by Anna Collins
“I don’t make the big bucks. When I go home for the holidays, my brothers ream me incessantly, but then again, they have those aging lines around their eyes and I don’t. I found a good woman here on the island, and we have two boys, they are twins. I’m happy, and I get the chance to go home every night after five to be with them. Where in the world can you say you found your dream and are able to surf in the morning? I’m teaching my boys. They were at first hesitant, but now they have taken it to heart,” Joseph said as I listened to him speak about his family. I felt like we were old friends meeting after a long time.
“Some people would look around and think of this as some kind of beautiful illusion. Most people come here to decompress and find a chance to breathe from their hectic schedules. I have no regrets. This whole thing was not in my initial plans, but I had to do something to shake things up,” I said as I watched the scenery go by and found myself immersing in the culture of the island.
“This place is known for having a lot of tourists, but they’re only here for a short time; after their holiday passes, they go back to the same stress they had tried to get away from. It’s no wonder there is an increasing amount of suicides. Here, you can relax, live at a different pace and not worry about where your next meal is coming from,” Joseph said as he navigated the streets like a seasoned pro.
The sights and sounds were really something, but it was the smell in the air that left me salivating like a dog. The research I had done over the last couple of months had made me anxious to try my hand at making some of the delicacies I had heard of. There was something so liberating about being here; it had me breathing the salt air deeply.
“I went ahead and arranged for the place to be cleaned up. There’s no cost to you. I thought it was the least I could do considering you were renting the place sight unseen. You wouldn’t get this kind of personal service anywhere else. I’m even willing to roll up my sleeves and come by tomorrow to help with some of the repairs. I’ve become quite handy over the years. I no longer think duct tape is the answer to home renovations,” Joseph said. He barely missed a local carrying a basket of fruit across the road without looking where she was going.
I had my hand on the dashboard, driving my nails into the surface with my heart literally in my throat. I was breathing heavy, almost to the point of having a panic attack, but I managed to hold myself together.
“She didn’t…she didn’t scream at you or throw her hands up in anger. From her reaction, I have to assume this is common and not something to get all worked up over,” I said looking at Joseph, his long blond hair and muscle shirt. It gave the ladies a chance to give him a once over including the stretched out fabric of his shorts.
“You have me confused…wait…are you talking about the young lady carrying the fruit? I should have warned you. People take things in stride around here. They don’t worry needlessly over something out of their control. You’re going to have to get used to it. You don’t even have to lock your doors around here, but I would in the case of kids acting a fool,” Joseph said with one hand on the wheel and the other one out the window waving to those he knew and those he had not yet met.
We arrived at the place, and I could hear the waves crashing against the shore nearby. I got out of the car and took a look at my surroundings. I might have bitten off more than I could chew after all. I was afraid I wouldn’t be up to the challenge. It had the colors of the rainbow. The predominant color was a shining yellow like the one of the sun in the sky. I walked along the gravel path, kicking the multicolored rocks and laughing despite doing something totally out of character.
Chapter 3
I bypassed the house all together and took a walk on the rickety steps leading to the beach. I stood there looking at the stillness of the water. I closed my eyes and listened to absolutely nothing. I would have to charge my computer and bring it down here where I could turn what I had already been through into a masterpiece.
“I know it’s not much to look at, but you did say you were willing to take on a project. However, meeting you now, I get the sense you are not exactly the handy type. Casper is a good friend, he is going to help you a lot. He’s kind of private, though so I would refrain from asking him about his past. Give him some room to breathe, and you won’t believe what his hands are capable of,” Joseph said as he stood there with his Hawaiian shirt blowing in the breeze. He seemed quite content with where his life had taken him.
“I think I’m going to blush listening to all of this faint praise,” I heard a masculine voice and found myself staring into his deep blue eyes.
“I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow. Casper, I would like you to meet the client I was talking to you about. Angel Adams came here from Las Vegas. Since you are here, I may as well give both of you a tour. That way, you’ll be able to figure out what needs to be done and what can be put on hold. This place has the bones but has not been renovated in years. The owner doesn’t even use it anymore. I told him he should sell it, but he wants to keep it in the family,” Joseph said as I looked at Casper and imagined a wind machine blowing his hair like Fabio had posed for those romance covers.
“I’m…Angel Adams, but…I suppose you already know that. I don’t have all that much to spend, but I did leave some to make this place habitable,” I said as I followed both of them. Although I was primarily watching Casper in his tiny little Bermuda shorts.
He didn’t appear to be reserved or have any shame, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. He was comfortable with his body, and he didn’t mind showing it off.
“The one thing that needs to be addressed immediately is these steps. One wrong move and you’re going to find yourself down with your face on the ground. I think the best thing I could do tomorrow is to tackle this project. I have a friend who can get me the wood but don’t ask me where he gets it from. I’ve never questioned him about it, and I’m not going to start now. I can work with your budget,” Casper said as he ran his hands through his close-cropped hair, and flexed his muscles. He almost had me falling to my knees and worship him like a god.
“You are the expert so whatever you say is fine by me. I could also help you. I have no problem picking up a hammer if that means getting a better price. My only request is for you to leave me alone at precisely 2:00 PM. I have things to do, and I need some peace and privacy, without any noises interfering,” I said itching to get my fingers working on a piece of literature that was going to give people a reason to live through its pages.
“I will gladly work around your schedule, Miss Adams. If that’s ok with you, I would rather we talked on a first name basis. This is an island after all; everybody knows everybody around here. I had even heard of your arrival way before it; I wasn’t at all surprised when Joseph tried to reach me,” Casper said as he moved like a gentleman and allowed me to follow Joseph into what was going to be my home.
“The only thing the owner did recently was to knock down the wall separating the kitchen from the living room. I think it gives the place a feel or more space. They put a beam along the ceiling with two posts to give it the structural integrity needed to keep it standing. As you see, they went with the pure colors of the island. Everything you see stays with the house, including the furniture and whatever implements for cooking you might find. There is only one bedroom, but I think you’ll agree it’s more than enough,” Joseph said as he flung open a double door leading to the master bedroom.
The paint was peeling, and the hinges on the door were coming apart as the wood had begun to rot. There was even a gap covered by a curtain which still had to be fixed to prevent unnecessary vermin from getting inside. There was a gauze mosquito netting over the bed which would prevent mosquitoes from eating me alive.
The kitchen cupboards were falling apart and the bathroom adjoining the master bedroom needed some fixing. I would also have to get someone to clean the place up as I was definitely not touching what was living in the shower or in the toilet. Although, Joseph did mentio
n something about cleaning arrangements.
“The cleaning lady who does my house has expressed her interest in doing yours as well. I will have her stop by with me in the morning. This might scare you, but she finds the place a challenge worthy of her skills. I know it sounds weird, but she really does take pride in her work,” Joseph said as he led me out to the wrap around deck.
“It doesn’t look like I’m going to have to do anything here. This wood has been pressurized and made to prevent anything from seeping in. I don’t know why they wouldn’t do the same thing for the stairs leading down to the beach, but I can fix that in short order,” Casper said as I stood behind him looking at the marks on his back.
Taking a closer look, I confirmed my suspicion; they were old bullet wounds. This was getting better and better by the second. Maybe I could gain some information for my novel if I could learn some things about his past. I would need to bend his ear a bit, but the only way I could do that was inviting him to dinner.
“I’m usually a pretty good judge of character, and maybe I could convince you to stick around and look over the place after Joseph leaves. I promise I can make it worth your while. I saw a market, not too far from here; I would like to take a look at it. If I’m going to live here, I would like to indulge in the local culinary delights. Since you have been here longer than me, maybe you can suggest a few things,” I said hoping he was going to take the bait.
“I’ve seen more than I need to. I don’t want to take up any more of your time, and I’m sure you can figure things out on your own. I hope you have a good night, but you won’t be seeing me until morning,” He said with such a matter-of-fact attitude, it was a little annoying.
There was an awkward silence in between us. We had a stare down; I wasn’t sure who was going to end up on the winning side. I was determined, but his eyes made me feel as if I was lost in an amazing sea of blue. I turned away, feeling my nipples harden and the inside of my thighs quiver with the very idea he could turn me on with just one look.
“I’ll be back tomorrow with Maria. We’ll both stay and help give this place the Island feel. Maria mentioned she has some swatches and curtains she can bring along to give this place the transformation it deserves. I have to admit I never took her for an interior decorator, but she does have an amazing eye for detail,” Joseph said as I was scratching my head. They went back to the road with me following close behind.
“I’m grateful for the help. I don’t think I could have managed all of this alone. Even though I wanted a fixer upper, this is a bit beyond my abilities. It’s mostly cosmetics, but nothing a muscular man like Casper can’t handle,” I said not meaning to gush, but I felt almost powerless to resist his charm.
I was being driven by something I couldn’t explain. I couldn’t help but hear his voice in my head, and I already had these shameless fantasies. It was not exactly raining men, but the only one I was interested in, was the one to be around for at least a week or so. He was a man who really didn’t feel it was necessary to talk about himself. He did not bring up cars or sports, and he kept things strictly professional. I thought it was refreshing, but it also led me to believe he had something to hide.
“I think you’ll find everyone around here to be accommodating. Don’t be surprised if you wake up to find fresh fruit and other assorted favorites on your doorstep for breakfast. The welcome wagon is not just something you heard about from your grandmother back in the day. This island is steeped in tradition. The people here hold onto the old ways. There seems to be room for improvement; this generation sees things from a different perspective,” Joseph said as he jumped back in his black jeep and drove away with no regard for leaving me with a complete stranger like Casper.
“I worked for him once, and now he seems to think it’s his obligation to refer me to those looking to have something done. I would not feel offended in the very least If you wanted to shop around. I don’t think you’ll find a better deal, but you’re more than happy to see for yourself,” Casper said as he went over to his own older jeep; it had definitely seen better days.
“I have no interest looking for somebody else. You are everything a handyman should be. Strong, confident and with the kind of muscle you could lie underneath for hours,” I said not meaning to be that blunt, but he really did have a tendency to bring that out in me.
“Do my ears deceive me, or did you just come on to me? Just so you know, I’m not looking for any romantic involvement. I don’t have the time or the effort to put into the games played between couples. I do find you attractive, and if you wanted, I would gladly fuck you for hours until you can’t move. I’m very good, and the girls I’ve been with will be more than happy to give you a reference,” Casper said. He was talking about having sex with me, and he made it sound as if it was something ordinary.
“Ok, look. I don’t know how things work around here, but that’s not the way to talk to me. I find your attitude irritating,” I said with not a lot of fight left in me.
“I meant nothing by it, I have found it’s better to be straightforward with someone than leave anything hanging. I hope I didn’t offend you. I can certainly look elsewhere. I’m rarely without the company of a good woman,” Casper said as if he was bragging; it was not something to make me look at him favorably.
“Look at me…I’m blushing. I’m stopping this right now. I have no interest in doing anything related to taking our clothes off with you. I didn’t mean to imply anything indecent. I just thought it'd be fun to get to know you better. If you don’t have the time, then, by all means, we can keep this professional,” I said feeling my mouth dry and my lips swollen with the need to touch him inappropriately.
“It’s better that I go now before we both do something we’re going to regret,” Casper said as if anything we could do together, would make me go screaming in the opposite direction.
The market I had in mind was in walking distance. I saw Casper put his jeep into gear and drive away. He was like the handsome man in the corner of a dinner party you didn’t have the chance to talk up.
I could tell he was interested, and not just from the vulgar words that came out of his mouth. I could’ve easily seen myself with him. Here in paradise, the only rule was to have a good time; this man could definitely bring about some pleasure to my lips. Casper had a story to tell, and I was not going to rest until he was comfortable enough to talk to me about it. I needed to get settled in, but a trip to the market was turning out to be necessary. I made my way down the street, and I found myself bartering like a true local.
I bought some clothing to get the feel of being on the island. I was smiling, not thinking about the book I wanted to write; just living in the moment. I thought it would take more time for me to adjust, but it really was like sinking into a warm bath on a winter’s evening. I also got something to eat. At first, I was hesitant to put it into my mouth, but I realized I was there for a reason. I had to throw myself in the deep end. Otherwise, I would live metaphorically in water wings. I got into bed and stayed up for hours, reading a novel of one of my favorite authors. I was going to sleep like a baby for the first time in a long time.
Chapter 4
I couldn’t remember the last time I had gotten up before the crack of dawn. I brewed some of the coffee I had bought in the market for a steal. I went out onto the deck, and the sun was barely peeking over the trees. The wind was warm, and the sky was clear. I sat on a chair and put my feet up on the railing with the coffee cup in my hand warming my fingertips. I felt at one with nature.
I went down to the beach, and I sat there in a Lotus position letting the sun rays beat down from above. The water seemed beautiful, so I strolled along the beach with my sandals in my hands; I wanted to enjoy what had become second nature to the locals. I wanted to remind myself I was a new Angel; I didn’t feel like my old self anymore. Maybe it was an allusion, but I was going to hold onto it for as long as possible.
The water lapped gently against my toes, making me
giggle like a little girl. I frankly didn’t remember when the last time I had so much fun was. The only regret I had about coming here was the fact I hadn’t done it sooner. The fear I was never going to make it never occurred to me. The shroud of doubt had been lifted. I had everything I needed right in front of me, including a man who was about to show up any second now, looking like a wet dream come true.
I decided to surprise my soon to arrive helpers with something of a traditional Bali breakfast. Martabak Telur was a traditional crepe dish with duck eggs, onion, beef, and seasoning. I had watched locals make this recipe in its sweet version; a pancake on a traditional flat wok, filled with either banana or chocolate. I was quite fascinated by the technique, but I didn’t have the ability to make the actual pastry.
With the help of a translator speaking both English and Balinese, I had convinced the vendor to sell me some finished portions of the pastry the previous day. I was in the process of cooking the ingredients for the filling when I heard a knock on my door. With a smile on my face, I opened it to greet Maria and Joseph, followed by the handsome face and prominent jaw of Casper.