Nodding, she stands. He takes her hand and helps her down the steps, then guides her along the side of the boat to the bow, as if the smooth hardwood slats on the floor are particularly tricky. She lets him. It is strangely pleasant to be looked after for once. Her natural inclination to assume control misleads others to believe she neither wants nor cares about being looked after. Once they are settled on the cushioned area on the bow, the boat picks up speed. Anna quickly pulls on her shirt for some extra warmth.
They can see the island before them. Anna brings her lips closer to Tolly’s ear. For one tiny moment, the pitch of the boat rolls her forwards and her lips brush his skin. A thrill goes through her with an intensity unlike any previous experience.She wonders if this was such a wise idea. Their day has barely started and she is already fantasising about repairing to the cabin beneath them and giving the island a miss.
She buries the thought. “What’s on Santa Catalina Island?” she asks when she has steadied her voice and herself.
“Not much, in particular. It’s just generally charming.”
“Do you often go there?”
“Sometimes. To hike.”
The effort of shouting over the wind is too much. Anna lets the conversation drop. She leans back to enjoy the feel of sunshine on her face, the ruffle of the wind in her hair and the occasional spit of spray. Tolly beside her sits forwards, his hands loosely clasped between his shins, elbows resting on bent knees. He turns his head. His sunglasses hide his expression, but his gaze lingers for some minutes. Then he returns to looking ahead as the island nears, and Anna feels it is safe to watch him. The wind tousles his hair, strewing dark locks around his forehead. The stubble on his chin heightens his masculinity and the shirt, taut across his shoulders, outlines his muscles. His face is relaxed, and in that moment she understands he is happy. She does not think he has ever looked more handsome. Not one of the posed and styled and flatteringly lit publicity photos comes close to this image.
She would like to take a sneaky photo, to preserve this moment. But photos around celebrities are problematic, and asking consent would destroy the closeness developing between them. She turns her attention away from him and back to the island.
A large, round building with a red clay-tiled roof marks the entrance to the harbour. It looks more like a palace than a fort but lacks windows. Anna nudges Tolly. “What’s that?” she asks. She no longer has to shout as Marco has throttled their speed down to an amble as he approaches the marina. A large boatis moored on the far pier, probably a ferry. But the rest of the harbour is surprisingly full of craft, sailboats and powerboats, mostly sleek and glossy. None of them look like the sea-battered hulks of working boats.
Tolly’s attention is on their approach. He gives his answer without turning his head: “The casino.”
Anna’s heart falls. Mainly courtesy of Hollywood films, many people who have never been inside one, imagine casinos are full of glamourous people and excitement. Anna knows the reality of casinos. Bright lights, lively music, banks of slot machines and desperate people. No windows, so it is easy to lose track of time. A masterclass in disorientating humans and relieving them of money. She spends her working life in rooms with no windows. She has absolutely no wish to spend her holiday in one. If they have come for the casino, she and Tolly are clearly very different people. This day with him may be a huge mistake.
Some Like It Hot
“Wait here,” Tolly says as he stands, and walks towards the stern. She hears him talking to Marco, but the wind takes the words.
The boat slows further as Marco cautiously navigates to a jetty. Tolly moves about, dropping fenders into the water and readying ropes. A gentle bump and he jumps onto the quay to tie them in. Only when the boat is moored does he rejoin her, offering his hand to help her down.
His baseball cap is back, hiding his gorgeous, dishevelled hair and shielding his face. He keeps hold of her hand until she is once again on dry land. Marco follows behind them as they walk along the jetty. At the end, Tolly and Marco exchange a few words and Anna realises they are speaking in Spanish. Then Marco heads off alone and Tolly turns back to her.
She plasters a smile on her face, even as she anticipates the worst. “Where to next?”
So she is relieved when Tolly directs her in the opposite direction to the casino. She hopes they won’t be walking too far, though. The sun is beating down on her and she is regretting not bringing a hat.
She need not have worried. They have only walked a few yards when Tolly stops in front of a covered area with glass-topped tables and chairs. “First, coffee,” he says.
Anna takes advantage of the restroom to freshen up and finger-comb her hair back into a more orderly style. By the time she returns to the table, two coffees have been set down in tall,narrow, white china cups. She is relieved to see a pot of real dairy cream sitting alongside. Tolly obviously hasn’t completely abandoned his European roots.
“So, what’s on the itinerary?” she asks, stirring the cream into her coffee and hoping for something to quieten her doubts.
But Tolly leans back in his chair with a smug smile. “You’ll see. It’s more fun if you don’t know what’s coming. But stock up on energy. We’ll need it this afternoon.”
Anna is not entirely convinced of his assertion. She definitely prefers to know what is coming. Especially when it’s on a gurney inches from death. But she is inclined to let him have some fun. Up to a point.
She leans back, sips her drink and watches the hustle and bustle, like any other tourist. The area is pedestrianised and fronts directly onto the harbour. When her coffee is half drunk, Tolly stands. “I’ll be back shortly,” he says. “You’ve got your phone?”
Anna pulls her phone from her pocket and places it on the table. He exits the coffee place and walks away. Crossing the road at the end of the pedestrian zone, he turns a corner and disappears. Anna sits back and tries not to think of anything at all, for fear of spiralling.
A few minutes later, her phone rings. Sexiest Man Alive. “Walk forward,” he instructs. “Now turn.”
At the end of the pedestrian zone, Tolly is waving widely. She hurries to meet him.
“Your chariot awaits.” Tolly sweeps his hands towards the golf cart pulled to the side of the road behind him. “And there is a present for you on the seat.”
It’s another baseball cap. Anna sets it on her head before clambering in. Tolly sweeps them straight on to the correct side of the road and they head off. A short while later, he pulls to a stop. “Lover’s Cove,” he announces.
“Ah!” Anna says. “Your romantic is showing.” She looks around. The beach is rocky and uninviting. “It doesn’t look particularly suited for lovers, though.”
“It’s actually a marine reserve. There’s a kelp forest and loads of fish. You can snorkel here.”
