“This is amazing. I…” she sits down beside me and watches the small turtles swim in the little pool. “I honestly feel speechless.”
“It’s something else, right?”
“It’s beautiful.”
I put my menu down on the table. I should know it like the back of my hand. “The cocktails are to die for as well.”
“Well, since you’re the expert, I’ll let you decide for me.”
The waitress walks over to us to take our order. “Can we have two of your most asked for cocktails? We’ll let you decide.”
I’m not good at deciding for people, so I’ll take the easy way out and let the waitress decide for us. To be quite honest, there probably aren’t many I haven’t tried. Lucca and I like coming here for a little escape. My parents love it. They rave about it to friends and family. My brother is the drinks picker. He knows all about what to mix with what. I can see him working in a cocktail bar one day.
“This is breath-taking.”
The waitress places two tall glasses down in front of us. The green liquid looks cool and enticing.
“Thank you.” Harleigh addresses the waitress. She lifts her glass, looks at it curiously, and raises it to me. “Cheers.”
I clink my glass with hers and watch in amusement as she takes a delicate sip of her drink.
“Oh, it tastes just like juice. I did wonder if I’d be sick from the sight or smell of another alcoholic beverage so soon today, but I could get used to this.”
I chuckle at her innocence. “I always thought teachers would have to be silent alcoholics with everything they face daily.”
Harleigh turns her attention from the small turtle sitting beside her to me. “It’s not so bad. Yes, we have the odd little monster that pushes buttons, but overall, I enjoy my job. I missed it when I didn’t work.”
“Lady of leisure, huh?”
Harleigh’s face falls slightly and she gulps deeply. I wish I could take back those words. “Something like that. It isn’t a time of my life that I like to relive. Let’s just say I’m a different person now.”
I raise my glass and nod at her softly. “We all have parts of our life that challenge us. I think it makes us stronger.”
“I’m working on it. So, what’s on your agenda for today?”
I smile warmly at her brief change of subject. I’m happy with that, because I’m getting used to the carefree look on her face. I didn’t like the sombre look a moment ago.
“Well, if you like, I’d like to take you to lunch. I know the perfect restaurant on the harbour if you like seafood.”
“I love seafood.”
And just like that, the excitement that radiates from Harleigh is back again. The scary part is that I could get used to having her around, and that thought terrifies me.
“I know I say this all the time, but I don’t want to put you out. You must have work to do.”
I shake my head. “I always have time to spare. I’d only be stuck in my office if I was back at the hotel. I‘d much rather have a day off with you. Besides, what’s the point of being the boss if I can’t make my own rules?” I shrug and we both smile.
“Okay. On one condition.” She holds one finger up and points it delicately at my chest.
“Name it.”
“I pay for lunch.”
“Oh.” I cringe. I don’t know what I was expecting, but that wasn’t it. “It’s a hard bargain, because I’ve been brought up to pay, but I think I can stretch to you paying foronelunch.” I emphasise the word one.
“Then you have a date, Giovani. Well, not a date. You know what I mean.”
Harleigh’s flustered look makes me reach over and take her hand. “I like the sound of a lunch date. It’s been so long since I had a date.”
