Because you weren’t planning on coming until twenty minutes ago.
‘I just thought maybe there was another one somewhere,’ she finished shyly.
‘No, madam. This is the only one in the city centre.’
‘Right then.’ She began straightening out the creases in her white H&M T-shirt and inconspicuously wiping her dusty trainers on the mat beneath her feet. ‘That’s great, thank you.’
‘Enjoy your evening.’ He tipped his hat and unlocked the doors with a satisfying click.
‘Thank you.’ Olivia stepped outside and felt the familiar blanket of heat swallow her whole. Why on earth had Jacob not warned her that this was in fact a decent, well-established restaurant and not some side-street cafe like the one before?
A small yet terrifying thought struck her. Was this a set-up? Some sort of cruel joke that she had been gullible enough to fall for?
Her stomach sank.
‘Good evening, madam.’ A neatly starched waiter greeted her at the door. ‘Do you have a reservation?’
‘Erm … kind of.’
‘Can I take a name?’
‘His name is Jacob.’ But Jacob what? She didn’t even know his surname! Olivia looked up at the large, gildedclock hanging above them; it was nearly quarter past seven. ‘He should already be here.’
‘Ah.’ The man smiled. ‘Of course, Miss Olivia. He will be delighted you came. Follow me.’
The waiter turned and began to walk through the dining room. Olivia couldn’t help but marvel at the dark wooden interior, the low lighting and luxurious green velvet seating. It felt more like a nightclub than a restaurant, but it looked gorgeous, and the smells coming from the kitchen were equally as sumptuous.
‘Here we are. I will get someone to come and serve you shortly.’ The man gestured to the table directly in front of them, where Jacob sat, cleanly dressed and already smirking.
‘I cannotbelieveyou did this.’
‘And hello to you too.’ Jacob raised his eyebrows as Olivia threw herself down into the seat opposite. ‘Glad you could make it; I was going to give you another thirty seconds before I gave up and ordered.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me this place was sofancy?’ She pulled at her T-shirt. ‘I look like a … like …’
‘Like a grubby, dishevelled traveller?’
‘Jacob!Don’t!’
‘I’m kidding. You look great. A little casual maybe, but still great.’ His eyes lingered on her face, sending a little jolt of electricity sparking through her. ‘Besides, I thought you would have done some thorough research on the place before accepting my proposal.’
‘Yes, well, my phone’s been playing up.’
‘Ah,’ he smirked, ‘and nothing to do with the fact you weren’t going to come, until you changed your mind last minute and forgot to check before you left the hotel?’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ she muttered, turning her attention to the menu in front of her and praying her cheeks weren’t as red as they felt. ‘Do you know what you want to eat?’
‘Yes, and I’m starving, so if you could hurry up and decide what you want, that would be great.’
Olivia’s mouth began to water from just reading the words on the page. ‘It all lookssogood.’
‘Right? And no cockroaches here. I asked them to check the kitchen myself.’
If it weren’t such a posh place, Olivia would have been tempted to throw her napkin at his face. Instead, she settled for a deadly stare.
‘You really are insufferable.’
‘But you still came for dinner with me, didn’t you?’
