impeccably decorated with fragrant petals and low-burning candles. Nicole felt Ryan’s warm hand on her bare shoulder as she took her seat. To her embarrassment she got goose bumps. Luckily he didn’t notice. Ryan sat next to her while Vincent and Sylvia sat opposite them.
A nearby waiter immediately produced a wine list. Without looking at it, Vincent ordered a Sauvignon Blanc from Groot Constantia, which Nicole knew cost almost as much as her monthly salary. She caught Ryan’s eye. He smiled and squeezed her thigh under the table. Did that mean things were going well? She hoped so.
They ordered a seafood platter which was piled high with lobster, giant king prawns, mussels, clams, langoustines and small bowls of garlic butter. There was freshly baked bread in wicker baskets on the table and tiny wedges of lemon on side plates. Nicole stared at the veritable feast, unsure of where to start.
“Dig in,” motioned Vincent, piling his plate with a selection from the platter. “The lobster is out of this world.”
Nicole didn’t doubt it. Tentatively she dived in, selecting all her favourites. She ate slowly, savouring every morsel. This was heaven. After a week of eating like this she’d have a hard time going back to fish fingers and ketchup.
The conversation was light and animated. Vincent and Sylvia asked her plenty of questions about her job and family in South Africa. Nicole, buoyed up on Sauvignon Blanc, relaxed and chatted freely.
For main course they ordered the line fish of the day, freshly caught from the waters that surrounded them and grilled to perfection. A second bottle of wine followed, and the conversation flowed easily. Vincent told Nicole all about his eco-oriented venture capitalist organisation and the projects he was involved with. Ryan contributed knowledgably, pointing out the benefits of this and the downfalls of that and by the end of the evening Nicole had learned a hell of a lot more about renewable energy than she ever thought she’d know.
As a scientist she found she had a lot in common with both Vincent and Ryan and many of the techniques and processes they talked about she understood, even though she wasn’t familiar with them. It was a fascinating evening and she felt quite hyper at the end of it.
“I think I’ll sit out on the deck for a bit,” she mentioned to Ryan as they entered their beach chalet. It was still balmy and warm outside, and the sea sparkled darkly against the white sand, which was lit by unobtrusive spotlights hidden amongst the foliage beyond the beach.
“You’re not tired?”
“No. I’m still buzzing from all that expensive wine. I want to unwind for a bit and stare at the sea. It’s so lovely here.”
She kicked off her shoes and flung them on the bed. Walking barefoot onto the wooden deck, Nicole collapsed into a deck chair with a blissful sigh.
Ryan followed her. “Do you want company?” he asked softly.
“Sure, if you’re not too tired. Don’t stay up on my account.”
Ryan sat on the chair next to her. It creaked under his weight. “Me, tired? Please.” He stretched his long legs out in front of him.
They sat in silence listening to the gentle lapping of the ocean and the chirping of the crickets in the dense foliage behind the chalet.
“You played your part perfectly tonight,” said Ryan, turning his head to look at her. “I think Vincent is half-convinced we’re a couple already.”
Nicole sat silently contemplating his words. Played her part. Yes, she was well aware she had a job to do here on Medjumbe. It wasn’t just a vacation. Hearing it put like that made it seem mercenary, somehow. Nicole shrugged it off. Now was not the time to get an attack of conscience. She was doing Ryan a favour. It was for a good cause.
“I’m glad,” she said, keeping her gaze firmly on the horizon. “Sylvia seemed to believe me when I said I adored you.”
“You said that?”
“And that you were sweet and charming and
A nearby waiter immediately produced a wine list. Without looking at it, Vincent ordered a Sauvignon Blanc from Groot Constantia, which Nicole knew cost almost as much as her monthly salary. She caught Ryan’s eye. He smiled and squeezed her thigh under the table. Did that mean things were going well? She hoped so.
They ordered a seafood platter which was piled high with lobster, giant king prawns, mussels, clams, langoustines and small bowls of garlic butter. There was freshly baked bread in wicker baskets on the table and tiny wedges of lemon on side plates. Nicole stared at the veritable feast, unsure of where to start.
“Dig in,” motioned Vincent, piling his plate with a selection from the platter. “The lobster is out of this world.”
Nicole didn’t doubt it. Tentatively she dived in, selecting all her favourites. She ate slowly, savouring every morsel. This was heaven. After a week of eating like this she’d have a hard time going back to fish fingers and ketchup.
The conversation was light and animated. Vincent and Sylvia asked her plenty of questions about her job and family in South Africa. Nicole, buoyed up on Sauvignon Blanc, relaxed and chatted freely.
For main course they ordered the line fish of the day, freshly caught from the waters that surrounded them and grilled to perfection. A second bottle of wine followed, and the conversation flowed easily. Vincent told Nicole all about his eco-oriented venture capitalist organisation and the projects he was involved with. Ryan contributed knowledgably, pointing out the benefits of this and the downfalls of that and by the end of the evening Nicole had learned a hell of a lot more about renewable energy than she ever thought she’d know.
As a scientist she found she had a lot in common with both Vincent and Ryan and many of the techniques and processes they talked about she understood, even though she wasn’t familiar with them. It was a fascinating evening and she felt quite hyper at the end of it.
“I think I’ll sit out on the deck for a bit,” she mentioned to Ryan as they entered their beach chalet. It was still balmy and warm outside, and the sea sparkled darkly against the white sand, which was lit by unobtrusive spotlights hidden amongst the foliage beyond the beach.
“You’re not tired?”
“No. I’m still buzzing from all that expensive wine. I want to unwind for a bit and stare at the sea. It’s so lovely here.”
She kicked off her shoes and flung them on the bed. Walking barefoot onto the wooden deck, Nicole collapsed into a deck chair with a blissful sigh.
Ryan followed her. “Do you want company?” he asked softly.
“Sure, if you’re not too tired. Don’t stay up on my account.”
Ryan sat on the chair next to her. It creaked under his weight. “Me, tired? Please.” He stretched his long legs out in front of him.
They sat in silence listening to the gentle lapping of the ocean and the chirping of the crickets in the dense foliage behind the chalet.
“You played your part perfectly tonight,” said Ryan, turning his head to look at her. “I think Vincent is half-convinced we’re a couple already.”
Nicole sat silently contemplating his words. Played her part. Yes, she was well aware she had a job to do here on Medjumbe. It wasn’t just a vacation. Hearing it put like that made it seem mercenary, somehow. Nicole shrugged it off. Now was not the time to get an attack of conscience. She was doing Ryan a favour. It was for a good cause.
“I’m glad,” she said, keeping her gaze firmly on the horizon. “Sylvia seemed to believe me when I said I adored you.”
“You said that?”
“And that you were sweet and charming and
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