Fun At The Lake - Part 2.
"Right," Joseph said later that morning as he placed his empty coffee cup down on the table. "Are we nearly ready to go out on the boat?"
"Nearly," Sabrina said as Clarisse drank some of her tea. "Let us just finish our tea and grab our coats then we will be ready."
"Alright," Joseph nodded and got to his feet before picking up his coffee cup and walking around the island counter to the kitchen. "I'll go down and prepare the boat while you do that," he said and placed his cup in the sink.
"Ok," Sabrina smiled as Harry stood up from the table.
"I'll come down with you, we can take the blankets and our beers down with us," Harry said as he tucked his chair under the table.
"And don't forgot the champagne for me and Clarisse, please," Sabrina smiled, as everyone looked over at her.
"And the champagne for the ladies too of course," Harry smirked at her then at Joseph as he walked across to the sitting room and grabbed his coat from the back of the armchair. "Wouldn't want to forget that now, would we."
"No, we wouldn't," Sabrina laughed and shook her head as Joseph opened the french doors and stepped outside onto the veranda. "We won't be long."
"No rush," Harry smiled over at her and Clarisse sitting at the table before grabbing the blankets from the back of the sofa and following Joseph out the door as he put his coat over the cool box that he had already put out there earlier with the beers, champagne and glasses in, and picked it up.
"At least the weather stayed nice for us," Sabrina smiled as she looked out the window at the beautiful autumn sky.
"Yes," Clarisse said as she looked out the window too, only she wasn't looking at the sky. She was watching Joseph and Harry instead as they made their way down to the dock. "Sabrina?"
"Hmm," Sabrina replied as she looked across the table at her friend and watched as she turned her head to look across at her. "What's wrong?"
"Has Harry said anything to you about this place being for sale?" Clarisse asked while wrapping her hands around her teacup on the table in front of her.
"No he hasn't said anything to me," Sabrina said in surprise and watched as Clarisse nodded while looking down at her teacup. "Is it for sale then?"
"Yes it is, and Joseph wants to buy it," Clarisse said and looked back out the window at the men climbing into the boat a moment before continuing. "But I think I upset him when he told me about his plans this morning."
"I thought he seemed a bit off, but I doubt it was because of you," Sabrina said with a shake of her head as Clarisse looked back at her, "you could never upset him, Clarisse, he worships you too much."
"I'm being serious, Sabrina, he told me his plans this morning and why he wants to buy it. But I told him, well I made him promise me, that he needs to give it some serious thought first before making a decision and he's been quiet with me ever since," Clarisse said sadly.
"And what is his reason for buying it?" Sabrina asked and watched as her friend slumped back in her chair, her hands still wrapped around her teacup. "Or didn't he give one, just that he wants to buy it."
"He did give me a reason," Clarisse nodded, "he told me that it's for us so that we would have a private place to escape too every now and then," she said and averted her gaze up to her friend.
"Well that's a lovely gesture," Sabrina said, "and I can see why he would want that, it's a beautiful, secluded property. The perfect place for you both to escape too, when you can of course."
"Yes, it certainly fits the bill," Clarisse nodded and glanced back out the window, looking this time at the view, "and I did fall in love with it before I even knew about it being for sale."
"Then what's the problem? I don't understand?" Sabrina said and watched her closely a moment. "It's about what we talked about last night, isn't it?"
"I just don't want him making a mistake and regretting it later on, that's all," Clarisse said and looked back at her teacup as Sabrina nodded slowly.
"Well like I said to you last night, darling, he knows the deal. He knows how it is with you," Sabrina began as Clarisse looked back up at her. "But he's still madly in love with you and that'll never change. You're his life and if he wants to do this for you both, then let him."
"Mmm," Clarisse simply replied and looked back out the window at the men climbing back out of the boat. "Looks like they are coming back up to the house," she said while sitting back up straight and drinking the rest of her tea before looking back at her friend. "Please don't say anything to either of them about this conversation."
"Oh I won't say anything," Sabrina said and tapped the side of her nose as Clarisse rose to her feet. "The secrets safe with me."
"Thank you," Clarisse said as she walked around into the kitchen and put her teacup into the sink next to Joseph's before taking a few steps to the left and putting her hands on the island countertop.
"You do need to speak to him again though, clear the air before we go out on the boat," Sabrina managed to say just as the french doors opened.
"And we are ready when you are," Harry said cheerfully as he walked through the french doors.
"Perfect, we just need to get our coats and we will be ready too," Sabrina smiled and stood to her feet as Joseph came through the door and stopped behind Harry. "Oh and, because we don't know how long we will be out there for, to go to the loo too."
"Yes, you better had," Harry laughed as Joseph walked over to the kitchen island and stopped at the end of it, a few feet away from Clarisse now leaning on the countertop with her arms folded.
"It's a bit chilly out there," Joseph said as Sabrina walked around the other way into the kitchen and put her teacup into the sink with the others, "so make sure you both wrap up warm."
"We will," Sabrina smiled and briefly put her hand on Clarisse's hip as she passed by behind her and walked out of the kitchen. "Harry, can you come wait with me out here please."
"No it's alright," Harry said from where he stood by the french doors as Clarisse and Joseph looked at one another. "I'm okay waiting here."
"Harry! Come here, now please," Sabrina exclaimed from the hallway.
"Just coming," Harry said, finally getting the hint and hurried out the room, as Clarisse couldn't help but laugh a little while tipping her head forward and looking down at the countertop.
"Why do I get the impression from Sabrina's behaviour that you've been talking about us," Joseph said as Clarisse looked back up at him.
"We have," Clarisse nodded and watched as Joseph put both hands on the edge of the counter top, "but it's nothing bad, she's just made me realise how lovely your gesture was and that I owe you an apology. I upset you this morning, and for that I'm sorry."
"No, you didn't upset me," Joseph said with a shake of his head, "if anything, it's me who should be apologising to you. I guess I got caught up in the idea of us having this place to retreat too."
"I know, it's easily done," Clarisse said as she watched him stand back up straight and move around the counter to stand beside her. "It's so easy to get caught up in the moment, to get carried away. We've done it many times," she said as Joseph nodded while putting one hand down next to her arms resting on the counter and his other hand on her back.
"Haven't we just," he said and took a deep breath while looking around the kitchen. "You know, I see things differently with the idea of buying it. I can see you stood in this kitchen, but it's not their kitchen. It's our kitchen," he said and looked across the room at the dining table, "I can see you eating breakfast at our table," he said while smoothing his hand up her back as she nodded.
"It does sound wonderful," Clarisse said as his hand come to rest on the back of her neck, under her hair, while looking back at her.
"I can even see you sunbathing out on our balcony in the summer," he said, half smiling at her as she turned to him and put her hands on his chest.
"If it means that much to you then don't listen to what I said earlier," Clarisse said softly as she looked up into his eyes. "Don't wait."
"But will you be happy here if I do buy it for us?" Joseph asked and watched as she averted her gaze down to her hands resting on his chest a moment before nodding.
"Of course I will be, we will be together in private won't we," she smiled while snaking her arms around his neck.
"Yes we will," he smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her body against his, "and just think of all the things we could do, in the comfort of our own home."
"Like what?" She asked and gasped in surprise as he lowered his hands to cup her bottom and lifted her off her feet, to sit her on the edge of the counter while standing between her legs.
"I'm sure I don't need to tell you," he said seductively and reached up to kiss her slowly while smoothing his hands up her thighs and onto her waist.
"Mmm," Clarisse replied and started laughing as he began to pull her blouse from the waistline of her trousers, "Joseph, we can't now," she said quietly, and pulled back as her stomach somersaulted.
"Oh of course, we are meant to be going out on the boat. I forgot about that," Joseph said while looking across the room at the french doors before looking back up into her oh so very sexy eyes. "Do we have too?"
"What, go out on the boat?" Clarisse asked and started laughing as Joseph nodded. "Yes we do," she said while putting her hands up to frame his face. "But we have tonight."
"Is that a promise?" Joseph asked cheekily and smirked as Clarisse laughed a proper belly laugh, while closing her eyes and tipping her head back. "I'm being serious here," he teased as she lifted her head, her eyes meeting his, "is that a promise?"
"Yes, that's a promise," she laughed and leant closer, kissing him slowly for a moment before pulling back. "Now help me down, before temptation gets to much."
"If I must," Joseph laughed while putting his hands on her waist and carefully lifted her back down onto her feet before giving her another quick kiss.
"You better let those two know that it's ok to come back in now," Clarisse said while unbuttoning her trousers and lowering the zipper before beginning to tuck her blouse back in the waistline as Joseph stepped back.
"Yes, I will when you're finished," Joseph said as he glanced down to her waist before looking back up, "I don't want Harry seeing something he shouldn't."
"Oh don't be silly, he won't see anything," Clarisse laughed and looked down as she finished tucking in her blouse.
"He would have," Joseph nodded as Clarisse looked back up at him, "he would have seen your underwear. And I don't want him seeing what kind you wear."
"Oh no, because that's for your eyes only," Clarisse teased while buttoning her trousers back up.
"Exactly," Joseph smiled and watched as she done the zipper back up, "anyway, are you ready now?"
"Yes, I'm ready," Clarisse laughed and shook her head as she turned to walk out the kitchen and over to the settee where she had put her coat earlier that day.
"You can come back in now," Joseph said as he walked over to the door leading to the hall and pushed it open. "We've talked."
"Oh good," Sabrina said as she and Harry, both now ready to go out on the boat, came back in the room, "and everything's alright?" She asked while looking over at Clarisse.
"Oh yes, everything's fine," Clarisse smiled while slipping on her coat.
"That's good," Sabrina smiled as Joseph walked over to the french doors.
"Shall we?" He said while opening the door and turned to Clarisse, Sabrina and Harry who were all stood looking at him.
Thoughts? Please do let me know, it is and always will be appreciated :) thank you in advance!