Nightchild--The SeriesBook 1--Falling

Chapter 16

Puerto Vallarta —March, 1986

The setting sun turned the sea into a liquid mother-of-pearl, painting the shore with its iridescence. A faint warm breeze from the ocean stirred the abundant flowers trailing in baskets hung from dark wooden beams of the open air restaurant as the moon rose in full silver splendor, shining brightly at its own rippled reflection. On the horizon clouds formed castles that soon grew into towering mountains, smothering the moon's brilliance, leaving the night shrouded in darkness but for an occasional quicksilver flash sparking through the clouds, lighting the billowing castles in pinks and yellows, followed seconds later by ominous roars.

Nate and Blythe were content to eat their meal and watch nature's magnificent performance in serene comfortable silence as a parrot fluttered nervously about the nearby branches of a lime tree and soft music filtered out from the club inside. The last few days had been perfect yet, at times, it was still hard for Nate to believe the titian-haired woman sitting opposite him had relented and agreed to join him in this paradise setting.

When Blythe left the Arlington that last night in Hot Springs, he'd made no attempt to follow, taking a chance that she wouldn't walk out of his life, at least not without a phone call. His gamble had paid off. He'd been awakened from a restless sleep the next morning by the welcome ring of the phone slowly penetrating his subconscious. It had been Blythe agreeing to go to Mexico with him and the plans were immediately set into motion. Nate didn't dare give her time to change her mind and they left from Hot Springs with only the barest necessities, entrusting Connie and Heathe with the rest of their belongings.

Arriving in Puerto Vallarta, they had gone directly to Chance's condo. Nate took the small single bedroom downstairs off the spacious living area that opened, by way of great louvered doors, onto decks and covered porches. Blythe was given the large upstairs suite that allowed her complete privacy via its own winding staircase outside, allowing her to keep the door to the interior stairs locked. The deep wraparound balconies provided a majestic view of the ocean and shade for the decks below.

The couple had spent the first two days shopping, buying suitable clothing and groceries to stock the big open kitchen downstairs. A bar graced the length of the living area and Chance had thoughtfully seen that it overflowed with cerveza, tequila, champagne and baskets of fruit and cheeses.

At times, Nate and Blythe walked along beaches searching for shells as they talked and laughed with one another. Occasionally, they rented a Jeep Thing and went sightseeing to other villages, stopping to sample exquisite seafood dishes, or they would merely sit quietly on a porch of the condo while Nate played his guitar and Blythe wrote poetry.

There was an unspoken agreement between them and neither referred to the past or asked prying questions of the other. And, true to his word, after six days alone with this woman he was drawn to as no other, Nate had not touched her, not even to hold her hand. Until now, he had been completely happy to be in her company, no matter what the capacity.

Now, sitting in the restaurant, Nate watched as Blythe licked salt from her hand and threw back her head, letting the thick golden liquid spill down her throat, eyes shutting tightly as she swallowed. He still knew little about her other than she was used to money, her reclusive parents, who lived in England, were presently on a long, private cruise, her brother Phil lived in the house she'd grown up in, in Texas, and her ex-husband, David, now lived in Tahoe. Beyond that, she remained fascinatingly mysterious.

Blythe opened eyes brimming from the burning tequila to find Nate absorbed, staring at her. Audacious from the large amount of liquor she'd consumed and stimulated further by the approaching storm, she was eager to throw caution to the wind and, leaning across the table, her eyes met his. "May I ask you just one question?" she queried flirtatiously.