Page 59 of Take a Moment

‘Oh, wow.’ I’m immediately impressed. ‘This place is incredible.’

‘It’s good, isn’t it? One of my favourite places in Birmingham. You can see right across the city.’

‘I’d love to see it in the light as well.’

‘We can always come back.’

I glance at him and bite my lip. ‘Planning our second date already?’

‘No.’

He shakes his head a little too determinedly, eyes still on the view outside, and I feel disappointed. Then he looks back at me, a hint of a smile sneaking through.

‘I’ve already got something else planned for that.’

As he says this, another symphony erupts in my abdomen. We’ve barely said two words but he already wants to see me again? I’m so elated, I feel like I could float above the Birmingham skyline myself, on a white fluffy cloud.

‘Where would you like to sit?’ asks Matt.

‘How about over there by the other set of windows?’

We make our way across to the table I’ve chosen, where a waiter materialises almost immediately with the drinks list.

‘They do great cocktails in here,’ says Matt. ‘Have anything you like. My shout.’

I read down the list and then wish I hadn’t. As the gin cocktails jump off the page at me, I realise just one would have me at my two-drink limit – which I’ve set in units of alcohol, not actual drinks. I decide to stick with a gin and tonic, but I make it an interesting one.

‘Good choice, madam,’ says the waiter. ‘Would you like a double or a single measure?’

‘Single please.’

‘You sure?’ Matt obviously thinks I’m just being polite.

‘I’m sure.’

‘All right then. I’ll have the same.’ He hands the drinks list back to the waiter.

‘Youcould have had a double.’

‘I’ve been a bit slow to this gin thing. I take my lead from others.’

I watch him for a second, unsure what to make of this comment, then decide that it must be his way of making me feel comfortable.

Another silence develops between us, again more electrically charged than awkward. I study Matt’s handsome features, feeling myself blush a little as I wonder what it would be like to kiss him.

‘How’s the world of manufacturing engineering?’ I ask, mainly to divert the blood from my face to my brain.

He rubs his beard thoughtfully. ‘I’d say… as boring as IT project management.’

‘Hey, I love my job.’

‘I know. That did make me wonder if I’d had a narrow escape before.’

I laugh. ‘You’re a bit of a cheeky one, aren’t you?’

‘Think I do that to cover up that I’m nervous.’

I expect this comment to be paired with a mischievous grin, but his face is neutral, which makes me warm to him even more. He’s so open, just says it as it is. Such a refreshing quality.

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