Mrs Hopper continued in bed the following day and was attended to by her nurse, so finding myself at a loss I decided I might take up tennis lessons using the hotel's facilities.

Donning my white polo outfit and tennis racket, and explaining my actions to Mrs Hopper I bounded downstairs and nearly bumped into Blaine at the bottom of the stairs.

"Oh, Mr Anderson," I exclaimed.

"Kurt, I have already said you may call me Blaine. Off to tennis?"

"Yes, Mrs Hopper is still ill in bed and I thought I would enjoy the sunshine and new found freedom."

Blaine thought for a moment and then grabbed my elbow, leading me to the front of the hotel and his awaiting car.

"Have a day with me instead," he said.

"Oh really? Are you sure you're not busy?" Blaine only laughed and I found myself in his car, with the top down and my tennis racket swung wildly in the back.

xXx

The journey started off quite quiet and I nervously picked at my nails, unsure how to start a conversation with someone I barely knew. He glanced at my hands.

"Don't be nervous, you may ask me if you like," he said.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"You look nervous, perhaps you have heard the gossip about me since our last meeting and you want to know more about me."

I was embarrassed. He could read me so well.

"Um, I –"

"Don't worry, just ask."

"Well Mrs Hopper did mention yesterday that your first wife had drowned, I am sorry."

Blaine looked instantly sad at the admission but not for the reason I assumed.

"Thank you," he said simply.

It was not until we arrived at a secluded beach and sat on a bench that the conversation continued but although I was perplexed at first, I quickly knew what he meant.

"No one has ever apologised to me about her death, no one has ever expressed true pity for me." Blaine looked so closely at my eyes that I could feel my vision blur. He looked so serious and forlorn I wanted to kiss those frown lines away and make him smile.

"It sounds a sad story; I cannot imagine ever having to deal with such a thing. It must be a trial to holiday abroad to find you are dogged with stories of gossip. You cannot get a moment of peace from women like Mrs Hopper," I said.

He smiled. I felt my heart swoop and chastised myself for being so foolish to fall for a wealthy, clearly heterosexual man.

"You understand so much Kurt for someone so young. Perhaps it is your innocence that drew me to you."

"I really have no idea why you want my company Blaine when you could have any amount of wealthy, interesting people surrounding you. I feel rather boring."

"No Kurt," Blaine said emphatically, grabbing my hand in earnest, "It is precisely because you are not like those people that I sought your company."

I could feel the blush creep up from my neck and Blaine looked at me carefully. Upon realising my hand was still in his, he stroked my hand with his thumb and smiled warmly.

"Your company makes me feel alive again Kurt but in the calmest possible way. Is that silly?"

"Not silly, no," I whispered nervously.

"I am extremely grateful that Mrs Hopper has taken to her bed and I can steal you away from her." I chuckled.

"I think she will live."

"Let's go for lunch," Blaine exclaimed and he took my hand and led me back to the car where he drove us to a small caf�, set near the cliffside.

We ordered and sat quietly for a while, admiring the view and watching the few couples that were in the caf� eating quietly.

"Do you have a permanent residence Kurt? Somewhere where you can go between jobs?"

"I have a maiden aunt in Ohio but I often feel that I impose on her kindness. I try not to stay for longer than two weeks if I can."

"I see. Tell me, what do you like to do? In your free time I mean."

"I like to draw, that is the greatest attraction that this place possesses. It is full of places and people to draw."

"Will you draw me while you are here?"

"Yes, of course."

"What else do you like to do?"

"I love to play and sing. I am not very accomplished on the piano but I love to perform."

"Really? I would love to hear you sing. I will seek opportunities," Blaine said, smiling.

And later that evening as we were dining in the hotel restaurant, Blaine suddenly spied the piano in the corner.

"Will you play now Kurt?" He looked so hopeful, so happy at the thought I couldn't say no and although I hadn't prepared, I slowly approached the piano, after Blaine had politely asked the hotel manager.

I started quietly, timidly, and then gained confidence when I saw Blaine. He looked so in awe of me up there that I wanted to do my best for him, make him proud of me, so I continued.

Some day, when I'm awfully low,
When the world is cold,
I will feel a glow just thinking of you
And the way you look tonight.

You're lovely, with your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft,
There is nothing for me but to love you,
And the way you look tonight.

With each word your tenderness grows,
Tearing my fears apart
And that laugh that wrinkles your nose,
Touches my foolish heart.

Yes you're lovely, never, ever change
Keep that breathless charm.
Won't you please arrange it?
'Cause I love you
Just the way you look tonight.
Just the way you look tonight.
Darling
Just the way you look tonight.

I only sang for Blaine, looked at him only and as the song continued, I could see tears fill his eyes despite his smile. He barely realised it but as I played the last chorus, he mouthed the words to me, sang with me and I couldn't help the smile that swept over my face as I finished the song and walked slowly back to our table. There must have been polite applause but I could only see Blaine, could only hear Blaine.

"That was wonderful," he breathed, as I sat down next to him, "Will you walk with me, as the weather is still nice?"

I agreed and we left the hotel.

xXx

We walked in silence for a while, taking in the water view and the light breeze that had started to blow the fragrance of salty air our way. As we walked I found his hand slip gently in to mine and we continued for a while in this way, neither wanting to ruin the atmosphere and the peace.

We approached a bench and he sat, looking out to the water and smiling. He suddenly turned my way, smiling so happily; it was infectious, I smiled back.

"You make me feel so much Kurt, where before I felt so little. Is that strange?"

I didn't know what to say, I had nothing.

"I suppose you deserve to know some of the truth," he continued, "I never did love Rebecca, my first wife, we hated each other. It was a marriage of convenience. I never loved her."

I was shocked at this sudden knowledge but let him continue. I was at a loss for words.

"Our families wanted us to marry so desperately and we found with living separate lives we could live quite happily, barely seeing each other. You see Kurt," he paused, looking at his hands, "I never found her attractive, I don't find women attractive."

"I see," was my simple response.

He looked at me slowly, trying to determine what I was really thinking, staring into my eyes.

"Do you see Kurt? I can't tell."

"Yes I see, I feel the same."

"I see," he smiled, "That makes this easier."

He touched my chin gently, pulling me closer to him, his lips barely touching mine as he continued.

"I don't know what you do to me Kurt, I can't explain it. You are amazing and beautiful and so, and so…" I closed the gap and our lips touched.

The kiss was so short and chaste that I could suddenly feel the ghost of his touch on my lips as we parted. It was my first kiss.