Josh looked at her, seeing the mischievous glint in her eyes that
accompanied this final comment. Kate gave him no real chance to
answer the question, turning for the Reflecting Pool. He knew that
his actions would answer the challenge she'd issued. He watched her
for a moment, tantalised. To think that they had only met earlier in
the day. But she had a quality about her that was not only
intrguing, but bewitching. It had been a long time since anyone had
had this effect on him. And it was an effect that was more than a
little welcome.
Josh rose from where he sat and followed Kate toward the Reflecting
Pool. She'd stopped and was gazing into it's rippling waters, whilst
at the same time using it's reflective surface to keep an eye out for
Josh. She hoped that he would follow, not fazed by her
self-confidence and surity in her self. Her thoughts swep back over
this evening, and started examining the possible outcomes for the
evening. Her thoughts were interrupted as she caught sight of him in
the relfective waters of the pool.
Kate had expected many possible responses, but Josh's wasn't amongst
the list she'd come up with. Josh crept slowly up behind her,
knowing full well that the waters of the pool would do nothing to
hide his approach. But, as he reached Kate, he crouched and put a
supportive arm beneath her arms and across her back. Without
hesitation, he hoisted her off her feet, catching her totally by
surprise. He took a step closer to the pool, so that Kate hung in
his arms and precariously balanced over the shallow waters of the
pool. The gasp of shock she'd issued as he hoisted into the air had
changed into a burst of laughter, which had alerted a park guard to
their presence. A serious looking guard strolled into the clearing,
happening upon the duo.
"Excuse me sir, but would you cease what your doing and release the
woman," he said, his demeanour totally serious.
By this stage, Kate had gathered some control over herself, but the
reaction of the guard sent her into hysterics. Josh gently guided
her back to a standing position, then turned to face the park guard.
Immediately, Josh recognised the guard as one of the ones he
regularly talked to when on a break from the work in the early
evenings. When the guard recognised who it was, his serious
demeanour softened.
"Mister Peters, I didn't realise. I thought...."
"No matter, Clarence. I'd worry if someone hadn't stopped me! Keep
up the good work!"
Josh guided Kate away from the bewildered guard, wanting her out of
earshot before the comment he knew was coming came out. They were
barely out of earshot when she burst into laughter.
"So, does that answer the question?", he asked, letting the smile
he'd barely contained throughout the conversation with Clarence spring forth.
He was more than a little thankful he'd known the guard that had caught them in
that situation. Otherwise, it could have been a little difficult to explain!
"Perhaps", she taunted. "It does tell me I might have to watch your
foolishness though!"
"My foolishness huh?"
Before Kate could respond, Josh closed the distance between them,
looking deep into the pools of blue which had him captivated.
Gently, he tilted her chin slightly and grazed her lips with a
delicate kiss.
"Well, I think I could handle that!", he said, when they broke that
first kiss, "But can you?", he asked, lowering his lips to hers in a deeper, more
passionate kiss this time.
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