"What's to tell? It's the first date. My first dates are usually disasters," Rachel said. "Not that this one is. So far so good, other than talking only about business."
Reggie shook the bowl again, eliciting another attempted arm-grab. "You were hoping for something more personal? Such as details about his wife?"
"Wife?" Rachel repeated. She hadn't read anything about him being married in any of his research. Oh no, was she now 'the other woman?'
"Dead wife." Reggy said.
"Dead wife?" Oh no. Did one of the newts off her?
***
Ignacio left the building and found a bench to set the basket and blanket down on. He should go right back in, but he found himself reluctant to do so.
The humorous image of Rachel in her beautiful golden dress with an adoring flying squirrel peeking out from the curls of hair on the top of her head was irresistible. Both so soft, in more than dress or fur. And much too familiar.
He'd found a woman who possessed a magic touch with animals. Someone who loved animals on their own, without faking it in an attempt to continue dating. Someone who appeared honest and real in everything she did. Who honestly liked him and what he did without hesitation.
He'd had that once, and lost it. With it came the memories he'd tried so hard to suppress. Tried and obviously failed.
With it, the charm of the evening disappeared. A heaviness settled on his heart. He wasn't ready for any of this, and it wasn't fair to Rachel.
"He's out," Rachel called out.
His cue to go back inside. To continue a date his heart no longer wanted.
He forced himself to return, finding Rachel still sitting at the bench with her hair down around her shoulders, and a thrumming squirrel held in her arms and happily munching large beetles from a cup on the counter in front of it.
The image flashed to that of someone else a bit shorter with red hair, holding a rescued bird. He blinked rapidly, the image so real. The image shifted back to that of Rachel.
He couldn't say anything, although he knew he should. The image was seared into his mind, making him incapable of thinking or feeling anything other than deep pain.
"Operation Squirrel Escape accomplished," she said with a grin.
"Hand him to me. I'll make sure he gets a good feed before releasing him by his favorite tree." Reggy reached out for him. "Off you go. Get a head start on a walk or something before he decides to come looking for you for another snuggle."
Ignacio thanked him while Rachel passed him over. Even while eating, Pookie didn't want to let go.
Pookie. What a name for a male squirrel.
"He's right. We should make a run for it. Would you like a walk?" Rachel asked, joining him near the door.
Right, a walk. A walk would be a good past-time to follow a picnic. The paved walkways through the refuge were well-lit and perfect for such an activity. His mind knew all of it. His heart was another matter.
"Sorry about your hair," he said, finally getting out a few words.
"No harm done. Despite the timing of his hello, it was nice to see Pookie again," Rachel said. She pulled her hair back and used one of the clips that had once kept the loose bun in place to instead move her hair away from her face.
They returned to the bench with the basket and blanket. Ignacio picked them up, wondering what he should do now. Had it been enough time for the date to safely end? Should he walk a token amount around one of the smaller environmental enclosures?
"Reggie told me a little of the consulting you do for the refuge. You seem to be everywhere. I admire the dedication," Rachel said.
"I'm needed." He pushed the blanked higher on his arm as they headed back the way they'd come.
"Along with the newts. I'm amazed you have time to sleep."
"I get by."
All the while images of another woman flashed through his mind. What was wrong with him? Tied to the past, tied to changing the future for animals unfortunate enough to be in the way of human progress. For once it all felt so confining, but he had no idea how to get out from the tangle.
"What direction?" Rachel asked in the silence.
Happiness and humor no longer glowed from her face. No touch of laughter touched her voice. Instead, she was worried.
And, it was all his fault.
The short way, then. Then, time to end the date. It had gone on long enough.
CHAPTER EIGHT
RACHEL TRIED TO remember exactly when the date ended. All she knew was that a short time after fishing Pookie out of her hair, they were back at the door of Ignacio's warehouse. How did it happen so fast?
"Thank you for a lovely evening," Ignacio said with a distracted smile.
His hair was no longer smoothly combed back from the forehead. Instead, it stuck out in all directions from the multiple times he'd recently run a hand through it. Distracted, mono-syllable answers. No laughter.
All because of Pookie? Sure, he wasn't a newt, but Pookie possessed his own charm.
Ignacio opened the door, and turned towards her.
Her heart jumped. He was going to say goodnight, go through the door, and she would never see him again. She's had too many first dates end this way and knew the signs, but she didn't want it to end on this note. This one meant more, she could just feel it down to her toes.
Somewhere, it had gone wrong with the Pookie fiasco. Or directly after? She must figure out how to get it back on track before it was too late. But, how could she figure it all out in only a few seconds, much less fix it? She still hadn't figured out if she'd done to cause it.
"Hey, pal. Why back so early? I told you I would watch the newts. By the way, Irvine just started hissing up a storm. Does that mean something special?" A man around Ignacio's age asked, poking his head out the door. He spotted her and gulped. "Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt. Please continue."
If only there was something to interrupt.
"Thank you for the pleasant evening," Ignacio started.
"It was wonderful. Even with Pookie," Rachel said, forcing a big smile on her face. "Speaking of rescues, how are the baby Silky Newts doing? Are they already bigger?"
"They are doing fine. Thank you for asking," Ignacio said, his face cloudy.
She didn't like seeing the expression. For some reason he was upset, and she knew exactly the thing to break the mood.
"You have to show me." Rachel stepped past him and into the front room of the apartment side.
The man from when she'd first arrived for the date saluted her with a beer bottle and disappeared down the hallway to the back of the apartment. Rachel made her way to the door leading into the main warehouse, turning to wait for Ignacio. "Do Silkies molt? I can't keep straight which ones do and don't."
Ignacio stood outside the door. The poor man looked so totally confused, as if still expecting her to be outside.
"Any other babies on the way?" Rachel asked.
Still not getting a response, she went through the door. Some of the enclosures were dark. A few floor lights illuminated the center walkway, allowing her to easily find the Silky enclosure.
She kneeled down in front of it, trying to make out any moving shapes in the shadows around the edges of the pond. A moment later she heard soft footsteps behind her. A breath later, and he was kneeling down next to her.
"Paul says he counted all of them a half hour ago," Ignacio said.
"That was Paul? A friend?"
"He heads up part of the Exotic Pet Show. Breeds rare birds."
All this time she'd been helping the reserve, and all this had been going on around her without her knowing. She'd never realized how big Redpoint One was on a social level, and she'd been working on the station for years.
"I think I see one." Rachel pointed towards the right side of the pond.
"They're usually in the same general area. Another one near the right waterfall," Ignacio said, pointing.
"By the fern," Rachel said, seeing another tiny head bobbing in the water.
"All accounted for," Rachel said as Ignacio pointed out the last one.
"And all doing well. Usually, I lose one or two the first five days. There are always weaker members of the litter," he said, shifting his legs.
"As with most animals. You said you intended this group to be released into the wild?" Rachel asked.
"Yes, at a refuge. They'll help broaden out the genetic diversity of the wild population. The parents will stay here. They're too accustomed to humans." His eyes remained on the newts, but his voice had taken on a different quality. Softer, almost adoring.
Why couldn't he turn that towards her just once? For now, she contented herself with the fact he'd relaxed after coming back to familiar surroundings.
"Hmm. Should we even be here, then?" Rachel asked. "The babies might get accustomed to humans looking in on them."
"You're fine. The glass is currently only one-sided. We can see them, they can't see us."
That made her feel better. She shifted to the side, her thigh brushing his. She felt him stiffen.
Oh great, and she hadn't even done it on purpose.
"Thank you for the dinner," Ignacio said, his reserved tone back in full-force.
Rats, she'd ruined it. "The meal was lovely. We should do this again."
"I'll walk you out."
If there was ever a shutout, that line was one. Her heart immediately started grieving over it. She hadn't meant to touch him. It was completely innocent. She'd only wanted to get a better look at the male newt, as she'd not seen him with the mother before.
She stood up when he did. Who knew if his chivalrous offer of a hand to help her up would set him off more. Her mind raced, trying to think of what to do next. She'd already lured him among his beloved newts and salamanders. What was left to try?
Then she spotted a newt between two enclosures, completely out in the open. At a water valve, using the flat feet it used to cling to glass to unscrew the release. In the space of a heartbeat, a trickle of water began to come out the valve.
"Don't you dare, you frilled monstrosity!" Rachel shouted, racing across the warehouse, not caring about her high heels or dress.
***
Ignacio stiffened. Who could she be yelling at? Admittedly, he'd been actively trying to stop any possibility of further dates, but he didn't think he'd been insulting about it.
Then Rachel shot off across the warehouse, the golden fabric of the skirt flaring out behind her. Straight towards a cleaning station on the other side of the aisle. Only then did he see a small moving body near the lower faucet.
Oh no, how did Irvine get out? He'd checked over his entire enclosure several times after the last escape.
Rachel slid to a stop on the tile at the base of the faucet and reached down in a way that made his heart skip a beat.
"Don't grab by the tail!" He shouted, running as fast as he could. He caught up just in time to find Irvine held by the main body right in front of the rear legs.
"Oh no, you don't. Get out of there," Rachel shouted at him, rocking the back of Irvine's body back and forth. The rest of him was in the pipe with water pouring over both him and Rachel's hands and arms. She glared up at Ignacio. "He won't come out. Do something. He'll clog up the pipes again."
"Pull gently." There wasn't enough room to trade holds, so he pulled Irvine's hind legs off the pipe to help with the extraction. "But, don't squeeze the body."
"I'm not the one pulling hard. He is!"
"Maybe close the faucet so he can't go further in?" While holding Irvine's legs with one hand, he closed the faucet with the other. Which did absolutely no good at all. The water continued to pour out. "Do you have more plumbing problems? It won't close."
"Of course it won't close. Redpoint One detects a lifeform. It won't kill it." Rachel nodded towards the back of the warehouse. "You have a warehouse water main switch near the electric box. Turn it off."
He'd never had a reason to turn off the water to the warehouse, but he found it fairly easy thanks to someone's careful labeling in the rear utility room. He rushed back to Rachel to find her in the same position as before.
"I don't know what you expect to find in there, but there isn't any food," Rachel said to Irvine, with a lovely scowl on her face that wrinkled her nose.
"Did he come out at all?" He asked.
"Wedged in as tight as before. Any other ideas?"
"I've never known a Ruffled Newt do this sort of thing. To figure out how to open valves or regularly escape their enclosures?" He put a hand through his hair as he stared down at them. Getting Irvine out was one thing, but what did he do afterwards? "I didn't think they were this intelligent. Wonder if anyone else has observed this sort of behavior?"
The look Rachel gave him said she didn't care. Nor did she appreciate his laugh. He shrugged at her increased glare. "Sorry. I am trying to figure something out. Promise."
"Think faster. My hands are getting tired," Rachel said, moving to kneel down on her knees.
Such lovely knees. Along with the rest of her lower legs. Muscular, but so smooth.
Ignacio started. Where did that thought come from? Not the right time or place for it, nor something he should even be thinking about, he reminded himself. He didn't want any more dates, right? Break it off now, fast and painless, before the rest of him became anymore involved. Only, not all of him agreed with the thought.
It took effort, but he forced his mind to return to business. "Right, get him out."
Getting Irvine out of a tube of water would be hard. It mimicked his natural environment. Recalling what worked for Pookie, he brought out several offerings of food. Irvine ignored them all, still trying to wriggle his way into the pipe.
"I preferred our dinner," Rachel said with a rueful smile as he took away the aquatic worms. "Next?"
Ignacio didn't know what to do. Food, tickling the feet, scratching the belly, tapping the pipe. All of it failed. He thought back to the native environment. He must be missing something. Something else that would be sure to lure Irvine out of the faucet.
He unbuttoned his suit jacket as he stood up and walked towards the back of the warehouse. "Hold on. I have one last idea. Don't go anywhere."
"Very funny," Rachel yelled out after him.
In short order he returned with a big bowl and a small fluffy brush. He'd left the jacket and his good shirt in his bedroom, replacing it with one of his older work shirts. He had a feeling this was going to get messy.
"No wonder it took you so long. You changed," Rachel said as he kneeled down next to her.
"I was hardly gone at all." He dipped the brush in the warmed oil and started pushing it up the faucet in any opening not occupied by Irvine. "An oil I use for several newts when they have skin lesions. Helps them heal."
Rachel gave a laugh. "Are you planning what I'm thinking?"
"He can't stay in if he can't keep a good grip."
"Brilliant. Keep at it."
Ignacio was happy to. He wanted Irvine out safe and in one piece, especially with his tail intact. He didn't foresee one problem, though. In order to apply the oil properly it meant close proximity to Rachel, including those nice smooth knees revealed by her hiked-up skirt.
It made it hard to think of anything newt-related, no matter how he tried. He tried pulling away and work the brush from the distance, but he couldn't angle the brush correctly. He almost stabbed poor Irvine before he gave it up.
"Sorry about that," Ignacio muttered as he lowered himself again to the floor in front of the faucet, trying his best to ignore Rachel.
To ignore the silk, as well as the silky skin touching his. Trying and utterly failing. The material felt familiar, although he couldn't imagine why, making him ever more sensitive to the touches.
"I'm fine," Rachel said. "I think I just felt him slipping."<
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The smooth silky material of her skirt brushed against his cheek as he used the brush and a flashlight to place a good glop of oil near one of Irvine's front legs. Such wonderful material. Irvine was a fool to prefer a pipe to the soft touch of the material.
Then he suddenly remembered. Of his mother wearing a burgundy dress with a soft paisley imprint to impress the man who would become her second husband, the man who eventually became his beloved stepfather. "Wait, are you wearing Mandian silk?"
"You noticed only now?" Rachel asked from above him.
"It's been rather dark most of the night." The shock continued to ripple through him even while continuing to oil the inside of the pipe. She'd thought of something like this for their simple date? Wasn't the silk expensive? Now he felt bad about taking her for a picnic. He should have taken her to one of the more expensive restaurants in the entertainment sector. "I'm sure Irvine appreciates the gesture of something from his home world."
"It's not Irvine I was trying to impress, you dolt," Rachel said.
The words didn't match the inflections of her voice. For the second time that night his heart swelled. Even more so than when she'd appeared at the door looking so adorable in a golden dress matching the highlights of her hair.
And it was all for Rachel. No memories attached to anyone else.
With a squelching noise and a hiss, Irvine slipped out of the pipe with an irritated hiss. Rachel fell back in surprise with the newt still grasped in both hands.
Irvine did not look happy to be out of the pipe. He hissed and pushed against her arms, his skin becoming ever more coated with oil. Several drops ran down his tail to drip on Rachel's skirt.
Ignacio quickly put down the oil and brush. "Here, give him to me. The oil will ruin the silk."
"I'm not sure I can keep ahold of him." Rachel hunched up her shoulders while holding him out to Ignacio. "I think he's going to get free!"
Irvine popped out of Rachel's hands just when Ignacio wrapped his hand around the upper body, but his hold wasn't secure enough. Between Irvine's fast movements and the oil, he had popped out of the top of Ignacio's hands, too.
Rachel hands flashed through the air, and she caught him before Irvine's legs could even touch ground.
Turn of the Pipes (A Redpoint One Romance) Page 7