by Melissa Hill
All that time spent out on the ocean leading diving expeditions had lightened his (now slightly longer) hair and darkened his complexion in equal measures, while the wetsuit defined his still very lean and rangy frame. ‘I missed the West Coast though,’ he added, eyeing her directly.
‘Yeah, well I’m sure you made the most of your time down there – you always do,’ she added, unable to resist the barb. ‘So how long have you been back?’
‘Just a couple of weeks. There’s a guy with a dive-shop here I promised I’d help out for a little while.’ Now he looked a bit shame-faced. ‘I was going to call –’
‘Sure you were,’ Alex smiled tightly, unwilling to even entertain the idea. He was going to call her? When? ‘Anyway, we’d better get going,’ she said, turning to Leonie.
‘Wait – I hear you guys are looking for somewhere to stay?’
‘We’re just fine, thanks,’ Alex interjected, but maddeningly still found herself unable to take her eyes off him.
He held his hands out wide in supplication. ‘Hey, you know I’d be only too happy to help you ladies in any way I can.’
‘I’m sure you would,’ she replied sardonically, with a pointed glance at Leonie, ‘but we’re doing just fine as we are.’
‘But I know this place like the back of my hand…’
‘It’s fine Seth, honestly,’ Alex said her tone firm, and Leonie gave her a questioning look. ‘As I said, we’d better go.’
‘Come on Alex, don’t be mad at me,’ Seth pleaded then. ‘I was going to call, I swear I was. It’s just, I kind of got side-tracked and – ‘
Alex whirled around wide-eyed. ‘Side-tracked – for a whole year?’ she retorted, and immediately wished she hadn’t. ‘Not that I give a damn,’ she added quickly, ‘but the very least you could have done was told me where you were.’
So I could have got you out of my hair once and for all, she added silently.
‘Yeah well, maybe I didn’t want to,’ he shot back, not in the least bit apologetic now. ‘Maybe I wanted – ‘
‘You just wanted to suit yourself, and to hell with everyone else, right?’ Alex argued, shaking her head in disgust. ‘Wow, you really haven’t changed a bit, have you? I guess I thought you might have grown up by now.’
‘You thought I’d have grown up?’ he retorted, eyes flashing.
‘Um, I think I might go and do a bit of shopping…’ Leonie began meekly.
‘It’s OK, Leonie, you don’t need to go anywhere.’ Alex replied. ‘We’re done here.’ With a final stony glare at Seth, she went to walk away again.
‘OK you’re right, you’re right, it was wrong of me,’ he conceded, his voice somewhat gentler this time. ‘I should have told you where I was.’
‘Damn right you should,’ she reproved, refusing to grant even an inch in return. But that had been part of the problem, hadn’t it?
‘Actually yes, I think I will go shopping!’ Leonie interjected brightly. ‘There’s a lovely little toffee-apple shop back there I liked the look of, so how about I meet you back here in say… half an hour?’ she said, quickly toddling off before Alex even had a chance to reply.
Now the two of them faced one another again, and this time neither seemed to know what to say.
Eventually Seth spoke up. ‘So how have you been?’ he asked his tone softer this time.
‘Fine, no thanks to you.’
‘I know, and I’m sorry things got left that way, but everything was so crazy and I couldn’t think of any other way to – ‘
‘To hurt me? I thought you’d already done that,’ she said, folding her arms across her chest.
‘Don’t be like that Alex.’
‘How the hell do you expect me to be, Seth? You just walk away like nothing happened…’ She shook her head, annoyed with herself that even after all this time he still managed to get under her skin. It was the sheepish, hangdog face that did it, that and those slate grey eyes and wayward smile … not the mention the fact that his sheer proximity seemed to send every nerve ending in her body on full alert.
‘I guess I hoped we’d have put all that behind us by now,’ he said gently. When she said nothing, he went on. ‘Anyway, I’m here now and ...’ He moved to approach her and Alex quickly stepped back.
‘You’ve got no right, Seth,’ she reproached him, snapping back out of her reverie ‘Not after what you’ve put me through.’
‘Hey, why does it always have to be my fault?’ he said, getting angry again. ‘You were the one who decided to –’
‘Well what did you think I was going to do?’ Alex shot back hotly. ‘Just stand by and do nothing? What kind of an idiot do you think I am?’
Seth took a deep breath and sighed. ‘Look, there’s no sense in going over all this again now is there? Can’t we talk about it some other time?’
Alex didn’t particularly want to get into it now either; there was hardly any point and besides it was ancient history after all. ‘You’re right, this really isn’t the time or the place,’ she conceded. ‘Believe me, the last thing I expected was to bump into you today.’
‘What are you doing down here anyway? That girl… she said you guys were here on a flying visit?’
‘It’s a long story.’ Alex sighed, feeling jaded all of a sudden.
Strangely, Seth seemed to sense this. ‘Look, she probably won’t be back for a while, so why don’t we go and catch a beer somewhere while we’re waiting. We can keep an eye out for her in the meantime.’
Alex didn’t really trust herself to be anywhere near him at the moment; and it was hard enough coming face to face with him today, let alone sitting down and sharing a drink.
Yet somehow, she found herself agreeing. ‘Fine, but don’t think you’re off hook that easily,’ she warned him sternly, in a weak attempt at staying in control and keeping her composure.
But as was always the case with Seth, this was damn nigh impossible.
He led her further along the street to a bar that had outdoor seating, and they sat facing each other on opposite sides of the table, neither of them making eye contact while they waited for Leonie’s return. The afternoon was sweltering and due to this, and also in no small way the shock of bumping into him, Alex drank down the majority of her Corona in one long gulp.
Seth raised an amused eyebrow. ‘That’s my girl. Good to see you haven’t lost it,’
he grinned, his eyes crinkling up in that familiar mischievous way.
‘Don’t push your luck Seth,’ she warned fiddling with the neck of the bottle. It had been a long time since she’d heard him call her that, and damn it, the casually intimate way he’d said it still got to her. Avoiding his gaze, she fished out the lime quarter and began to chew on it, while staring unseeingly out across the bay.
‘You still do that too, huh? Guess you haven’t changed at all.’
Alex gave a short laugh. ‘Don’t be fooled. I’ve changed a hell of a lot in the meantime – unlike some people.’
He set down his drink. ‘Meaning?’
‘Meaning I saw you with Leonie earlier. You were hitting on her before I came along, weren’t you?’ She looked up, and saw that he was trying his utmost to maintain a solemn expression.
‘Hey now, I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘You might as well admit it. It’s not as though I give a damn either way.’
‘I was only being friendly…’ Seth insisted, but failed to contain the impish smile working its way along his lips.
Alex shook her head, recognising that look all too well. ‘You really just can’t help yourself, can you?’
‘Well maybe I was – just a little bit,’ he admitted, a twinkle in his eye. ‘She is kind of cute, but not really my type when it comes down to it.’
‘Not your type…’ Alex rolled her eyes in disbelief and no small measure of amusement. ‘I didn’t think there was such a thing.’
‘Of course there is,’ he declared, feigning insult. ‘Why – are you jea
lous?’
‘Give me a break.’ She’d very nearly forgotten how damned infuriating he could be; almost like a five-year old kid trying to get out of trouble, she mused, taking a sip of what was left of her beer. ‘You are really incredible sometimes, you know that?’
There was another flash of those blindingly white teeth. ‘Why thank you darlin’,’ he said exaggerating his Texan drawl, before nodding at her empty bottle. ‘Another?’
He was already out of his seat before Alex could reply, and in his absence she sat alone at the table, trying to work out how she should be feeling.
A whole year …
And yet it still felt like it was only yesterday … no, she corrected herself quickly, Seth was making it feel like it was only yesterday, as if everything that had happened in the meantime was insignificant. But that was him all over, wasn’t it?
Seth eventually returned to the table with another two Coronas.
‘So do you still live at Green St? Hey, only making conversation,’ he added innocently, when Alex gave him a look that suggested this was absolutely none of his business. ‘I do know you’re still with the station though. I caught a couple of your shows lately. They’re good.’
‘Thanks.’ She felt weird, almost exposed, at the idea of him keeping an eye on her work. Again, her gaze met his, but this time she didn’t look away.
‘Alex I…’
‘Leonie, over here!’ Suddenly spotting her friend across the street, Alex stood up and waved at her. Just in the nick of time too, she thought. Things were getting way too uncomfortable (or was it comfortable?) for her liking and she didn’t want to be alone with him for any longer than she needed to be.
Leonie approached the table, smiling. ‘Oh great, I was afraid I might miss you or get lost, or something. It’s lovely here but everything looks a bit samey and my sense of direction is just brutal and …well I’ve found you now.’ She looked from Alex to Seth as if trying to determine whether the coast was now clear.
‘Can I get you something to drink?’ Seth stood up and held out a seat for her, all polite and solicitous now, apparently forgetting that he’d been flirting shamelessly with the same girl not an hour earlier.
‘I’d love a beer too, thanks.’ Leonie on the other hand, hadn’t forgotten this Alex noticed with some amusement, her friend beaming again in his presence.
‘Coming right up.’ Seth headed again towards the bar.
‘Buy anything nice?’ Alex asked, eyeing Leonie’s shopping bags.
‘Just a couple of fiddly little things I thought might be nice for the apartment.’ Sitting down, she leaned forward conspiratorially and cocked a sideways glance at Seth. ‘I hope you don’t mind me just abandoning you like that, but I got the impression you needed some privacy.’
Alex waved her away. ‘Not a problem, it’s fine.’
‘I got a bit of a fright when the two of you just started sniping at each other; I mean, I had no idea you actually knew him. He seems nice though. While I was waiting for you he just came up and starting talking to me – right out of the blue! I couldn’t believe it.’
‘Yep, that would be Seth,’ Alex said wryly.
‘I have to admit I didn’t exactly mind though, I mean, it’s not every day that this gorgeous hunk comes up and starts talking to you, is it? And wow, he just has this way, I don’t know… this incredibly sexy way of looking at you – it sort of like, turns your legs to jelly?’
‘Definitely Seth.’ Alex took another sip of her beer, trying to keep from smiling.
‘Well, he had that effect on me, anyway – still does a bit actually,’ Leonie giggled, throwing another glance in the direction of the bar, where Seth stood waiting to be served. ‘So who is he?’ she asked casually. ‘Some old boyfriend or something?’
Alex looked at her, deciding she’d better come clean. ‘Actually,’ she said, with a weary sigh, ‘he’s my husband.’
Chapter 15
Leonie’s mouth was still wide open when Seth returned; she was so floored by what she’d heard. Alex felt kind of bad, her poor friend was probably embarrassed at admitting the effect he’d had on her, but what else was new? The guy had that effect on everyone.
The questions began when the girls left Seth and headed back into Monterey to find a place for the night.
‘But you never said anything about being married!’ Leonie was so taken aback, it was like she’d forgotten the real reason they were here at all. When Alex explained that Helena wasn’t at the studio when she called, and wouldn’t be until the following day, it almost didn’t register with Leonie – she seemed much more interested in finding out the story with her and Seth.
Although it was the last thing Alex wanted, he’d somehow coerced them into meeting up again for dinner that evening.
‘I know this great Mexican place, it’s got the best margaritas in the state,’ he’d assured them, and while she was reluctant to indulge him, there was no avoiding the fact that the two of them had issues to sort out. Issues Alex was determined to bring to a resolution, especially while she could pin down where Seth actually was at the moment, which couldn’t be said for the last year.
Now, back at the motel they’d found for the night, Leonie was still full of questions. ‘How come you never said anything? Especially with Jon and everything ... I presume he knows?’ She shook her head, incredulous. ‘I still can’t believe you never told me you were -’
‘Well that’s because I’m not as far as I’m concerned,’ Alex shrugged. ‘Yes, we’re married, but just on paper, and of course Jon knows. I haven’t seen Seth since he took off about a year ago.’
‘Oh.’ It no longer sounded quite so dramatic to Leonie. ‘So you’re separated then,’ she said, sounding faintly crestfallen.
‘Well, if I had my way, we’d be divorced by now, but because Seth refused to tell me where he was, I could never have him served.’
And it wasn’t for the lack of trying. In the early days, once she realised he was in fact gone, Alex had searched high and low for Seth’s whereabouts, an address, a place of work, even a beach – anywhere he could be served the damn divorce papers. But until today, her errant husband had remained as slippery as the conger eels he regularly swam alongside on his ocean dives.
‘Now I understand why you were so angry when we bumped into him earlier,’ Leonie said. ‘But what happened? Did he disappear after you two split up or…’
‘Leonie, you’ve seen him. That roguish smile and the hangdog expression? Not to mention all the flirting he was doing with you beforehand. Do you really need to ask me what happened?’
She looked uncomfortable. ‘Right. He wasn’t exactly the faithful type then.’
Alex snorted. ‘I’ll say! Ever heard of the seven-year-itch? Well, with Seth it only took seven months.’
‘God, Alex, I’m sorry for bringing it up, I have no right to ask and it’s really none of business…’
‘Hey, it’s not a problem, I’m way over it,’ she assured her. ‘I think I knew deep down from the very beginning that he wasn’t the marrying kind. But I was besotted and very stupid and I took the chance.’
Not to mention that she’d been completely bowled over by Seth. It had been a whirlwind romance in every sense of the word.
They’d met in this new club down by the Marina district and sparks had flown almost on sight. Alex was ordering drinks at the bar when he’d started hitting on her, and while she was instantly attracted by his rugged good looks and Southern charm (any woman with a pulse would be) it was an obvious he was a bit of a player. But Alex relished the challenge of keeping his interest, and for the best part of the ensuing year, she did. The sex was as explosive as their never-ending arguments, but Seth’s boundless energy and lust for life was like nothing she’d ever experienced.
‘The guy was born and bred in North Texas, about as far away as you can get from the ocean, and he ends up a scuba diving instructor – which just about sums him up, I guess’ she told Leonie, emphasising
Seth’s avant-garde and contradictory nature. ‘A few months into the relationship, he took me down there to meet his family. I didn’t think too much about it; he’d been driving me crazy talking about his horses and how much he missed them, and so on. His family are cattle-breeders and the loveliest people you could meet,’ she said with a wistful smile, thinking of his mother with her gentle Southern mannerisms and his dad – a greyer and more rugged version of his son, but who shared the same devilish twinkle in the eye.
‘The same weekend we went to a local rodeo a few miles outside Dallas. I don’t know if you’ve ever been to one of those things, probably not, but it’s like nothing you’ll get anywhere else in America. Maybe it’s just the Southern thing but there’s this great community spirit, you know?’ Alex was seriously reminiscing now, but she couldn’t help it.
It had been an amazing evening. Seth had bought her a cowboy hat so she blended in nicely with the locals, who all strutted around in full rodeo garb. Everyone – young and old – wore cowboy boots beneath jeans or skirts, and even the kids looked like miniature cowboys in their little checked shirts and hats. Alex could easily imagine Seth at that age, racing around like crazy beneath the bleachers while waiting for the show to begin.
‘He’d told me he was taking part that night, but I figured he’d just be parading around on his horse. I mean, I had no idea …’
The rodeo officially kicked off with everyone singing along to ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ and while the crowd was still standing in the bleachers, Alex amongst them (with Seth’s Mom, Sally) Seth suddenly appeared in the middle of the ring.
‘You should have seen him Leonie,’ she laughed shaking her head. ‘You think he looked good today – well in those cowboy boots, denims, and that hat…’ she smiled again at the memory. ‘He took the microphone and bantered a little bit with the announcer, a guy he knew well – Seth knew everybody well. Anyway, like I said, there he was in the middle of a dusty rodeo ring, microphone in hand, when he dropped to one knee and …’ she shook her head, now almost sorry she’d started this story. ‘And he turned to where I was sitting in the bleachers and in front of half the state of Texas, asked me to marry him.’