‘Was that bit about you going on a date, true?’ He grinned at me over the rim of his glass. ‘Asking for a friend. The bit about you needing to watch your weight clearly isn’t.’
I shifted uncomfortably. ‘I do need to watch my weight. I’ve been stuffing my face with Adele’s biscuits. Now those I could get addicted to.’
‘There’re certainly delicious, I agree. I knew as soon as I took that first bite that they were her biscuits. No one makes cinnamon biscuits – or any biscuits, like Adele. And the date?’
‘The date? Oh, the date! Erm. Not entirely. There is a guy I really like and I think he likes me too. But he’s just split up from his girlfriend. Literally, on Saturday night, and he’s also the older brother of a good friend of mine, so I don’t know if it’s going to be a bit weird, or even if he’ll ask me out.’
‘He’ll ask you out. Unless my friend does first.’
I gave a little gasp. ‘Erm. Please don’t take this the wrong way. And please don’t take it personally, but as lovely as you are, and as much as I want to be your friend, I … I don’t think we would work. You’re not my type and I’m not yours. Not that I know what your type is. But I’m sure it’s not me. Is that okay? Are we good?’
He was trying to hide his laughter. I could see it in his face. Was the man teasing me? The more I said, the more he struggled to hide it, until he finally let rip and roared with laughter.
‘I apologise,’ he said when I glared at him. ‘Seriously I do. But oh, Noelle, you’re the best. You really are. You’ve cheered me up no end. As for you being my type, well, I think you could be, because you’re beautiful. You’re funny. You’re witty and intelligent. You have your own business and you own your own home. I love all those things about you. But I was genuinely asking for a friend. Do you like kids?’
I raised my brows in mock horror, delighted that he’d said such lovely things about me but equally delighted that he wasn’t asking me out.
‘I’ve never dated anyone more than a few years younger than me, so if that’s what you’re suggesting, it’s a hard no from me.’
He roared again and his body shook with laughter. ‘No. My friend is thirty-nine but he has a daughter who is eight. He’s a widower. He has his own business and he’s in high demand, so he doesn’t get a chance to go out and meet women, what with working long hours and then wanting to spend all his free time with his daughter.’
‘Oh I see. You’re serious?’
‘I’m serious. I’m not his pimp or anything, and he’d kill me if he knew I was telling you this. But you and he would be perfect for one another. If I could find a way to arrange a casual meeting, would you be interested? Or has this other man already stolenyour heart? Because my friend wouldn’t date a woman who was also seeing someone else.’
‘Erm. I’m not sure. Can I think about it? Paul is – that’s the man I like – gorgeous and I know him fairly well. I’m not sure I’d be up for a blind date. Do you have a photo of him?’
‘Yes. I carry one close to my heart at all times.’ He threw me a playful look. ‘No. I don’t think I do. We’re not the sort of guys who pose for photos. And he’s not on social media. As you can see, there are no photos on my walls. Not even of my parents. Although there is a room upstairs that has several photos of my ex and I throw darts at them every night before I go to bed.’ He emptied his glass again and refilled it. ‘Can I tempt you?’
‘With another glass? Or to throw darts at the photos of your ex? Because that sounds like fun. But I think I’ll say no to both. Thanks.’
He grinned. ‘Are looks important to you?’
‘Not that important, no. But I like to see a man’s eyes. You can tell a lot about a person from their eyes.’
‘I agree. And in case there is any doubt in your mind, I don’t have a room filled with photos of my ex, and I don’t throw darts at them because they don’t exist. I will admit I did burn them all though. The night she moved into your cottage.’
‘I know you said you’re not completely over her yet, but I think you’re in better shape than you believe you are.’
‘I hope you’re right.’
‘And having said that, I think it might be weird going on a date with a friend of yours. Thanks for the offer, but if it’s all the same to you, I think I’ll say no. This has been fun. But I really must get back because I’m supposed to be making Christmas decorations for my business. Plus, I need to phone my plumber to see if he can come any sooner than tomorrow. I’ve got problems with my boiler, and the tap in my kitchen thinks it’s a shower. Don’t ask.’ I got to my feet and he did so too. ‘Anyway, the wine washeavenly and I’d love to know what it is.’ I handed him the glass and he took it. ‘Oh, and before I go, would you mind if I gave you a piece of advice?’
He turned and walked away, but he glanced over his shoulder and said, ‘Please do,’ as he put the glass on the counter and then walked towards the wine fridge once again, returning moments later with two bottles of chilled white wine. ‘For you. And possibly to drink with your date.’
‘Are you sure?’
He nodded and smiled.
‘Thank you.’ I glanced down at the labels and gave a little gasp. ‘I … I can’t accept these. I may not be a connoisseur but I know that this is bloody expensive wine. Eye-wateringly expensive, in fact.’
Even my Mum had heard of Montrachet. A white burgundy considered to be one of the best white wines in the world. And these were aged Premier Cru wines. I had once been in a restaurant when someone had ordered an aged bottle of a Montrachet Premier Cru, and a friend who worked there told me prices ranged from the hundreds to the thousands depending on the year.
‘No. Not eye-wateringly so, and not really bloody, either. Not for what they are. But I’ll agree they’re not cheap. Isn’t that what money is for though? To spend it on nice things and to make ourselves happy. And you did give me a wonderful gift, so please accept the wine in the spirit in which it’s offered. One of friendship.’
‘I gave you biscuits made by someone else and a snowman to hang on a Christmas tree that you don’t even have, and probably won’t be getting. It’s hardly the same, is it?’
‘Gifts shouldn’t be about how much they cost. It’s about the sentiment, not the price. And besides, those weren’t the only gifts you’ve given me. You might not realise this but you’ve mademe laugh more today than I have done for some time. Plus, you’ve made me see the light on a matter that has only been dark until now. Sometimes it takes someone new to come into your life to make you see what a prat you’ve been. Thank you for making me see I’m a prat.’
