Steve responded to Kate's erotic words and gentle touch with her fingertips by leaning over and kissing her gently on the lips. She countered by pressing her lips willingly against his. This resulted in a motionless instant where both seemed to savor the moment. They let the sunlight accentuate the feeling of bliss between them. For Steve it had been an act he had anticipated since walking out and finding Kate by the pool. And her accepting his kiss was an affirmation of what she had told him. A sign her feelings for him were sincere.

A second, longer kiss manifested itself with Kate sliding off her sunbed and moving half onto Steve's. As he caressed her shoulder and back during the long kiss, she emerged from the act looking directly into his eyes.

"We'd better cool down," she said, sitting up. "Come on. That water is just what we need out here. Best we don't cause a public disturbance."

Steve smiled. He stood up and took her hand. They walked over to the stairs that led down into the sun-heated turquoise water. He quickly pulled her along with him onto the slippery steps and into deeper water. There they submerged themselves to acclimate to the cooler temperature. When they surfaced, Steve pulled her close and put his arms around her. They brought their wet faces together again for another passionate kiss. Again Kate glanced into his eyes and Steve could sense it was a look that came with a message—a direct communication that their meeting that day had a real affection. Possibly the beginnings of something finally significant for both of them.

As he held her there more firmly, sliding one of his thighs between hers, she wiped her mouth to speak. "I think we might just be ready to move this little party somewhere . . . more private. What do you think?"

"I don't know," he said in jest. "I guess It would be nice if one of us had a hotel room somewhere nearby . . . Bummer that we don't, huh?"

"Steve . . . you have a lovely room right up there somewhere! " She pointed to the monolithic structure looming over the pool.

"Oh yeah. I guess I do, huh?"

"Come on, silly. If you're not inviting me up there, I'm inviting myself. This water is much too cold for how I want to feel right now."

"Pretty hard to refuse a  request like that. The lady is cooling down . . ."

"So let's go!"

This time she led him by the hand back to their chairs and towels. After slipping on their wraps and drying their hair they began the walk to the elevator.

Opening the door of his room with his card, Steve motioned for Kate to enter first. As she moved over to the large window and looked at an endless sea and the fading afternoon light, she took note of the bottles of wine, where just behind them was the little note still laying face-up on the table.

He quickly managed to move over and take the note into his hand and crumple it in his fist. 

"Hope you like the local wine up here," he said, lifting one of the bottles and turning to read the back of the label. "I bought these earlier today. The hotel recommended the vineyard and year. Shall we see if they know what they're talking about?"

"I'd love some, Steve. Just let me go into the bathroom to get out of this wet bathing suit."

He stared at her motionlessly and silent.

" . . . And put on something else, silly."

"Yeah. Yeah, of course. Go ahead."

The bottles of wine and note were a close call, but they served as a stark reminder of what his plans entailed in only a matter of hours--another meeting with Mireille in the gym and a more contrived involvement with her afterward.

Nevertheless, he managed to find a wine opener in the room's wet bar and poured two glasses from Mireille's family vineyard. When Kate returned from the bathroom, wearing white summer shorts and a matching top, she approached him and took the wine, sipping it once.

"That's nice. " she said, allowing him to taste it as well.

"It is for sure." He had managed to slip the small note into the pocket of the robe. "So shall we sit out on the balcony and catch the last light before sunset?"

"I was just hoping we could pick up where we left off . . . down there in the pool," she suggested candidly.

She craftily untied the sash of his robe and pulled it off his shoulders. This was followed by her affectionately placing her fingertips of both hands on his bare chest.

Steve offered no response but took her in his arms. As they were about to kiss, there came a gentle but annoyingly perceptible knock on his front door.

"Who could that be?" he asked, his voice clearly disturbed.

"Maybe . . . you shouldn't answer it," she said, reluctant to move away from him, her light fingers now on his hips.

"No. No I have to get this."

He stepped over to the door and opened it partially. It was Caia who stood framed in the doorway, clearly seen by Kate, behind him. She looked inside and hesitated to speak upon seeing the attractive young woman standing near Steve while in his robe.

"Oh . . . Well, I see you're busy right now," she said quietly.

"No. No. Please, Caia. Come in. Meet my good friend, Kate . . . who's up from LA . . . on . . . business ."

Caia reluctantly stepped into the room as he opened the door wider.

As she entered, staying close to the doorway, both women briefly sized each other up. Their eyes spoke volumes about their dark suspicions.

"So . . . we just opened a bottle of wine. Would you like to join us, Caia?" Glancing at the bottles over at the wet bar, and from whose vineyard it was, he realized what a foolish suggestion it was. Fortunately Caia declined.

"Caia, Kate's up in Santa Barbara for an audition. We go back a long way . . . as actors, that is."

"Oh, I see." She seemed to be focusing on the bathrobe he had pulled back over him. "Well, I really can't stay, Steve. I just dropped by on my way to some shopping. But mainly to tell you some useful news."

"Oh. Excellent . . . and that is?"

"Well, you'll have to see for yourself. But it seems Mireille has posted some silly things on her site yesterday. That she may be . . . falling in love . . . Good news, don't you think? I just can't imagine who that might be with. Can you?"

Steve was speechless. He felt Kate move back a few steps during the uncomfortable moment.

"Yeah. That's . . . pretty interesting. But then . . . she's pretty crazy, right? I mean as your sister you know her better than anyone. Could be she's just bragging to her followers . . . for attention maybe."

"Yeah, could be. Just thought you might like to know. But I've really got to run." She looked back over at Kate. "I've got a personal fitting in a few minutes. A new Italian designer's in town. Take care ,Steve. Kate . . . good to meet you."

"Yes . . . and for me," Kate said weakly."

As Caia stepped back out of the room and into the hallway, Steve closed the door behind her.

"Maybe I should go too, Steve," Kate said quietly. "I didn't know you were expecting anyone."

"Look, Katie. I wasn't expecting her. She's just . . . this person I'm working with."

He thought about what he could possibly say to allay her growing and deserved suspicions.

"See, she and her sister are these well-off . . . producers. They're filthy rich and are working with a film concept which I'm being considered to play in. That's the whole audition I've been up here for, Katie."

A look of relief came over the young woman's face. "Alright. Well . . . maybe you should call her back when I leave. To smooth things over."

"No. No! It's cool . . . It was all just kind of awkward timing with you two. There's nothing there, Kate. Trust me. I mean, beyond my chance at a good paying role. It's a crazy business, and you know that."

"Yeah. So why do you think she's so concerned about her sister's business? I mean her love life."

"They're really a complicated pair, Katie. I've discovered that. Actually crazier than hell. Mega-jealous, too, iIf you want to know the truth. I'm just dealing with them both to get a great acting gig in their project, that's all."

"She's very pretty, you know. What's her sister like. I mean . . . as attractive?"

"Don't even go there, Kate. Neither of them is worth your thoughts, OK? They're quite meaningless to me other than the potential of this role."

He stepped up to her and reached out for both her hands. She took just one of his.

"When can I see you again, then." She asked softly.

"What?  Wait . . .  Are you leaving now? I told you that was only business, Katie."

"Alright. I believe you. But I need to take care of some things myself today."

"Will you come back . . . tomorrow? " He realized in less than an hour he would have to be at Mireille's gym.

"If you want to see me . . . yes. I will."

"Of course I want to see you, Katie. I told you how I feel. This was really nice today. And I'm looking forward to seeing you . . . a lot more . . . seriously."

"I feel the same, Steve. You'll just have to always be honest with me, OK?"

"I am, Kate. And I will be."

She stepped forward and kissed him lightly and briefly on the lips. 

"Look. I promise I'll call next time."

He laughed nervously. "You really don't need to. But OK, whatever."

She retrieved her bag with her wet bathing suit and towel in it and walked back to the doorway. "Hope to see you soon," she said, looking closely and questioningly into his eyes once more. She slowly closed the door behind her.

* * *