Straight to You Page 0,11

said. 'Whatever you tell me about you, I'll tell you about me. Is that better?'

She laughed and turned the form back around so that it faced me again. The glasses which she wore complemented her already pretty face and she gently wiped her warm forehead. It was still hot in the office and, as I seemed to be getting even warmer with each passing minute, I checked the window to see if it was fully open. More relaxed, I loosened my tie and rolled up my sleeves again before sitting back in my chair and beginning our question and answer session.

'You know my address; where do you live?' Samantha asked and I told her. She seemed surprised. 'That's only a couple of minutes away from my house,' she said.

'I know. I drive past the end of your road on the way to work.' I cleared my throat before asking my next question. 'What about your marital status? Are you married?'

'I'm single,' she replied and I felt an unexpected wave of relief run through my body.

'And what about the partner you've fallen out with?' I asked. That was not a question on the form.

'Julie. Oh, she was just a friend, not a partner in that sense of the word.'

I felt foolish and as if I had been prying but Samantha seemed not to mind. I told her that I was single too.

We compared ages (she was three years younger than me), educational backgrounds and qualifications and I found myself becoming increasingly more and more relaxed in her company.

Although I could never profess to being a good judge of character, and reading a purpose into other people's signals and actions was something that I found annoyingly difficult, I felt sure that Samantha was as relaxed and as calm as I had become. I dared think for a moment that she could perhaps be the woman I had been dreaming about for all this time but I quickly tried to dispel such juvenile and unfounded ideas from my mind. I felt stupid and foolish at having entertained them for even a moment. Nevertheless, everything that I had told her had been the truth and I was sure that she had been just as honest with me.

We eventually reached the end of the form and I looked up at the clock on the wall. To my surprise, it showed the time to be gone midday. We had been sitting together in the office for over an hour but it seemed as if only a fraction of that time had passed. Samantha noticed the expression on my face and her eyes followed mine up towards the clock.

'Oh my god,' she exclaimed. 'I've taken up so much of your time. I'm so sorry'

Apologetically, she began to pack her documents and notes back into her bag.

'It's all right,' I said, 'there's nothing that can't wait here.'

'No,' she said. 'You've been absolutely great, but I really must go.'

My heart sank as she got to her feet and took her jacket down from the hook on the wall. I helped her put it on before opening the door to let her leave.

'I'll get the papers up to head office today. I can't see that they'll have any problems with anything and so long as your references check out we'll be in business.'

Samantha smiled broadly and held out her hand. I shook it gently. Her palm was warm and her fingers soft and gentle.

'Thanks again, you really have been brilliant,' she said and she stared at me, hypnotising me with her gaze.

'As soon as I hear anything, I'll be in touch.'

She left the room. Before I closed the door, she stopped and turned around to face me.

'If you're passing, why don't you call in on your way home one night?' she said.

I tried to maintain my professional integrity and politely decline but it was impossible.

'All right, I will,' I replied, unable to look anywhere but straight into her beautiful face.

'See you soon then,' she said and I watched as she left the building, taking my heart with her.

For the rest of the day, it was impossible for me to even try and concentrate on any of my work. All that I could think about was the young girl who had breezed into my office and blown me away.

Chapter Five

On Friday night I finally managed to get out of the office at a reasonable hour. By four o'clock I was at home and, once there, I wasted no time in