Page 18 of Duty and Desire

“As if happens, I’m not working this week, except for a couple of stints tending bar. But I have a friend staying with me at the—” In the background, a female voice interrupted him. Then Nick spoke again. “Hang on a moment.” The sound became muffled and I couldn’t catch any of their conversation. I was on the point of telling him I’d changed my mind when he came back. “Okay, apparently I’m free today, if you’re not doing anything.” There was a trace of amusement in his voice.

“Oh. Really? That’s great. If you’re sure I’m not depriving your friend of your company.”

He chuckled. “She wants to sun herself on a beach all day, with hot and cold running servers in skimpy shorts. And she says I’d cramp her style.”

“Where should I meet you? And what do I need to wear? How long will it take?”

Nick laughed. “In reverse order… It’ll take about six hours more or less for the round-trip, with stops along the way for pictures and snacks. Sunset is around six, so we’d aim to be back well before then. Do you have some good shoes? Suitable for hiking, I mean. This isn’t a trail you can follow in flip-flops.”

I assured him I had suitable footwear.

“Great. And you’ll be fine in shorts and a tee. Be prepared to get a little dirty, though. After last month’s rain, it’ll be a bit slippery, and there are parts of the trail that get muddy.”

“Would you say it’s a difficult hike?”

“Yes, but it’s manageable. It has parts where you’ll have to climb, but that’s what the ropes are for. And the pay-off for all your efforts will be the spectacular views from the top.”

“You had me at a mix of funand danger,” I admitted.

He chuckled. “Can you be in Vaitape by ten o’clock? We’ll use that as our starting point.”

“Sure, I can do that. I’ve got crackers, fruit and nuts for snacks.”

“Don’t forget water.”

“I won’t. Then I guess I’ll see you at ten.” I thanked him and hung up. One glance at my phone told me I had about an hour to get ready.

I wasn’t sure what exhilarated me more—the thought of the hike, or spending more than six hours in Nick’s company. Yes, I wanted to know more about him, but that wasn’t the main goal.

It had been a long time since I’d wanted to let someone in.

A long time? Try over a decade.

I didn’t know what it was about Nick that drew me to him, especially since I’d only met him once, but maybe if I spent time with him, I’d find out.

I pointed to the little holes in the earth along the road out of Vaitape. “What are those? They’re everywhere.”

“Crab holes,” Nick informed me. “They like their little tunnels.” He pointed up and off to the right. “See that pointy bit? That’s where we’re headed.”

“‘Pointy bit’?” I grinned. “Is that a technical term?” I gazed at the landscape. It was nothing like the swanky hotels lining the coasts. The houses were plain, and there seemed to be a plethora of dogs and chickens. “How come Bora-Bora dogs aren’t like US dogs?”

Nick glanced at me with a faint smile. “How are they different?”

“They’re quieter here. They don’t yap or bark when a car passes by, and they don’t chase after it either.”

He chuckled. “Then I think I prefer Bora-Bora dogs.”

It wasn’t long before asphalt gave way to a much rougher surface as we headed for the trail. There were flowers everywhere, prettyflowers with a heart of dark burgundy, surrounded by large pink petals. Nick told me hibiscus bloomed all over the island.

“You’ve come to know this island well, haven’t you?”

Nick chuckled. “I think I spent my first month here just walking, exploring, seeing…” He came to a halt. “This is where the trail begins.”

I peered in the direction he’d pointed. “There’s a trail here?” Whatever path he was indicating was covered in vegetation.

“No one’s been up here in a while. Which makes sense. You wouldn’t want to attempt this during the rainy season.” Nick smirked. “Things sure grow fast on this island.”

“How high up will we be?”

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