She rose with a nod. ‘I’d like that.’
Chapter Four
Dan followed Augi down the steps and into the garden, where the salty night air felt cool against his face. The solar lights emphasised the shadows, making the large blooms of hydrangea flowers appear ghostly, and the woman who walked silently by his side even more ethereal than usual.
He was still drawn to her as if she were an anchor in restless seas, but tonight was the first time that he sensed disquiet. And all he knew was that he’d do anything to remove it.
He waited until they’d left the garden and were descending the sand dunes. The path was uneven and he slowed instinctively.
‘Careful here,’ he said, breaking their silence for the first time.
‘I see it,’ she replied.
At least she didn’t move away when she brushed against his shoulder. He exhaled slowly, moved by this slight crack in the aloofness she wielded like a shield.
‘Although it’s a dark night,’ she continued, giving him a shy smile.
‘All the better to see the phosphorescence.’
He caught the nodding of her head as she agreed but didn’t say anything. He didn’t need her to as their silence was comfortable for once.
When the sand gave way beneath their feet, Dan hesitated.
‘It drops a bit,’ he said. ‘Do you want?—’
He stopped himself, suddenly unsure whether offering his hand would feel like a step too far for her.
Augi paused briefly before reaching out and closing her fingers around his wrist rather than his hand — practical, steady, intimate in a way that surprised him.
‘Yes,’ she said, ‘I think I do want.’
He nodded, wondering if the support of his wrist was all she was meaning. ‘Good, er, it’s a bit uneven because of the flotsam and jetsam at the high-water mark. We even get large tree trunks washed up by storms. They float down from the river.’ He paused, realising his nerves were getting the better of him and he was rambling. ‘From further north,’ he added, unable to stop himself.
She shot him another smile, less shy this time. She must think he’d lost the plot. By pressing his lips together firmly they traversed the last few metres together in silence. All he was aware of was her firm grip and that constant sense of peace she exuded.
When they reached the flat stretch of beach, she released him without comment, as if touching him had been neither significant nor insignificant. Simply necessary.
Dan exhaled slowly.
She stopped where the wet sand swept uninterrupted towards the sea, and slipped off her sandals. She stood with her arms folded loosely, gazing out at the dark water. The pale clothes she wore made her look more other-worldly than in daylight. During the day her presence made her so solid, despite her slender figure. But now, it was like her spirit stood before him looking out to sea. It was like seeing a different side to her, as if she were changing before his eyes.
She looked up at him suddenly. He could just detect a frown clouding her lovely features.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said.
He wondered what she was talking about. ‘About what?’
‘Tonight.’ She glanced over her shoulder at the bright lights of the verandah before continuing on towards where the sea swept gently in, edged with silver. ‘I broke up the party, and I regret that.’
He shook his head in surprise. ‘You’ve nothing to regret. You spoke the truth when all that bonhomie was based on a lie.’
If he hadn’t been paying such close attention, he’d have missed the pause in her stride. He realised she didn’t like lies. And nor did he. He liked they had that in common.
‘That’s true, but I could have chosen a better time. Less public maybe.’
‘Honestly?’ He halted, and after two steps she too stood still and looked back at him. He wanted to tell her how much he admired the way she’d done it — with a calm certainty that avoided theatrics — but stopped himself. He was pretty sure it would make her feel uncomfortable, and that was the last thing he wanted to make her feel. ‘None of this is your fault. You fixed something that was going the wrong way. The man is an out-and-out…’ He hesitated before saying the word ‘bastard’ — it didn’t seem right in front of Augi. ‘Well, he’s not the kind of man I want to see with Lucy.’
‘Not yet anyway.’
