Page 22 of Obsession Under the Southern Stars

I look down at her dark hair that gleams in the flashing, colored lights. Her gaze is fixed on my bow tie, and I can’t see her eyes, just those long dark lashes that sweep up and down like fans. Her lipstick has worn off, and her mouth is back to looking pink and soft. My hand rests on the silky fabric of her dress, and it’s hard not to squeeze my fingers and feel her waist beneath it. Her other hand feels small in mine, reminding me of the hug I gave her only this morning, outside her parents’ house. Then, I just wanted to comfort her. Now, I want to kiss her.

The song changes to Eric Clapton’sWonderful Tonight. It’s a bit of a cheesy playlist, but it is a romantic song, and I give an involuntary sigh.

She looks up at me, and for a long moment we just study each other. Once again, I think how exotic she is; she’s like the angelfish I saw when I went diving in the Great Barrier Reef, beautiful and elegant. I’m looking forward to taking her diving and sharing that experience with her. Plus I get to see her in a wetsuit. Not complaining about that.

She blinks slowly, her lashes sweeping down and up. We’ve both had a couple glasses of champagne, but I’ve seen her drink a lot more than that, and I know she’s far from drunk. Still, I think it’s having an effect. She seems mellower. Softer around the edges.

She swallows, and I watch her throat contract as the muscles move. Then, to my surprise, she closes the distance between us, sliding her hand up so her arm is almost around my neck, and pulling my other hand close to our chests.

In response, I slip my hand around her back and press my palm there, making sure to keep her tight against me. We dance like that for the next few songs, still not speaking.

I’m barely able to breathe. My lips are close to her temple, and I can smell the fresh strawberry scent of her shampoo and her flowery perfume. If I turned my head a fraction, I’d be able to kiss her cheek, and eventually her lips, if she tilted her head up. The kiss I snatched at the table was wicked but brief, barely a brush of our lips, and I long to give her soft, light kisses until she opens her mouth to me, allowing me to slide my tongue against hers. I want to be intimate with her. I want her to let me in.

But the song ends, and the DJ changes to a fast tune with the intention of getting everyone up dancing again.

Zoe moves back. “I wonder what the time is?” she asks, raising her voice.

I check my Apple watch. “Just gone nine.”

“I might get another drink.”

I nod, disappointed, but follow her across the dance floor and out into the restaurant.

I blink at the bright lights, feeling the way I do when I surface after the peace and quiet of a long dive and have to deal with sunlight and cars and people’s inane conversations. I want to stay on the dance floor with Zoe in my arms, as if we’re underwater in that silent world, feeling her soft body against mine, hearing her hum to the songs, and enjoy the hope that filled me for a moment that one day, maybe, there might be more between us.

Chapter Six

Zoe

I sit back at the table, and Joel says he’s going over to the bar to get another bottle of champagne. I watch him go, then turn my attention back to the table. Emma has disappeared. Manu is sitting on my left. Joel’s empty seat on my right, with Hori on his right, and next to him the older guy, Clive. All three men smile at me.

“Thought you’d hurt your ankle,” Manu says mischievously.

“That was an excuse to get out of dancing with someone,” I reveal guiltily, but they all laugh.

“Want to dance with me?” Hori asks. “I like a bit of ABBA.” He dances in his seat toDancing Queen, the song currently playing.

I smile. He’s super cute. I’m tempted to say yes so I can watch the vein pop in Joel’s temple, but I decide against it. “I think I’ll take a break if that’s okay.”

“Aw. Are you sure? I’m a better dancer than Joel.”

“Hori,” Manu says. “Leave the girl alone.”

Half-amused, half-irritated that Manu thinks I need him to fight my battles for me, I reach for the bowl of foil-wrapped chocolates in the middle of the table and choose one as I change the subject. “So are you all looking forward to getting back into the water tomorrow?”

“Always,” Clive says. “How about you—are you excited to get onto the Relentless?”

“Very.” I unwrap the chocolate and pop it in my mouth. Mmm, it’s a strawberry crème. “Joel says you’ve reached the hold.”

“Yeah, and visibility has been great,” Manu says. “The weather looks good for the week, no storms or anything, so we should have good diving conditions.” He pulls out his phone and double checks the weather report, discussing it with Clive.

I feel a swell of excitement. I’ve enjoyed the few excavations I’ve been on, but I’ve never worked on anything like this.

Joel’s award rests on the table where he was sitting next to me. The trophies are made from Rimu wood carved into koru symbols, which are spiral shapes that look like unfurling silver fern fronds, and which symbolize new life, growth, strength, and peace. The name of the award is engraved across the middle, and Joel’s name has been added to the plaque at the bottom that bears all the winners for the last ten years.

Hori reaches out and pulls the award toward him. “Nice carving,” he says, turning it in his hands. His gaze rises to meet mine. “Where are you staying?” he asks.

“At the Sea Breeze.”

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