The Remote Seduction (5 page)

“I just received an email from Paolo. It
reads a bit out of character for him,” Katrina shares.

“What does it say?”

Katrina reads the email to Dorothy.

Dorothy smiles. “Good advice.”

“I don't want an opportunity for a
rendezvous, I want my nightly chat with Paolo,” Katrina laments.

“Only because he's safe and familiar and
you don't have to reveal yourself to him,” Dorothy counters.

“I've revealed more of myself to him than
to anyone ever,” Katrina declares with conviction.

“Not completely. Sharing in person is
much different. To bear soul - and body - is a very vulnerable thing to do,”
Dorothy encourages.

Katrina changes the subject.
 
“We should get you to your doctor's
appointment.”

“You're evading the subject, Kat.”

“Yes I am.
 
It was getting out of my comfort zone.”

“Until you learn to get yourself out of
your comfort zone you may never find love, and you have too many extraordinary
gifts not to find love,” Dorothy tells her friend with heartfelt meaning.

Katrina puts her arm around Dorothy.
 
“You're the love of my life, you know
that.”

Dorothy and Katrina leave the store.
 
As they walk across the threshold, and
unbeknownst to the two women, a small bug flies into the store.

Katrina places a Closed sign in the door
window and locks the door.
 
She and
Dorothy proceed down the sidewalk.
 
They do not notice the tinted windowed SUV parked across the street.

Inside the bookstore…

The bug flies around the store.
 
It's a mechanical bug - a state of the
art surveillance gadget.

Inside the SUV…

Walter sits in the passenger seat.
 
There are two agents in the vehicle,
one sits in the driver's seat.
 
Walter works a control device and laptop; he's controlling the bug's
flying and watches on the computer screen what the bug is seeing.

Inside the bookstore…

The bug flies around and lands on the
edge of the top of a bookshelf.

*****

A pick-up game is in progress on an urban
neighborhood basketball court. A dozen guys, aged twenty to forty, are kicking
butt on the court.
 
Sully is one of
the guys.
 
He's putting a ton of
energy and intensity into his game as if he were trying to physically remove
his inner demons.
 
He slam dunks a
shot which wins the game for his team.

The guys back slap each other as they
head off the court.
 
Sully grabs a
towel and wipes his face then takes a swig of water.
 
His buddy Tanner joins him.

“Man, you were on fire today!” Tanner
enthuses.

“Needed to let off some steam.”

“I guess. Work shit?”

“Yeah. Hey, if you wanted to woo a lady
on a first date, make it romantic and memorable, what would you do?”
 
Sully asks.

“You actually met a
lady
?" Tanner can’t believe it.

“Through work.”

“One you care about impressing?” Tanner
still can’t believe it.

“It's imperative.”

“On my first date with Ginnie, I took her
to this seafood restaurant on the coast, The Shell Shack it's called, loads of
casual beach front charm yet they have one hell of a wine list. Then we
strolled over to the small town amusement park where I won her a teddy bear and
we snuggled on the ferris wheel. We finished off the night drinking tequila and
dancing at the nearby Cantina. Thanks to the mussels, teddy bear and tequila,
she was more than ripe and we screwed all night long. We recreate our first
date every year on our anniversary. Although after fourteen years and two kids,
the sex doesn't last all night long anymore,” Tanner shares.

“Thanks, Tanner,” Sully walks away.
 
As he approaches his car, he gets a
call from Richard.
 
Sully takes the
call.
 
“Yeah?”

“I've emailed you copies of the cyber
chats Katrina has had with Paolo as well as the email we sent her this
afternoon from Paolo. Use the information to lead her to the conclusion that
you are Paolo. Got it?”
 
Richard
commands through the phone.

“Got it,” Sully replies.

“Good. Bone up, book boy,” Richard ends
the call.

*****

In the Chick Lit Bookstore, Dorothy and
Katrina sit in the cozy chairs by the front window drinking herbal tea.

Sully enters.
 
He's showered and shaven, dressed casual sexy, wearing a
leather jacket and holding a lovely plant in an Italian terra-cotta pot.
“Hello,” Sully says, a bit nervously.

Both Dorothy and Katrina look surprised
to see him.
 
“Hello,” Katrina
replies.

Sully approaches Dorothy.
 
“I remember you from yesterday,” he
says to her.
 
Sully extends his
hand to her.
 
“I'm Sullivan Reeves.
Everyone calls me Sully.”

“Everyone calls me Dorothy.
 
Would you like a cup of tea, Sully?”

“No thank you.”

“But we're celebrating.
 
My cancer is in remission,” Dorothy
shares with Sully.

“That's good to hear,” he smiles warmly
at Dorothy.

“It sure is,” Katrina agrees.

Sully hands the plant to Katrina.
 
“For you. It's an evening primrose.
 
It blooms at night.”

Dorothy and Katrina share a look, the
blooming comment reminding them of Paolo's email.

“This is very sweet of you, thank you,”
Katrina says politely.

“I have a craving for seafood.
 
Really awesome seafood and I was hoping
I could talk you into having dinner with me, at the Shell Shack, which is on
the coast,” Sully offers.

“That's over an hour's drive,” Katrina
points out.

“Once you've tried the Spanish mussels,
conch fritters and the bay scallops baked in garlic, olive oil and mozzarella,
you'll realize the drive will have been worth it,” Sully says with a twinkle.

Dorothy stands up. “She says yes.”
 
Dorothy gives Katrina a hug and kiss,
then heads for the door. “Have fun you two.”

Dorothy leaves.
 
Katrina and Sully are alone.
 
Katrina looks directly at Sully.
 
“I'm not interested.
 
I'm especially not interested in your hacking job.”

“The dinner invitation has nothing to do
with the hacking job,” Sully tries to sound sincere.

Katrina isn’t buying it. “Are you sure
about that?”

“I'm no longer with Hamilton Dynamics.
They wanted me to pressure you and that's not my scene,” Sully lies through his
teeth.

Sully steps closer to Katrina.
 
“I admire you, Ms. Brice.
 
Even envy you. You're able to make your
own way in the world, live by your own code of honor,” he extends his hand to
Katrina as if it were a peace offering.
 
“Please.
 
Have dinner with
me.”
 

She looks at his hand. There’s a moment
of indecision. Will she or won't she take it? Katrina does not take Sully's
hand.

She does however, reply with only a
slight smile. “If you're going to treat me to Spanish mussels, conch fritters
and baked scallops, you should call me Katrina.”

Sully beams and it almost looks
genuine.
 
“Great.
 
Katrina.”

“It'll just take me a minute to freshen
up,” Katrina heads for the stairs in the back that lead to her apartment above
the store.
 
She calls to Sully. “Do
you have a CD player in your car?”

“I do, why?”

“I have Lillian Hellman's memoir
 
‘Scoundrel Time’ on CD.”

“Do you have Wuthering Heights on CD?”
Sully asks knowingly.

This question stops Katrina in her
tracks.
 
The serious thought that
maybe he’s Paolo pops into her mind.
 
Between the plant and the blooming at night comment, him knowing the
history of the painting, the weird email earlier today, and now the Wuthering
Heights comment, he very well could be Paolo.
 
The thought brings a rose red flush to her cheeks and a
smile that blossoms from her heart.
 
She bounds up the stairs now excited for the evening.

Outside of the bookstore, the dark SUV is
parked.
 
Inside the SUV Walter
fiddles with

The laptop program that controls the
mechanical bug.
 
“I’m about to bug
Sully so now we can follow them and hear them,” Walter tells the two agents
with him.

Inside the Chick Lit Bookstore…

Sully browses the bookstore waiting for
Katrina.
 
The mechanical bug flies
off of the bookshelf and quietly lands on the underneath of Sully's leather
jacket collar adhering itself out of sight from and undetected by Sully.

*****

On the coast, in the restaurant the Shell
Shack, the host escorts Sully and Katrina to a table on the deck overlooking
the ocean. The setting sun bathes the coast in a warm, romantic glow.
 

Sully pulls the chair out for Katrina,
she takes a seat.
 
“Thank you.”

He takes his seat as the waitress
delivers menus.
 
“Can I start you
with something to drink?” The waitress inquires.

Sully looks to Katrina. “Would you like
to split a bottle of chardonnay?”

“Sounds good.”

Sully orders.
 
“We'll have a bottle of the Talbott.”

As Katrina reads the menu her eyes widen.
 
“Their Caesar salad has real
anchovies.”

“You mentioned anchovies the other day
when you brought me a pizza slice,” Sully remembers. “You like anchovies, huh?

“I don't like anchovies.
 
I love anchovies,” she smiles.
 
A smile that causes Sully to catch his
breath and make his insides tingle.

The waitress returns with the bottle of
wine and a couple of glasses.
 
She
pours the wine.
 
Sully hands a
glass to Katrina and raises his in a toast.
 
“Here’s to a wonderful rendezvous,” He says, emphasizing the
word rendezvous.”

Katrina’s eyes widen at the specific word
Sully chose.
 
That nearly seals the
deal for her; she really is starting to believe Sully is Paolo.
 
But she won’t say anything until he
does.
 
She blushes and looks at him
like a hopeful romantic.

Sully sees that the ruse is working and
he’s conflicted about it but covers knowing what is at stake. He looks intently
at Katrina. “Are you ready for a feast?”

And a feast they share as the waves crash
beyond the deck of the restaurant and the summer’s night sky fills with
stars.
 

Sully and Katrina enjoy comfortable
conversation, much laughter and a couple of bottles of wine while splitting
mouth watering seafood that includes Spanish mussels, conch fritters, Caesar
salad with anchovies, and Italian baked bay scallops.

A couple of hours later their plates are
empty, their bellies are full and they have become comfortable with each
other.
 
As far as dinner dates go,
this one has been absolutely perfection. True affection and connection is
evident in the way they both are looking at each other.
 
The waitress removes the empty plates
as Katrina takes a sip of wine.

“About dessert…” Sully begins.

Katrina interrupts. “Too full.”

Sully continues.
 
“Me as well. That's why I suggest we
take a walk across the way to the amusement park.”

Katrina smiles at the idea.
 
“Sounds like fun.”

*****

The amusement park is more like a county
fair than a full-fledged theme park; it’s a mix of games, food booths and
rides.
 
Sully and Katrina walk the
fairway checking out the colorful sights.

Sully spies a sharpshooter game.
 
He takes Katrina’s hand in his.
 
“Come on, I'm feeling Clint Eastwood
lucky.”

Sully and Katrina approach the
booth.
 
“Step right up.
 
Five shots for one dollar.
 
One dollar only,” the carny worker shouts.