Chapter Seven
Soon we wereon a catamaran with a bunch of other people heading to a reef to go snorkeling. It was a tad more adventurous than “chilling”, especially since I was nervous of what was hiding in the deep ocean. I’m sure Harvey could tell because he kept asking if I was OK when I started putting on the life vest. Like I said before, I was a fraidy-cat for most things, but I was proud of what I did with the zip line.Doing a bit of snorkeling shouldn’t be a big deal, I told myself. I told this to Harvey, who reassured me it would be great fun. People went into the water, jumping off the side or going down the ladder off the back of the boat.
Harvey and I decided we’d jump, which we did, and I plunged myself into an underwater world of colorful fish and coral. It was a world tinged blue, and it was enchanting. Harvey took my hand, and we both kicked towards the reef to get a closer view. We even saw a small shark that surprisingly didn’t send me screaming back to the boat. The thing that did it was a jellyfish I saw just a hair too late, then my head was above water, and I was freaking out. I wasn’t even sure if I’d touched it, but it had been right next to me. I swam back to the boat as fast as I could and reached the ladder. When I climbed out there was a burning sensation on my left outer thigh. Then I noticed a growing welt. It was about two inches long and it hurt like hell. Harvey was right behind me, and I climbed up the entire way taking off the fins, mask, and the vest.
“Damn,” he said, bending to look at the sting up close.
“Oh, it hurts,” I said in a whiny voice.
“Am I gonna have to pee on it?” he asked, worried. “I will if it’s that bad.” I considered his offer but was about to refuse when one of the tour operators came over with a spray bottle.
“Use this, it will help with the stinging,” the tour guide said. I’d never been so grateful to a perfect stranger. The liquid didn’t take it away, but it made it more bearable.
“I can still pee on it if you want,” Harvey said, this time looking much more amenable to it since he knew it was not a real possibility anymore.
“I think I’ll take one of those instead,” I said pointing to fruity cocktails that were being passed out. He promptly retrieved one for each of us, and I drank it fast through the colorful straw, hoping the alcohol numbed me from the pain. The first one did little, but the second one hit the spot.
“I think the spray just takes time to work,” I said to Harvey. We were standing at the front of the catamaran under the shade.
“Mhmm. I’d say the rum is doing the job,” he said tapping my cup. Just then the music started, and the party part of the excursion began. The tour guide got on a microphone and started the fun by playing a few coordinated dances, teaching those of us that weren’t familiar with the moves. While I remembered most of them, I was surprised to see that Harvey knew more than me, and he was good. Very good. He moved his hips so well he could have been doing the instructing, and I loved watching him. Then we were doing the limbo, and I’d forgotten my jellyfish sting. There was a woman jumping up and down, yelling every time the music hit the refrain, and dancing like a wild woman around the entire boat. Every time she came by us, Harvey and I danced with her, but I don’t think we ever matched her energy. We noticed her husband was sitting, sipping on his drink, and enjoying the show.
“I wonder how often he has to watch her be the life of the party, while he watches,” I said.
“I guess opposites attract,” he said, throwing back the rest of his drink. Harvey and I had been dancing as part of the group, with everyone spread out, but then salsa music started playing, and couples formed. While I hadn’t danced much salsa, I knew the basic moves, and I grabbed Harvey’s arms to show him the little bit my mom had taught me. He followed along well, and we were watching the others that were more experienced, trying to copy their moves. We did a few turns, sometimes getting tangled in each other’s arms and laughing until we tried again. I was having such a good time I forgot where I was, why I was there, and what had happened this past week.
The dancing continued, and the alcohol was doing its thing for real now. It was in my head, and I wanted to dance sexy— so I did. My hips were moving, and they were in Harvey’s hands. I was dancing with my body touching his from head to toe. We swayed together, the music guiding our every step and gyration. I doubted I’d ever danced so sensually in all of my life.
The sun was setting, and the mood had changed. There were several couples dancing still, but others were sitting and watching the sunset off the side of the boat. I pulled away from Harvey and fanned my face, hoping it wasn’t as red as it felt.
“I think I need water,” I said. He cleared his throat and walked towards the bar to bring me some. I drank as much as I could so I wouldn’t have to say anything.
“Look at that,” Harvey said, breaking the ice. I followed him to the railing where we watched a colorful sunset. Just when I was going to gush about how much it’s meant for him to be here with me, the captain got on the microphone to thank us for joining him and the crew today. I looked back the other way and sure enough, we were a few hundred feet away from the dock. Harvey gathered our things, and I picked up my hair in a disaster of a bun to help him carry our towels and my bag.
Harvey drove us back to the hotel, and my drunken self was hoping he was sober enough to get us there. He was. I was the lightweight that was falling over herself after two drinks. When we parked the car, Harvey announced he was going for a walk, if I wanted to shower first. I agreed and made my way up to our room. This was getting to be a sticky situation, I thought to myself as I waited for the elevator. I shouldn’t have danced like that with him. It might have given him the wrong idea. Or maybe the right idea.No, Audrey!Stop it.
My skin was on fire. I didn’t even bother looking at myself in the mirror before I got in the shower, but I did afterward, and boy was I red. The bathroom was fogged up, and I walked out to the full-length mirror by the bed and stared at the red marks outlining where I had worn the bikini. I’d need aloe and lots of it. Just as I was getting into the bathroom again, I heard the door open. Phew, that was close. I tried to imagine what I would have done had Harvey caught me in my birthday suit staring at myself in the mirror. The thought made my skin heat up more, and I jumped in the shower again for a quick, cool rinse.
“Are you hungry?” He called out when I turned the shower off.
“Yes!” I said, finally paying attention to my grumbling stomach. I dried myself off and put on clothes.
“Hey, that looks nice,” he said as I stepped out. I was wearing a flowery tank top and a nice pair of white shorts.
“Thanks,” I said as I slipped on a pair of tall khaki wedges. I might have blushed, but with my new “tan” no one would notice.
“Let me get cleaned up, and then I’ll take you to this place the concierge told me about. I think you’ll like it,” he said with that wink again. Off he went to the shower, again not taking any clothes with him to change into.
I hurriedly applied some makeup and put mousse in my curls. I stared at a perfume bottle in my makeup bag. It had been a Christmas present from Greg because he loved how I smelled in it. I sighed and dabbed it on. Then I heard something new. Harvey was singing in the shower. And not well, I might add. He was singing a song I didn’t recognize with lyrics about a rodeo or something like that. I giggled to myself and sat on the bed, waiting for him to finish.
I suddenly realized that I didn’t have a migraine! Alcohol hadn’t beat me today. I considered trying my luck and having wine with dinner.
Out came Harvey in his towel. I tried to pretend I was occupied with something on my phone, but as soon as he walked away I watched as the too-low towel barely hung on his hips. I caught myself licking my lips and stood up. Then I paced the room, chastising myself.Audrey, what has gotten into you? Never have you had such thoughts, not even for your husband. It’s inappropriate, and it’s wrong. What would your mother say? What would Greg say?Not that I cared what Greg said, right?
Harvey came out looking like he’d stepped out of a travel magazine. He had a dark blue shirt with light blue flowery print on it, khaki shorts, and what I call boat shoes.
“Can you tell I’m on vacation?” He asked stretching out his arms and turning around so I could get a good look.
“Definitely,” I laughed, “but you pull it off.”I’m sure he could pull off anything.
