Lost and Found

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Clay’s arms wrapped around her and pulled her close; his lips met hers and took over. Within seconds they were on the verge of losing control.

                “We should head back...”

Amelia wondered whether she’d lose her nerve during the hour long trip back to the City, they’d been doomed in any attempt to kick start this relationship, and she had bad vibes that travelling back to Manhattan might see yet another disaster occur. So she lifted her fingers to the base of his neck, running them through his hair.

                “Can we stay here? Tonight I mean?”

He pulled back and stared at her, “really? You mean in a hotel?”

She nodded, “we don’t have the best of luck, and the time seems right...”

Clay looked around, “I don’t know if there are any hotels here.”

                “Who cares if it’s a shitty motel? We’re away for the night, enjoying ourselves.”

He pulled his phone out of his office and typed into it, “ok, somewhere to stay it is!”

Clay managed to Google a hotel a few streets away, and so bundling them into the car, he followed the directions to the ‘Casper Hotel’, which was almost as spooky as the name suggested. The website could well have charges to answer from Trade Descriptions! It was barely more than a motel, but it had a secure car park, and the rooms were clean and comfortable.

They had no bags, not even a clean tooth brush, so hand in hand they made for a small commercial centre that the receptionist had told them was three blocks away. Between the pharmacy and the Wal-Mart they managed to buy toiletries and some clean underwear. There was also a Chinese restaurant there, so they booked a table for later that evening.

Back at the hotel, they took it in turn to shower; suddenly the awkwardness she’d feared had arrived and they were both tiptoeing around the other, the romance and easiness of the beach long gone.  Wandering down to the Chinese restaurant, she slipped her hand into his.

                “Aren’t we a little underdressed for a restaurant?”

He shrugged, “I can’t imagine them turning us away, and anyway, it’s half past six, hardly prime dinner time. They’ll be glad of the table being occupied, you’ll see.”

Having lived with Li for most of the past ten years, Amelia was more adept than most with both the menu and the chopsticks. She chuckled as Clay battled on before she leaned over, “don’t be threatened, you can use a fork!”

His eyes widened with amusement, “that sounds very much like a challenge Amelia Parkin!”

By the end of the meal she was laughing, covering her mouth with her hand every time he dropped a piece of duck or chicken.

She was still amused and gloating as they walked the sandy promenade, enjoying the dusky late spring evening.  Stopping to stare out at the sunset, Amelia gripped the wooden fence that bordered the sand. She felt arms come around her and Clay’s hands settle either side of hers, his body almost touching the length of her back. Leaning slightly she pressed herself into him and he breathed a sigh next to her ear. A tingle of excitement fluttered down her spine at the sensation.   Turning slowly in his arms, she looked up at him.

                “It’s beautiful here." 

He nodded, “you’re right, beautiful.” But as his eyes never left her, she realised there was a poignancy, a deliberate double meaning to his answer. And that was all it took.