by Nicki Elson
Trish’s stomach grumbled, so they stopped in a small bakery. Bypassing the marinated chicken feet, they picked up iced teas and something called egg custard buns. They ate their buns and sipped tea, making their way back east on the other side of the street. Conversation flowed naturally between messy bites, and Trish was struck by how surprisingly easy it was to spend time with this man she hardly knew.
They reached Chinatown Square, a modern outdoor mall with two levels. Walking through the open corridors, they window shopped until eventually arriving at a plaza bordered by bronze statues. Each of the twelve sculptures represented an animal of the Chinese zodiac. Unlike the Greek zodiac, each of these signs was associated with particular years of birth rather than time of year.
“What’s your sign, baby?” Trish asked, bumping her hip into his.
“I’ve no idea. You?”
“We could look it up.” She held up her phone.
Adam wrapped his hand around the back of hers and pulled the device closer, peering at the screen. “We could. But we should probably get dinner. I’m not sure how late the water taxi runs. To be safe, we ought to arrive at the dock by eight.”
Trish glanced at the phone. It was already almost seven thirty. “It’ll have to be a quick dinner,” she said doubtfully, on the verge of suggesting they ditch the boat and grab a cab back to the city.
“Let’s order it to go. Chinese takeout’s more classic anyway, right?” Not waiting for her response, he started back toward the mall.
“Right.” Trish followed him, wondering why he was in such a rush to get takeout. Was he bored and wanted to end the date as soon as possible? Or did he mean for them to eat it back at his hotel room…off of each other? The idea of licking sweet and sour sauce off his tight abs kept her pleasantly occupied as they wound through the open corridors to the nearest restaurant.
They quickly agreed on Kung Pao chicken and a sweet shrimp dish. While they waited for the food to be prepared and boxed, Trish said, “I have to admit, I had doubts when we were sitting on that bench with the screaming lady, but it’s been nice bumming around with you. I think I’d had my expectations set for something more luxurious, but this is better. More real.”
His responding smile was mild, but Trish sensed something bigger dancing underneath. Lifting his fingers to the side of her face, Adam twisted a lock of her deep blond waves. The slight pull on her hair tickled her temple. He bent, barely brushing his lips to hers in the lightest of kisses. His touch was faint, yet it set off a cascade of electric sparks through Trish.
The hostess approached with their bag of food, and Adam pulled away from Trish to accept it. Her mind flickered with mini fantasies of how his kisses would taste with a Kung Pao spice. They threaded their way toward the riverside park under the orange glow of sunset.
“Won’t the food get cold by the time we get to wherever we’re going?” Trish asked.
“I’ve got that covered,” Adam said, giving her a perplexing wink. They stepped onto a wide path and crossed the park to the pagoda, where a dozen or so people waited on the steps. Rather than stopping to wait among them, Adam grasped onto Trish’s hand and led her toward a long, white yacht. Its twenty-foot bow extended past the dock. On its large deck sat a small, linen-covered table set for two. A jar at the center of the table flickered with candlelight. To the side of the candle was a silver ice bucket with a bottle of wine chilling inside it.
As Adam and Trish neared the vessel, a man in a white shirt and captain’s hat came over to the boat’s side, holding out his hand to Trish. “Welcome aboard.”
Trish turned abruptly toward Adam, letting out a small gasp. She was sure every ounce of her shock must’ve shown on her face. With a small smile and a delighted glint in his eyes, he nodded for her to proceed. She took the captain’s hand, and he held her steady while she stepped onto the deck. Adam followed, deftly balancing without the aid of the captain.
“Thank you, Mo. Everything looks wonderful,” Adam said, giving the captain a firm handshake.
“Look at that view!” Trish held her arm out toward the distant downtown skyline. A smattering of lights glowed in its tiny windows.
“One more thing,” Mo said, descending two steps to the steering console. A few seconds later, violin music flitted through round speakers that were inlaid around the deck. The lilting notes danced over Trish in perfect time with the giddiness bubbling inside her.
“If this isn’t real enough for you,” Adam murmured, stepping close behind her and putting his mouth directly next to her ear, letting the deep intonations of his voice roll over her bare shoulder, “if it’s too luxurious and you’d rather keep bumming around, I can tell Mo to shove off and we—”
He was silenced when Trish spun around to face him. He caught her waist with his free hand. “This will do just fine,” she said.
“So you like your surprise?” The glint in his eyes danced.
“Very much.”
The lowering sun set off a thousand colors in his entrancing eyes, mesmerizing her. He bent to her, taking her mouth in a slow, tender kiss. In that single, delicious moment, their finite relationship seemed to morph into something infinite.
A gruff throat cleared. “Gettin’ set to take off. You’re gonna want to have a seat when we do.”
“Of course, of course,” Adam said, suddenly standing perfectly erect. He took Trish’s hand and led her to one of the cushioned benches that lined the perimeter of the deck. The captain resumed his place at the steering wheel while Adam set down the bag of food. “We can move to the table and start dinner once he’s turned around and we’re set on a steady course.” The engines came to life and the boat lurched forward. “I’ve asked Mo to go slow so we’ll have plenty of time to enjoy our meal before we reach the end of the river.”
“We’re going all the way to the end?”
“Yes.” He curled his fingers under her palm and lifted her hand to place a small kiss upon it, not taking his gaze from her face.
“Then what?” she asked in a coy whisper.
“Then you’ll see what,” he whispered back.
Chapter 13
THE BOAT MOVED NORTH at a slow, steady pace. Trish and Adam took seats at the small table and unpacked their food, piling small portions onto their plates. He uncorked the wine, explaining, “The sommelier at the hotel restaurant suggested a Riesling as the best bet for Chinese food. A sweet German wine for spicy Chinese food. Surprising, isn’t it?”
“Not so surprising,” Trish said. “Opposites attract.”
“Do you think so?” he asked, pouring them each a glass. “With people, I mean.”
She shrugged. “Sometimes.”
“Does it happen with you?”
She thought about it as she trapped a shrimp between her chopsticks. “Not really. I’d say most of my boyfriends have had roughly the same type of background as me, same level of education, same economic status. We tended to like the same kinds of movies and TV shows. Maybe we root for different teams, but we’ve enjoyed the same kind of sports. Pretty boring, actually, now that I think about it. Maybe that’s why none of them have stuck.”
“Are we opposites?” He peered at her over the rim of his glass as he took a sip.
She leaned back in her chair, considering. “In some ways. You seem to operate on a higher intellectual plane than me. You’re more serious; I’m more silly. We’re obviously not in the same financial position.” She gestured with her chopsticks around the boat.
“I don’t own this, you know. It’s a rental, along with Mo.”
“I figured. But I presume it costs a wee bit more than fare for two on the water taxi.”
“A wee bit more, yes.” He took another sip and smiled.
“How rich are you, Mr. Helms?” She pushed rice around with the tips of her chopsticks. This wasn’t a question she’d ever consider asking under normal circumstances, but this was their last date, so what the hell? “I’m not asking for net worth figures or anything,
just wondering where something like this falls on your expense spectrum—with the scale being from pocket change to had-to-take-out-a-second-mortgage.”
He chuckled. “I didn’t take out a loan, but it does rank significantly higher than pocket change.”
The sun crept quietly from the sky while the music playing in the background dipped into a sedate, tranquilizing melody. This part of the river, with its low shrubbery and quiet industrial buildings, was dark. The boat’s navigation lights focused straight ahead, leaving the flickering electric votive in the middle of the table to suspend Trish and Adam in a private glow.
“How do you see us?” Trish asked. “Are we opposites?”
“You’re right that we’re on opposite ends of the serious-silly spectrum,” he said, “but I completely disagree with you about being on different intellectual planes. I may have more experience, but you strike me as intellectually capable. I count us even there. The socio-economic differences are only as important as money, which isn’t important at all.”
“You run a business. Do you expect me to believe money isn’t important to you?”
“It’s important to take care of basic needs, and having a successful business provides income for employees and partners, but having more money doesn’t make me different from anyone who has less.”
“Because you don’t let it.”
“I try not to. Though I’ll admit to allowing certain indulgences.”
“Like your fabulous suits?”
“Thank you for noticing.” He smiled. “Once every lifetime, I also allow myself to splurge on an amazing last date with a spectacular woman.”
She grinned, locking her eyes onto his.
He stared back, and his smile sobered. “We must be close to downtown. I can see bigger lights in your eyes.”
She flicked her gaze from his face to see that they were indeed drawing close to the taller buildings. The glittering spectacle was incredible. “Come over here.” She gestured for him to move his chair next to hers.
He swung around the tiny table. The warmth of his thigh pressed against hers when he settled in to his new position. Laying his arm across the back of her chair, he rubbed tickling strokes up her bare arm as the boat floated between the first set of skyscrapers. The buildings stood like shining pillars against the black sky, making the yacht seem like a tiny ship among giants.
Trish pulled Adam’s half-filled plate and chopsticks to set in front of him. She didn’t want him to move from her side. He reached for his glass, and they clinked. Rather than make a toast, Adam leaned in to brush his lips over hers in a brief kiss.
They continued dining on Chinese cuisine in their atmospheric, floating restaurant. The boat moved past where they’d boarded the water taxi and rounded the river’s bend, turning east toward the lake. Trish felt like the kid in the Polar Express upon getting a first glimpse of the North Pole. She’d seen this iconic slice of Chicago many times, but from this vantage it shone like a wonderland. The river shimmered with luminescent fire as the lights of the surrounding buildings transformed its surface into living stained glass.
Trish didn’t so much as blink as she feasted on the sight. After they’d passed the alabaster face of the Wrigley Building, standing out like an angel with colored lights illuminating its spired halo, she turned toward Adam. “Thank you for this.”
“You’re welcome. Thank you for being here.” His fingers widened their span on her arm, traveling from her elbow up to her shoulder. His other hand molded around her jaw, holding her still while he lowered his lips to hers—as if any power in the universe could’ve persuaded her to move away.
Their mouths moved against each other in slow motion. He took his time, savoring her. She gave the sommelier props for the exquisite blend of honeyed wine and peppery spice on Adam’s tongue. The last part of the river slipped underneath them before Adam ended the kiss with a series of soft pecks. “Looks like we’re entering the lock.” His voice was huskier than usual. “We should clean this up and move over to a bench seat before Mo needs to maneuver to the harbor.”
They gathered the cartons and tossed them into the bag. Adam topped off their glasses with the remaining wine before adding the empty bottle to the bag. They took seats on the back bench, watching the changing skyline as they trolled along the edge of Lake Michigan to the nearest harbor.
Upon docking, the captain ascended. He and Adam folded the table and chairs, handing them to two teenaged boys who’d come over to help. “We’ll keep this,” Adam said of the candle, handing it to Trish. As she took it from him, her eyebrows pulled together in a question he didn’t answer. She looked down at the candle’s pulsing electronic flame and touched it to prove to herself it wasn’t actual fire.
Adam and Mo shook hands, then the captain stepped onto the dock and gave Trish a friendly salute goodbye.
“We’re staying on?” she asked, pushing her arms through her sweater. The light breeze coming off the lake took the temperature down a few degrees.
“Yep. Let’s see if I remember how to drive one of these things.” Adam practically skipped down the two steps to the captain’s chair.
“You’re driving?” She was right behind him, lowering into the passenger seat while he pushed buttons and flicked switches.
“Scared?” He peeked at her from the corner of his eye.
“A little. When’s the last time you captained one of these?”
“A few weeks ago. I was only teasing about remembering. One doesn’t grow up on the East Coast in a well-off family without learning his way around a boat. This will be like sleepwalking compared to captaining a sailboat.”
“Have you gone out on Lake Michigan before?”
“Oh yes, many times. Ask Michael.” Just when she started to feel reassured, he added, “Of course, never at night.”
The engine purred and the boat pulled away from the dock. Adam flawlessly steered them through the maze and out of the harbor. Her doubt was tempered by a new wave of desire for this confident, skilled captain of the waves. He kicked up the speed once they’d moved beyond the other boats and hit open water, sending any of her remaining fears bobbing in the wake behind them. Her body thrilled at putting its fate into his capable hands.
She gave herself over to delighted squeals. Just when her vocal chords felt nearly depleted, Adam spun the boat back toward the city and slowed the speed. Before them spread a sweeping view of Chicago’s distinctive skyline.
After Trish took a few calming inhales, she joked, “So we’re not making a break for Indiana or Michigan?”
“I’m happy right here.” He kept one hand on the wheel and laid the other over her hand, pulling it to rest on this thigh. He gave her a long look before returning his attention to the mildly restless water in front of them.
To their right, the narrow carnival that was Navy Pier jutted into the water, its glowing Ferris wheel standing out like an exclamation point. As they drew closer to the city, they joined several other boats parked in the water, and Trish remembered there was a fireworks display at the pier on Saturdays throughout summer. She swung around to beam at Adam. “I’ve never seen the fireworks from the lake before.”
He smiled and returned both hands to the wheel, weaving their boat between two others and stopping about thirty yards away from them. The lively glow of the moon and lights of the pier danced off the inky black water. “Does this look like a good spot to drop anchor?”
“Perfect. You seriously should get a job planning dates for The Bachelor.”
He laughed. “Maybe if my other ventures don’t pan out, I’ll look into it.” He situated the boat and stood, gesturing Trish toward the deck. Once there, he lifted one of the bench cushions and pulled out a blanket. “Quite a bit cooler out here. You might want to pull out those slippers I bought you.”
“Aha, so this is why I needed them.” Sliding out of her sandals, she curled her chilled toes before slipping the smooth silk over her bare feet and jumping onto the wide bench at
the back of the boat. Using the side cushion as a backrest, she swung her legs up and stretched them along the bench’s length. She patted the space next to her. “Come over here. We’ll both fit.”
Bringing the blanket with him, Adam slid next to her. The cushion was barely wide enough for the two of them, so she hooked a leg over one of his to conserve space. He wrapped an arm around her back while he spread the blanket over them, completing their nest. Trish snuggled against him. “You never finished answering my question about us being opposites. Bottom line—are we?”
“I think so, yes.” He tilted his palm upward, intertwining his fingers with hers. “You’re light. Easygoing and delightful to spend time with. I’m dark. Brooding, I guess you’d say.”
“You’re delightful.” She jerked her face toward him, looking him directly in the eye. “You’ve been acting like a boy with a new puppy ever since the cap’n turned over the keys.”
He kept his eyes steady on hers, pressing his lips together before saying, “I’m lighter when I’m with you.”
She arched an eyebrow. “You sure it wasn’t the boat’s influence?”
He tilted his head and looked skyward, a playful smile twitching his lips as he appeared to consider. “The boat didn’t hurt. But it’s definitely you that flicked my switch.” He lowered his eyes to look at her. His irises burned with same intensity she’d noted when she’d first met up with him earlier that day.
Trish traced her fingertips along his jawline, where she felt the beginning of day’s-end stubble. Touching her lips to his in baby kisses, she kept her eyes open long enough to watch his lids lower. The kisses melded into a single, long, lingering one that was only stopped by the crackling of the first fireworks.
With silly grins, they turned their faces toward the show, but kept their arms around one another as they watched the miniature explosions burst into glittering color. Adam shifted, and his hot breath tickled the side of her throat. His lips soon followed, pressing lightly and then lifting away to slightly reposition, as if searching for her most receptive pleasure points. When he struck gold, she sucked in a breath, and his tongue joined the action to dig in full force. She curled her leg up and over his hip, encouraging him to continue. His hand had moved to her thigh, fingertips pressing into the thin fabric of her dress. His fingers fanned out, circling over her hip, grabbing and releasing.