“Whatever Nate, whatever...”
They slept in late, although Elise was woken up by a call from Mark about his date (went well but no sparks flew so they were both going to continue looking), but still managed to get a couple of batches of muffins made before lunch. Nathan had demolished four before she reminded him about their dance class and he decided to balance it out with only a small helping of the Greek salad and fresh bread she made for lunch. She was still laughing at him grumbling about his tummy as they got on the train to head into the city for the dance class.
They arrived at the studio well ahead of time and sat in a small gallery overlooking the dance studio while they waited their turn. Elise couldn’t believe how nervous she felt watching all the dancers whirling below her. They seemed so graceful and in sync with each other that she didn’t think she’d ever be able to move like that. It was a daunting prospect.
When their turn finally came they headed down into the studio to meet their instructor. He was a short Hispanic man called Luis who more than made up for his lack of height with boundless enthusiasm. But after putting them through some stretches he worked them hard, drilling them again and again on their posture and their walk. It was so much to remember all at once and it wasn’t until they were into their second hour that Elise finally felt she was getting it. Trying to get the fluid slide while maintaining her posture and keeping her shoulders down at the same time as not falling over Nathan was difficult but she loved every moment of it.
“You both have a natural rhythm.” Luis congratulated them as they cooled down after the session. “I think dancing will suit you. Do you wish to continue with the lessons?”
Nathan looked to Elise to say it was her decision and she grinned broadly. “We’d love to. When can you fit us in?”
He walked out to the reception area with them and flicked through his diary. “I have three slots a week free at the moment for one on one tuition.” He perused through the pages. “They are all evenings unfortunately, but I have spaces available in my group classes. I would recommend you join at least one group class a week. This particular dance is a very social dance. It would do you good to see it danced in a social setting.”
Eventually they settled on solo classes on a Tuesday and Saturday with a group class on a Thursday evening. Nathan would have to come straight from the library on the weekdays but he didn’t mind that.
“Thank you so much!” Elise slid under his arm as they left the studio. “I enjoyed that so much! It’s the best present anyone has ever given me.”
“You’re welcome.” He hugged her and kissed the top of her head. “I’m surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did. Just don’t expect me to get a fake tan. Or wear spandex.”
“I won’t.” She couldn’t resist poking a little fun. “I think you’d look pretty sexy in a three piece suit though.”
“Oh really?” He drawled it out in an amused way. “Well, I tell you what...when we’re good at this dance I’ll wear the three piece suit out dancing one night if you wear a sexy little dress and flowers in your hair.”
“Like a proper senorita?” She laughed. “Okay, I can do that. You got yourself a deal.”
“Excellent.”
They had a quiet night in, doing some dance practice and eating muffins in between films. Elise had been intending to freeze half of them but she didn’t think she was going to get a chance the rate Nathan was inhaling them at. She wondered how on earth he stayed so slim.
On Sunday morning he made her breakfast in bed and then they went for a walk and a picnic in Hyde Park for a late lunch. Elise took her guitar and they sat in the sunshine eating their sandwiches while she strummed away and sang to him. It was a perfect afternoon crowned by an invitation to a barbecue at the Wimbledon house where their friends lived. They didn’t even bother to go home, packing the remains of their sunny afternoon into the rucksack and getting on the underground straight there.
“I’m so stuffed!” Elise laughed as they arrived back at the apartment that night. “I feel like all we’ve done all day is eat!”
“That’s because all we’ve done all day is eat.” He laughed.
It was only nine o’clock when they got back as they both had to work the next day and Nathan was in the shower when the doorbell rang. Surprised, Elise picked up the phone wondering if someone had the wrong house.
“It’s me, Taylor.” Even through the intercom the rich timbre of his voice was unmistakeable.
Damn it. “Hi Taylor, come on up.” She stuck her head through the bathroom door. “Nate my boss is here.” She called through the steam. “Don’t come wandering out naked or anything.”
“Sure thing.” He stuck a head full of soggy curls out the shower door and winked at her. He looked pretty damn fine all wet like that and Elise had to mentally give herself a shake before she threw caution to the wind and climbed in with him.
A knock on the door pulled her out of her daydream and she went to open it.
“Hi.” She grinned at Taylor as she opened the door. “I wasn’t expecting you this evening.”
“Hi to you too.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “I happened to be passing on my way home from an event and thought I’d stop in and see how you were settling in since it wasn’t too late.”
“I thought that was a rather spiffy suit.” She grinned as she stepped back to look his full length. It was a beautiful suit tailored closely to show off the finest parts of his physique. There were a lot of spectacularly fine parts of his physique. “Would you like a coffee?”
“That would be lovely.”
They were in the kitchen discussing the blog when Nathan appeared, his curls still wet but dressed casually in jeans and a sweater. Taylor obviously hadn’t realised he was in the apartment and didn’t look happy to see him there.
“Taylor this is Nathan. Nathan this is Taylor, my boss.” Elise introduced, wincing inwardly as they clearly took a moment to size each other up.
“Nice to meet you.” Nathan stuck his hand out and Taylor shook it. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“I wish I could say the same.” Taylor’s tone was intended to be charming but it came across as slightly cutting. “Are you a friend of Elise’s?”
Nathan slid a possessive arm around her. “I’m her boyfriend, yes.”
“How wonderful.” Taylor switched his gaze to Elise. “I had no idea you’d met someone.”
“We haven’t spoken much since I came down to London.” She pointed out. “I met Nathan when I moved here.”
“I see.” His scrutiny was making her uncomfortable. “I actually came to ask you a favour. There’s a charity ball next Friday night that’s being hosted by the magazine. As our newest and brightest star I was hoping you would attend with me. There are several members of the editorial team that would like to meet you.”
“I’d love to but I didn’t pack anything suitable for wearing at a ball.” Elise demurred, realising that the minute anyone said ‘date’ this was all going to go pear-shaped.
“I didn’t think you would have so I spoke with the fashion department before I left work on Friday evening. They’re expecting you to stop by at the offices during the day on Friday and will outfit you with something suitable.”
There was no way to refuse without coming across as churlish so she did the only graceful thing she could and accepted. She wanted to smack the brief smile of triumph he flashed at Nathan off his face but settled for visibly sliding her hand under Nathan’s top instead to caress the tense muscles of his back. Taylor’s jaw twitched and he swallowed the last of his coffee.
“Well it was lovely to meet you Nathan and good to see you Elise.” He straightened up. “It’s getting late so I’ll leave you to it.”
“Nice to meet you too.” Nathan poured on so much charm it almost drowned out the sarcasm. Almost. Elise swatted him when Taylor turned round with a look that told him to be nice and followed Taylor to the door.
“Thanks for stopping by. I
t’s been good to see you.” She told him honestly. “Sorry I didn’t reply to your last email – I’ve been out most of the last couple of days.”
“That’s okay. How is your wrist?” She held it up for him to see.
“All better now.”
“Good.” He gave her a lingering kiss on the cheek and then left in a flurry of expensive cologne and thousand pound suit.
“That man is so smooth I’m surprised his clothes don’t just slide off him.” Nathan declared grumpily and Elise burst out laughing.
“He’s also split personality I think. When I first got down here he was so unbelievably rude I didn’t know what to make of it and now suddenly he’s Mr Nice Guy. Don’t you worry, he’ll go back to being rude in no time. I’m sure of it.”
“I’m not.” Nathan sighed. “There’s nothing like a challenge to get a man’s sex drive raging. Now that he knows you have a man he’ll want you even more.”
“He doesn’t want me.” Elise locked the door and headed for the bathroom. “He told me when we were in Scotland that he thinks of me just as a friend, that he doesn’t find me attractive.”
“He was lying.” Nathan followed her and watched appreciatively as she stripped off to climb in the shower. “He wants you.”
“He doesn’t. But even if he did it’s not going to happen.” She waited for the water to warm up. “Mostly because I’m with you but even if I wasn’t I wouldn’t go there. I don’t have relationships with people I work with, period. It doesn’t work.”
He sat on the edge of the bath while she wet her hair and soaped up. “Do you think he’s Mr X?” He asked and Elise laughed.
“Taylor? No. He hasn’t got a romantic bone in his body. I’m pretty sure he’d never listen to Ronan Keating either.”
“He might not be romantic but he certainly knows how to be charming.” Nathan pointed out sourly. “I think he’d do anything if he thought it would impress you.”
“Well I’m not impressed.” Elise rinsed out her hair and started again.
“You’ll be careful on Friday won’t you?” He asked after a short silence and Elise turned to look at him.
“You have nothing to be worried about.” She told him quietly. “I told you I love you and I meant it. You need to trust me on this.”
“I do.” He was clearly struggling for words. “It’s just...he has so much more than me.”
“More what?” She stared at him. “More money? Bigger houses? You think that makes a difference to me?”
“No that’s not what I meant.” He looked upset as he tried to put it into words. “If he does like you maybe it’s wrong of me to stand in the way. He could give you a better life than I ever could.”
Stunned, Elise just gaped at him. “I can’t believe you just said that.”
“I don’t mean it really, it’s just a thought that’s crossed my mind.” He rubbed his hands through his hair. “I’m trying to explain why I trust you but I’m still worried about Friday.”
She didn’t like it but she could see where he was coming from. “You have nothing to worry about.” She reiterated. “I don’t want Taylor. I don’t care how much money he comes with or how many houses. I don’t want his accounts and I sure as hell don’t want his disposable lifestyle. I’m a simple girl with simple likes and right now I’m liking me some sexy geek. Get your ass in this shower right now and help me scrub my back.”
He smiled. “I love it when you talk dirty...”
Chapter 8
On Monday morning Elise sat at her computer and decided to write Mr X an email. His comments the week before had been on her mind all weekend and she still couldn’t get that song out of her head.
To: Mr X ([email protected])
From: Elise Waterford ([email protected])
X,
I’m going to come right out and say it – I think you’re coming on a little strong here. You won’t tell me who you are but you’re quite happy to post online to hundreds of followers that you love me? And really? “Love”? Don’t you think that’s a little extreme? Also, I’m not perfect. No-one is. You need to take me down from whatever pedestal you’ve put me on and examine this situation objectively. You’ll see that you’re being entirely unreasonable.
Elise
Having said her piece, she closed down her inbox with a righteous clack of the mouse button and set to work on her next man.
I confess to being a little confused by this week’s project. His name is Jim and, from first reading, his profile is actually all right. He’s a 23 year old primary school music teacher who loves to cook and also has an interest in films. If I was trawling through a dating site and saw his profile I’d consider contacting him, especially since his picture is actually quite nice. He’s blond with those almost elfin looks that Lord of the Rings made fashionable all those years ago. Come on ladies, you know who I’m talking about...you telling me you didn’t have dreams about being rescued by a dashing dude in green who could pin you to a tree from a hundred paces with his bow and arrows so he could have his wicked way with you? No? Just me then...ahem.
Anyway, moving swiftly on, I can’t understand why he hasn’t been successful. Trawling through his file I came across a comment he had made that he has plenty of contacts but he speaks to girls once and then he never hears from them again. He seems just as bemused by this as I am. He’s clearly a literate man. He has a teaching qualification and unless he got someone else to write the answers to his questionnaire he’s obviously articulate. The only thing I can think is that he is so obnoxious to talk to that women won’t give him a second chance.
This scares me.
It scares me because my gift is to bring out the best in people, show them the things in their life that they have cause to be thankful and joyful for. I like to give people a little faith in themselves. I can’t change something fundamental about a person. It’s like baking a perfectly balanced cake. If you have a plain sponge you can enhance the vanilla a little to make it richer and sweeter than it was but if it’s a chocolate cake then adding vanilla will do nothing because it’s drowned out by the cocoa. If this man is truly obnoxious then finding the best things about him and enhancing them will be for nothing because women will still not want him.
I know the only way to find out is to meet him but I’m afraid that this week will be a challenge of an entirely different nature to the last two.
Her cursor hovered over the inbox icon. Something told her there would be an email back from Mr X but she really needed to send the blog post in. Cursing softly she opened it up and sent the blog before opening the email that had arrived, as expected.
To: Elise Waterford ([email protected])
From: Mr X ([email protected])
Elise,
I can’t decide if you’re mad at me for saying I love you or mad because, like me, you’ve probably been singing that damn song all weekend, which means I’ve been on your mind and that’s bound to drive you up the wall when you don’t know who I am. I wish I felt guilty about that but actually I’m kind of amused. I’ve been thinking about you too. Believe me, I’ve looked at the situation objectively. That’s precisely why I can’t tell you who I am. I desperately don’t want to lose your friendship. You are a truly remarkable (and perfect!) woman. *Admires pedestal and polishes a speck of dust from the surface*
Ever yours,
X
She couldn’t help herself from smiling at his cheek and ended up clicking reply.
To: Mr X ([email protected])
From: Elise Waterford ([email protected])
X,
I’m just mad at you full stop.
Elise
The reply was almost instantaneous.
To: Elise Waterford ([email protected])
From: Mr X ([email protected])
Elise,
Anger, love...they’re both just facets of passion. Score one to me?
Ever yours,
/>
X
She hated to admit it but playful X was actually fun to correspond with and her fingers hovered over the keys as she wondered whether to reply or not. “Fuck it.” She murmured softly and decided to play along.
To: Mr X ([email protected])
From: Elise Waterford ([email protected])
X,
If we’re keeping score I’ve knocked you out of the ball park. In your own words I am ‘perfect’, ‘precious’, ‘extraordinary’, ‘unique’, ‘special’ and ‘interesting’. You on the other hand are, in your own words, too afraid to tell me who you are and afraid of your own mortality. Current tally is Elise 6: X minus 2.
Elise
To: Elise Waterford ([email protected])
From: Mr X ([email protected])
Elise,
I think being a smartypants deducts at least one point from your score.
Ever yours,
X
To: Mr X ([email protected])
From: Elise Waterford ([email protected])
X,
I disagree. It merely proves me right when I say I’m not perfect. Elise 7: X minus 2. Now I have work to do. Don’t you have something more productive to do with your day? Oh yes, that’s right, I don’t know what you do with your day because you won’t tell me. *sarcasm abounds*. Go do something productive with your day.
Elise
To: Elise Waterford ([email protected])
From: Mr X ([email protected])
Elise,
Yes ma’am! *Sings* I hope you dance...
Ever yours,
X
To: Mr X ([email protected])
Summer Loving Page 11
