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I glanced at my watch as I leaned back in my chair. “Wow, I didn’t realize how late it was,” I said.
“When you enjoy spending time with someone, you don’t want it to end.”
“I need to go to bed. I think the sun drained me.”
Austin nodded. “I hope we can continue this tomorrow. Would you like to come to my place?”
“What time?”
“Whenever you get up. I usually awake by five. I love the sunrises here.”
I snorted. “It’s after midnight. You can survive on five hours of sleep?”
“Less if I have to, and there have been times.”
I knew Austin was referring to sex, and it made me stir below my waist. He stood up from the couch where he was sitting opposite me, and I joined him as he walked to the door. He planted a gentle peck on my cheek before he left, which surprised me.
I had trouble falling asleep as I thought about the brush of his stubble against my face and the smell of his cologne. Austin was affecting me, and I tossed and turned until 2:00 AM when I dragged myself from bed so I could sit outside and enjoy the moonlight.
Most of the lights in the other villas were out. I glanced over at Austin’s and saw the faint glow of something on the deck. I squinted and saw an outline of a figure on one of the chaises. He was sitting out there smoking. I saw him stand, and the glow went out. He started to remove his clothing, and there was a splash as he dove into the ocean.
I could see his arms slicing through the water in the moonlight. He hoisted himself up the stairs, and before I knew it, he was on the deck and questioning me.
“You’re up?”
I yawned. “I couldn’t sleep. It’s nice out here. I guess you couldn’t sleep, either.”
Austin swept his dripping hair off his forehead. “I think I’m too wound up.”
I crooked my eyebrow. “Wound up, how?”
“By you.”
“Me? What did I do?”
“I can’t get you out of my head. I was here the day you arrived, and I watched from the window. I even peeked out the door.”
“Is that why you had to come over this afternoon?”
“You’re disruptive. How do men work around you?”
I began to laugh so hard that I couldn’t breathe, and when I stopped, Austin was staring at me.
“What’s so funny?”
“People despise me. In fact, it’s probably a toss-up between hating me or fearing me. I’m sure my employees rejoiced when they found out I was leaving for my yearly vacation. It’s like a Christmas bonus for them all over again.”
He sat on the chaise next to me. “I find that hard to believe. I spent several hours with you, and I find you pleasant and sweet.”
I shook my head. “My colleagues would beg to differ.”
He sat down on the other chaise, “That’s just business though. I’m sure plenty of my students dislike me.”
“Do you have friends?”
“Yes, several.”
I began to play with the hem of my t-shirt. “I don’t. I haven’t had any new friends since I left the San Diego. I talk to those people so infrequently; I’m not even sure if I have any friends.”
