Page 7 of Latham
“Can we still be linked?” she asked, biting her lip. “I’d have more confidence if I knew you could keep me from falling. I’m kinda clumsy in these boots.”
“Sure, no problem.” He took a few minutes to link the spare straps he had in his pack and to loop the resulting makeshift harness around her waist, making sure it would hold if she did take a tumble.
The descent took half an hour, moving slowly and getting solid footholds. Helaine was prone to slipping and he was glad he’d insisted she get boots. She couldn’t have done this in any other type of shoe, much less her pretty heeled sandals from the day before. Finally they stood on the pristine white sands of the beach, a few yards away from the curving row of bungalows. Each unit was set on sturdy stilts over the aquamarine water with thatched roofs and enough room to sit outside and enjoy the fresh sea breeze if the occupants so desired.
There was a small cluster of people at the far end of the beach and Latham felt eyes watching as he and Helaine trudged to their assigned bungalow, number ten. A flight of wooden steps led up to the walkway connecting all the huts and Helaine made her way laboriously. He wished he’d taken her backpack to carry for her but it was too late.
She opened the door with the key card Mindy had given them and stepped inside with an exclamation of delight. “Oh, it’s so cozy.”
Latham followed her, finding their accommodation was one large room, with a small enclosed bathroom in the far corner. There was a stasis keeper and a small heating unit, and a tiny table perfect for two. “There’s only one bed,” he said in surprise. “I can sleep on the floor,” he added hastily.
“Mindy forgot to tell us this tiny but significant detail,” Helaine said as she dropped her backpack carelessly on the wooden floor and rushed to flop onto the mattress. “Oh this is so nice and firm. We’re going to sleep great tonight.” Raising herself onto her elbows, she said, “Of course you’re not sleeping on the floor. We’re adults, we can share—it’s definitely big enough. I can construct a line of pillows down the middle if you’re worried about your virtue.”
He liked the idea of sharing the bed he had to admit “Lost that a long time ago, sweetheart. Trying to be a gentleman here.”
“And I appreciate the effort.” She gave him a mischievous glance from under her lashes and he felt his cock twitch in response. “We’ll be too tired after everything we did today for anyone’s virtue to be in jeopardy.”
There was a knock on the door and Latham wheeled in surprise as a woman stuck her head into the room. “Hi, I’m Sariah Mortons, the VP of Harlecky Industries. We’re the group in the other nine cabins. Welcome to Corleon Cove. We’ve been here a few days so if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to come and ask.”
“The lady at IDA Admin said you were on a corporate retreat?” Helaine asked, leaving the bed and coming to shake the woman’s hand, as Latham had done.
“Yes, team building and visioning. “
“I’m Helaine and this is Latham. We’re in the Ardannan special matching program,” Helaine said.
“Interesting. We’re having a cookout on the beach tonight and you’re welcome to come. Our corporate HQ sent way too much food so we have plenty.”
“Very kind of you.” Latham thought he could handle a small gathering and he could tell Helaine liked the idea of a party, even a corporate dinner. How formal could it be on a remote beach?
“All right, so maybe we’ll see you there. What else—oh, we won’t be using the boats if you plan to go diving or fishing. We’ve already done our water-based activities for the week. And com service here is lousy. We get one nightly download of news and messages from the IDA network and that’s pretty much it. There’s an emergency beacon in the storage hut if anyone gets sick or injured. The hut is where the com feed arrives as well. Have fun, enjoy the cove and I hope we’ll see you tonight.” She gave a wave and departed.
“That was nice,” Helaine said, moving to explore their bungalow’s amenities.
“I hope they don’t try to sell us anything,” Latham said. “She was kinda staking her ownership of the cove, did you notice? As if she was our hostess.”
“Yeah a bit,” Helaine admitted. “But they have been here a few days already and this bungalow was supposed to be for one of their group.”
Helaine took a nap while Latham explored the small cove and the surrounding area, checking out the boats and the storage hut, which was actually quite a spacious building set back from the bungalows and housing all kinds of gear and supplies. Towards sunset he made his way back to their assigned bungalow and found Helaine puttering inside, clad in a pretty sundress.
“The bathroom has a refresher,” she said when he entered the room. “It’s a tight fit even for me so I’m not sure you’ll want to try it.”
“I found a communal shower room next to the supply hut,” he said. “I’m good.”
Helaine made a face. “I’m not too keen on the idea of sharing a shower with everyone else here in the cove.”
“If you change your mind, I’ll stand guard for you,” he offered. “I won’t peek either.” Although the image of her naked and wet was vivid in his mind. “The corporate people are setting up their cookout on the beach if you’re ready to go mingle.”
“Do you mind?” she asked. “We don’t have to go. There’s plenty of food in the stasis keeper.”
“It’ll be fine. Good to meet the neighbors and we don’t have to stay long. I heard them talking about Tahumaroa lobsters and Feenicki scallops, plus local clams. It’ll be a seafood feast. We can leave any time we want, I assure you.” He’d have no problem escorting Helaine out of the gathering if she grew uncomfortable.
“Do you think we should bring something?” She hesitated in front of their stasis keeper.
“From what I heard it’s a fully catered affair and their company really did send too much food so no, I think we’re fine.”
“All right then.” She grabbed a light shawl off the back of the nearest chair and together they made their way down the stairs, across the walkway and to the beach.
Sariah did a mass introduction as soon as they arrived at the fringes of the group and then they were on their own to mingle and chat. No one tried to sell them anything or proselytize them and it was a fun evening. One of the men was in charge of the music and played a good mix of songs for dancing, although only a few people actually got up to participate. There was a limbo bar competition which Helaine joined while Latham watched and she nearly won but slipped and fell on her final try.
