Page 70 of Thrill
Before she answered, the waiter came with two cocktails that he laid carefully down on the table.
“Two negronis,” he said. “Now do you have any allergies or any foods that will make you head for the hills?”
Tyler caught Amanda’s eye. He found a glimmer of amusement in there.
“Not for me,” Tyler said.
“Nor me.”
“Great.”
He sped off. Everyone in this place seemed to move at double speed. It must be very tiring at the end of a shift.
“Maybe we judged too quickly,” Amanda said.
“We’ll get the hang of it. What shall we drink to?”
Amanda thought about it for a second. “Don’t ask me. I don’t really have much of a social 11life.”
Tyler leant forward. “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo. Going out your door.”
She stopped and stared. “Do you likeLord of the Rings?”
“I love it. I think I’ve read it about ten times.”
Her eyes began to dance. “Who’s your favourite?”
Tyler took a sip of his drink. It was delicious.
“You’ll probably think I’m a sap. I love Sam. The way he follows Frodo because he knows it’s right. It gets me every time. How about you?”
“Aragorn,” she sighed. “The perfect man.”
“Then let’s drink to perfect men,” Tyler said. “Unfortunately, they only live in books.”
Amanda looked sad for a second. “Yet we never stop searching.”
Tyler had a suspicion the thaw might be incoming. The rest of the evening had the potential to be very interesting indeed.
Four courses with matched wines later and Tyler hadn’t been this entertained in ages. It appeared Amanda was a brilliant mimic of people in the office. When she copied Simone, it was uncanny.
“Don’t tell them,” Amanda said, beaming.
“Never.”
“Are you still searching for the perfect man?” he asked.
The bold move seemed right.
She held his gaze. “I thought I found him once. Hurt like hell when I found out I’d got it completely wrong.”
“I know that feeling,” Tyler replied.
Sadness overcame her. “He chose his work over me. Said he wanted to give it his all. I think he got scared. Like so many men do.”
Tyler nodded. He really hoped she’d find someone. He honestly believed she had so much untapped potential bursting to get out of her.
“I think you need to raise your game,” he said. “You’re amazing.”
