Page 12 of Degrees of Innocence
Chase extends his hand. “Mikael, it’s nice to see you again.”
Chase introduces Mikael as one of his friends and owner of the commercial charter we are taking. He chats with him for a few moments and lets him know we are interested in learning about the lighthouse. “Katarina has been admiring the lights from the resort,” he explains as Mikael reaches out to give my hand a warm shake.
“Welcome to the island, miss. I hope that you will find the tour and history most interesting,” he says.
Chase pulls me close as he leads me up the ramp and onto the deck of the large boat already crowded with tourists. My insides are tingly and deliciously warm being this close to him, and I breathe in the fresh clean scent of his skin. I can feel myself blushing at the proximity.
“You can’t seem to control your blush, can you?” he asks softly so only I can hear.
I shake my head slightly embarrassed that he noticed and wishing my body would stop giving me away at his slightest touch. As the catamaran moves out to sea, the color of the seawater seems to transition from a light turquoise to dark emerald green.
“You can see an outline of the lighthouse in the distance if you look closely. It’s just on the northwestern tip of the island in an area known as Hudishibani and won’t take long to reach,” he says as we get farther out. The water is relatively calm, and Chase regales me with the history of the island and lighthouse until we arrive. As the boat anchors, he takes my hand, guiding me down the ramp and over the rocky paths filled with cacti and desert terrain.
“You know so much about the island. How long have you been coming here?”
“My dad brought me to the island as a graduation gift when I finished my master’s degree about ten years ago. My mom had passed away earlier in the year, and it was good for the two of us to get away. We spent a couple of weeks just exploring the islands, and I’ve been visiting regularly almost any chance I get.”
“It’s no wonder you enjoy it here so much with those kinds of memories. Does your dad ever come back with you?”
“He has a couple of times,” he says, helping me over the uneven path and stones, keeping a firm grip on my hand. As we round the corner, he pauses, allowing me to take in the rolling white sand dunes. The beaches are peppered with various shaped cacti adorned with yellow, red, melon, and pink blooms, aloe plants, and all around are massive rock formations, as far as the eye can see, making it a perfect backdrop to the lighthouse in the distance. He is a wonderful tour guide, and the day goes by quickly as he shares stories of the early settlers and even the modern day struggles the islanders still endure. When we are done exploring, we make our way back to the catamaran just as the other tourists are arriving. They have set out afternoon cocktails and appetizers for our enjoyment on the way back to the mainland, so we take a drink and a small plate with us back to our table on the boat. He has slid in beside me instead of across from me and takes my hand in his. Just the small gesture brings the familiar warmth to my cheeks. He’s gently rubbing his finger over my skin and appears deep in thought. When he realizes I’m watching him, he puts his arm around me. “Good?” he asks. I nod my affirmation, and his arm tightens around me in response.
It does not take long to get to shore, and before we head down the ramp, he stops to talk with Mikael who seems to be in his element chatting with many of the other tourists. “Mikael, as always, it’s been a pleasure,” he says to the older man, shaking his hand before we leave. “There is a rather quaint restaurant between here and the resort. They serve the best Keshi Yena on the island. We’ll stop there for dinner,” he says as we get into the Jeep.
“That’s an interesting name,” I say.
“It’s an island mix of chicken and vegetables,” he explains, amused at my raised eyebrows.
“Well, after all the fresh air dinner sounds wonderful. It wouldn’t do for me to have to have you help me back to my room again,” I say.
“Indeed,” he says, and I can see his lip quirking from my view of him as he drives.
The restaurant is a two-story structure set off the highway and already appears full. The hostess greets us and smiles warmly at Chase. “When did you get back, Mr.—”
“Please, he interrupts, you’ve known me long enough, it’s Chase,” he says to the hostess.
“When did you get back to the island, Chase,” she says warmly.
“I arrived Friday morning. The weather has been great,” he says to her.
“Would you like to dine inside or out?” she asks.
“Inside, I’d like to show Katarina the craftsmanship that went into the restaurant, and we’ve been outside most of the day.”
“Please follow me,” she says, leading us into the restaurant and towards a private dining area. The table is secluded and overlooks the water with a breathtaking view of the blue-green sea and whitecaps rolling in and crashing against the rocks along the coast.
“Chase, it’s beautiful. No wonder you love it here,” I say.
He smiles, and I wonder if he can tell the effect it has on me. “Katarina, you have the most beautiful blue eyes, all the colors of the sea,” he murmurs. I can’t conceal the blush his words create.
“I don’t mean to embarrass you, but I can see and feel your body’s response to mine. Do you feel it, Katarina?” he whispers.
I try to avert my gaze, but his green eyes are smoldering, holding mine captive. My throat is dry, and I hear the rasp in my voice as I respond. “Yes, I’ve never experienced anything like this before.” His appreciative smile is comforting, and I recognize the quirk of his lip before my blush rises all the way to my cheeks.
“You’re blushing again, Katarina. I’d like nothing better than to make you blush over and over again,” he says.
The waitress stops to take our order, and Chase begins speaking to her in what I believe is Dutch. I’m relieved that he orders for both of us since nothing on the menu is familiar to me and I certainly don’t know the language. “I think you will enjoy the Keshi Yena. It’s an Aruban dish and the restaurant still uses the cheese shell filled with seasoned chicken, vegetables, and the raisins which give the dish its unique flavor,” he explains after the waitress has poured our wine and left.
“We have many hidden treasures such as this in and around the island. I’m glad you seem to have such an appreciation for their beauty.”
