He stalked to his window and watched the ocean. Waves met the shore, retreated, and surged forward once more. He felt this way. Each time he made progress with Christine, she retreated. Maybe this time apart would be good for them both. She and her friend Maddy needed the fun of a girls' vacation. But when he dared to suggest she stop by and see him, she'd laughed as if it were the greatest joke in the world.
He leaned his head against the cool glass. His desire to take them from friendship to the next step seemed completely logical to him. He'd not once in all the years since his divorce been tempted to take this leap into another commitment. He wanted Christine, plain as the sunshine outside. He'd seen her glances at him, her pretty little blushes when they flirted and the almost wishful hope in her expression at times. Why wouldn't she take a chance?
He watched as a hand holding couple strolled along the beach. A typical sunny day, warm and pleasant, every bit the paradise travel brochures called this bit of the world. He wanted to share this view, these islands, and their people with his best friend.
"God, Christine," he whispered. "I miss you. I miss your face, your smile, your voice. I miss flirting with you just to see the lovely shade of pink in your cheeks. I miss seeing your ID on my cell and your name on my email or Skype. Couldn't you send even one message? Are you so busy you can't even think of me? Or do you just not think of me at all?"
He had it bad. So bad he talked to himself. A knock thundered on his door. He turned and prepared to apologize to the best administrative assistant any man could ever have.
Chapter Two
You seem so Far
I wish You were Near
I wait upon the Path for You
So we may Continue to Find
The Gems buried along the Way.
Come back to Me Soon.
"Well, shoot, woman, it's plain to me. You can't be so dense." Maddy shook her head. Christine squinted in the bright Sydney sunlight as she glanced at her friend. "I asked what you thought he meant by these poems not for a commentary on my mental state."
"Oh for bloody lord's sake, you asked and I'm telling." As Maddy lifted her hand, the huge square cut diamond on her finger caught the sunshine and sparkled. "He's wooing you, as in flirting, setting the stage, making the moves." Maddy threw both hands in the air now. "Whatever you Yanks want to call it, he's doing it."
Christine frowned. "You were born a 'Yank' too. And just because he emails me sometimes doesn't mean it's wooing."
"He emails you every day. Not just greetings but poems and other lovely surprises. He's sent something every day you've been here." Maddy reached for her coffee cup on the bench beside her. "Bloody hell, I've been married twenty-five years and don't rate one email a week, yet alone one a day. You and this sex god poet have been together what, five years?"
"Mark doesn't need to email you when he comes home every night." Christine pointed out. "I've known Charlie six years, but we've only physically met twice. And he's not a sex god poet."
Maddy puckered her full, ruby red lips. "The hell he isn't. If you don't want his wooing, pass him over to me."
"Stop it." Christine sipped her coffee. She loved Australian brew, the full, rich flavor and explosion of caffeine on her tongue. "He's a co-worker. Period."
Maddy gave an undignified snort and a teenage girl walking past did a double take. "Yeah, right, I get poems from co-workers all the time too."
"He's just being friendly." Christine insisted and held her cup in both hands.
"Hmmm. My favorite line from one of his poems, besides the 'light burning in the window for you' one, is the one about the gem."
"On Life's Path there are many hidden Gems; May you Seek, Look, and Find; the Gem which is, as always; Right before Your Eyes," Christine quoted.
Maddy laughed. "Yep, you have them memorized. Sure, he's just a bloody co-worker, and I'm the bloody queen."
"So I like his poems." Christine sipped her coffee again. "Maybe I have some memorized."
"They're sweet and touching. They make you smile."
And go all fluttery inside. And feel so very special. Christine waved her hand, breathing deep of the tangy harbor air. "He got them out of some book. He's not writing them for me."
Maddy tilted her head. "I don't think so. He's a sex god poet who is wooing you."
Christine shook her head. "He's a friend."
"Keep telling yourself that, mate." Maddy tipped her cup to drink the last of her coffee.
"Well he is." She looked out across Sydney Harbor. "I love it here. It's a whole different world, so peaceful and calm. The no worries' attitude of the Aussie people isn't a saying; it's a way of life. I wish I could have the same attitude all the time too."
"Nice change of subject." Maddy pushed hair back from her forehead. "You could have the same attitude if you tried hard enough. Or if you moved here."
Christine laughed. "A great place to visit."
"But you'd miss your sex god poet too much to move here." Maddy pointed in the direction of the single opening of the harbor to the open sea. "He's just across those waves."
"I don't miss him." But she did with a desperation that almost scared her.