Chapter 59: Warmth by the Seashore
Thin smoke began to rise from the iron grill Frans had set up on the sand. The scent of seasoned beef and fresh shrimp drifted through the air, mixing with the salty tang of the sea. The sky was completely dark now, lit only by the string of hanging lights wrapped around the long wooden table by the shore.
Frans stood there with a bamboo fan in his hand. His face was flushed red from the heat of the charcoal. Every now and then, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, which he had rolled up to his elbows.
"Xav, I am a trained field agent. I handle firearms, not a stubborn grill that refuses to light up," Frans complained as he kept waving the fan at the fire.
Xavier, who was sitting in a rattan chair not far away, only gave him a quick glance. "You said you were an expert in all types of ignition. Prove it now."
"That means explosives, Xav. C4, grenades, or pipe bombs. Not wood charcoal for a backyard party," Frans replied with a fake tone of annoyance.
Agatha walked over carrying a tray of sauces and lime wedges. She was wearing a thin, bright yellow sun dress. Her hair was tied back in a messy ponytail, with a few loose strands blowing in the sea breeze.
"Do you want some help, Frans?" Agatha asked.
Before Frans could even answer, Xavier’s hand had already reached out and grabbed Agatha’s waist. He pulled her until she was sitting on the arm of his chair. Xavier’s arm wrapped tightly around her stomach, holding her in place so she couldn’t move away.
"Let him do it. You stay here," Xavier said in a deep voice.
Agatha let out a soft laugh and leaned her shoulder against Xavier’s chest. "I just want to help so we can eat faster, Xavier. Look at Frans, he looks like he is about to pass out from the smoke."
"He won’t die just from some grill smoke," Xavier replied shortly. He took the tray from Agatha’s hand and set it on the small table beside him, then went back to holding her possessively.
Melynda appeared from the villa with a bottle of wine in her hand. She saw the scene in front of her and chuckled softly. She sat in the chair across from Xavier, watching her son who wouldn't let go of his wife.
"Xavier, let your wife breathe. You are holding her like she will fly away if you let go for even a second," Melynda teased as she poured the drink into a glass.
"The sea breeze is strong, Mom. I am just keeping her warm," Xavier answered without any guilt.
Melynda raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Or do you just not like seeing her talk to Frans for too long?"
Frans immediately jumped into the conversation while flipping the shrimp on the grill. "There it is. Ma'am always knows best. Our guy Xavier here is currently in high level protection mode. I don't even dare to look at Agatha for more than three seconds."
"Focus on the shrimp, Frans, or I am cutting your monthly bonus," Xavier threatened, though his voice didn't sound truly angry.
"See that? Financial threats are his go to weapon," Frans muttered to himself, but loud enough for everyone to hear.
Agatha reached for Xavier’s hand on her waist, playing with his rough fingers. "Xavier, I am hungry. Can you please let Frans work in peace without you bothering him?"
Xavier leaned in and kissed Agatha’s bare shoulder. "I am not bothering him. I am just reminding him of his duty."
"Duty as a temporary chef," Agatha said with a giggle. She turned slightly, wrapping her arms around Xavier’s neck and looking at his face from a close distance. "You look really hot when you are jealous, you know?"
Xavier stared into Agatha’s eyes with an intensity that he didn't try to hide. "I am not jealous. I am just making sure what is mine stays where it belongs."
Melynda cleared her throat loudly, breaking the tension that was starting to heat up between the couple. "You two really have no shame. There is an old lady here, and a poor single guy grilling meat over there."
Frans raised his hand without looking back. "Thanks for sticking up for me, Ma'am. This single status feels even more painful under the heat of this charcoal."
"You just need to find a girlfriend who is willing to live in the woods and play with bullets, Frans. I am sure that is easy for you," Agatha said mockingly.
"The problem is, Tha, women like that are usually our targets or the ones trying to kill us," Frans replied with a loud laugh.
The first batch of meat was finally done. Frans placed it on a large platter and brought it to the table. Xavier immediately took the best piece, cut it into a small bit, and fed it to Agatha before she could even grab her own fork.
"How is it?" Xavier asked.
Agatha chewed slowly and nodded. "It is good. Frans actually has a hidden talent."
"Of course. If I ever quit being a bodyguard, I am opening a food stall right here on this beach," Frans said as he went back to the grill to get the rest of the food.
Melynda took a piece of meat and started eating quietly. "Xavier, what is your plan after this? We can’t stay here forever, right?"
The mood shifted slightly toward a more serious tone, but Xavier tried to keep it casual. He glanced at his phone lying on the table, which occasionally blinked with notifications from the monitor room.
"We will stay here one more day. I want to make sure everything is completely safe before we move to the next location," Xavier answered.
"To the next location? Are we not going straight home?" Agatha asked.
Xavier shook his head. "Vargo is still out there. I don't want to take you back to the city before I know what he is actually planning in that shack."
Agatha sighed and rested her head on Xavier’s chest again. "I hate the fact that we always have to think about him, even at a time like this."
Xavier rubbed Agatha’s hair gently. "That is why I brought you here. So you can rest. The Vargo problem is between me and Frans."
"And me too, Xavier. Don't forget I am part of this," Agatha protested softly.
Melynda smiled as she watched them interact. "Agatha is right, Xavier. Don't lock her up too much. She has sharp claws, and you should be proud of that."
"I am proud, Mom. I just don't like seeing her get hurt again," Xavier said shortly.
Frans came back with a plate of grilled corn. "Alright, let's stop talking about enemies for a bit. Tonight we have corn, the sea, and no gunshots. Just enjoy it."
"Frans is right," Melynda said. "Xavier, pour me another drink. And you, Agatha, eat up. You look a bit thinner since that last incident."
Agatha did as she was told, eating hungrily while occasionally feeding Xavier. Xavier, who usually cared a lot about his tough image, just went along with it as Agatha pressed a piece of corn to his lips. He didn't even mind when Agatha wiped a bit of sauce from the corner of his mouth with her thumb.
"Look at that, Frans. Our big boss is being tamed," Melynda whispered, but she made sure her voice was loud enough to be heard.
Frans laughed as he sat down in the empty chair at the end of the table. "I am going to pretend I didn't see that, Ma'am. I don't want to be told to run fifty laps around the beach tomorrow morning as punishment."
Xavier just gave Frans a sharp look, but there was a small smile at the corner of his lips. The night continued with laughter and light conversation. They truly let go of the burden of thinking about Dark Sky, Vargo, and all the other threats. Under the dim lights and the sound of the calm waves, they were just a family enjoying time together.
When dinner was finished, Melynda decided to head back into the villa first. "I am getting old, the night air is starting to bite my bones. You guys have fun out here."
"Goodnight, Ma'am," Frans said as he stood up to show respect.
"Don't stay up too late, Xavier. Don't torture my daughter in law," Melynda warned before disappearing behind the glass doors of the villa.
Frans also started cleaning up the grill. "I am going to take this leftover meat to the guard team out front, Xav. I know you want some private time."
"Good. Don't come back until I call you," Xavier answered.
Frans chuckled. "You got it, Boss. Enjoy the quiet night."
Now only Xavier and Agatha were left by the shore. The fire in the grill had died down, leaving only a faint red glow from the embers. Xavier pulled Agatha fully into his lap. He hugged her tightly, breathing in the scent of her hair which was mixed with the smell of smoke and the sea.
"Are you happy?" Xavier asked quietly in Agatha’s ear.
Agatha turned her body, wrapping her arms around Xavier’s shoulders. "Very happy. Thank you for tonight, Xavier."
Xavier looked at Agatha’s lips, which were shimmering under the moonlight. He moved his face closer, kissing Agatha slowly and deeply. There was no rush, only the warmth flowing between them.
"I will do anything to keep your smile looking like this," Xavier whispered after breaking the kiss.
Agatha smiled and hid her face in the crook of Xavier’s neck. They sat there in silence, listening to the waves hitting the shore, enjoying the peace that felt so expensive in their lives.