“I’ll deal with this, Lou,” Shelly says. “You stay here and deal with the rest of the bidders.”
“Thanks, Shell. So far, everyone has paid cash, so we need the funds transferred, unless moneybags here has the cash.” She smiles at me. I don’t miss the wink she gives Shelly as she walks away.
“Come with me.” I grab hold of Shelly’s hand as I weave us through the crowd. A few of the press follow, snapping pictures. It’s then I realise our fingers are entwined. She’s clinging to me as if I’m a life raft in a sea of vultures.
Moving behind the stage, I quicken my pace, striding across the boardwalk towards town.
Shelly’s practically running to keep up. “Where are you taking me?”
I glance behind us, hoping to shake off the reporters. “Away from prying eyes.” Pushing open the door of the Mad Vine restaurant, we rush in through the side entrance. Most of the customers are outside enjoying the sun as I pull Shelly through the space inside, weaving through the wooden tables and green vine pillars.
“Hey, Andreas.” I wave to the owner, who looks a little puzzled. “Trying to shake off the reporters.”
“Fire exit. I’ll hold them at bay.” He points to the back exit.
Back outside, I close the door behind us and lean against the building.
Shelly lets go of my hand and sits on an old wooden barrel, catching her breath. We’re hidden behind huge bins and a screening wall. It would be ideal to steal a kiss in private if it weren’t for the garbage bins and stale ale in the air.
“That wasn’t necessary, by the way. I appreciate the sympathy gesture, but we can forget the whole thing. I’ll tell the team you made a mistake.”
“Sympathy gesture?” I stand up straight, looking down at her as she takes in long breaths to regulate her breathing. “You think I bid ten grand because I felt sorry for you?” I can’t stop the laugh that bursts from my chest.
“Then why? Why would you do that?” She stands so we’re face to face. “You could have chosen any girl for a lower price.”
“But none of the other girls would taste as sweet as you, especially as you vowed you’d never kiss me.”
She huffs, digging her fists in her hips. “I see. You’re trying to get one over on me. You shouldn’t have bothered. I release you from your obligation.” She sighs and squeezes between the empty kegs to escape the small confinement, but I pull her back to me.
“I don’t go back on my word. I owe you some money.”
“I don’t want your money,” she bites back with venom in her tone.
“It wasn’t for you. It was for the turtles. What can I say? You bowled me over with that speech you made.” I stuff my hand in my pocket. “I can either write a cheque or do a bank transfer. What would you prefer?”
“Bank transfer would be fine.” She slips her hand into her short’s pocket with a pink and blue tie-dye effect, then pulls out her phone. “What’s your number?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
She rolls her eyes. “For the bank details.”
I give her my number and am greeted with a text message with the charity bank details. I smile inwardly at having her number while I set up the transfer from my savings account.
She bites her unpolished nail while waiting and nods when I show her my screen with the money pending. “All right, let’s get this over with.” She closes her eyes, inhaling and holding her breath.
“What are you doing?”
Her eyes pop open. “Waiting for you to take what you’ve paid for.” She squints before closing her eyes.
I inch closer, my fingers swipe the tousled loose strands of hair from her face. She sucks in a breath at my touch. My palms cup her face, my fingers tangling in her strawberry blonde beach hair while I caress her flushed cheeks.
My head dips close to hers, but I pause, hovering above her lips, taking in this moment. The scent of her overpowers the trash and I’m washed away with the aroma of a fresh ocean breeze, a comforting smell like freshly laundered bedding or cut grass, and then the scent of peaches and strawberry from her breath.
My tongue darts out to wet my lips. My mouth waters at the thought of kissing her, but I don’t want our first kiss to be like this.
“Look, if you don’t want to kiss me, that’s fine. We can just say you did if you want to save face.” She steps back, looking almost disappointed.
“I want to kiss you.” I close the distance between us. “But I’m not going to kiss you until you beg me to.”
