‘Well now you know the truth.’ He took the nuts gently from me and placed them on the table before taking my hands in his. He stroked his thumb over mine, and I felt the butterflies spring back to life.
‘Maybe I’ve been looking for reasons to say no, instead of reasons to say yes,’ I said, suddenly shy.
Leo kissed both my hands, then held them to his heart. ‘There are so many reasons to say yes,’ he said. ‘It’s always been a yes for me.’
Thirty-seven
Marylebone high street was buzzing as our black cab crawled along in the heat. It was packed with people wandering around in the sunshine, mooching in and out of the shops, and the pubs and restaurants were teeming with hungry tourists and after-work drinkers. This part of London held a special place in my heart and always felt exciting. Full of good vibes, it was the closest thing to a physical act of apology I could think to do. I looked over at Leo and couldn’t believe we were here together, out and about in London on a real date. Finally.
‘Just here please,’ I said, and the cabbie lurched to a stop outside the best restaurant in London – Chez Margot.
‘Can you round it up to twenty?’ Leo said, with his card already out.
‘I’m getting this,’ I said, handing the driver the cash. ‘I’m still apologising, remember.’
We climbed out of the cab and I pointed towards the restaurant. ‘This is my favourite place to eat,’ I explained,taking his hand. ‘And by me bringing you here you are now privy to classified information that only the HIIT girls know.’
‘Got it,’ he said, zipping his lips. ‘I don’t want to upset the hit-girls. I assume they’re like hitwomen but younger. Snipers?’
‘Close. They’re my exercise group. Although we don’t really exercise anymore. We met at HIIT classes a while ago and one of the girls, Abi, brought me here and I’ve been coming ever since. She’s in LA now, but her other half is Italian and his family supply some of the wine.’
‘Sounds complicated. Can you draw me a diagram?’
I rolled my eyes and pulled him along. ‘If you really need one.’
‘We’ll order a bottle or two,’ Leo said. ‘To support your friend’s other half’s family.’
‘I suppose we should really,’ I agreed, beaming like an idiot.
I pushed open the door and kept my fingers crossed Margot would have a table. The restaurant was vibrant and busy, despite it being a Monday, and the open windows welcomed in a warm breeze, as people enjoyed their steak onglet and charcuterie boards with large glasses of wine.
‘Ahhh,bonjour, Katarine, ca va?’ Margot came bustling over with a big smile and a triple kiss. ‘It ’as been a while! And who ’ave we got ’ere? Welcome to you both.’
‘Margot! I’m very well,ca va bien! This is Leo, a friend… kind of thing. Can you squeeze us in?’ I looked around hopefully, but there weren’t any empty tables. No such luck.
‘But, of course! A pleasure to meet you, Leo,’ Margot said, double kissing him warmly. ‘A cat and a lion, together, eh? How is that working out?’
‘I’m more of a kitten, Margot, we both know that.’
‘C’est vrai. You are that – a cute little kitty cat.’
‘I hear this place is London’s best-kept secret,’ Leo said. ‘Not that you’d know.’
Margot tinkled with laughter. ‘Zut!I wish it ’ad been better kept! Where ’ave all these people come from?’
‘Your food is too good, Margot,’ I said, my stomach rumbling. ‘We can just sit at the bar if that’s OK?’
‘Absolutement.For a few minutes at the bar but I will find you a space, you know that – ’ave an aperitif on me while I pressure someone to leave.’
I laughed as we followed her over to the ornate, mirrored bar, and hopped up onto the stools. The shelves were packed with every spirit you could imagine, but I only ever went with Margot’s wine recommendation. She automatically poured me out a glass of white, while smiling at us both. ‘Is it wine for you too, Leo, or can I get you something else?’
‘Yes, please. I’ll go with the flow.’
‘We like that in a man, don’t we, Kat?’
I nodded. ‘We sure do. But it’s a sound decision. Margot has the best wine selection in London. What are we drinking tonight?’
‘Ahhh, I ’ad a fresh delivery from Tuscany just this week – from Abi actually – and this one is from there.’ She pushed two straw-coloured white wines in our direction. ‘It is like a honey.Salut.Please enjoy and I will get you a table as soon as I can.’
