was a man who knew what he was about. His confident stance, sense of style, those ‘take me to bed’ eyes and that smile. ‘Oh, that smile,’ I said to Tyson as he laid his head down on my feet. ‘Does it really matter if he’s not looking for anything serious?’
When? I replied, brazenly.
Tonight?
I almost choked on my wine. If we met up on the strength of this conversation it’d beat even Marcus, the blind date that Mel, another teacher at school, had set me up with. At least we’d enjoyed a twenty-four-hour virtual courtship before meeting in the flesh. At this rate, I could see myself waking up in this dreamboat’s bed tomorrow morning.
I looked down at my dressing gown and the stain that Tyson had caused when he’d jumped up at me a week ago, making me spill the cup of tea I was holding. And my slippers, one of them chewed through at the toes by my ever-faithful, if sometimes infuriating, furry friend. I didn’t look in the least bit glamourous, but it wouldn’t take long to get myself back round the right way. Then I remembered I had winter legs – and no smile, not even George Clooney’s, would have warranted me shaving them.
Tomorrow? I replied, pleased with myself for playing hard to get.
Sure. Westbury Hotel in town, just off Bond Street? Polo Bar 7.30 p.m.?
I was momentarily stumped by his authoritativeness, unused to being told what to do, but there was a little part of me that quite liked it.
See you there, I said, already working out what the hell I was going to wear. He’d made it sound posh without even trying.
‘So, you’re just going to turn up there and . . . what?’ said Maria the next morning, open-mouthed. She gives off the impression that if she was single she’d be out on the prowl every night, but she’s only that brave because she’s happily married and living the single life vicariously through me. The reality of dating sends her into a head spin, as if I needed another over-protective mother figure.
‘Yes,’ I said simply, because there was nothing more to add, though I knew she’d have a dozen more questions.
‘But what if . . . I mean, what happens when . . .?’ None of her sentences were finished.
‘This was your idea,’ I said, laughing. ‘You’re the one who forced me onto a dating site.’
‘But I wanted you to meet a lovely man to marry, not to have sex with a stranger in some anonymous hotel.’ Her expression was pinched and disapproving.
‘Er, excuse me,’ I said in mock outrage. ‘Less of the anonymous hotel. I’ll have you know that the Westbury is a very well-respected establishment.’
She laughed and threw a packet of crisps across the staff room at me. ‘You know what I’m saying,’ she said. ‘Just be careful.’
I jest, but despite shaving my legs, I really wasn’t intending to sleep with him that night. Not until I saw him. Not until I saw that smile, and then all bets were off.
15
‘Do you usually go to bed with men on the first date?’ asked the man, who I now knew as Thomas, as we lay on the most expensive-feeling sheets and pillows I’d ever laid on.
‘Do you usually expect it?’ I replied, because he seemed to me to be a man who usually got what he wanted.
He propped himself up on one arm and traced my cheek with his finger. ‘This is not what I usually do, but I’m afraid I couldn’t help myself with you.’
I rolled my eyes and started to get up, assuming that we’d both got what we’d come for. There was really no need for the post-coital sweet talk.
‘Where are you going?’ he asked, catching hold of my wrist.
‘Home,’ I said, suddenly uncomfortable. Funny how allowing myself to be tied up and rendered helpless by this stranger in the name of love-making somehow seemed safer than this unexpected invasion of my space.
‘I’d like to see you again,’ he said, releasing his grip.
I smiled. ‘That’s very gentlemanly of you, but you and I both know that’s unlikely to happen. There’s honestly no need for pretence here.’
He looked hurt. ‘I think we’ve got something special.’
I laughed as I stepped into my dress. He would have perhaps seen it as me making light of the incredible time I’d just had, but I knew it was my defence barrier going up, ever-ready to take the knock that I was sure was coming.