***Chapter 20

The blonde woman straightened her dress and cast a glance at the mirror hanging on the wall. The light black dress, knee-length, suited her slender figure very well. The blonde pinned up hair and some few soft curls framing her face accentuated the soft line of her neck. Was it too much? But with the sand-colored sandals it looked more casual than sexy. At least she hoped so. He shouldn't get a wrong impression. Oh don't you fool yourself! You're giving a broad hint with that black dress. And you know exactly what kind of impression you want him to get... sure he isn't that oblivious not to understand. Anyone would see. No matter what kind of shoes you wear. Even barefooted, the dress, the hair, it all speaks volumes. She sighed and took off her shoes, making her way back to the bedroom to get changed once again. Halfway up the stairs, the high-pitched ringing of the timer reminded her of the chicken. She turned round and hurried to the kitchen. After all, she had invited him to share not burnt chicken but dinner.
It was when she finished the dressing when she saw the familiar white car turning round the corner and stopping right in front of her house. The driver got out of the car and looked up, indicating a wave when he saw her dark silhouette against the brightly lit window. She waved back and went to open the door.

Mike clutched his fingers around the neck of the bottle he was holding and concentrated hard not to let it fall on the floor. That was not what he had expected. The hell he wasn't sure what he had expected but sure not... He exhaled deeply and tried to get his composure back. A slight cough brought him back to his senses. Kate had stepped aside and was waiting for him to come in.

"Good evening, Sir", she addressed him formally, not sure what to make out of his behavior.

"X." He nodded, still not sure he could trust his voice. Kate frowned.

"Something wrong?", she asked.

Mike couldn't remember when he last saw her wearing something else then gray overalls or camouflage. "No... I just... you...seem to...your ankle is better?" he managed sounding somewhat hoarse. His eyes had caught her bare feet and moved from there up the slender legs to where the black dress begun. Actually that didn't help him at all calming down.
"Oh." Kate blushed, remembering she had got rid her shoes earlier. "Yes, fit for duty."

About an hour later they had just finished the main course and Mike poured them some more whine. He couldn't remember how they'd got out of that awkward situation at the door but somehow they had got around. Kate sat opposite him and ran her fingers through a strain of hair that had come free of the knot.

"And that's how we got our two sailors back", he ended. "Perkins got a new posting, seemed not too happy with it though. It's on a frigate and I actually thought he would like, seemed like a big ship sort of person."

"Well, one could change." She smiled remembering their first encounter at the Hammersley. The silence that followed felt nothing at all weird. Both enjoyed being together, just sitting there and looking at each other. The start of the evening was already forgotten. Finally Kate stood up and started clearing the table. Mike wanted to help and they ended grabbing both the same plate. No one said something. Mike's blue eyes seemed to get a bit darker, coming close to the colour of the ocean after a storm. Of course, just like it always happened at these movies. Kate couldn't move, frozen with her hand at the plate feeling the warmth of his hand at hers. That eyes, the little laughter-lines, his tender look. Mike's thumb caressed her palm, skimmed her wrist. She recoiled and cleared her throat.

"I've made dessert too. Want some cheesecake?", she asked trying to resolve the situation.

His smile widened. "I'd love dessert", he said and got hold of her hand again. "But maybe not right now." Suddenly serious, he added: "Kate, I can't do that anymore. Pretend that nothing happened between us, that there are no feelings at all. Seeing you in that dress earlier...that nearly swept me of my feet. So yes, dessert would be fine." He pulled her closer in an embrace and hold her tight, his arm around her waist. She felt his breath accelerating and didn't know what to say. "But I don't want cheesecake." Pulling her even closer, he whispered in her ear: "I want you, Kate."

His hands caressed her back, wandering slowly down to her hip. Kate lent closer, her head resting at his broad chest deeply inhaling the scent of him, a mixture of after shave and something she only could describe as Mike-scent. She sight with delight.

The alarm clock went off at half past five. Still half asleep Kate reluctantly reached out to turn it off and stopped dead in the middle of her movement. There was someone in the bathroom. She slowly pulled the blanket closer around her body and sat up. That was when she saw the black dress lying at the floor carelessly discarded next to a pair of black gent's shoes and some sand-colored trousers. Realization came with full force. The dinner, the wine, dessert... she blushed.

When Mike came out of the bathroom, he found her sitting at the bed, starring at the clothes, the blanket rapped around her body, the alarm still trying to get someone's attention. With a soft glance he turned of the clock and sat next to the blonde woman, gently pulling her into an embrace.

"Good morning, Kate. I hope you slept well?"

She stiffened under his touch and nodded slowly, not sure what to answer. "What have we done, Mike?" She sounded slightly scared. Pictures of yesterday's evening danced before her inner eye.

"Something we should have done way earlier." Still smiling, he stood up and knelt before her. His hands rested at her knees. Looking at her with a serious expression, he added: "Kate, I love you. God knows I've tried to be professional, I've tried to forget but I can't. I'm going to accept promotion. It comes with a shore posting. That's something Commander Marshall wants me to do for some time now anyway. Nothing would be in our way then."

"You would leave Hammersley for me?" The question hang in the air for some time. Mike thought about it. Then he nodded. "Yes, I would", he answered earnestly. "I'm deadly serious Kate. I want to be with you and I'm going to do whatever it needs to get to that."

"Oh." Kate was fully aware that he was expecting something else but that was all she could manage right now. The thoughts swirled around in her head giving her no chance to think properly.

A beeping noise interrupted them. A few seconds later, a second one joined in song. The sound made them start. Mike, still only in his pants, stood up and grabbed his trousers. Kate reached for her mobile laying at the bedside table. Both officers were informed via text message of the new schedule for the Hammersley.

"We better don't arrive there together. You take your car, I follow later with a cab." Kate felt awkward to state it but someone had to. Mike's flinch was hardly visible and a somewhat hurt look flitted across his face before he could regain his composure. He nodded, almost finished with dressing.

"Of course. That would be best. See you later aboard X."

Stupid you! That's really not what you should say to someone just having confessed he loves you! Kate felt bad but the moment was gone. She sat there and watched him leave not able to say something that would have made him stay.

Tom Magnus smiled the smile of a man who knew victory was within reach. Walker had just informed him that there would be one last delivery and then he would get his share of the profits. With all the Navy and the Feds out there having a look at any suspicious vessel, they saw themselves obliged to change tactics and better come up with a new way off smuggling things. In the meantime they would stop the business for good and concentrate on other projects. Magnus hadn't asked, he didn't want to know what other stuff Walker and James where up to. All he was interested in was getting his part of the profits and then quitting his job at the Marine Research Centre. He imagined himself sitting on the veranda of a beautiful new house overlooking the garden and a pool. He could see beautiful women swimming in it and having a great time at the new home. No more time wasted at that underwater shoe box. Just another delivery and he would be fine. Letting his gaze wander around the small room he made a face of disgust. How he hated that job, that station. Never enough money, never enough time, never enough of everything. But that would be over soon. He'd always liked the thought of being rich, of having everything you want to, no need to think over it before buying something. Tom wasn't a man being satisfied with what he had. He had discovered that soon after his wedding. His wife had bored him the minute he had been married. No adventure anymore. Same with his job. It had sounded great but soon he had discovered that it bored him. Not enough money, not enough adventure... That was when he had met Walker and Jack. They had reached out at him one evening at a bar. The offer sounded promising so he had greedily grabbed the opportunity.

There was only one problem standing between him and all the money. A Picture at the wall opposite of him reminded him he had to do something about it. A young woman dressed in a pink wet suit smiled at the camera holding up a big red starfish.