Part 2 of 3

Finally, him being the gentleman in all this, he simply has to clear his throat and grit out, "I started to say I assure you that I don't think you're unimpressive."

Her eyes dart up. "You don't?" she whispers then frowns at the double negative.

He grimaces and coughs out, "No, I don't. You are hands down the best DS I've ever worked with, I couldn't ask for a better partner. In fact, I'd move heaven and earth to keep you…" his eyes jink up briefly before dropping again "… if you wanted to leave, take a position elsewhere. Then I'd… I'd…" His words fail him at this point and he bites his lip.

Her eyes widen, "Leave? Why would I want to leave? Everything I need is here!"

He frowns, "Look, we both know you could head up your own team. The Commissioner has mentioned offers coming through his office for you and…"

Her eyebrows arrow down, "What? He had no business telling you that! I haven't been job-hunting, not at all! People just keep offering..."

He nods, "I know, the same for me. When you have a perfect solve record, word gets around."

She stills, "People are headhunting you? Trying to lure you away? Where? Back to England?"

He nods again, "Yes, and other places in the Commonwealth, Canada particularly."

She scoffs, "Oh, what, they got maple syrup smugglers up there?"

He lifts chastising eyebrows and murmurs, "You'd be surprised… and no, before you ask, I have no intention of accepting any of the offers."

She frowns, "Why?"

He huffs, "Same as you, everything I need is right here."

A brief silence falls and they relax a bit. He thinks this fraught discussion is over. She thinks things are finally getting interesting so she says, "What's here that you don't want to leave?"

He starts, colours up slightly, avoids looking at her, "Oh, you know, the usual." At her snort he adds, "Um, my job, my house, my books, my… um… oh, Harry… and… er… the boat…"

She flips a hand, "Oh, please! You can get a better house, books can be packed, Harry can fit into a jar, you hate that boat, and we both know you'd excel at whatever job you take on."

He lisps, "I didn't excel at Croydon, did I? I was miserable, defeated, ignored…"

"Grrr," she growls, "but not here. You proved your worth, people know your value here."

He nods, "Er, yes, and I have to say it's a novel experience, our team, one I'd hate to lose."

She nods back, "Right, and if you did leave you'd have to take us with you, wouldn't you? You need a team that stands behind you 100 percent, to keep everyone off your back so you can do your job and prove yourself again. And, if that didn't work, we'll gladly show them the error of their ways!" Her hands bunch up into fists.

He stills then hushes, "Well, that would be the only way I'd leave this island voluntarily." He frowns, "But, even so, I'd hate to leave. Who would look after Harry?"

"Mmm," she muses, "Harry could live in a fish tank, yes?"

"No!" he grumps, "Harry is a free spirit! I would never cage him."

She studies him for a long moment then hazards a guess, "So you're saying that you've come to appreciate Sainte-Marie and don't want to leave it?"

His hands grip one another, "Well, yes, and no." At her louder snort he hastens to elucidate, "There's still too much sun, sand, and seafood… and I still haven't gotten used to 'island time'… but, yes, I've come to cherish certain… um… I mean… I'd miss… er… you know..."

"People?" she whispers. "Are there people you'd miss? Dwayne for instance?" He nods as if reluctant to admit it. "Fidel?" He nods easier this time. What's not to love about Fidel? "Maman?" His eyes lift to hers and he swallows drily before giving a curt third nod. "I see," she murmurs then asks, "Did I forget anyone?" His eyes dart away. "Oh, I did, didn't I?" she says low and puts a hand on his arm, "What about me, Richard? Would you miss me?"

He is stiff and still for long moments before leaning onto the table and covering his face with his hands. "Yes," he groans low, "but I would never stand in your way… if you want to leave…"

She smiles fondly then, gently pulling his hands down so she can look him in the eye, "Weren't you listening earlier? I already said everything I need is here… and that includes you. I never thought I'd ever say this but… I'm happy to stay here because of you but… if you did need to leave…" she bites her lip "… could I come with you?"

He looks surprised, "Er, well, yes, of course. And if YOU leave, could I…?"

She runs her hand up his arm to squeeze his shoulder, "Yes, of course! But we won't, will we?"

He looks puzzled, "Won't what?"

"Leave. Why would we when we've got the perfect life here? Well, except for the sun, sand, and seafood… and there's solutions to all that. Why would we risk losing paradise?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean we might never find a situation where we can work together as partners with a team as excellent with a scary boss who is in our corner. We live in paradise, everyone says so, and if you're here then I know it's true."

He ventures a faint smile, "Well, when you put it like that, I have to say I agree. But you said there were solutions to my issues with the island. What are they?"

She holds up a finger, "Sun… you need trees, air-conditioning, and light weight clothing." A second finger pops up, "Sand… we need to get you off the beach. I'm thinking a nice shady house in the hills that catches every breeze." Up comes a third finger, "Seafood… I'll never take you to Pierre's again and I'll have a word with Maman to come up with a personalized menu just for you." She puts her hand down, looking very satisfied.

His smile is rueful, "And 'island time'?"

She shrugs, "Not much I can do about that, sorry. But, really, is it so bad? It's a slower pace and less stress."

He slowly nods, "Yes, I suppose, unless the A/C acts up, then it's urgent!"

"Oh, that's easy. You'll have a dedicated technician; Dwayne's got a second or third cousin's boy who is graduating from HRAC studies right now. He's more than happy to have such an illustrious patron when he opens his shop."

He mulls this over briefly then asks the question she's been waiting for, "Why, Camille?" At her raised eyebrow, he clarifies, "Why have you given this so much thought? It's almost like… "

"Like I want to make you happy and keep you here?" He nods, looking a bit anxious but hopeful too. "Because I DO want to make you happy and keep you here. And, not to spoil the peace and quiet in your new home or anything, I'm hoping you will ask me to share it with you. If you think that's a good idea?"

END – part 2