Oliver put his finger to the intercom button again, ready to push it for a second time. She had changed her mind. He swallowed. How did that make him feel?Disappointed. He took his hand away from the button and blew some hot breath onto his fingers. It was freezing tonight but inside, he had been crackling with anticipation for what was to come. Maybe he should go. Accept that between this morning and now, she had had second thoughts.
The door whipped open and there she was.
‘My God,’ he exclaimed, his eyes bulging in appreciation.
She looked even more heavenly, if that was possible. It was her hair. It was different. It now showed off her petite features, that heart-shaped face, highlighting more of that soft neckline he wanted to get better acquainted with.
‘I’m sorry, I should rephrase that quickly.’ He reached for her hand. ‘You look stunning.’ He brought her hand to his lips and placed a delicate kiss on her skin. ‘I’ve never seen business wear quite like it.’
‘Why, thank you, Clark. I have to admit you scrub up quite well yourself.’ She blushed.
‘Shall we?’ he asked, indicating the black town car waiting at the bottom of the steps.
‘Can I know where we’re going now?’ Hayley asked, taking his arm.
‘No.’
The Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center Plaza
Hayley had sat herself back into the heated leather seats of the car and spent the entire journey surveying the sights and sounds of the Big Apple through the tinted glass window. The buildings on the drive ranged from giant, international stores and smart hotels, to bodegas and brownstones. Lamp posts cast a glow over the snow-covered vehicles parked on the street, strings of fairy lights hung from trees and roofs, the faint scent of ginger snaps was in the air. It was the first time since she’d arrived in the city that she was actually able to take it in in all its glory. Because therewasbeauty in the bustle of life here, like the arch in Washington Square Park last night, old and new blending together to create one perfect heady mix of a culture she’d once thought was hers for the taking. Concentrating on the scene outside had been better than the alternative. Focusing on her companion. Her nose had been filled with the musky scent of his aftershave and they’d sat so close, the heat from his body had seeped its way into hers. Gazing at the city sights had stopped her falling under the spell of those hazel eyes and admitting what his presence did to her.
The car had dropped them five minutes or so ago and now they were walking, the shoes she had packed but never expected to wear starting to shave the skin off her little toes.
‘Is it far?’ she asked Oliver, trying her best not to limp.
‘No,’ he responded. ‘It’s just over there.’
Hayley followed his line of vision to a fountain just ahead, its water bright white, bubbling up like a newly found oil well. Just behind, five arched windows stretched up from sidewalk to sky, ethereal light making them look like heavenly guardians protecting whatever was within.
‘What is this place?’ she asked, unable to stop the anticipation spreading over her face.
‘It’s the Metropolitan Opera House,’ he answered.
‘Wow!’ she breathed out quickly.Opera. She couldn’t show any disappointment. It might be good. It wasn’t Maroon 5 but it was a new experience. She swallowed.
He grinned at her. ‘You love opera, right?’
She nodded so much, she was afraid her head might roll right off her shoulders when she was done. ‘Yeah, of course! Who doesn’t love opera?! Men and women singing in a language I don’t understand. I’m all about the soprano and the not understanding the plotline.’ She swallowed. ‘That was a joke, by the way. This is a really great idea for a date.’
Oliver let his laugh go. ‘I hate opera.’
‘You do?’ She couldn’t help the gasp of relief. ‘You really had me going there for a second.’
He offered her his arm. ‘Come on, let’s get inside out of the cold.’
Hayley slipped her arm through his, her fingers taking a hold of his black, woollen coat, the solidity of his forearm prevalent under the fabric. This was happening. This was her going on a date. A date she wanted to be on, with someone who made her insides curl up in ways she’d forgotten about.
They walked across the paving, their breath hanging hot in the freezing air, following groups of people ahead all starting to congregate outside the entrance.
Hayley tugged on Oliver’s arm, making him turn his head. ‘So if this isn’t opera, what is it?’
He smiled then, his eyes creasing at the corners, and Hayley held her breath. There were those oh-so-kissable lips she really wanted to get to know more intimately. God, it was like she was on heat. One sniff of a date and she was ready for anything. She was supposed to be being cautious here, not turning into a man devourer just because she hadn’t had a man for a while. Albeit a long while.
‘You’ll just have to wait and see,’ he replied, tapping his nose with his finger.
She wrinkled up her face in disapproval. ‘Has anyone ever told you you’re deeply annoying?’
‘Would you like all their names and zip codes?’
