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.
One by one they found the others and the parents, picking them out from the water and plants in a newt treasure hunt. With each find, she heard the tension leaving Ignacio's voice.
"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."
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.
"Good catch," Ignacio said.
"Please tell me we can put him in his enclosure without having to clean him first," Rachel said, backing up as Irvine squirmed.
"Absolutely." Irvine slipped out of her hands again. Ignacio managed to grab a back leg before Irvine could launch himself towards the pipe. His other hand scooped him up by the middle.
Irvine was not deterred. He continued to wriggle, push and pull, slipping first out of his hands, and then out of Rachel's. Somehow they got to their feet and began moving towards the wide space between enclosures. On one particularly good escape attempt Irvine managed to make it to the wall of an enclosure before Ignacio could grab him.
"Watch out for the tail!" Rachel reached out to grab him when he slipped through Ignacio's hands again.
"I'm the one who warned you of that, remember?" And then it was Ignacio's turn to grab the slippery newt.
Rachel laughed as Irvine slipped out and landed on Ignacio's shirt. She grabbed him, more oil dripping on her dress. "You know, this could be a party game."
"Not with my newts, please."
Irvine squirted out to land on Rachel's dress. Ignacio felt a little bad at how he had to make a grab for him, sure he'd really offended her this time. But, she only laughed. Of course, she got him back when Irvine slipped away again and landed smack in his face, with a set of legs attached to his forehead, and a set near his jaw-line.
Ignacio wasn't sure how they were able to get to the enclosure, but all of a sudden they were there. Then came the next logistical problem. "We're here. Can you hold him long enough for me to get the door open?"
Rachel set her legs and reached out above his hands as Irvine started coming free. "I'm ready. Do it fast."
The moment Irvine came sliding out and Rachel had ahold of him, Ignacio started working to get the door open. Not easy with his hands slippery with oil.
"He's coming free," Rachel's voice rose as she made the announcement.
"I almost have it." He jerked on the door, finally getting the latch to come free.
He swung the door open and turned towards her just as Irvine came slipping out of her hands. He lunged forward, catching him in midair. A turn and he tossed Irvine back into his pond.
Even as Irvine splashed to a landing, Ignacio closed the door and secured the latch. Irvine hissed at them as he swam around his pond to make his way back towards the door.
Rachel leaned up against the enclosure, laughing down at him. "And stay in there."
"You really don't like him, do you?"
"I like his keeper better," she said with an evil grin. "Even when he's destroying my dress."
Destroying was a good word to use. Dark spots on the front of the dress marked all the points oil had come in contact. He cringed. "I would offer to pay for it, but I'm not made of that kind of money."
She smiled at him. "Did I ask for a replacement? I don't think so."
Still not mad. Most women would be furious at how tonight's date ended. Not Rachel. She stood there with her dress ruined and a sparkle in her eyes. She smelled of light perfume and the specialized newt oils. He hadn't realized it could create such an erotic combination.
Standing so close, still laughing about a newt escapade, not the least bothered by the comical dance it took to get Irvine back in his enclosure. Why was he so willing to run from this?
"Perhaps I can offer other payment?" He found himself saying.
Her eyes sharpened. "What did you have in mind?"
And he closed the short distance for the kiss he suddenly realized he'd been waiting all night for.