"Now, that’s what I like to see," he teases.

"What?," she asks, turning around only enough to see him.

"My woman cooking for me...and barefoot, no less."

Téa frowns at him. "Shut up."

"Why?," he asks, grinning. "Does the truth hurt that much?"

"The truth? What the hell would you know about the truth?," she snaps, turning back to her preparations.

"I know what I like...and, that’s you...and, that’s the truth. I like the fact that you’re making dinner just for me, special and stuff, you know?" He walks up behind her, leaning his chin on her shoulder, carefully wrapping his arms around her waist. He is incredibly pleased that she isn’t trying to get away from him, that she is allowing this closeness. "I like the way you look as you’re doing this nice thing for me," he says, as he pulls her body even closer to his. "I like the way you feel." They both close their eyes. Téa stops tending to dinner and just stands there, as Todd nuzzles her neck and plants a soft kiss behind her ear. "That’s the truth," he whispers. "Think you can handle another truth?"

"Hmm?," asks Téa, completely distracted.

"Can you handle another truthful statement from me?"

"I can always handle the truth, Todd," she replies, softly.

"Oh, really?"

"Yes."

"Okay," he says, quietly, pausing to kiss her neck, before placing his lips on her ear. "Truth is, I love you, Delgado. I really, truly do. So, why don’t you just get used to the idea, huh?"

Téa lets go of the spoon she has been holding and places her hands on his arms. They stand there, holding on to each other, neither one saying a word. He turns her around to face him and leans in to kiss her. A moment before their lips touch, the phone rings, startling them and breaking the spell.

"Let it ring, Téa."

"No, I can’t. It’s Del."

"Maybe it’s a telemarketer or a wrong number."

"Todd, Del is the only one who can reach me."

"I don’t know about that...I think I was getting somewhere until the damned phone rang."

"I mean, there are certain codes and things that have to be used to reach me."

"Oh, trust me, Delgado, I know how hard it is to reach you. I’m still trying to break the goddamned code," growls Todd. Frustrated, he goes outside to give Téa some privacy on the phone with her brother.

~~~

Todd glances in the kitchen window and sees that Téa is no longer talking on the phone. He quickly returns to the kitchen.

"So, is everything okay with Del and the stuff you guys did to Asa?," he asks.

"Yes, everything is fine. Del said to say hi to you."

"Yeah, right, I’m sure he wanted to say a few other things to me."

"Maybe so, but that was all he said. Mostly, he was just calling to give me a status report on the investigation."

"How’s it going?"

"It’s not," she says, smiling. "It’s one big dead end after another."

"Yeah, those thieves were brilliant...at least, the good-looking one was."

Téa gives him a look. "You find Del attractive?"

Todd rolls his eyes. Téa laughs. "He has decided to give it another month or so, and then, he’s going to leave the FBI. By then, all the leads in the case will be ice cold, other cases will have come along, people won’t care either way...so, the time will be right for his departure."

"Is he gonna come here?"

"Probably. For a little while anyway. Actually, I’m not sure what his plans are."

"Oh."

"Why do you care?"

"I don’t. I just, uh, I like it being just us here, you know?"

Téa looks at him for a moment, amazed at how sincere he seems. He notices her looking at him, with her head slightly tilted to one side. "What?," he asks.

"Nothing. Um, I should set the table."

"You don’t have to. I already did."

"You did? Todd, there’s nothing on the table."

"Not this table. The one outside. I dragged it out to the beach. It’s all set. Everything’s ready to go. All we need is the food."

Todd enjoys the look of surprise on Téa’s face. "Oh, okay. Well, I think dinner is ready. Want to help me carry stuff out to the table?"

"I’m on it," declares Todd, as he starts grabbing things and takes them outside.

As Téa joins him on the beach, she is surprised to see what Todd accomplished during her time on the phone with Del. Not only has he set up the patio table and chairs on the beach, he has placed lit torches all around them. Add to that the wild flowers he has picked and placed in glasses around the dining area, plus the soft music coming from the portable CD player, and Todd has created quite a romantic atmosphere. He watches Téa closely, as she takes in his handiwork.

"It’s beautiful, Todd."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

They stand there, feeling awkward for a few moments, before Téa suggests they start dinner. While they eat, Téa can tell that Todd is growing nervous. His earlier cocky attitude is quickly being replaced by the familiar reluctance with intimacy. He clears his throat and attempts to start a conversation.

"This is really good, Delgado."

"Thanks. I’m glad you like it."

Todd sighs, as he realizes he is already out of things to say. "Yeah, I like it a lot."

"Great."

"Yeah, it’s really, really great."

"Good," she says, trying hard not to laugh. Finally, she decides to take pity on him and help him out. "You know, you looked like a big jungle cat, when you were up there in that palm tree."

"I did?"

"Yeah. I can’t believe you climbed that high. You must not be afraid of heights."

"I dunno. I’ve been up high before. I’ll tell you what, though...the view from that tree beats the hell out of the view from the roof of the hospital in Llanview," he jokes, but he immediately regrets bringing up this topic, especially at this moment. "Um, sorry. I don’t know why I said that. I don’t want to talk about that. I don’t want to talk about anything that has to do with Llanview."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Nothing, really."

Téa nods but says nothing, and they silently finish dinner. As Téa gets up to clear the table, Todd places his hand on her arm, stopping her. "What are you doing?"

"I’m going to take the dishes inside and wash them, Todd. They won’t wash themselves."

"I know that, but they can sit here for a while, can’t they? It’s not like anybody is going to steal them."

"I’d rather just take care of them right away."

"You can’t. You have other things you need to do that are much more important."

"Oh? Like what?"

"Like...dance with me."

"Todd..."

"Hey, it was one of the conditions of me coming down from that tree. Come on, you’re doing so well in living up to your obligations, don’t blow it now."

Téa puts the plate in her hand back down onto the table. Todd stands up and offers his hand to her. "May I have this dance?"

She looks at his hand, then she looks up at him, then she looks back at his hand and slowly places her hand in his. Reluctantly, she allows him to lead her to the edge of the water. They look at each other, and he takes her into his arms. They dance, holding each other close, barely moving. After a few minutes, Todd lets go of her hand and uses both arms to pull her into him. She wraps her arms around his neck and rests her head on his chest.

They stay like that for a long time, enjoying the closeness of their swaying embrace. The normally present tension between them is evaporating with each minute, and they are both feeling very comfortable in each other’s arms.

"Hey, Delgado?"

"Hmm?," she asks, lazily.

"You still have to do one more thing, as per our agreement."

"Who’s the lawyer here? You’re starting to sound like one."

"God, no. I’m just reminding you that you have one more obligation to fulfill, that’s all."

"And, what would that be?," she asks, as she leans back enough to look into his eyes.

"You don’t remember?"

"Well, let’s see...I made you dinner, a real dinner, no pancakes; I’ve been nice to you, defined as not a bitch; I’m dancing with you, slowly, on the beach...I believe I have honored my commitment to you, as per our agreement in getting you down from that tree."

"Not even close. Pucker up."

"No, I did not agree to kiss you."

"It was implied, Delgado."

"It was not."

"Was too."

"Fine! Just do it, okay. Let’s get this over with so I can do the dishes."

"No way. Not if you’re gonna be like that."

"Like what?"

"All bitchy. Hey! You violated the terms of our agreement. A-ha! Now, you must pay."

"Todd..."

"Téa...you know I’m right. So, as a penalty, I’m forced to change the terms of our kiss."

"I don’t believe this..."

"Believe it. See, I was gonna let you get by with just a simple kiss...but not anymore. Nope. Now, I want tongue...and lots of it. So, pucker up and open up, ‘cause it’s time to pay up."

"Pucker up and open up? Todd, how can I pucker my lips and open my mouth at the same time? I’d be doing a bad fish imitation. I..."

Todd silences her by diving in suddenly for a long, wet, noisy, hot kiss that makes them both weak in the knees. When they finally part, they are both breathless, as they stare into each other’s eyes. They’re both a little disoriented, so they stay like that for a while...dizzy and shocked and tingly and warm.

Todd leans in and gently places his forehead against hers. "I think you just fulfilled your obligation to me...not to mention a few fantasies," he says. He lets out an exaggerated breath.

"Ditto," she whispers.

Todd clears his throat, trying to regain his composure. "You, uh, you want some help with the dishes?"

"Sure," she says, still trying to clear the fog from her brain. "Yeah, but...I, uh, I need to do something first."

"Oh? What’s that?," he asks.

"Come with me." She takes his hand and leads him into her office. She boots up her computer and goes online, opening an email and replying to it. She hits send and looks at Todd.

"What was that all about, Delgado?"

"That was a response to a question those pilot guys sent to me earlier today."

"What was the question?"

"They asked if I still wanted to have them fly you back to the States. They’ve apparently had a change of heart about transporting you, or more likely, a change in finances, so suddenly, you don’t seem so objectionable to them."

"I see. What was the answer?"

"The answer was, uh...the answer was no."

"So, does that mean that I suddenly don’t seem so objectionable to you, either?"

"I guess so...I don’t know. Look, I’m not promising you anything, but I’m willing to try to sort through whatever this is between us," she says, as she logs off her computer.

"I can’t ask for more than that, Delgado."

"Truce?," she asks, holding out her hand.

He grins and takes her hand in his, gently shaking it, before bringing it to his lips and kissing her soft skin. "Truce, Delgado."

"It’s official then. Wow, not being openly hostile toward you is going to be weird, you know?"

"It’s gonna be great. I’m sick of it."

"I’m sorry I’ve been so mean and cold to you, Todd."

"Don’t worry about it, Delgado. I had it coming...just, stop treating me like I’m your enemy, okay?"

"Okay," she says, quietly.

Still holding her hand, he pulls her toward the door. "Come on, let’s go back to the beach and get those damned dishes."

"Clean up duty wasn’t on your list of demands, Manning, so why are you volunteering to help?," she teases.

He stops and looks at her, his expression serious. "Because, Téa...I want to be with you, wherever you are and whatever you’re doing. And, if I gotta spend time in the kitchen washing dishes to be with you, I will, as long as you’re right there beside me."

Téa doesn’t know what to say, but the tears forming in her eyes are giving Todd a pretty good idea that she is touched by his words and actions tonight. He leans in and places a soft kiss on her lips.

"Hey, I don’t recall any other kisses being required tonight, Todd."

"I’ll consider it my bonus. Besides, I think we need to look at this situation as being an open and ongoing negotiation. You up for it, Delgado?"

Téa smiles. "I don’t know, but I’m willing to try."

He kisses her once more, before they go outside to clean up the beach, hand in hand.

To be continued...

COPYRIGHT NOTICE:: The stories published on The Florencia Lozano Home Page are the property of the individual authors. You may not: Distribute the text to others without the EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION of the copyright owner. You may: print copies of the information for your own personal use, store the files on your computer for your own personal use, reference hypertext documents on this server from your own documents.

This site (and linked sites) is not affiliated with ABC Soaps and is not endorsed by them. The images, characters and settings are all copyrighted by ABC Daytime. All material included on these pages is for educational purposes, in accordance with the "Fair Use" Act.