Beguiling Blue

Beguiling Blue was the name of the hotel I booked for my stay in enchanting paradise. A strange name that I believe could mean that you would be charmed and feel hopeful here in Santa Monica while staring over the dazzling beaches and then would have to go home back to your usual life again. Tricked by all the beauty and sparkles. The sparkles were already currently in my cup as I started the morning of my trip with morning mimosas and crisp, ripe fruit. The strawberries were so full of flavor it made my tongue want to melt into the same red to become one of the fruits itself. “More strawberries Mr. Kyle Hartie of Hartie Enterprises?” the waiter had the gorgeous red plumps staring at me from the platter.

“Of course, sir. Just calling me Kyle is fine, though.”

“Yes, Kyle. Here you are,” he set them down and I just started to notice a small strange contraption on his plate.

“You know your business helped my starving artist sister get and keep a job,” the waiter mentioned.

I looked at his name tag and replied, “That is so wonderful, Jim! I am glad I can keep people in their passions. What is that on your tray by the way?”

“Oh, it is a small chocolate fountain for the lady at that table over there,” Jim turned to point out a woman with ombre hair that went from brown to blonde. She was gorgeous and intensely staring into her laptop.

“Will you give her a mimosa then? Just put it on my tab.”

“Yes sir, I will get that right away!” he went off to put the small chocolate fountain on the table and came back with the mimosa as Jim pointed my way and she stared intensely at me with hazel eyes and then waved me her way. I walked over there like a floating trance and took a seat while immediately getting afraid of looking directly into her eyes and then staring at the chocolate fountain.

“Mr. Big Business can’t look me directly in the eye? I am Krissy by the way,” she held out her hand and I shook it while finally looking at her directly.

“My line of work should lead people to realize that I am an empathetic artist and not a big greedy tycoon,” I explained to her.

“Ah yes, the man who wanted to save artists on the streets and give them more reasonable pay jobs besides the regular million dollar ones.”

“Right, seemed unfair the pay gap…” I started but she made her way to interrupt my train of thought.

“Savior complex?” she struck me.

“Possibly. I believe in ethics in business though. I studied business ethics in college and came out to find that no one really followed any of what it said. How do people expect us to be able to work by ourselves in a free market without government intervention if we can’t do right by ourselves and have to be babysit by the government?” I finished my long thought.

She raised her eyebrows in interest. “Can I write an article about you. What you are saying to me. Would really help.”

“Sure, anything for a beautiful lady such as yourself,” I smiled widely, “So you are some fancy journalist?”

“Not really. I am trying to make my way into writing.”

“Then how do you make money? How are you on this trip?”

“Spent all the savings I had on it. I am officially going to be broke after this, but it is worth living a little.”

“What have you done before this for money?”

“Administrative assistant jobs here and there.”

“Oh I see, you finally want to make it to your passion. That is my job to help people after all.”

“Oh how strangely lucky I am to have come across you then,” she giggled, “Although I don’t know if you are really all about what you are all about.”

“We will be as sweet of a pairing as your strawberries with chocolate. You are trying to expose me as actually being some big money hog?”

“Possibly. I am yet to find something more tasty than strawberries dipped into the chocolate fountain.”

“Well maybe we can find all of that out on a boat ride I have booked and a massage scheduled for later. You will be joining me right?”

“Oh I wouldn’t miss it!” she finished her strawberries and headed back into the hotel while I finished up and got ready for us to go out on the boat. I was there first and waited for her while talking to the man who would be driving us out. I picked the perfect wine for the occasion and was excited about meeting with Krissy. She had a strong way about her like she knew she could be something. A confidence that almost tipped into arrogance, but was somehow just right.

“Hello, glad you waited for me,” Krissy came strutting up in a floral one piece bathing suit.

“Very pretty you look indeed,” I escorted her onto the boat and handed her a glass of wine as we started up.

“Now to push your buttons Kyle,” she chuckled through sips of wine, “Your family is rich, so how did they act?”

“They were nice people. Not the stereotypical way people see the rich as being greedy. They were just intelligent, fortunate people.”

“Right, so you had a nice childhood with much support?”

“Yes, did you?”

“Nah, my family was the jerk rich people.”

“Is that why you are trying to expose me, because you believe that is the way it always must be?”

Her face distorted a bit, “Welcome to therapy, huh?”

“I don’t mean to bring up bad memories, it is just sometimes people see what they grew up with and it doesn’t make sense any other way.”

She turned and stared out at the wide ocean. “I love relaxing on the beach, it is so peaceful, especially when the world can be so chaotic.”

“True, it is lovely to just be able to enjoy beautiful lands,” I reached over and held onto her hand, letting her head rest on my shoulder. After a while she looked up and gave me a quick kiss on the lips. “What was that for?” I wondered.

“You really do seem all nice and supportive. Maybe I am just used to people always having some ugly I have to try and find.”

“Well I got ugly, but not that kind of ugly.”

“Are you talking about your looks or…”

“However you see it,” we both laughed as the boat ride ended and we walked back up to the hotel and into the massage suite. The massage was comforting and was nice being able to stay in the comfortable quiet presence of someone for a while.

When we walked out refreshed and covered in massage oil Krissy turned to me, “I guess my article will not be interesting like exposing you.”

“What would be interesting is writing how you romanced me.”

“You would let me write about that even if it isn’t true?”

“Do you want it to be true?” my chest tightened.

“Yeah,” she replied and I relaxed.

“Then let’s get you all of what you need then. Flowers, chocolates, and romantic walks on the beach,” I lead her to the flower stand in the hallway.

“No man has ever bought me flowers before,” Krissy held onto the flowers like a treasure.

“Well I guess it’s time to start writing about your first romantic adventure then. The flowers making the strawberries and chocolate and even more splendid picture.” We spent the week we had on the water going sailing, snorkeling, jet skiing, and relaxing on the beach together. It was wonderful to have someone intelligent and fun like her. “Where do you live?”

“Idaho.”

“Come live with me in California then,” I suggested.

“That is a big step,” she fidgeted with her fingers.

“After the week I have had, there is no way for me to let go of you, Krissy,” I held her while she thought.

“It will be an adjustment, but yes, let’s be together.”

I was filled with ecstatic joy. I had no idea I would be finding someone on this trip to the Beguiling Blue. Maybe the enchantment could be there instead of always trying to look for deception like Krissy. A way to be fully loved unconditionally and helping one another to the very end while feeding each other strawberries and chocolate in a paradise called home.