Page 16 of Merry with a Captain

The sun had warmed the beach, and it almost felt like summer. After their lunch, they laid back on the blanket and watched the clouds. They even had a nap, at least she did. When she’d woken, Fletch was awake and watching the sky. Their level of comfort was growing, and there was no need to fill any voids by keeping busy, or talking. Simply being together was enough.

The day had flown by, and the sunset was going to be spectacular. Clouds on the eastern horizon began to look like molten gold, the reflection of the sun setting in the west painting the sky in a breathtaking display of gold, pink, purple, and a rainbow of orange against the inky blue of the sea. Which was calm, almost like a mill pond.

“Those clouds on the horizon mean we could be in for a change of weather. The same with the wispy ones above us." Fletch put his arm around her as the temperature dropped. They weren’t the only ones on the Love Beach pier, it was like the whole town came out to watch the sun go down.

She looked up, and gasped. "I don't think I've ever seen anything so beautiful. I cannot get over how hot pink those clouds are. And all the other colors that seem to shift and change constantly."

She rested her head against him and snuggled in closer to his side.

"Cold?" he asked.

“A little. You’re warm as a furnace, and I don't know how you aren't cold in just a shirt." She shivered, and he tightened his arm around her.

“I tend to run hot. Even in winter, it doesn't bother me too much."

"Then you'll be fine if you decide to come with me over Christmas,” she said, but didn't wait for him to reply and continued. "I still have to bundle up in the winter. And I should've thought better and brought warmer clothes today. It was so lovely this morning, it fooled me into thinking it was summer-like weather.

"It was really warm at that beach we found. Like the greenhouse effect, the trees around the beach kept the heat in and the sun beat right down on top of us. We couldn't have asked for a better day.” With her head resting against his chest, his deep voice rumbled next to her ear.

She nodded. "No, we couldn't have asked for a better day. And I'm really glad you suggested it. Just look at that sky now."

“If you like this, then you’d love to see the sunset on the ocean."

"You mean from a boat?" she asked.

“Mmhm, and sometimes you can even catch the green flash,” he told her.

“I’ve heard of the green flash, but I've never seen it. Maybe one day I will. They say it's good luck if you see it.”

“Then we have to make sure you get the chance to see the green flash. It won't be long now until the colors die down. Then we can go in and get you warmed up.” He rubbed his hand up and down her arm, creating a lovely friction which chased away the cold.

Tonight, she wasn't sure about asking him to stay. They hadn't talked about next steps, and even though she craved him, she thought it best to just let it ride. She was sure it was on his mind as much as it was on hers, and letting it happen naturally, organically was the best thing. From her experience when you tried to force anything, rather than drawing you closer, it pushed you apart.

She shivered. "I'd like to start heading back if you don't mind. I'm chilled right to the bone, and as you said, the sky has darkened quite a bit and very quickly."

He stood, and she did as well and wrapped her arm around his waist, leaning into him to capture as much heat as possible. He hugged her tight, and they walked off the pier.

"The wind is picking up, and see the waves as well,” he observed. "Let's get you inside."

In the truck, he turned on the seat warmer and blasted the heat, turning vents so they blew on her. "Okay?” he asked.

"Much better, thank you. Look at me, my teeth are chattering. I'm such a baby." Robyn took the jacket he pulled from the backseat and placed it over top of her. “But it was definitely worth it. I don't think I'd ever seen a sunset so beautiful.”

"It was a good one. Do you stargaze?" he asked and put his hands in front of the vent. “It's getting hot now.”

“Yes, I love stargazing and watching for falling stars. I'm a real oh-look-at-the-moon kind of girl." She smiled at him. "One trip I'd like to take, which seems like a bit of an oxymoron considering I get cold easy, is to an ice hotel in Norway and watch the aurora borealis.”

He let out a laugh. "That sure is unexpected. But I can see the draw. I hear those hotels are amazing, plus you're given all kinds of blankets and stuff to keep you warm. Actually, it's not such a bad idea."

"One day," she told him. "There's so much to see and do in the world, and I would love to see and do it all. Too bad we have to work for a living.”

"Then you just need to find a job that allows you to see and do all of the things."

She turned to him. "I think that might be a little easier said than done. But yes, it would be wonderful to find something like that."

He was thoughtful for amoment. "Penny for your thoughts." Robyn reached out from under the warmth of the coat and gave him a gentle nudge on the arm.

"Just thinking it would be great to figure out how to make something like that happen. Now then, are you hungry, are you tired and wanna go back to your room, is there anything else you'd like to do?"

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