Page 3 of London
Back in the corridor, he placed his hand lightly above her elbow. “This way.”
Outside, he was surprised to find London still wilted under the scorching evening sun. Even Big Ben in the distance seemed to bear the weight of the torrid July day as it slowly tolled the hour. Traffic was heavy and the few pedestrians moved slowly, each step measured, as they sucked in the heavy air. Luckily, trees bordering the sidewalk cast shadows over the asphalt, providing shade and a slightly cooler temperature.
“Where is this diner?” Linda asked, her steps keeping up with his.
“Just around the corner, on the right.”
“Oh, I think I saw it earlier. That’s where I parked.”
When they reached the diner, its sliding doors opened, and a wave of chilly air greeted them.
Unlike most English pubs, with interiors dark and steeped in history, this place was large, decorated in bold red and shiny black. Mirrored walls increased the impression of space, and the metallic tables sparkled in the fluorescent light.
With only a few tables occupied, he let her choose where to sit. Linda guided him to a table in the far corner, next to a big, well-tended Ficus tree.
Gerard held the chair for her before sitting across the round table from her. A pretty blonde server brought them laminated menus.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“I’ll have lemonade with mint and lots of ice,” Linda said.
“I’ve never tried it that way,” he admitted. “I’ll have the same, please.”
The server nodded and turned away.
“I hope the mint makes it more palatable,” he said. “I know lemons are healthy, but I find them too sour for my palate.”
She laughed. “I can understand that. It’s hard to prepare the perfect lemonade, sweet and yet tart. It’s my favorite drink.”
“And an excellent thirst quencher, I understand, even if I’m not a fan. What would you like to eat?”
She perused the menu, pursing her lips.
Gerard appeared to examine his own menu, but he couldn’t stop himself from watching her. Linda’s simple beauty entranced him. She was delicate, but her effect on him was powerful enough to tighten his gut.
She was slender, but the breezy fabric of her clothing hinted at curves he was itching to explore. What he couldn’t see enticed him almost more than what he could. When she lifted her head and smiled at him, showing perfect white teeth, he had to swallow his saliva or drown.
“I know you recommended the omelet, but that double cheeseburger looks delicious.” She indicated the plate the waitress placed on a nearby table. “Have you decided?”
He had—and he wasn’t talking about food.
“Oui. You’re right, it does look good.”
He could have gone on gazing into her eyes forever, but the server arrived with their drinks. They ordered cheeseburgers and fries.
“And can I have mayonnaise on the side, please?”
The waitress nodded and left.
“I developed a taste for mayo on my fries when I spent a few months in Belgium. They invented French fries, not the French, as you must know, and always serve them that way. Mayonnaise is practically impossible to get in Italy, but now I’m addicted to it. I’ll eat it on anything,” Linda admitted. “This is a treat. I rarely eat American fast food, and I miss it.”
“You don’t have fast food in Italy?”
She burst out laughing. “Of course we do, but I don’t live there; I live in London. Didn’t you know that?”
“I assumed you traveled and only came here occasionally,” he confessed, taking a sip of the lemonade, wincing at its bitter taste. Damn, the thing was sour! He reached for the sugar.
Linda giggled. “Maybe not as healthy a choice now.”
