The evening was a whirlwind of trying on different suits and dresses. Before long she was confused. What was she going to wear tomorrow? She took Amy up on her offer, and sent her a text: "Yes please call by".
Amy turned up and took charge, "Not that red dress, far too much for a first date. That navy trouser suit, too dull, too serious. Now, that burgundy dress, that's a definite possibility, go try that on. No, too formal. How about this pale blue suit?
Rachel looked fabulous in pale blue and with her new high heels she looked more like a model than an accountant. In fact, with her newly styled long black hair she looked far too glamorous to work in an office. She smiled at Amy, "You're so right, Amy, this is just perfect. Thank you."
* * *
Rachel timed it to perfection and clicked across the paving stones to arrive at Piccadilly Circus just after 7. Steven was standing there by the monument, looking splendid in a tailored navy suit. He looked even more handsome than she remembered, it was the tan, it made him look even more kissable. She felt her heart beat faster, her hands felt moist and she felt giddy with excitement.
Steven's eyes lit up when he turned to hear Rachel's voice, "Good evening Mr.Miami!"
Steven stepped forward and kissed Rachel on the cheek. "And a very good evening to you, Rachel, great to see you again, and nice to see you in a more dramatic setting. You look great. I see you got your hair done. It suits you."
Rachel blushed and swept a hand through her long black hair. "Oh, thank you, I scrub up better than you thought in that case."
"You certainly do, you look fabulous, just perfect. I have a surprise for you this evening and you are dressed just right for the occasion. Take my arm if you please and follow me." Steven held his arm out.
Rachel did as she was told and proudly sauntered down Regent Street wondering where Steven was taking her. They were outside the Cafe Royal when Steven stopped, turned her around and led her to the door. He held the door open, gently touched the small of her back and followed her in. His hand felt reassuring and she wondered what it would feel like to be in his arms.
They sat down at the best table in the cafe with a view of the hustle and bustle of the world outside. Steven relaxed into his chair and smiled at Rachel, "Lovely to see you again, Rachel. Who would have thought, two people from platform 1 meeting for tea and cake?That older couple would love to see this, ha ha."
Rachel looked over at the big smile on Steven's face and laughed. "Yes, I can't wait to fill them in tomorrow. By the way, I could murder a good cup of tea, shall we call a waiter over?"
"No need to, Rachel, I already ordered when I booked the table."
As if on cue, the waiter arrived at their table, Rachel's eyes nearly popped out of her head as he placed a piece of London's finest chocolate cake in front of her with a silver tea pot of Earl Grey. Steven, was enjoying every minute of it as he watched her reaction and looked forward to his apple tart with Darjeeling tea.
"This tastes amazing. You've simply got to try it, here have a piece." Rachel used a spare fork to pass some of the magnificent chocolate cake to Steven.
Steven savored the cake. "Wow, that is good. But wait until you try this," he passed Rachel his fork laden with delicious apple tart.
Rachel swallowed the mouth watering tart. "Simply perfect, I've never tasted anything like that. Thank you so much for taking me here, this is so much fun."
"You're very welcome. We'll have to do it again soon," Steven smiled, "When I'm back here again that is, unfortunately I have to tie up a few ends here and go right back to Miami for another two weeks." He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and sighed, "I'm sorry, Rachel, please don't be too angry with me."
Rachel felt her stomach somersault and her heart miss a beat, "I'm sorry to hear that. You are coming back though aren't you?"
"Yes I am, Rachel, I promise. I'll miss you while I'm gone and I most definitely will be back, you can count on that."
"Good, I can handle two weeks, somehow," Rachel gritted her teeth.
* * *
Rachel sat back in her office chair and sighed. "Amy, this is killing me. How on Earth do I get myself into these situations? From nothing to falling for a man who commutes to Miami. I'm a certified glutton for punishment no doubt about that anymore."
"Don't worry. He'll be back tomorrow and everything will work out just fine. There's a reason he's been texting you everyday since he left. And it's not to get London weather updates, eh?" Amy joked.
"Actually he's not flying back tomorrow, he changed his plans. He's arriving this afternoon. He said he couldn't bear another day waiting to see me. And he invited me to dinner tonight. He's picking me up at 8."
"There you go, Rachel. Nothing to worry about. See!"
Rachel frowned. "But I am worried. I can't stop thinking about him, I've lost my appetite and I've had trouble sleeping since I met him. I'm a total wreck. And this London-Miami back and forth thing just makes it too much. I don't know how much more I can take."
"He's clearly crazy about you too. I have a sneaking suspicion this will all work out just fine. Trust me on this one, Rachel. You'll see." Amy's eyes wandered across the office, "Be back in one minute, hold that thought."
Amy returned with a beautiful bouquet of red roses, handing them to Rachel she smiled, "See, I told you, it'll all be okay."
Rachel read the attached card, "Dear Rachel, see you at 8. I can't wait. Lots to tell you. Steven." She felt light headed and a warm glow rushed from her heart to her cheeks, maybe Amy was right all along.
"One question, Amy, before I get back to these spreadsheets. It's a bit of a coincidence that Steven guessed my favorite flowers and color don't you think?" She quizzed her guilty looking P.A.
"Don't look at me. I wouldn't know anything about that." Amy laughed and skipped away down the corridor.
* * *
At 8 on the dot Rachel heard the hum of a car pulling up outside her house. By the time the doorbell rang she was breathless and trying hard but failing to calm herself down.
She opened the door and there he was. Looking tanned and so handsome, Steven looked splendid in a tailored dark suit, a pale blue silk shirt and an old school tie. His teeth gleamed as he spoke, "Evening Rachel, you look beautiful." Steven couldn't stop smiling, she looked simply stunning in an off the shoulder baby blue dress that accentuated her perfect figure.
"Good evening to you, Steven. Welcome back to sunny England. Glad you could make it," Rachel joked nervously, hoping she wasn't been too sarcastic.
"Thank you, Rachel. It's lovely here this time of year. An English rose is always most splendid at this time."
"Oh thank you so much for the flowers, Steven. I love them. That was very thoughtful of you. It made the wait until tonight a little more bearable."
Steven looked Rachel in the eye and winked. "You're very welcome. I had a spy help me out when I was choosing what to send you. Anyway, lets go and eat."
"I did suspect you had insider knowledge," Rachel laughed as Steven led her to the car with his hand firmly placed on her lower back.
Steven smiled as he opened the rear door of the car. Rachel took her seat, Steven shut her door, walked around and took a seat next to her in the back. It was then she noticed he had a driver. The engined purred to life and the shiny black Rolls Royce crunched it's way down the gravel drive way.
Minutes later, Rachel couldn't believe her eyes when the car pulled up outside Ferty's Mayfair. It was only the most exclusive restaurant in London. If you were lucky enough to get on the waiting list and had the patience to wait 8 months you'd then have the honor of paying on your gold card more for a meal than most well to do people spent on their monthly mortgage payment.
Steven opened her door and held Rachel's hand as she stepped out. With his hand gently but firmly on her shoulder he led her into the magnificent 18th century building. After they were seated, Steven leaned forward and whispered, "Rachel, I've been dreaming about this since we had tea. You're going to love
this place. The food is of the Gods. You'll see."
Rachel felt so excited she couldn't imagine eating a single bite. She looked into Steven's blue eyes, listened to his wonderful Scottish accent and the world around them just disappeared. For tonight, even if only for tonight, she didn't need a thing. Everything was just perfect. "Steven, maybe I shouldn't say this, maybe it's too soon but I'm going to break all the laws of dating and say it anyway. I've really missed you these last two weeks. I've been pathetic to be perfectly honest. I hope you'll stay more than a few days before disappearing to Miami again. I don't know if my heart can take anymore." Rachel hesitated and distracted herself with a sip of water, too nervous to say any more.
Steven reached forward and held both of her hands, "Rachel I haven't stopped thinking about you. At first I thought it was just jet lag but after a few days that light headed feeling wouldn't go away. I'm crazy about you," he squeezed her hands. "I've fallen for you in a big way, there's no other way to put this, I'm in love with you." Steven took a deep breath and looked deep into Rachel's eyes, "And I've got some good news for you. They wanted me to take over the project and stay in Miami and I was on the point of doing so before we met for tea. After we met I phoned the office and told them I was flying back for two weeks to hire a new project manager because I was needed in London. I neglected to tell them I was needed in London but strictly outside the office," Steven grinned like a little boy who had got everything he wanted for his birthday.
Rachel couldn't believe what she was hearing, this gorgeous man was crazy about her. She felt like crying she was so happy and so relieved. "I'm in love with you too, Steven," she gasped.
Steven moved closer, holding her hands with greater urgency, "Come here, Rachel," he planted his lips on her waiting lips and it was perfect. He moved a hand up to touch her soft cheek and he marveled at the sparkle in her eyes. She was stunning, she was all he'd ever dreamed of, and more.
Rachel for once was speechless. She looked into Steven's eyes and felt his warm hand on her cheek. They could have been anywhere, they could be the last people left in the world, everything was just right.
"Rachel, you look stunning tonight. Even more glamorous than the last time we met. I don't know how much more of this I can take."
"You're doing just fine, Steven. And you look most fetching in that suit. Quite manly I must say. I imagined what you looked like every night before I went to sleep, and somehow, you look even better. I'm a very lucky girl."
"And I'm the luckiest man in town. I feel different when I'm with you, I feel like anything is possible, I feel like the world has become a happier place. I'm so happy to be back, back with you. I couldn't stop thinking about you when I was away, it was agony, I replayed the conversations we had and most of all I replayed that moment when we bumped into each other at the train station. Thank God you dropped your briefcase that day. I admired you from the first moment I saw you, and each morning, I kept looking for you, hoping to see you, hoping you'd notice me. I never approached you because I assumed you'd never be single. You're just too attractive." Steven spoke in excited bursts and squeezed her hands again.
"Oh yes, I'd noticed you too. I can assure you," Rachel grinned, "May I have another kiss before we order, please?" She teased.
"You may, whatever you wish is my command," Steven gently touched Rachel's neck and kissed her softly, "You're gorgeous Rachel", he whispered in her ear, "I love you, Rachel."
About the Author
Norah C. Peters has always loved telling stories that make people smile and she especially enjoys writing stories that lift the human spirit and get us in touch again with what really matters in life: love and friendship. When she's not writing she can usually be found losing track of time in the garden with a hot cup of tea close to hand.
Strangers in Love Page 2
