ANs: Super big thanks to everyone who's read and reviewed - we wub you very much! Here's the next chapter:)
Chapter 8
"It doesn't get any more American Male than this," Flack declared.
The four men were reclining in lawn chairs at the edge of the lake, fishing rods in their hands. A cooler full of icy beers sat within close reach, and a baseball game blared from the radio. The group had been split in two after breakfast, the men one way and the women another. The day was picture-perfect: the sky was a bold, cornflower blue and sprinkled with puffy clouds. A light breeze rustled the trees behind them, every so often blowing around the powdery-white sand. While Stella and Lindsay were headed to the spa for their day of pampering, the guys went off to the lake for some fishing. Unfortunately, none of them had managed to snag anything yet.
"This is boring," Hawkes muttered in frustration. "I knew I should have brought something from the morgue to use as bait." He put down his rod and grudgingly walked over to the cooler to grab a fresh beer.
"Swiss cheese, I'm telling ya," Flack chided. "Lures the big ones every time. Too bad the snack bar only had cheddar." He picked up the package and tossed it over to Hawkes.
"Relax," Mac interjected. "It's not about the catch, it's about the male bonding." He laughed at the predictable chorus of groans his comment received.
"Guys, guys, I think I got something!" Danny exclaimed. He began winding his reel frantically, tugging against whatever had taken his bait. His fishing rod was bending with the tension. "C'mon, c'mon," he coaxed. Finally, a thrashing fish popped out of the water. Danny beamed with pride at the enormous trout that was dangling from the end of his line. The others cheered.
"You do a lot of fishing, Danny?" Mac asked, impressed by his angling skills.
"Not really," Danny shrugged in response as he reeled in the fish. "I just got lucky."
Flack swatted Hawkes shoulder conspiratorially, nearly tipping over his lawn chair. "I bet that's not the first time he's 'gotten lucky' this week." They both dissolved into boyish hoots of laughter. Danny sighed as his mind instinctively returned to thoughts of Lindsay - that first night, on the beach, in the shower… he shifted uncomfortably in his chair, hiding what was a sure indication of where his thoughts lay.
Mac shook his head, and a look of part-amusement and part-disapproval settled on his face. He picked up his tackle box and nodded down the stream. "I'm going to move down a bit," he said. "Maybe they're biting down there." He picked up his bag and lawn chair, grabbing another beer before moving fifty feet up the beach.
"They're biting up here, too, Mac!" Danny called after him, casting a glare at his snickering companions. Danny grasped the wiggling fish in his hand, unhooked its lip, and tossed it back into the lake. At least somebody around here can get some release, he thought.
"Wow, someone's grouchy," Hawkes surmised as he recast his line.
"Yeah, what do you have to complain about?" asked Flack. "You're the one with a beautiful woman in your room each night."
Danny bit his lip in frustration. For them to figure out the truth would be the ultimate humiliation. Ignoring their comments, he simply pointed toward Mac and said, "I'm going to try down there, too."
Danny stared at the ground as he walked towards Mac. This trip was becoming the ultimate Catch-22.
Mac smiled knowingly as Danny approached. "They're just jealous," he said to Danny with a chuckle.
It's partly your fault I'm in this state, Danny thought to himself, What, with your room being next to ours… He unfolded his chair and placed his beer in the sand next to it.
After carefully piercing a piece of cheese through the hook, Danny cast his line and allowed himself to become lost in his thoughts. He and Lindsay needed alone time, desperately. Not just to soothe their physical frustrations, either - he was craving privacy just to enjoy her company. He and Lindsay desperately needed some time alone; as much as he understood that this weekend was meant for bonding and recharging, it also meant that for five days he and Lindsay couldn't get away without everyone else knowing. Their physical frustrations were nearly uncontrollable, but the part of him that was crazy about Lindsay craved her company, just the two of them, alone. As Danny skimmed the surface of the lake, his eyes settled on the beautiful old lighthouse. It took only a moment for the idea to form.
"Do they still use that lighthouse?" he asked Mac casually.
"It's just a replica now," Mac replied. "It's open to the public for tours, but it's not functional."
Danny smiled to himself. Perfect, he thought.
Back at the cottage, Lindsay and Stella had just climbed into plush white robes to prepare themselves for a spa day.
"I'm not used to this," Lindsay laughed uncomfortably. "I've never been to a spa before."
Stella slung her arm around Lindsay's shoulders as they walked into the spa's reception area. "Well, you should pamper yourself more often!"
"Amen to that!" cried out a voice. A red head popped up from behind the desk. "You must be Miss Monroe and Miss Bonasera. I'm Jaime, and I'll be your guide through a spiritual journey of rejuvenation and indulgence of the body and soul."
Lindsay and Stella didn't dare look at each other; they knew they would giggle. They just looked straight ahead and avoided eye contact as Jaime led them into a dark, candle-lit room. Bubbling in the corner was a small water fountain, and plants were set up to mimic a rainforest-like atmosphere. The heady aroma of jasmine, sandalwood, and vanilla was soothing, yet invigorating. A white-noise machine played sounds of nature. Two tall tables were set up, each with a small pillow and covered with plastic. A second woman entered the room, who Jaime introduced as Hayley.
"First I'll need you both to tie back your hair, then lie down on these tables," Jaime instructed softly, pulling back the blankets. "Just leave your robes on, and lie with your arms at your sides.
Lindsay climbed up onto the table, feeling a bit unsure. She slid down and lay her head on the pillow; Jaime covered her with the blanket. Immediately a wave of warmth washed over Lindsay - the heated blanket over her created such a comfortable, relaxing feeling. She closed her eyes, basking in the calmness she suddenly felt. She could hear Stella moan in soft satisfaction beside her as Jaime covered her.
"First, we'll be giving you a cocoa bean exfoliating mask for your face," Jaime murmured quietly as she and Hayley smeared a brown, chocolate-scented sludge over their faces. They massaged their facial muscles as they spread the cream around evenly. Lindsay let herself get completely lost in the sheer pleasure she was feeling - this sort of pampering was something she could get used to. She made a mental note to tell Danny that a spa gift certificate for Christmas would be greatly appreciated.
"This will need to sit for about twenty minutes. We're going to leave you - just close your eyes and breathe deeply. Enjoy." She and Hayley sashayed out of the room, leaving Lindsay and Stella to relax by themselves.
"So, are you and Danny having a good time?" Stella asked. They were each lying face up on the tables, unable to turn and look at each other without risking a spillage of chocolate goop.
Lindsay felt her cheeks burn under the thick paste as her mind replayed the extra-close encounters with Danny from the previous few days. "Yeah, fine, it's great," she stuttered.
Stella laughed. "Lindsay, come on now! We're both adult women here, no need to be shy."
"I know. It's just that… we haven't…" Lindsay confessed, her voice trailing. "Done that…" It was nice to have Stella to confide in, her job left her little time to socialize and make friends. Even speaking to her friends in Montana over the phone wasn't satisfying. Sometimes, women just needed to vent in person.
Stella appeared to be shocked initially by Lindsay's revelation, but then she smiled knowingly. "Lindsay, when the time is right, you'll know it. Don't rush things."
"It's not that we didn't want to," Lindsay admitted. "It's just, the first night, we were so close… but Mac was in the next room."
Stella chuckled. "I can't imagine a bigger mood killer than having your boss within hearing distance!"
Lindsay grinned too, the mask beginning to crack as it dried. "Danny's not handling the frustration too well, unfortunately."
Stella rolled her eyes. "Of course. He's a man." Both women broke into loud, raucous laughter, then silenced themselves quickly as Jaime came bustling back in the room, Hayley close behind.
"Alright, ladies, time to reveal your new, evenly-toned complexion!" She was armed with hot, steaming cloths, which she used to wipe the hardened masks from their face. As the moist, spa air hit Lindsay's skin, she could immediately feel the difference, almost as if her skin was actually breathing. She reached up and touched it, the new smoothness of it nearly shocking her. Stella smiled as she engaged in a similar action. Yep, I can definitely get used to this, Lindsay thought.
"Next we'll be giving you a seaweed wrap. This is going moisturize, clarify, and firm up your skin," explained Jaime. She gestured to their robes. "I'm going to need you to strip. Miss Monroe, you come with me, Miss Bonasera, you go with Hayley." Lindsay looked over at Stella sheepishly, then followed Jaime behind the curtain.
She wasn't sure what to make of the sight in front of her. A large vat of creamed seaweed stood on a heater, and in front of it, an empty bathtub. She looked skeptically at Jaime.
"It's okay dear. If you'll slip off your robe and hang it on the hook beside you, I'll wrap you up and you'll feel years younger in no time," she smiled, taking hold of the collar of Lindsay's robe.
Well this is ironic, thought Lindsay. I haven't been this way with my own boyfriend here, and yet I'm standing naked in front of a complete stranger. Jaime hardly seemed to notice her discomfort.
"Okay, now if you'll just step into the tub and stand straight with your feet together and your arms at your sides, we'll get started."
Lindsay hesitated briefly, then obeyed, stepping in. Jaime started at her ankles, smearing seaweed systematically upwards. When she reached her waist, she instructed Lindsay to carefully sit, keeping her legs together as to not tear the wrap. Once seated, Jaime finished the wrap, laying Lindsay's head back against a fluffy pillow.
"I'm going to fill the tub with saltwater. The salt combined with the wrap will help you get the maximum benefit." She pulled back the curtain to reveal Stella in the same position as Lindsay.
Jaime and Hayley turned to leave. "Turn off your brains and your mouths!" she encouraged. "Use those other senses instead!"
As soon as she had scurried out of the room, Lindsay whispered loudly, "The last time I was wrapped in seaweed was when I fell out of our boat into Lake Yellowstone."
"Is that a country folk's method of rejuvenation?" joked Stella.
"Sure," Lindsay retorted. "And I bet you didn't know that cow pies have excellent anti-wrinkle properties." They both giggled like teenagers at a school dance.
Over the next half-hour, Lindsay got to see a side of Stella she didn't know existed. It was comforting to have someone that she could talk to about girl stuff - nails, makeup, guys, that kind of thing. She found it surprisingly easy to confide in Stella, given that she was a coworker and in some senses her superior, but here it didn't matter. Stella asked more about Danny, about how things were going, their relationship. Lindsay asked about Stella's love life; Stella replied she was taking some time off from it, and understandably so.
Jaime and Hayley returned to help them each out of the tubs and out of the wraps, closing the curtain between them again. Lindsay tried not to laugh at Jaime removed the sticky seaweed from around her body.
After removing the last strand, Jaime handed Lindsay her robe. "Now, head over to the showers and use the aloe soap in the dispenser and the loofah on the hook. Make sure you wash yourself very well, get all the residue off, you'll feel fantastic. There's a tracksuit hanging outside the shower, one for each of you ladies." She gestured in the direction of the showers. Lindsay turned as Jaime began to clean up the remnants of her wrap.
Like the air on her skin following the facial, the water felt wonderfully different and new against her skin. She did as Jaime instructed, washing herself down thoroughly. She stepped out of the shower and into the tracksuit. Moments later, Stella joined her, outfitted identically. They exited the showers together, where Jaime was already waiting for them.
She led Stella and Lindsay out the two French doors into a tranquil garden of ferns and bamboo. A small pond situated in the center of the garden was occupied by yellow and orange koi fish, and various birds flitted around in the trees. Next to the pond were two fabric mats.
"Now, I just want you to sit down, absorb your surroundings, and just be. Meditate. Let your spirit open up."
Lindsay and Stella managed an attempt at focus for about five minutes. Lindsay started wiggling uncomfortably on the lumpy ground. She grunted as she tried to reposition herself, causing Stella to smother a laugh.
"Hey!" Lindsay hissed with false chastisement. "We're supposed to be meditating here." She wasn't able to finish her sentence without breaking into laughter herself.
When Jaime returned to collect them shortly thereafter, she found Lindsay and Stella rolling on the ground, laughing hysterically.
"Thanks," Lindsay told her truthfully as they left the spa. "Today was just what I needed!"
Danny was searching for Lindsay - apparently she had returned from the spa, but their room was empty. Time was running out - he had to ask her about tonight, and then get the lighthouse ready. He finally found her behind the cottage, lounging on a hammock under a sprawling maple tree.
"There you are," he said softly as he crept up on her, wondering if she was asleep.
"Mmm. I was napping. Come sit," she invited him, wriggling over to make room on the hammock.
Danny chuckled. "I don't think I've sat in one of these contraptions since I was a kid." He awkwardly sat down on the rope mesh, then swung his legs up.
"Oomph," he muttered. He put his arm around Lindsay, and she nestled into his embrace. A slight breeze drifted in from the lake, carrying with it a fresh scent of sand and trees. The late-afternoon sun was still warm, beating down on them as they lay together after spending most of the day apart. Danny looked over at Lindsay, whose eyes were closed but a grin lay happily on her face. "You having a good time this week?" he asked her.
She nodded, opening her eyes. She took his hand and rubbing her palm against his. "I think Mac needs to take us on trips more often."
He smiled down at her. "Yeah, maybe once a month or so? I could get used to this." He gave her a light squeeze.
"So, how was fishing?" Lindsay asked him. "Catch anything?"
"Mostly I caught a lot of Flack - pun intended," he replied with a light laugh. "Tell me about your spa day."
Lindsay grinned. "Well, first I had a cocoa-bean facial mask."
Danny leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Mmm. That gives a whole new meaning to the phrase 'chocolate kisses'," he whispered.
"Then, I had a seaweed body wrap."
"Is that why you smell like a swamp?" He dodged her slap. She knew she didn't actually smell like swamp, that was just Danny being the brat she adored so much.
"Very funny," she snipped. "It was quite rejuvenating. You're obviously enjoying how soft my skin is." Lindsay raised her eyebrows towards Danny's hand, which was caressing her leg below her shorts.
"So," she said. "We have some free time this evening. What should we do?"
"Actually," Danny replied, "that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I have a little surprise. I want you to meet me in the cottage lobby at 8."
"A surprise?" Lindsay asked, pleased. "What for?"
"Because you're my girl," he replied, kissing her head. Lindsay glowed inside - she simply loved being 'his girl.'
"You and your girl sure have been teasing each other a lot this weekend," she sneered. "That first night, the shower, the beach… You have to learn patience."
Danny shifted positions so he looked her right in the eye. "Oh yeah?" he challenged. "Maybe I'll just take you right now, right here, in front of the whole cottage!" With that, he rolled over on top of her. Before he could do anything, the hammock swung violently, thrashing to the left from the unbalanced weight, nearly depositing both of them onto the ground.
Lindsay shrieked, grasping at the ropes to keep from falling to the ground. "Danny! Get back over on your side!"
The hammock had just stabilized, when Flack came walking by. "Wow, you guys can't keep it in your room?" he laughed, disappearing around the corner before they could muster a response.
"You have been awfully patient," Lindsay pointed out to Danny sympathetically.
"I'd wait twenty years if I had to," he replied.
"You would?" she asked in disbelief.
Danny grinned. "Yeah, but I can't promise I'd be very pleasant to be around."
Lindsay smiled, swirling her fingers over his chest in a playful caress. "Don't worry," she teased. "Maybe if we get some privacy, you won't have to wait much longer."