New Encounters (6 page)

‘Of course Robert, but I have to insist that in order to have a duvet day you have to eat more rubbish than your body weight and be armed with a huge cup of coffee or tea.’

He laughs and smiles at her and says ‘Coffee would be great, thanks Ash’.

Thanks Ash.
Oh he is so smug isn’t he? All lovely and charming. Why am I being such a bitch, its me that’s cocked up.

Ash is making the coffee but in earshot, so I am unable to ask him what happened last night. Ash walks over and hands him the giant mug and a bag of crisps. He lifts my legs and sits down on the couch before gently laying my legs on top of his lap and placing the blanket that I was hiding underneath over us both. He has one hand on my legs and one hand on the giant mug. I glance over at Ash and she looks like she is wearing the world’s largest smug smile.

Throughout the movie, I can barely concentrate. Ash finally nips to the bathroom and pauses the DVD.

‘Robert, what happened last night?’ I can not hide the fear in my tiny voice.

‘Bella, we never slept together.’ He can see I take the largest sigh.

‘Did you change me into my nightie?’

‘Let’s just say I had to help you. But I promise I kept my eyes closed as much as possible’.

‘Not sure whether I should take that as a compliment or not. ‘

He looked at me with those blue eyes, with a gentle smile on his face.

‘Always take it as a compliment’.

‘I am sorry, I never usually get that, well, that drunk. But I have been so busy of late. The late nights, too much champagne, well it must have gone to my head. I am sorry.’

‘Bella, you have no need to apologise. I am pleased to hear that this is not a regular occurrence though. While I do not condone you getting that drunk I am pleased I was there to ensure you were looked after.’

Ash walks into the room and presses play on the DVD. I am unable to move and feel flushed again. I feel like he has just reprimanded me like a little school girl. How dare he. After a while I forget as the movie turns to some funny parts where we are all giggling and laughing.

‘Have you both eaten anything apart from bread and crisps ladies?’

‘Urmm no.’ We both mutter in embarrassment.
‘I will order us some dinner, to be delivered’.
He disappears into the corridor on his phone. If he is phoning a take away most normal people ask what you want. Not Robert, he just goes right ahead. He waltzes back into the room.

‘It will be 45 minutes’

Ash and I exchange glances. I am hoping she has picked up on this odd point as well. 45 minutes later the bell rang and Robert jumped up to get the door. I think he has realised that both Ash and I are running at the speed of a tortoise right now. I hear several people coming in acknowledging Robert with

‘Sir’

Sir? What on earth is that about? My usual lovely and heroic takeaway guy is called Abdul and grins with his greeting of ‘Hiya’.

Ash is too keen and has gone into the dining room to investigate. She comes back with her hand over her mouth.
‘What?’ I whisper to her. She shakes her head but manages to come out with ‘This guy is something else. Please marry him’.

I shake my head in despair at how easily Ash can be won over. As I walk into the dining room, I can see where she is coming from. The dining room has a fresh white linen tablecloth that isn’t ours with candelabra as a centre piece. With a banquet filling the table and 3 table places set. I think Robert can see the expression of bewilderment on my face.

‘Bella, I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted to make sure that you ate well today. Your not feeling 100% and its important you eat well. After dinner, I will run you a hot bath and then you can go to bed for an early night’

I am so shocked I am not sure what the appropriate response is to this. I mean, is it normal? Do most guys do this after the first date? I am racking my brains at all the girlie chats I have had with friends and nothing like this is ringing any bells.  ‘ok’.

The food is amazing. There are vegetables, chicken in a white wine sauce, there is pasta. Literally, there was most food on the table. Shockingly, Ash and I barely could make a dent. Robert ate in his usual dignified way. ‘Make sure you eat Bella.’

‘Robert, I honestly can not eat anything else. But thank you so much, it was stunning. We will pack it away for tomorrow’.

Ash starts clearing the table and Robert pulls me onto his lap and kisses me.

‘Robert, who were those people that delivered the dinner’.

‘Just some friends from a restaurant’

‘Oh right’.

‘Right Lady. Let me run that bath for you.’

He stands me up, so he can stand and kisses me before disappearing off to run me a bath. Within 15 minutes he is back.

‘Bella, I will call you tomorrow. Enjoy your bath and make sure you go to bed after it and get good nights sleep’

‘Ok Dad’

He looked at me, sharply

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well it’s like something my Dad would say.’ I hope I haven’t upset him, so I put my hand in his and squeeze it gently. Smiling at him, hoping this would encourage his usual charming behaviour.

‘I just want to look after you. That’s all’. With that he kissed me, gently but passionately. Whispering
Bye
in my ear before he left.

I walk into the bathroom and he has put candles everywhere along with rose petals. I didn’t realise Ash was right behind me until I could hear her singing

‘What a man what a man what a man what a mighty fine man’ I burst out laughing.

‘Bells.... He is just amazing. I think I love him, never mind you. ‘

‘Ash, we only had our first proper date last night. Slow down Cilla.’

‘Well I am telling you right now. That guy has got it bad for you. ‘

With that she disappears and I undress and climb into the bath. I wonder if he has got it bad for me. Its pointing towards that, I have to admit. The way he came round today was sweet. Why is it that there is something niggling away. Some doubt there. Well, I will just have to take a leap of faith. I can’t be so scared all my life can I. His comment at the end was a bit full on. But haven’t I always dreamed of that? I have always wanted to be whisked off my feet. Be taken care of by a man that is attentive.

As I climb into bed I text Robert

*Thank you for today. x*

He responded within 2 minutes.

*Your welcome. Now sleep! x*

Oh he is bossy. But I have to say I quite like the masterful side he is showing.

CHAPTER 8

The next day I can’t help but daydreaming about Robert. There is just something about him, edgy even. I have always chosen the bad boys. At least he is a businessman.... but I still don’t quite understand what his occupation is. Good excuse to text him.

*Hi Robert. How are you? What exactly is your job? X*

Whatever his job is, it must pay well. I wonder if he is a stockbroker or something.

*Hey gorgeous. I was just thinking about you. I deal with business transactions xx*

*What kind of transactions? Xx*

Oh he put two kisses and he has been thinking about me. That’s a good sign.

*Boring transactions. Stocks e.t.c  What are you doing later? xx*

*Nothing much planned. Why? Xx*

Stocks? Must be banking.

*I will pick you up at 6 xx*

Yeyy. I really do feel like a schoolgirl. I have not felt like this since Chris gate. I loved that boy so much. I think I always will. What is it they say? Your first love always stays with you. Something like that. But onwards and upwards now. Chris definitely did not have the charm or persona that Robert has. Mind you, I should give Chris a break. We were kids then. I wonder if he is still in the army. I hope he is, and I hope he is still loving it. He deserves to be happy. I thought he was my soul mate, but maybe I was wrong. Or maybe you can have more than one soul mate in your life.

Finally I managed to get home and the traffic was kind to me today. I quickly get showered and then wonder where we are going. It’s Monday night, so surely we aren’t going anywhere posh. I pull out my jeans and a blouse. Then I am not sure whether or not  this is appropriate. Sod it, I am 33 for god sake I will just text him and ask. I pull out my phone and see a message.

*I can’t wait to see you. Xx* My heart beats faster.
I can’t wait to see you either Robert.

*Me too. Not sure what to wear, where are we going? Xx*

*Wear a dress and a pair of your sexy heels xx*

So we are going somewhere posh. Time to put the jeans back in the wardrobe. I find a nice black Audrey Hepburn dress and some nice black strappy sandals. That should do it. I sweep my hair back and get started on the makeup.

6pm sharp the doorbell goes. I love the fact that he is punctual. Hell, who am I kidding, I love everything about him so far. I just hope there isn’t some major let down around the corner. Every man I have met in my life seems great at the start but there is always something. But, I need to go into this with a positive mind. I really can’t fault him so far. He has been, dare I say it.... perfect. I open the door and he is standing there, beaming at me with his stunning smile.

‘Bella... you look sensational. The classic look suits you.’

‘Thank you Robert, you look very smart’

He shakes his head and takes a deep breath, before enveloping me in his arms and kissing me. ‘Just let me write a note to Ash to let her know I am out tonight’

He nods, as I walk into the kitchen. I’m hoping that he is not staring at my bum and as I glance round, my hopes are dashed. He is looking at me and not hiding it. I write a note and tell her that I’m out with Robert. As I walk up to him, he puts his arms around me and kisses me like its the last kiss he will ever make.

‘Bella, do you trust me?’

‘Um well I guess so for the little time I have known you’

He looks at me and narrows his eyes, then opens them wide and tilts his head to one side.

‘Will you let me blindfold you and surprise you with where we are going?’

My heart quickens. I hadn’t reckoned on him doing this. I actually hadn’t reckoned on being blindfolded... ever! He can see the panic in my eyes and cups my head in his large manly hands gently.

‘It is just so I can surprise you with where we are going. If at any time you want to remove it, you can do.’

I feel a little more at ease.

‘Ok then. It does beg the question of where the hell am I going that you feel the need to blindfold me.’

‘Shhh, it’s a good surprise. Trust me’. With that I do. I nod in approval. He pulls out a black satin piece and deftly wraps it around my eyes.

‘I will guide you out.’

With that he wraps his arm around my back and the other arm is holding onto one of my hands as we walk to the car. I can’t see a bleedin thing. What on earth have I let myself in for? Ash will kill herself laughing at this I’m sure. He places his hand on my head and guides me into the car unharmed. So far so good. As I feel the movement of the car, he asks about my day at work and I tell him. He also picks up on the fact that I am not overly keen on my job. So I find myself explaining that its not a life passion and its a job that I fell into.  Then I can’t help but start laughing.

‘What are you laughing at?’ I can hear the amusement in his voice. Unfortunately, I can’t see it as I have this dreadful blindfold on.

‘The fact that I am sitting in a car, blindfolded and chatting about my day in the office as if this is a normal situation. I must look like a right pleb.’

He burst out laughing as well, and said, ‘My darling, its right. It must be amusing, but you do not look like... what is it? a pleb?’

We both start laughing and he grips onto my hand, stroking my arm with his other hand. Its just so different to have a mans full, undivided attention. I then realise that I haven’t blushed at all so far. Mind you... there is time.

The car stops and Robert speaks

‘I am just going to get out of the car and come round and get you. Ok? ‘