“You up for seconds?” Russell’s eyes twinkled as he looked at the plate she was polishing with a scrap of toast.
Popping the bread into her mouth, she chewed slowly and swallowed. “I don’t usually…”
“But…”
“For you. Since my workout last night was so…vigorous.”
“Mmm. Glad you liked it.”
Kathleen reflected on how much she had liked it as they rose and moved over to the buffet. And how much she’d like to make him a regular part of her…fitness regimen. She shot a sidelong glance at him as they moved down the line of chafing dishes, selecting additional food and pouring more coffee. He seemed content, his cheeks slightly bunched as if suppressing a smile. Turning toward her, he angled his head to where they had sat before and she had the impression that if their hands hadn’t been full of plates and cups he would have touched her—taken her hand or arm.
Seating themselves again at the table, he reached out and touched a fingertip to the necklace she had clasped around her neck almost without thought. “What’s this? It looks like there’s writing on it. Or is that just a design?” He squinted and Kathleen almost giggled at the picture they made—him apparently ogling her breasts.
She lifted the pendant. It was a helix of silver ribbon with an inscription on each side. “It says, ‘We are such stuff as dreams are made on.’”
“Made on? Not made of?”
Kathleen’s eyebrows lifted. “No…that’s a common misquote.”
Russell bent over his plate and poked at his eggs, a red flush staining the brown skin stretching over his cheekbones. “Let me guess: Shakespeare.”
“Yeah. You have something against Shakespeare?”
His head lifted. “No. I’m just…behind.”
She frowned. “Behind how?”
“According to Colin and Alicia, I’m woefully uneducated for not being fully conversant in all things Shakespeare.” Kathleen almost rose to the bait, then she realized his eyes were glittering again with suppressed humor.
“Oh. I so bet you’re uneducated, Mr. Georgetown Professor. Where did you go to college?”
“Undergrad? Tufts.”
“Shame you didn’t go to a good school,” she said, laying the sarcastic tone on thick. “And law school?”
“Howard.”
“Burn. Any other degrees?”
“Georgetown L.L.M.”
Kathleen shook her head. “How do you even hold your head up in public?” She tsked and picked up a piece of bacon, taking a bite and chewing extravagantly, looking at him with an expectant expression.
Russell, taking a sip of his coffee, turned to see her expression and nearly choked with laughter. “Don’t do that to me, Irish. I need to live. I still have exams to grade.”
“Don’t change the subject, Professor.” Kathleen rapped on the table with her knuckles. “You aren’t a fan of Shakespeare?”
Russell put down his utensils and raised his hands. “In my defense, I’m much better now. I even bought a season pass to the Folger.”
Kathleen suppressed a chuckle. “You’re more of a sports guy than a Shakespeare guy, aren’t you?”
He bit his lip. “Busted. How could you tell?”
“It’s usually called a season ticket in theater, not a season pass. But I’m impressed. You went from…zero to season ticket in no time flat?” She put her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand. “How hard did Colin twist your arm?”
“He didn’t!” His eyes flew wide.
Kathleen bit her lips together to keep from laughing out loud. Russell was so earnest, so darling. “Okay. Fine. So how is your Shakespeare education coming?”
Russell leaned back in his chair and sipped his coffee, looking at her until the heat in his eyes made her want to squirm. “I could use a tutor, to be honest.”
Russell’s throat constricted as he waited for her answer. He knew he wanted more time with her beyond this soap bubble of a weekend. But what did she want?
Kathleen nibbled a corner of toast, eyeing him speculatively. “This tutor job. Does it come with a salary?”
“Of a kind.” Did she miss his meaning? They had seemed so in synch. He didn’t think he was being terribly subtle.
“Hm. What exactly are we talking about?” She was giving him a look he couldn’t identify.
He leaned over and murmured, “Sexual favors? I’ve been told very recently that there’s a thing or two that I do pretty well.”
“Well, there goes my idea about that nice retired English teacher…I don’t think she could keep up with you.” Her lips were squeezed together but her sparkling eyes told another story.
He leaned back in his chair. “You’re messing with me.”
“Of course I am. Silly man.” Her broad grin was like the morning sunshine.
“Are actresses always this sneaky?”
She shrugged and popped the last piece of bacon into her mouth. “Only when we’re feeling playful, I guess.”
He allowed himself the small luxury of stroking the soft skin of her forearm. “I’ve liked playing with you.”
“I’ve liked it too.” Her voice went a bit shy and quiet.
“Did I say something wrong?” He lifted his fingers from her arm and she lightly touched his hand as if she missed his touch.
“No! I was just thinking…”
“What?”
She looked at him for a moment, serious and assessing, all playfulness gone now. “I’ll tell you later. Maybe.”
“Okay.” He forced the curiosity he felt into the corner of his mind. Let her come to him if and when she would. Time to change the subject.
“So,” Russell said, “you said for me to ask you what you wanted to do when the sun was out. He gestured at the sunny expanse of lawn. “The sun is out. What is my lady’s pleasure?”
Kathleen took a sip of coffee and glanced out at the lawn. “Looks like it’s going to be warm today.”
Russell pulled out his phone and tapped the screen to pull up his weather app. “Weather’s supposed to be gorgeous. What do you have in mind?”
“I don’t know…”
He followed her gaze, looking out the windows at the lawn that led down to the bay, the sunlight sparkling on the water.
Kathleen looked back at Russell and said, “Didn’t you say you loved the water?”
He smiled, pleased that she remembered. “Yeah.”
“Do you think the hotel has a line on a couple of kayaks?”
“Good idea. Let me go see.” He got to his feet and walked toward the lobby. He had the beginnings of a plan.
Kathleen watched Russell leave.
I’ve liked playing with you, he said. Past tense.
Well, this was going to be it, then. She took a sip of coffee, forcing the liquid past the tightness in her throat.
She might as well enjoy the little time they had left.
“Hey sweetie.” Wendy smiled down at her, her hand clasped in Kent’s. “How much longer are you staying?”
“Not sure. Russell’s gone to see if he can find some kayaks. I guess I’ll have to head out early this afternoon.”
“What’s the matter, hon? You look blue.” Wendy cocked her head and frowned.
Kathleen shrugged. “I’ve had fun. It’s going to be over soon. That’s all.”
Wendy gaped at her. “You’re kidding. Russell seems really into you.” She looked at Kent. “Am I missing some guy thing? He’s into her, right?”
Kent’s brows went up. “Seemed like it to me. Why do you think he isn’t, Kathleen?”
“He said he enjoyed our time.”
“What’s wrong with that?” Kent asked.
“Enjoyed. Like, past tense.”
“But you’re going kayaking,” he said.
“Yeah. I think that’s the last hurrah.” She shrugged, trying for nonchalance. “Oh, well. I had a nice weekend wedding fling. It would only be more of a cliché if I had been a bridesmaid.”
Wendy chucked Kathleen under the chin. “No self-pity. Have all the fun you can while you’re still here. Kent and I are taking off soon. Give me a call sometime this week and we’ll go out. Girl’s night. This lummox can stay home. No offense.” She nudged Kent with her shoulder and he winked at her.
“None taken.” Kent’s eyes sparkled with humor.
Kathleen’s throat tightened further at their easy way with each other. But Wendy was right—self-pity wasn’t the way to go. “Sounds good. I’ll give you a call, Wen.”
“Seriously. Buck up.” Wendy bent and kissed her on the cheek. She turned to Kent. “Ready to go?”
Kent nodded and waved before leading Wendy to the door. Russell entered just as they were about to exit, shaking hands with them as they apparently wished him farewell. He turned and moved toward her, and Kathleen wondered what he was like in the classroom, how his quiet confidence translated into his teaching. Whether or not his humor came out when he was in front of a bunch of students or if he was all business.
She just wanted to know more. She wondered when her attitude had shifted from “fun weekend hookup” to…potential relationship material. It must have been the shared confidences in the dark that did it. She almost laughed. Her upbringing had taught her that the intimacies of the body were the important ones to guard. But her parents, her teachers, the nuns, the priests, they were all wrong.
Quiet words in the dark could be far more powerful, more intimate, than any touch.
“Any luck?” she said as he approached.
He held up a key dangling from a fob that looked like it had started life as a fishing bobber. “Yup. Turns out they have kayaks in the boathouse. We can help ourselves.”
Something was off.
Kathleen smiled and got to her feet and walked with him to the boathouse, but if Russell was any judge, her heart didn’t seem to be in it.
“Do you really want to do this?” he asked.
Her eyebrows went up. “Yeah. Why?”
He flipped the key on its buoyancy ring around his finger. “You seem…unenthused.”
“No—I want to do this. I’ve always wanted to try kayaking. Just never got around to it.”
“Okay.” He was unconvinced, but he decided to take her at her word. Unlocking the boathouse, he felt around in the dim interior until he found a light switch. Six kayaks hung in neat rows and Russell nodded his approval of the clean, tidy layout. A couple of large canoes were there as well. Maybe he should have suggested canoeing. That way they could have shared a boat.
Missed opportunity.
“Find yourself a life jacket,” he said, nodding at the vests that were piled on a chest in the corner. Selecting a kayak, he lifted it out of its cradle and brought it outside, then went back in to get a second one. “I’m glad they have sit inside boats,” he said as he came inside again and grabbed two two-piece paddles from the group inside the door.
“What’s the alternative?” Kathleen asked.
“Sit on top. I think they feel less secure for someone new to the sport.”
“Oh. You need a vest too, right?” She held one up and he nodded.
He led the way outside, dropping the gear onto the grass and re-locking the boathouse. Kathleen picked up two halves of a double paddle and he took them from her, fitting the carbon fiber tubes together and twisting them so the blades were offset. “You want to set your paddle up like this,” he said, handing it to her.
“It’s really light.” She hefted the long pole.
“Less fatigue for the paddler that way. It’s really strong, though. Show me how you think you’ll paddle.”
“Here?”
“Here. Get some technique on dry land before you go out.”
“Like marking out a dance routine. Okay.” She considered the offset paddle and dipped it from side to side.
“Not bad, but think about it this way.” He moved behind her and grasped the paddle, his hands over hers, fingers sliding along her soft skin.
“Very smooth, Professor.” He couldn’t see her face but he could hear the smile in her voice.
“Hush.” But he would be lying if he said he didn’t love the way her body fit up against his. “Don’t just use your arms when you paddle. Use your core. You’ll get more power and you’ll have more stamina.” He showed her what he meant, then released her hands and placed his palms on her stomach. “That’s it,” he said, enjoying the shift and play of her stomach muscles as she moved. He was tempted to delay getting on the water, but he was also too aware of how public this place was, how much could be seen from the hotel’s large windows. He stepped away.
“You’re a natural. Ready to get out there?”