Charlie , Leah. He seems to genuinely care for you. And he’s not going to kidnap you and whisk you off to Vegas and force you to marry him—it’s just dinner. You enjoy his company, so why wouldn’t you have dinner with him? But, if you feel it’s too soon, then maybe it’s too soon. Only you know for certain.”
“When did you get so grown -up and wise?”
“It’s a curse. I’m great at talking sense to other people, it’s just I don’t always follow my own advice.”
So I decided the best plan was to try and push through my anxiety and at least start to prepare for the evening. I could always cancel later but I could at least try. So after a trip to the gym, a body scrub, and long hot soak in the tub I went and got a mani-pedi and a blow dry.
When I got back to the flat Anna was on the phone to her man of the moment Greg, the paramedic. I suddenly felt bad; she must have been neglecting him because she had been spending so much time with me. What was I doing, thinking of dating some new guy when my best friend was still having to coddle me like a five year old? I grabbed my phone from inside my bag and went into my bedroom to text Daniel to cancel.
Hey, I seem to have a really bad headache coming on , Maybe we should reschedule?
I changed into my favorite raspberry silk robe, and I slumped back onto my bed. Was I doing the right thing?
Within a minute I heard the familiar ping of a new text.
Is this a real ‘I’m sick so bad I can’t have dinner with an old friend’ headache, or is it an ‘I’m freaking out and making myself sick by overthinking things’ headache?
He completely called me out, in the nicest possible way. God , that was sexy.
... the second option I think. L
OK , well I have a cure for that. Are you at Anna’s flat? D
... what do you mean, cure? L
I got no response. I didn’t quite know what to do at that point. I guess dinner wasn’t cancelled but my anxiety was alive and kicking. I went into my ensuite bathroom and started putting on my makeup. Anna came strolling in in her running clothes, an iPod strapped to her upper arm. “I’m off for a run. Are you going to cancel dinner or get over Charlie by getting under Daniel?” I play-slapped her on her arm but couldn’t help but giggle.
“I’m not getting under anyone , Anna! I’ve texted to say that I might have to cancel but I’ve not decided properly yet.”
“In the words of Charlie Brown , good grief.” Anna headed out for her run.
About two seconds later I heard her scream at the top of her voice . “Leah! Can you come here a sec?”
Jesus, it was only a small flat, I’m sure a number of Parisians would have heard that. “Coming.”
As I entered the living room I saw Anna escape just before the door closed, and then I became aware of a very tall, handsome, delicious-smelling man coming toward me.
What was Daniel doing here ? He wasn’t meant to pick me up for an hour. As he came closer I started backing away from him, but he just kept on moving closer and closer toward me and I kept moving backward. The next thing I knew, my bottom met the wall and there was nowhere to go. Daniel didn’t stop until his whole body was pressed against mine, his hands resting on my shoulders, his index fingers stroking my neck. I was pinned to the wall, unable to move.
“Hey , stranger,” he said.
“Hey stranger , yourself,” I said, filling my lungs with that beautiful scent.
“You look perfect . I’m clearly not too early.”
“Daniel, I’m not even dressed yet.”
“Like I said, perfect.” And he trailed one hand down from my neck, down my décolletage, and back up to my chin.
“So, talk to me . What are you overthinking?”
I couldn’t speak . Daniel’s other hand moved from my neck and trailed down the outside of my robe, past my waist, behind me, over and down to the back of thigh, then up to my waist again. A path of fire seemed to follow his fingers, and every part of my body became
“When did you get so grown -up and wise?”
“It’s a curse. I’m great at talking sense to other people, it’s just I don’t always follow my own advice.”
So I decided the best plan was to try and push through my anxiety and at least start to prepare for the evening. I could always cancel later but I could at least try. So after a trip to the gym, a body scrub, and long hot soak in the tub I went and got a mani-pedi and a blow dry.
When I got back to the flat Anna was on the phone to her man of the moment Greg, the paramedic. I suddenly felt bad; she must have been neglecting him because she had been spending so much time with me. What was I doing, thinking of dating some new guy when my best friend was still having to coddle me like a five year old? I grabbed my phone from inside my bag and went into my bedroom to text Daniel to cancel.
Hey, I seem to have a really bad headache coming on , Maybe we should reschedule?
I changed into my favorite raspberry silk robe, and I slumped back onto my bed. Was I doing the right thing?
Within a minute I heard the familiar ping of a new text.
Is this a real ‘I’m sick so bad I can’t have dinner with an old friend’ headache, or is it an ‘I’m freaking out and making myself sick by overthinking things’ headache?
He completely called me out, in the nicest possible way. God , that was sexy.
... the second option I think. L
OK , well I have a cure for that. Are you at Anna’s flat? D
... what do you mean, cure? L
I got no response. I didn’t quite know what to do at that point. I guess dinner wasn’t cancelled but my anxiety was alive and kicking. I went into my ensuite bathroom and started putting on my makeup. Anna came strolling in in her running clothes, an iPod strapped to her upper arm. “I’m off for a run. Are you going to cancel dinner or get over Charlie by getting under Daniel?” I play-slapped her on her arm but couldn’t help but giggle.
“I’m not getting under anyone , Anna! I’ve texted to say that I might have to cancel but I’ve not decided properly yet.”
“In the words of Charlie Brown , good grief.” Anna headed out for her run.
About two seconds later I heard her scream at the top of her voice . “Leah! Can you come here a sec?”
Jesus, it was only a small flat, I’m sure a number of Parisians would have heard that. “Coming.”
As I entered the living room I saw Anna escape just before the door closed, and then I became aware of a very tall, handsome, delicious-smelling man coming toward me.
What was Daniel doing here ? He wasn’t meant to pick me up for an hour. As he came closer I started backing away from him, but he just kept on moving closer and closer toward me and I kept moving backward. The next thing I knew, my bottom met the wall and there was nowhere to go. Daniel didn’t stop until his whole body was pressed against mine, his hands resting on my shoulders, his index fingers stroking my neck. I was pinned to the wall, unable to move.
“Hey , stranger,” he said.
“Hey stranger , yourself,” I said, filling my lungs with that beautiful scent.
“You look perfect . I’m clearly not too early.”
“Daniel, I’m not even dressed yet.”
“Like I said, perfect.” And he trailed one hand down from my neck, down my décolletage, and back up to my chin.
“So, talk to me . What are you overthinking?”
I couldn’t speak . Daniel’s other hand moved from my neck and trailed down the outside of my robe, past my waist, behind me, over and down to the back of thigh, then up to my waist again. A path of fire seemed to follow his fingers, and every part of my body became
Similar Books
