Chapter 5: Chapter 5

I make a point of arriving at Luigi’s a few minutes early. But I don’t go in, instead buying myself a latte at the coffee bar opposite, and seating myself in the window to watch.

Why am I nervous?

At five to eight, Ben appears around the corner. The rain has cleared, and he wears a plain white shirt, the top couple of buttons undone, and black jeans.

Nice….

He pops his head through the door to glance inside, then returns to wait outside, looking up and down the street.

Something feels unfamiliar about this. Of course, it’s been a while since I last had an actual date….

Yeah…. it’s a date. Not a meet-up for a quick fuck….

My stomach is fluttering, my throat tight as I swallow my coffee.

Don’t be so damn silly. It’s a date. That’s all….

Gulping down the last of my drink, I exit the cafe to cross the street. “Ben….”

“Ah, there you are.” He gives me a peck on the cheek, then, “I reserved a table for us. Shall we….”

Courtesy itself, he opens the door, gesturing me through first. At our table, he pulls out my chair to seat me, offers me the menu. He is a perfect gentleman.

But he never smiles. There’s something about him, a kind of grimness, that’s a little off-putting.

Is he nervous too?

“Got yourself dried out alright?” he asks. “You’re feeling okay? Not going to come down with anything?”

“I’m fine. I had a long soak in a hot bath. It’s going to be a while before it’s pleasant being in the car though. You know what the smell of wet dog is like.”

“Yeah. It’s just the worst, isn’t it?” And he laughs.

And with the laugh, his whole face changes, lighting up. Suddenly, from being a little ordinary, he is a strikingly good-looking man, his features transformed.

Wow!

“Something wrong?” he asks, and I realise that I am gaping at him.

Embarrassed, “Er, no nothing. It’s just that you look very different when you smile.”

He clicks his tongue; flashes his brows. “You’re not the first to say that. My mother’s forever on at me to smile more. She says it makes me look more like my brother.”

“Your brother? So, there’s more like you out there?”

He rocks his hand back and forth. “No, not really. He was at the head of the queue when they handed out the good looks.”

“I think you’re underplaying yourself a bit. You’re not bad-looking….”

“Yes, but that’s as far as it goes, isn’t it? ’Not bad-looking’. He has women throwing themselves at him….” He stares down, paying attention to his meal.

Is he jealous? Of his own brother?

I try to lighten the mood, crack a joke. “Every maiden’s dream, eh? Perhaps I should look him up….”

And he smiles again, his face transforming once more. “Too late. You’ve missed the boat. He got married recently.” He casts a speculative look over me. “I’m assuming there’s no ‘Mr Kirstie’ out there?”

“No. It’s just me. I opted out of that club a while ago.”

“Why was that?”

“Um…. mainly that my husband’s girlfriend was pregnant. It put me off the whole relationship thing.”

He rolls his eyes. “Yes, that would do it. How long ago was that?”

“A couple of years.”

“And, there’s been no-one since then?”

What should I say?

“I’ve been off the whole dating thing. Didn’t want to get involved.”

He arches a brow. “This is your first date since then?”

“My first date, yes.”

Change the subject….

“And there’s no ‘Mrs Ben’ either, I guess?”

“Nope. There was, but it turned out that she preferred my best friend to me.” He looks away, his mouth twisting.

“Yeah… that would do it too.”

“Shall we talk about something else?”

“Good idea.”

Take it easy. No hopping into bed on the first night with this one….

He winds spaghetti around his fork, visibly casting for a new topic.

“So, four dogs? That’s a lot. All rescues? They look a mixed bag.”

“Yes, ‘The Long, The Short and The Tall’ aren’t they? It’s not what I intended, but you can’t turn your back on them can you?”

“No, you can’t. Scruffy’s a rescue too, or at least I assume so. I was out jogging on the beach one day and he just joined me; ran all the way up and down the front, right by my side. There was no-one in sight, so he came home with me. And no-one ever came forward to claim him.” He glances up at me;

cocks his head. “What?”

“It’s a nice story. I wish there were more like you about.”

He holds my eyes; swallows his pasta. “There’s not too much wrong with someone who’s kind to animals.”

He’s not smiling, but the smile is there, behind his eyes…

*****

“It’s been a great evening. I’ve enjoyed it.”

Ben’s hand slips over mine. “Enough to do it again?”

“I’d like that.”

“Can I walk you home? It’s dark. You shouldn’t walk home alone.”

“I’d like that too.”

As we leave the restaurant, he takes my hand again, holding it as we stroll. Our pace is leisurely. I see no reason to hurry. He seems to feel the same way.

At my doorstep, I hesitate.

Do I invite him in?

No, play it cool….

“It’s been lovely.”

He hovers, then, “Good night…. Um, can I call you?”

“You have my number.”

His smile blossoms again. A little awkwardly, he leans forward and kisses me on the cheek.

“Good night, Kirstie. I’ll be in touch tomorrow.”