Chapter 51
Daniel
She looked sublime,as always, he thought. She smiled back at him and his heart jumped. It was so easy and free – he’d worried that after yesterday she’d never look at him like that again.
He opened the door to let her in. ‘Hey,’ he said, shyly.
She stepped into the wheelhouse. ‘Hey, I hope I’m not disturbing you.’ She too looked bashful.
‘Not at all.’ Daniel turned back to the sea and she stood silently beside him, both of them staring straight ahead.
‘I wanted to apologise …’ Daniel started as Ore spoke over him.
‘I just wanted to say, about yesterday …’
They turned to each other and giggled. They were nervous.
‘I’m sorry about yesterday, Ore, and about the cinema room. I get in my head sometimes … and it’s hard to …’ He struggled to find the words.
‘To get out?’ Ore offered. Daniel nodded. ‘I get that,’ she added. ‘I heard you though, and you’re right, this … us, it doesn’t make logical sense.’
She was only agreeing with him, but her words still made his chest tighten.
‘But,’ she said quietly, ‘I just wanted it on the record that I like you, and it doesn’t happen to me that often so … I just … wanted you to know that.’
Daniel felt two successive waves of emotion: the first unadulterated joy and the second, a crushing sadness.
‘I like you too,’ he replied ‘obviously.’
Ore laughed. ‘Well now that we’ve got that cleared up, on to more pressing matters.’
He shot her a look and she gave him a cheeky smile. The change in tone gave him a bit of whiplash but he was grateful not to wallow in the tragedy of their unhappily ever after.
‘What’s with those Klauparten crates?!’ Ore asked in a loud stage whisper.
‘Sshhhh.’ Daniel looked around, increasingly paranoid. ‘We shouldn’t talk about this here, Ore.’
The smile slipped from her face instantly. ‘OK.’
‘But wedoneed to talk …’ Daniel paused. Once he crossed this line, he wouldn’t be able to uncross it. After a deep breath he continued. ‘Meet me at our spot tonight? I overheard Chuck and Claude last night, and it’s some pretty crazy stuff there.’
It was Ore’s turn to look around now. ‘Can’t you just tell me now?’ He could sense her impatience.
‘I’ve written most of it down. We’ll go through it all later, but for now, try and keep an eye on those divers; that’s all I’ll say.’
Ore seemed to contemplate pushing it, and then decided against it. ‘OK fine, I’ll wait for you in kit cupboard 6 after dinner tonight.’ She winked at him. ‘I must say that you seem to be getting a taste for all this “investigative journalism” stuff …’
Daniel smiled. ‘I think I’m getting a taste for you.’
‘Cheeky!’ Ore grinned at him playfully, and Daniel felt his cheeks grow hot. He’d thought he was being romantic, but he had been told once that Brits had a hard time taking that sort of thing seriously.
Ore seemed to sense his embarrassment. ‘I’m sorry, I can’t help myself. If it helps, I’m getting a taste for you too …’ He turned to her and she brought her hand to his cheek. It was a good thing that he didn’t have time to register what she was going to do next because his heart might have beat out of his chest.
Her lips were so soft it took his breath away. He pulled her to him, his hands grasping for her, unable to get hold of quite enough. She moaned and his body responded instantly, that familiar ache that came with unbridled wanting. His fingers traced down the back of her neck, holding her in place to dip his mouth into the furrows of her collarbones and then grazed on the smooth planes of her heaving chest.
Unlike the last time, the knowledge that this was maybe, probably, a bad idea wasn’t strong enough to drown out the thunder of his desire. It was Ore who came to her senses.
‘Daniel.’ She whispered his name against his lips, as if afraid to spook him. He pressed on, unwilling to let the moment end.
