Rikki's eye's felt heavy. She could barely keep her attention on the speaker. He was droning on about market forces and some other drivel. Well, it wasn't really drivel, it was just that it was the end of the day, and she was tired of listening and tired of sitting. She yearned to see the outdoors and smell some fresh air. Here she was on an island paradise and all she'd done all day was sit indoors.
She shifted in her chair trying to wake herself up and accidently bump her colleague Jeremy sitting next to her. Their eyes met and by the look he gave her she could tell he was having trouble staying awake also. She smiled at him.
"Any questions?" the speaker asked.
Oh, thank God, it's almost over, she thought. Mercifully, there weren't many questions and the last session of the day wrapped up quickly. She filed out into the hallway with the rest of the attendees.
"Fancy a drink?" Jeremy asked.
"I was thinking of getting outside," Rikki reply.
"How about a drink at the open-air bar then?" Jeremy smiled at her. He had a nice smile, open and genuine. The combination of his crisp suit with his mob of unruly hair gave him a boyish, devil-may-care look. He was new to the company and Rikki hardly knew him.
"Best of both worlds" Jeremy added.
Rikki laughed despite her weariness. "Ok, ok, a drink it is."
"Good show."
The patio bar was already crowded with people standing in clusters near the bar because there were no seats left.
"Hmm, maybe this won't work," Rikki said.
"What? No, we'll make it work," Jeremy said, and led the way over to the railing overlooking the harbor.
"You stay here, and I'll get us some drinks. What would you like?"
Rikki thought. She wasn't in the mood for beer or wine, but her she also wasn't sure what she wanted.
"No, don't tell me," Jeremy said. "I know just the thing."
He disappeared into the crowd. Rikki stood at the railing and looked out at the harbor. It was crowded with sail boats, some that looked more like yachts they were so big. Even so, it was pretty and peaceful. The open air did feel better than the conference room though. Her feet hurt a bit. She glanced at her new shoes. They were nice, and the heels helped to accentuate her calves, but they were a bit tight.
"Here you go," Jeremy said appearing at her elbow. He handed her a clear glass with a lime in it. "Gin and tonic, just the thing at the end of a long day."
It was too. Rikki took a long slow sip. The drink was refreshing, and strong.
"So, how long have you been with the company?" Jeremy asked.
"Three years," Rikki said. "And where were you before you took this job?"
"Australia if you can believe it."
"Really? Doing what?"
"Outback guided tours."
Rikki stared at him for a moment. It fit in a way. "That's a far cry from this line of work."
"It is."
"Do you miss it?"
"A bit. But this pays better."
Rikki took another long pull at her drink. She was drinking too fast, but the combination of the refreshing flavor and the effect of the alcohol was just what she needed.
"How can you stand being cooped up in a conference room all day after all that outdoors?" she asked.
"Well this is definitely not the best part of the job," Jeremy said and gave her another one of his smiles. He was easy to be around. She thought for a moment of Rob. They'd been married for four years. Not the same at all. Rob was dark and serious where Jeremy was sort of golden and light hearted. She pulled her thoughts way and took another drink. It was mostly ice and water though.
"You want another?" Jeremy asked holding out his hand for her glass.
Rikki felt a bit lightheaded. It was a good feeling. She looked around the bar, it was even more crowded now with people on either side of them. She felt sort of hemmed in.
"I do, but maybe we can find another place. It's so crowded here."
"We can take the drinks back to one of our rooms," Jeremy suggested.
"I don't know, the rooms aren't that comfortable," she said.
"Oh?" Jeremy sounded surprised.
"Well, I mean they're fine for hotel rooms, but not a place you want to spend time."
"I have a harbor view with a balcony," Jeremy said.
"What? Really?"
"Let's get some drinks and I'll show you."
They took the elevator to the third floor holding their cold glasses. The hall looked just like the hall on the eighth floor. Jeremy led her down to the end and opened the last door. A flood of light greeted them. The room was huge. There was a king size bed and beyond that a little sitting area with a kitchenette and a sliding door out onto a balcony. It was at least twice as big as her room.
"Wow," Rikki said. "How'd you manage this?"
"No idea. I had a nice chat with the girl at the front desk and when I opened my door this is what I found."
Rikki looked at him. Was he unaware of how attractive he was? Could that be possible? She felt like she wanted to reach out and touch him. Maybe take his hand. The thought shocked her.
"Make yourself at home," Jeremy said.
Rikki walked over to the open sliders and out onto the balcony. The sun was low in the sky and the rays were warm and comforting. She took a sip of her drink. She felt oddly free. She turned and found Jeremy standing next to her. He smelled good, like money. Well not money itself, but of some clean, well-off scent.
"Feels good doesn't it?"
For a moment she wondered what he meant and then she realized he meant the sun.
"It does."
They drank in silence for a few minutes. Rikki was suddenly keenly aware of Jeremy next to her. To her surprise it made her heart beat a bit faster.
"Oh, I need to sit. My feet are killing me," She said. "Do you mind if I take off my shoes?" She was sincere, but she also needed to get further away from Jeremy and get her heart and breathing under control. She should probably just leave, but she was enjoying his company.
"Not at all. I said to make yourself at home."
Rikki went in and sat on the sofa that faced the harbor and removed her shoes. Jeremy sat down in the chair across from her.
"New shoes," she said.
"You want me to massage your feet?" Jeremy asked.
Rikki's heart did a little skip, and a tiny alarm bell went off in her head. She looked at her left shoe, still in her hand. She should put it back on and leave.
"You'd do that?" She heard herself say.
"Sure, I give a pretty good foot massage, if I do say so."
Jeremy removed his suit jacket and draped it over the back of a chair. Then came over and sat on the coffee table, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt.
"Give me a foot."
Rikki put down her shoe and lifted her foot onto Jeremy's knee.
"It'd be easier without these nylons, but I can work with this."
"Oh. I can take them off," Rikki said and then regretted it. But it was out there now, and she didn't feel she could take it back.
"Ok, that will make for a better massage," Jeremy said.
Carefully, so as not to give Jeremy a show, she slipped her hands under her skirt hooked her thumbs into her waistband and pulled her nylons down, rolling them off over her feet. It actually felt good to take them off.
Jeremy took her foot in his hands again and began to massage it. He started by pulling lightly on her foot, extending her leg. Next, he ran his hands up her calf and back down applying a firm, but light pressure. Something inside her melted just a bit and she could feel her shoulders relax. Jeremy rolled her ankle between his palms and then lightly worked the bottom of her foot with his thumbs.
Rikki sighed.