Before answering, I glanced over at Claudine. That look of absolute adoration was in her face again. And then I thought of my girlfriend. I thought about going back to her and spending the evening patching up our relationship. It was what I SHOULD do. But I had to see Claudine again. I smiled tightly and replied, “I'd love to."

Claudine's father Lent me some clothes to make it back to my condo. I would return them when I came back for dinner. And when I arrived at the door, I stopped and took a deep breath.

I would tell Brianna what had happened. It was an incredible story, but it had the benefit of being true. I would mention the dinner and explain that I felt obligated to go. I would share my little act of heroism with Brianna, and she would feel proud of me, if a little scared at how she might have Lost me had I drowned too. And then we would come home together and make love like always.

The only thing is, when I went into the condo, Brianna wasn't there.

And from the stifling heat built up and the look of the place, she hadn't been there for a long time.

Immediately I pulled out my cell phone to call and find out where she was. But as I held my thumb over the speed dial, I hesitated. In all the times we'd fought and I'd walked out, Brianna always waited home for me. My absence carved a hole in her heart that she couldn't stand.

I'd steam for a bit and then eventually return, and she was too in love to not be there when I came back.

But today she wasn't here. And if she didn't want to be here, then I didn't want to be the one to call her back. I changed my clothes, freshened up, and did my hair. And then it was time for my dinner with

Claudine's family.

I took one last look at the empty bedroom, and then I went out the door.

The dinner was pleasant enough. The five of us squeezed around a table on the deck at Duke's, overlooking the harbor in Lihue. I was given a prime spot right at the deck railing with Claudine beside me and her father at the head of the table.

Her mother couldn't help begin spinning the tale of my dramatic rescue of her daughter to the elderly couple sitting nearby to us. Five minutes later, the waiter overheard and now both Claudine and I were blushing furiously under the intense stare of a dozen people, including a restaurant manager.

On the bright side, my dinner got comped.

We also finally got a little more personal information about each other. I explained about my Engineering job and my hometown. They were a family vacationing from France. Claudine mentioned that she would love to go to college in America, maybe even the one close to my hometown, but her parents frowned at the idea of being so far away from their darling daughter, especially after nearly losing her today.

When the meal was done and we returned to their house, Claudine shyly asked her parents if she could walk me home. Looking approvingly over me, they agreed and we said our goodbyes, extending their everlasting thanks again. Claudine and I had already exchanged phone numbers. They knew we'd keep in touch.

We walked out of the beach house and onto the sand. Nothing was said for the at first as we simply walked along side-by-side in the moonlight, reveling in the warm tropical air and light breeze ruffling our clothing. I glanced over at the pretty girl more than once, but her expression was inscrutable and she seemed to be lost in her own thoughts.

But when we hit the beach and passed out of sight of the house,

Claudine reached out and slipped her hand into mine. Her touch was simultaneously soothing and exciting as I felt a Little electric buzz pass up my arm. This time when I looked over at her, her wide-eyed adoring gaze was on me again, accompanied by a brilliant smile.

We ended up walking across the beach and Claudine tugged my hand, directing us closer to the surf and onto the hard-packed moist sand.

She slipped off her sandals and held them in her other hand, and I followed suit so that we could walk along together and feel the cool water Lapping over our feet every now and again. I was happy that the salt content of the water didn't sting my healing cuts noticeably.

“How are you feeling?" I asked her softly.

“I can't describe it," she answered. "But what I'm feeling is very strong, very intense." Somehow, her accent made every word that much more sensuous. And the look she gave me then was pure Lust.

That look set my heart racing, and with my lip trembling I returned to our walking and she squeezed my hand.

"Claudine, you don't have to do anything. I'm sure you're feeling grateful, but-"

“It's not about being grateful," she interrupted me.