Wilderness Liaison

by Anne Ashby

Thanking his lucky stars that he had an unusually high amount of cash in his wallet, Shal grabbed some notes and catching the waiter’s attention, threw it onto the table before following the distressed Jodie out of the restaurant. Searching both left and right, he saw her dashing across Queen Street with a group of pedestrians. Rushing to the crossing, he jabbed the button, bouncing on the balls of his feet waiting for the next cross signal. He swore under his breath as he watched her hurry as fast as her high heels would allow up Wellesley Street toward Albert Park.

  Sprinting across the road as soon as the buzzer sounded, he dodged other pedestrians as he chased after her. He prayed she wouldn’t evade him in the darkness.

  He paused as he entered the park. A bunch of youths in Jodie’s path sent him striding purposefully behind her. Grasping her arm, he sent a warning glare toward a young man calling for Jodie to join them.

  “Go away.” She kept walking. “I don’t need you.”

  “You might have,” he muttered, irritated at her lack of regard for her own safety.

  She glanced toward the youths. “They’re just having a good time.”

  “They’re drinking, and who knows what else.” Shal didn’t even try to cover his annoyance. “They could have hurt you.”

  “I doubt it,” she snapped back.

  “You really do think you’re Xena, Warrior Princess, don’t you?” Shal goaded.

  She stopped, jerking her arm from his hold. “Would you just leave me alone?” The glow from the streetlight was enough to see her eyes flashing fire. “I’m far more afraid of you than I’d ever be of those boys.”

  Shal’s chest swelled with an intense surge of joy he tried hard to hide. She might be fighting me tooth and nail, but she cares. She’s scared witless. So she does care for me—maybe even loves me. His spirits soared.

  He fought to keep from grinning ear to ear as a dismayed expression crossed Jodie’s face. He wanted to pull her into his arms and erase any uncertainties she had, but guessed it wouldn’t be a fortuitous thing to do right now.

  “Get lost. I’m going home.”

  He chased after her. “Come back to the car,” he ordered. “I’ll take you straight home, if you insist.”

  “No thanks. I’d rather walk.”

  “Then I’ll walk with you.”

  She wrenched away from his light touch on her arm. “Are you really this stupid? Can’t you take a hint? Piss off.”

  Shal felt his eyebrows shoot up. Man, she’s really annoyed. The only time I’ve heard her swear was when she hurt her back. He hid a grin.

  “A gentleman always sees a lady home.”

  “Oh, for Heaven’s sake,” she snapped. “We’ll go back to the car then. Walking would take longer than I’m willing to spend with you.”

  “Afraid you’ll lose control?”

  “Yes. Afraid I might do you some bodily harm.”

  He knew the words escaped through her teeth. Shal threw back his head and laughed as he followed one pace behind her stalking figure. “I don’t think that’s what you’re afraid of.

  “I think you’re scared you won’t be able to stop yourself ripping my clothes off and having your wicked way with me.”

  “In your dreams.”

  Shal opened his mouth to continue his teasing, but something stayed his words. She was very agitated.

  The drive from the central city to Parnell was completed in absolute silence. Shal risked touching her arm as she jammed the key into her door.

  “Can I see you tomorrow night?”

  “I’m busy.”

  Shal was left staring at the front door. He was not surprised she’d refused his offer, nor concerned she’d pretended an engagement to avoid him. He’d spend some time at the office tomorrow, then come back. If she was still annoyed and slammed the door in his face, he’d at least have seen her.

  Patience, he reminded himself. Until she’s brave enough to trust me. Then I’ll propose.

  He started whistling as he returned to his car, wondering how he could make that proposal so romantic she’d remember every detail for the rest of her life.

  ****

  Jodie stayed late in her office to forestall any possible meeting with Shal. She’d kept her cell phone switched off all day and didn’t intend to answer her home phone. She wasn’t seeing Shal again. She couldn’t. She hated this lack of control whenever she even thought about him. It frightened her.

  All that talk about love and marriage. How low would he stoop? What if I started believing him?

  She had no time for the red light blinking on top of her answer phone as she rushed into the house. Leaping into her sports clothes, she filled a water bottle and dashed to her car. As she tore out the driveway, she didn’t notice the blue car further back in traffic.

  At the local sports club, Shal was pushed from her mind as she joined other members of her netball team for their first practice of the season. With the exception of a couple of the girls, Jodie hadn’t seen her teammates since the end of last season. They all had catching up to do.

  Fifteen minutes later, when the coach called them to order, Jodie was still laughing at some of the antics the girls had got up to over the summer. Amidst the hilarity, it had been easy to avoid sharing her summer experiences.

  As first training sessions went, this one was as brutal as it was long. Jodie managed to eradicate all thought of Shal from her mind. During one of the infrequent breaks the unusual silence impounded on her. She turned to see what had taken everyone’s eye. Smothering a groan with her bunched up towel pressed to her face, she cringed. How dare he?

  “Wow, look at that,” one of the younger girls mouthed as Shal strolled across the gymnasium. He sat down with a supercilious smirk on his face a couple of rows back from where the women were grouped.

  “Whose is he?” another girl asked in a stage whisper. When no one replied, she added, “Please tell me he’s not taken.”

  Shal’s quick grin at the girl infuriated Jodie. She threw down her towel in disgust and stepped closer to where he sat. With her hands planted on her hips, she demanded, “What the hell are you doing here?”

  Her teeth grated as his lips parted in a cheery smile. His eyes flicked across her watching teammates. “I thought I’d check out whether your team had a supporters club, what your team colours are, etcetera. I want to get my old granny to knit me a scarf.”

  “I doubt you have an old granny.”

  “I’m sure I can find someone who’ll knit me a scarf. I don’t suppose you...” He gave an exaggerated sigh. “Yes, I know. In my dreams.”

  Her fists bunched as he audaciously got to his feet, jumped down the couple of steps, and held out a hand to introduce himself to the coach. “I don’t know much about netball, I’m afraid, but I’ll be supporting Jodie’s team.”

  Jodie groaned, further infuriated by Shal’s little smile indicating he’d heard. “If you should need some sponsorship...?” A word guaranteed to catch the attention of any amateur sports coach. Jodie fumed as Shal was led aside while the coach talked fervently in his ear.

  “Wherever did you find him, Jodie?” someone asked.

  “In the bush, and that’s where he should have stayed, for all I care.”

  “You’re kidding. He’s a hunk.”

  “He’s a bloody pain in the butt.”

  “You can send him my way if you’re finished with him,” another of her team mates drooled.

  Jodie grabbed a ball and stormed over the far end of the court, erratically shooting hoops as her teammates milled around Shal.

  When the whistle blew for the recommencement of practice, Jodie turned to rejoin the others. Shal had gone.

  Jodie threw herself into the play with even more energy than before, but exertion didn’t dismiss his face from her mind. She gritted her teeth. He’d better not be waiting outside for me.

  She had to get rid of him before her feelings overrode common sense...again. He might think he’s in love with me, but I can’t believe his
idea of love matches mine.

  And his talk of marriage? That’s just a ploy to disarm me, trick me into believing he’s different. I’m not that much of a fool. I’ll never fall for those lines again.

  It wasn’t disappointment she felt when she locked her front door behind her without having seen neither Shal nor his blue car anywhere. Sighing, she dumped her clothes into the hamper by the shower and stepped under the cool spraying water.

  Shal was turning her well-ordered existence upside down. She slumped against the shower wall. Life has turned into a battlefield, where I don’t know or understand the rules of engagement.

  Having him close made her feel alive—invigoratingly alive—but his self-assurance gnawed away at her confidence until she didn’t know which way was up.

  She prided herself on maintaining total self-control. She hadn’t experienced exhilaration or fear or anger for so long. She hadn’t lost her cool or yelled at anyone for years. But now Shal made her so angry she didn’t know what she might do next.

  She allowed the water to cascade over her face, washing away a couple of escaping tears that rolled down her cheeks. Have I turned into a cold fish? A hard knot began to form in her stomach. Do my colleagues and friends see through the barriers I’ve erected to the uncertain, frightened girl beneath? Or do they imagine me aloof and indifferent?

  Jodie twisted the shower tap off and stood for another moment, water dripping from her body. Her mind buzzed with confusion and conflicting emotions.

  Burying her face in a towel, she decided one thing at least; she couldn’t go on like this. It was driving her crazy. I have to make a decision and stick to it.

  Like your decision to tell him goodbye, a little voice whispered snidely. She’d never followed through on that. As she fell into bed, Jodie prayed that tomorrow might provide an answer.

  Tomorrow was just like the previous day, or days. Full of emotions she wasn’t used to, and hadn’t yet figured out how to deal with. A couple of days later, though, inspiration grabbed at her when he texted a very casual “thinking of u” one morning.

  Eyes bulging at her audacity, she disregarded the idea as bordering on mean and vindictive. Would it even prove anything? Instead of ignoring his words she thumbed a response, inviting him to join her and a few friends on Saturday morning.

  The apparent alacrity of his reply spurned her on. She’d have to hope she could find a few friends available to help her carry out her plan.

  Numerous times during the day Jodie regretted her crazy suggestion. Something forced her on, assuring her that exposing Shal to something he feared would reveal his clay feet, his true character. She could then find it simpler to dismiss him from her mind.

  The sun had barely lifted above the horizon on Saturday morning when Jodie returned from her run. She stalked inside, slamming doors and muttering under her breath. She hadn’t even attempted going to the gym. Exercise was the furthest thing from her mind.

  Hours later when the doorbell rang she ordered her pulse to slow down before moving to open the door.

  “Am I dressed okay?”

  His open-armed invitation to inspect his perfect, overwhelmingly sexy body sent a throb straight to the pit of her stomach. A cursory glance at his sports clothes drew a sharp nod before she shut out any added physical awareness of him.

  Grabbing her bag and setting the alarm, she drew an unsteady breath as he ushered her into his car.

  “I wasn’t sure what you had in mind so I grabbed a few picnic items for us.”

  Jodie turned her head and stared out the window, biting her lip. She doubted he’d picnic with her after what she had planned.

  It’s for the best, she reassured herself. He’s not the man for me. If only her body would stop craving something that would only prove painful.

  Remorse gripped her at his changing expression when she directed him into the car-park of the Rocknasium. Her stomach dived as she noticed his death grip on the steering wheel after they parked.

  I have to do this, she chided, as she jumped out of the car. “Have you done any rock-climbing?” she asked gaily, knowing full well the mere thought had likely frozen him to his seat.

  “These walls are great fun, great practise if you want to get into the real thing.” Unable to look at him, she shuffled toward the door calling over her shoulder for him to hurry and join her.

  As the morning wore on Jodie became more and more confused. Torn by conflicting emotions she watched Shal participate in every aspect of the exercises the University Rock-climbing Club undertook.

  She’d been so sure he’d find some wimpy excuse to avoid scaling the high walls. While she had seen the tremor in his hands and the sweat gathering on his upper lip, she doubted his fear was noticeable to anyone else.

  Her heart had leapt into her throat when he’d slipped from one of the highest handholds. He was left dangling from his safety harness. His determined swing back into the wall drew cheers of approval from their group and an unwelcome heat of embarrassment to Jodie’s face.

  Instead of his phobia showing his weakness of character, the walls had done the exact opposite. He was capable of conquering his fear, and overcoming its debilitating effect, while she’d just demonstrated what a coward she really was.

  She cringed when Shal returned to ground level, his hard stare swamping even more heat into her cheeks. He knew that she knew. Jodie wished the ground would open up and swallow her.

  Shal refused an offer to join the group for lunch. With what sounded like a cheery farewell he took a firm grip of Jodie’s arm and almost frog-marched her to the car. Daring a glance at him Jodie swiftly averted her eyes. His face was hard and grim.

  “Where are we going?” she dared to ask after they’d travelled for some minutes in silence.

  “I told you I brought a picnic lunch,” he snapped.

  Jodie slunk lower in her seat. She hadn’t thought she could feel any worse.

  The silence lengthened until she couldn’t stand it any longer. The words burst from her. “I’m sorry!”

  Shal slammed on the brakes so hard Jodie’s seat belt cut into her as she was thrown forward. Skidding his car onto the shoulder, he jerked off the ignition.

  “What the hell was that about?” he demanded, glowering at her.

  Her chin dug into her chest as she concentrated on the hands trembling on her knees. How can I even begin to explain when—

  “Was it some sort of perverted test or something?”

  Her head shot up, her eyes bulging. She felt her mouth open but no words escaped. What words could I use to excuse such low-down deviousness? There weren’t any.

  His face unexpectedly softened and the harshness in his eyes melted away. “Did I pass?” he queried. A gentle finger ran across her cheek and under her chin.

  Jodie’s eyes were fastened to his. Of its own volition her head bobbed.

  If she hadn’t felt like a ten-ton truck had just run over her, she might have taken umbrage to the satisfied little smile playing around his lips. All her arguments seemed to have deserted her.

  She frowned as she missed something Shal said. He’d started the car again, and turned when she didn’t respond. “Where are we having our picnic? Beach or bush?”

  “Ahh, beach.” The words struggled out past her parched lips. She craved space—wide open space in which she wished she could run away from him.

  “Which beach? Bethalls or Piha? Or do you want to go to Muriwai?”

  “Ahh, Piha.” She didn’t care where they went. She was still mulling over how to beg Shal’s forgiveness when he pulled the car to a stop in the carpark adjacent to the surf beach.

  “Would you like to go for a walk before we eat?” Shal offered.

  Jodie watched him slip out of his shoes and throw them into the back seat. How can he be so nice to me when I’ve behaved like a bitch?

  For a split second she wondered if it was all an act to put her off her guard. He seemed to delight in doing that. When he turned and smi
led at her, his eyes were so warm she almost melted at his feet.

  ****

  Later he grumbled, “Don’t you say one word.” He tiptoed across the burning black sand of Piha Beach toward the breakers. “You had enough sense to leave your shoes on.”

  He glanced sideward, as if searching for a response. When none was forthcoming he pointed at other people dotting the sand. “We seem a little over-dressed.”

  Shal didn’t seem affected by her silence as he continued past her onto the damp sand. He looked down, as if half-expecting the soles of his feet to steam as the cool water touched them.

  “Look.” He leant on her shoulder and lifted one foot up. “Can you see blisters?”

  “We didn’t need to come here. You could have said you didn’t want to.”

  Shal dropped his foot and stared at her, his mouth falling open for just a second. She bit her bottom lip, guilt jerking her head away from his piercing gaze.

  “Jodie. I’m teasing. Just kidding around.” He took her hand, not allowing her to tug it away, forcing her to stop and listen despite her avoidance of his eyes. “I’m trying to lighten the mood until you feel able to tell me what this morning was all about.”

  Jodie shivered at the flash of anger in his voice, which he instantly covered. “Until then, we’ll stroll along the beach and enjoy the scenery.” He tucked her arm through his, keeping it very tight against his side, and began walking. Jodie was forced to stumble along beside him.

  They’d walked some way before Jodie could stand the silence no longer. “It was stupid.”

  “Yes, it was.”

  His fingers began caressing the back of her hand as they continued walking. Warmth travelled up her arm and set about thawing her self-loathing.

  “I didn’t guess you suffered from vertigo until we got to Jeffers Bluff.”

  “Didn’t you?” he seemed surprised. “Thank Heavens for that. It’s not something I’m proud of.”

  “But you needn’t be ashamed, either.” Jodie kicked at a piece of seaweed lying in her path.

  “I’m so sorry about this morning. I wasn’t trying to belittle you. Not really.” Her eyes pleaded for him to believe that. “I thought pushing you might show you up, though. I wanted you to reveal your true character.”