifted her out of the water and caught her legs to his sides. 

   “David,”  she objected, but her laughter made it totally unconvincing.  Just when she began to think it was over, his strong arms picked her up by the thighs and lifted her high over his head.  Knowing she shouldn’t scream in a public place, she covered her shriek with her hand as she sailed through the air and hit the water.

    When she surfaced again, he was nowhere to be seen.  She looked wildly about, but she couldn’t find him anywhere.  “Looking for someone?” he said from directly behind her.

     She whirled and he caught her with strong hands, laughing at her.

    “Oh, my!  You are quite something, aren’t you?”  she accused, with a smile and a twinkle in her eyes.  “I didn’t know that you could misbehave so!”

     He copped a very stern expression.  “Come, now, I’ve worked very hard to be Prince Charming.  Cut me a little slack, will you, woman?”

      A dimple appeared in her cheeks.  “You poor man.  Have I kept you walking a very narrow line?”

     You can let me off it any time you want to.” He challenged lightly.

   She laughed.  “Oh, my.  Now, I don’t know about that.  You’re altogether charming, David.  I can’t imagine you, if you were not such a gentleman.”

     He shook his head.  “Well.”  He complained resignedly.  “I suppose I’ll just take up a notch in the chain and bide my time, then.” 

    Caitlin felt twinges of sweet expectancy in the depths of her belly.  She couldn’t help following it up a bit.  “Well David; what exactly do you think you’d do if I took the chain off?” she asked teasingly.

     He laughed, and shook his head.  “Don’t even go there.”  He warned her with a lazy look.  “It’s far more temptation than is healthy for me to even consider tonight.  And I’m truly not certain yet how you’d take the answers I’d  give you, angel.”

      She smiled at him, but there was considerable shock in her eyes.

    “I am just flesh and blood after all,”  he reminded her with a naughty grin.  “And you are a very … beautiful … woman.” He said it so slowly; so deliberately.

      She blushed very brilliantly, and he chuckled at her. 

   “But I don’t suppose that’s news to you.  I’d suggest that you refrain from tormenting me with provocative questions unless you’re ready to answer a few, yourself.”

     Caitlin blushed harder and her mouth fell open in surprise.  “David; are you teasing me?” she asked uncertainly.

     He chuckled at her.  “Why would I be teasing you?” he asked quizzically.  “You really have no clue how to take me, do you?”

       She blushed.  “David.”  She objected helplessly. 

     He could see confusion and something else brewing in her eyes.  “What?” he challenged with a light smile.  He moved closer and looked down at her.  “Tell me.”

     “Oh, I don’t know.”  She mumbled.  “Never mind.” 

     He smiled down at her, and brushed a stray wisp of hair away from her lips.  “You’re shivering.  Are you ready to go in?”

     She couldn’t believe it.  He wasn’t going to say any more?  He was just going to end it and leave her hanging, without another word?  She found herself bitterly disappointed. 

     “I think I’ll swim a few laps, if you don’t mind.” She said quietly.  But she was terribly confused and more disappointed than she wanted to admit.  The exchange had certainly brought some things out into the open; but it had ended so very abruptly! 

   Why?  Did he regret what he'd said?  Did his interest end at physical attraction?  Although he'd ended the bantering exchange abruptly, it had opened a new door between them.  And as he was her employer, what had occurred might not be good.

     “What can you be thinking of?  This man isn’t interested in
you
.”  A voice in her brain taunted.  “He’s rich, he’s famous and he’s handsome.  What in the world would he want with
you
?  He’s just having a bit of harmless fun.  Flirting.  He’s playing, that’s all.  Be realistic, you fool!”

     Caitlin blinked back tears of disappointment.  She was angry with herself for allowing this attitude toward David to develop.  It was not seemly, and it certainly was not wise.  She turned and swam a good twenty laps to give herself a chance to regain her composure.  She was still upset, so she swam twenty more.        Then, she got out of the pool and toweled herself dry.  As she shrugged into her short kimono, she looked up to find him watching her from a chaise lounge.

    David sighed, and ran a hand through his hair.  Something had gone a bit awry -- but he wasn’t sure just what it was.  “Cait?” he asked gently.

    She steeled herself, and turned to look at him. 

   “Please; don’t go just yet.  Come here.”  He urged, indicating one of the deck chairs.  “Sit.  Please?”                   

     She sat, and looked up at him with round eyes, waiting.

    “Caitlin, you’ve withdrawn from me for some reason.  What did I do to upset you?” he asked.

      Caitlin looked at her lap in alarm. How could he be so perceptive?   “Nothing, David.”  She answered quickly.  “I suppose I’m a bit tired.  That might be it.”

      He gave her a rueful smile.  “You should never try to tell less than the truth, Caitlin.  You’re a horrible liar.”

     She looked at him with pure chagrin.  “I’d never lie to you.” She said.  But when he just waited, looking into her eyes, she had to look away first.

      He chuckled.  “I didn’t mean it that way.  Not in the strictest sense; but you’re definitely trying to put me off.” he accused softly.

     She smiled at him.  “David, don’t give it a thought.  Really.  I’m sure I’m just...” She shook her head and sighed.  “Still trying to get my bearings.  You know, I’ve never worked for a rich, famous and handsome man before.  It’s all quite new, and right on the heels of all that carry on with Skyler.  Please, don’t pay me any mind.  I’ll be fine.”