Rising

  Sara should have been exhausted from her shopping trip with Gretchen. But with the prospect of her first date with Xanthus, she was giddy with excitement. She wheeled into her bedroom, laid her dress across the bed, and showered. An hour later, she was primped and ready to go.

  Sara marveled at her transformation in the mirror. Her layered hair hung in curls around her face and down her back. She’d put on makeup and her new, pale blue dress. The look was undeniably beautiful. Tonight she felt as pretty as Gretchen always told her she was.

  A faint knock on the door woke up the butterflies in her stomach. Sara hadn’t seen Xanthus since last night when he’d kissed her. She hoped he’d kiss her again.

  When she pulled the door open, Xanthus stepped inside. He was dressed in a crisp, black Armani suit and green, Italian-silk tie. Wow! was the only coherent thought she could form in her brain.

  “Hello Sara. You look amazing.” He smiled and her heart skipped a beat.

  Stupidly, all she did was nod. Finally, her brain seemed to catch up and she realized what he’d said. She felt her face flush. “You look pretty good yourself.”

  “Thanks. I’m not used to wearing clothes… I mean, um, these kinds of clothes. I’m sorry. I’ll admit I’m a bit nervous tonight.”

  “It’s okay, I’m pretty nervous myself.”

  “Is everything locked up or do you want me to check the windows?” He lifted the kitchen blinds to inspect the lock.

  “It’s all right. Everything’s locked up. Besides, thanks to you, I have a security system.” She grabbed her tiny, silver, coin purse.

  “I know, but you can’t be too careful. Are you ready?”

  She nodded.

  Xanthus strolled around behind her and pushed her chair toward the door. “I have to warn you,” he said, “it’s been a long while since I’ve been on a date, and I’m not completely brushed up on American dating customs. I hope I won’t embarrass you.”

  Sara punched in her alarm code and Xanthus pushed her out the door.

  “Not likely,” she said. Just being seen with him would have other women envious. “Why haven’t you dated for so long? I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have asked that.” The cool night air greeted her blushing face as he wheeled her out the front door.

  “No, it’s fine. I don’t know. I guess I was always too busy for relationships.” He stopped next to a large, black Porsche SUV. Sara looked at the expensive vehicle and raised her eyebrows. This was a lot higher class than usual for her neighborhood.

  He opened the passenger door and lifted her into the seat. The car was warm from the evening sun and smelled of rich leather. She finger-combed her curls as Xanthus folded her chair into the back and came around to climb in himself.

  “So, what is it you do?” she asked as he turned the key. The air conditioning switched on and began to fill the cab with cool air.

  “Well, I guess you could call me a soldier,” he said.

  “You don’t know?”

  “Well, I’m more like a cross between a soldier and a policeman.”

  She wasn’t the least bit surprised. He seemed like the warrior type. “So where are you from?”

  “The Mediterranean.”

  “How long have you been in Hawaii?”

  Xanthus sighed. “About a month.”

  “And you decided to buy an apartment building? You must want to stay a while.”

  “Not really. I’m here on assignment. I bought the apartment building on an impulse. I’ll have to figure out what I’m going to do with it before I have to go back a year from now.”

  “Oh, so you aren’t staying?” Sara asked, disappointed.

  He shook his head. “No. I’m needed back home. I couldn’t ever stay here permanently. You’d love it in the Mediterranean. The sea is amazing and full of life.”

  “More so than in Hawaii?” Sara relaxed against the soft leather. She was comforted, listening to the warm cadences of Xanthus’s voice.

  “In Hawaii, sea life clings to the shore line. Where I come from, there is marine life that goes on for thousands of miles.”

  “Well, I don’t know much about ocean life. I haven’t been near the shore since I was a small child.”

  “You’re joking.” Xanthus’s surprise was apparent. He glanced over at Sara.

  “No, I’m actually terrified of the water. I almost drowned when I was a child and ever since then, I won’t go near the ocean.”

  “Really? What happened?” Xanthus’s brows furrowed.

  Sara shook her head. “I’m sorry, I’d rather not talk about it.”

  “It must have been traumatic,” he said.

  She nodded, but didn’t offer more.