Page 7 of Walking the Bird

After the bumpiest flight and the longest wait in history for her luggage, Eleni dragged her tired feet to the check-in desk of the hotel next to the one where the wedding would take place. She’d booked her room under her maiden name, and used a credit card with that name, one she’d forgotten about until they’d sent her a replacement card in the mail.

“Good morning. How can I help you?”

Eleni glanced at her watch to see that it was indeed nearly three in the morning.

“Hello, I’m Elenitsa Kutsukos, I have a reservation. I hope you haven’t given my room away.” Eleni chuckled tiredly with the latter.

“Oh, no, Ms. Kutsukos. Mr. Silvers, the owner, has us monitor inbound flights and I saw yours was delayed.”

Eleni breathed a sigh of relief as she reached for her wallet, the thought of a hot shower and soft bed calling her name.

“There is one issue.”

“Oh?” Eleni jerked her head back to the attendant, a sinking feeling forming in her chest.

“Earlier this evening we had a water pipe burst and had to move several of our guests around. Let me check to see if your room is ready.”

The woman whose name tag read Zera, picked up a radio with a small antenna attached and began speaking in a language Eleni didn’t recognize. Turning to her left, she caught herself before the words left her mouth. Alex was fluent in more languages than she’d ever known existed and was always a half-step ahead of her when she wanted to know what someone said in an instance like this. She hated how much, despite his constant absences, she thought of him instantly. Hopefully, time away from home would grant the clarity she needed.

“Ms. Kutsukos, I’m terribly sorry, but our workers need a few more minutes to ensure your room is safe. I’ve been instructed to reduce your rate per night by half, and today and tomorrow are free. Also, Mr. Silvers asked for you to enjoy any of the resorts restaurants and bars on him for the duration of your stay.”

Zera directed her to the closest bar, assuring her she would come and get her personally when the all-clear was given for her room. Eleni was pleasantly surprised when the bar opened to the ocean, the sound of the waves crashing competed with the soft piano music overhead. Ordering her nightly glass of red wine, Eleni slipped off her shoes and made her way to the edge of the patio where the brick gave way to the soft sand of the beach. Taking several measured steps, Eleni dropped her shoes and purse, her body following as her focus remained on the full moon reflecting off the ocean waves.

Taking a sip from her glass, Eleni closed her eyes and focused on the calming sound of the ocean, she’d needed this more than she realized.

“Excuse me, Miss, are you Elenitsa Kutsukos?”

Eleni opened her eyes with a start to find a handsome gentleman kneeling before her. Dark hair framed a tan face, while a worried brow dipped to create a valley between a pair of deep, soulful eyes.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” He apologized, his voice rich with a smooth British accent, the latter doing wonders for her neglected lady bits. “My name is Derek Silvers, the owner of this resort. I wanted to apologize for the inconvenience you were greeted with upon check-in.”

Glancing to the glass in her hand, surprised to find the contents gone and her body pleasantly numb. “It’s fine, really. I’m just grateful you didn’t give away my room when I didn’t arrive on time.”

Eleni moved to stand, but the fluidness of her limbs caused her to drop back to the sand.

“Here, allow me,” Mr. Silvers offered his hand, gripping her arm as he helped her to her feet, his touch sending a warm sensation along the extremity.

“Thank you, Mr. Silvers.”

“Please,” the man moved closer, his breath tickling her cheek. “Call me Derek.”

“All right, Derek.” Eleni hated how his name felt sexy on her lips as if she were betraying Alex.

“So, tell me,” Derek began as he shoved his hands into his tailored pockets. “What is a beautiful woman like yourself doing coming alone to a tropical paradise?”

“Who says I’m alone?” She retorted, an automatic response Alex taught her when they were first married.

“Forgive me, but I noticed you’re not wearing a ring. It’s my experience women never walk through my front door without either an entourage of giggling girls who’ve managed to make the cut for the wedding party, or a new husband glued to their lips, ready to spend their honeymoon in paradise.”

Eleni drifted her gaze from Derek’s handsome face to the ocean which welcomed her. The ring Alex had placed on her finger grew too tight halfway into their quest to have a baby, and she hadn’t taken the time to have it resized. It sat back at their home, inside the safe, nestled between several of Alex’s guns and the deed to the house.

“How about possibility number three,” Eleni offered, her tired eyes drifting over the water. “An exhausted professional woman who fled her real life in order to figure things out.”

Derek tipped his head back in laughter and Eleni noticed for the first time his dress shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, his tie haphazardly loose around his collar.

“What about you, Derek? What has you dressed in business attire after midnight on an ordinary Tuesday?”

“Water leak,” he nodded, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet. “And I make it a habit to try and greet as many guests as I can. Especially when they are as beautiful as you.”

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