S2 E8 – Sharing

Part 2 of 2

She reaches his right shoulder and leans down casually to lay the tin in front of him. He tightens up and twists slightly away, his face cautious and a bit worried. She drops a hand onto his desktop and props herself at ease, other hand on hip. She chuckles, "Sorry. I couldn't help it. You're so tightly wrapped and you're so much fun to tease. I like it when you're human. I think I've told you that before?"

He attempts a laugh of his own but it is breathy, "Well, there's human and then there's super-human. I'm not made of stone, you know, despite everyone thinking I don't have a heart." He puts the lid back on his tin, turning to stow it back into his top drawer.

While his head is turned away, she ducks down to whisper into his ear. He freezes. That will teach you to turn your back on a French woman, she thinks as she murmurs, "Oh, I KNOW you have a heart. In fact, I'm counting on it! I just wish you'd unwind enough to show me a tiny bit of it." She stands back up and he swings around to face her once more. "Any bit of it," she murmurs, "I'm not picky." She reaches down to tap his chest, relishing the firmness she feels beneath his shirt, "This part or this part or even…"

He catches her hand, holds it off the barest inch, blinks, and takes a deep breath, "OK, Camille. I get the message. Now you need to back off and let me think. All I wanted to do was offer you a tr… um… a Jelly Baby. I didn't mean to start something that is going to steamroll right over top of me!"

She gives his hand a squeeze and gently draws her own away, passing it lightly across his chest, over his shoulder, and back to her side. "OK, sorry I jumped the gun... but… I'm French…" He scoffs mightily. She gives him a lidded half-smile, "Yes, ha ha, but the French are not known for their patience in matters of the heart. Will you truly give this important development all the thought it deserves?"

He nods emphatically, "Oh, trust me! I won't be able to think about anything else until I do!"

She smiles small, "Good. I hope you reach a mutually satisfying conclusion. I'm going down to La Kaz now to order us some lunch. If you don't join me within 30 minutes, I'm gonna order up the biggest plate of goggly-eyed things I can think of! If you don't come get it, I'm gonna bring it back here and dump it in your lap. So…"

He nods rapidly, "So I'd better think long and hard! Gotcha. You bet."

She pauses at the door, "Mmm, I like that phrase." She watches him play back his words and then flush a deep manly hue. She laughs, "And I like that colour on you. It suits me just fine. I hope to see a LOT more of it. Very soon." He is now inarticulate with whatever emotion he's feeling and she hopes it has a bit of excitement mixed in with it, whatever it is. Seeing as he won't speak, she nods, "Right, I'm off. Can I leave you with one last thought?"

He covers his eyes and groans, "Oh, please! Feel free! It's not as if my mind isn't churning madly enough already! What is it?"

"Just this, all teasing aside, I'm deadly serious. Don't think this is a prank or I'm bored. You and me, it can happen if you let it. You've trusted me with your professional life for two years now. Isn't it time you trusted me with YOU?" She gives him one last lingering look then strides out into the hot sunshine.

He waits patiently for his heart to settle as he listens to her retreating footsteps. Such an agreeable sound, I can tell where she is in any situation because I can pick out her tread like a thread of beloved music. As her sounds fade, his light sweat dries, his breathing slows to normal, and he starts to count.

At exactly 26 ½ minutes, he stands, locks up, and posts the notice by the front door for people to call the station cell number. As he skips lightly down the steps, he smiles. Let her think I wrestled with this most strenuously. She doesn't have to know the truth. She doesn't need to know that I couldn't see my way clear to the solution I so desperately wanted, the solution that gives her to me of her own free will.

He takes a deep breath of fresh island air and tastes everything as if for the first time. Yes, the solution that she provided today like a prayer answered. She cut right through the Gordian Knot that I couldn't unravel no matter HOW I tried. What a wonder she is. How did she do it? How does she do anything? Why, in her own way, of course. My ways aren't the only ways. I must remember that. She has her own ways and I can't wait to learn all about them!

He chuckles to himself. I mustn't allow myself to be captured TOO easily. After all, a gentleman has to put up SOME resistance! I mustn't let her think she can steamroll me into a romance without my full cooperation! His smile widens as he descends the hill exactly 1 ½ minutes away from his destination. Oh, yes, my little French minx, I trust you. I trust you to make my life interesting from this moment on! There are a lot of dance moves remaining before we bring this situation to a satisfactory end but I think…

He circles around, taking a different approach in order to surprise her. Within seconds he sees La Kaz coming into view. He carefully schools his face into polite concern with, perhaps, just a hint of eagerness, and slows his pace to that of a man who has made a most important decision and is now coming to meet his fate. … I think I will enjoy the next few hours MOST heartily! I can't WAIT to see what other pulse-pounding tricks you have up your sleeve!

He sees her now, sitting outside at the quiet table, watching for him. Catherine hovers in the doorway. He straightens his tie and squares his shoulders. Showtime! Let's see if one English man can co-exist with two French women.

Just before he steps into view and the dance begins, he rattles the little tin in his pocket. You never know when you go into battle just what ammunition will be needed and what tokens of surrender may be accepted but he thinks 'Bigheart' will be greeted most enthusiastically.

In fact, he's positive.

END