There were plenty of waiters on the night and she didn’t wait long, before one came holding up a silver tray with drinks. At first she didn’t pay attention, but he was very handsome, with hazel eyes, blonde hair and a beaming smile, that gave her butterflies.
“Hi Madam, what would you be drinking tonight?” He asked in a friendly manner, his voice sounded mature.
“Can I have some red wine, I would prefer that over champagne?” she asked smilingly. Secretly, she wanted him to come back, she didn’t care about the drink, she just wanted him to stay.
“Certainly Madam at your service,” he winked at her.
Jackie couldn’t believe her luck, she was hoping he liked her and that famous French perfume she was wearing, would mesmerize him. It was obvious to her tonight, that she had the entire opposite sex at her feet. She didn’t want to boast, but she had caught numerous men gawking at her, even the attached, when their wives weren’t looking. She didn’t mind the attention, but her eyes were fixated on her sexy waiter with the naked torso and black bow tie.
“Please call me Jackie,” she teased him, with a grateful smile and he offered her a glass of red.
“Nice to meet you Jackie, I’m David,” he said with a shy smile and he laughed.
She blushed furiously as she looked at him, terrifically tanned, he looked like a surfer by hobby and a waiter by night. She was oblivious to the well dressed people around her and she couldn’t care less, about any fashion police present. She just wanted to gaze at that waiter she fancied, the only problem was did he fancy her or was he just being nice? Jackie decided to make the first move and cut to the chase, she needed to know if he was single. She knew younger men, were often shy of older women and if you were interested, you shouldn’t let them get away.
David walked off, distracted by someone else, a manager dressed in a black suit, having a polite word to him. They didn’t chat for long, before he put the tray away and headed towards her, his face beaming. Jackie’s eyes had followed his every move and when he noticed her, she pretended she wasn’t looking.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting Jackie, he said apologetically, “but my boss said I can go home, they don’t need me tonight.”
Hearing David say her name, was music to her ears, there was something special about someone, whom you liked, when they said your name.
“Wow how lucky are you David,” her heart fluttered a little. “You get to have the night off, you single and ready to mingle?” She couldn’t help but blurt out, holding the glass of red in her hand smiling.
“You bet!” He nodded, losing all his modesty in an instant. “Did you just come out of the oven, boy you’re hot?” His smile revealing, perfectly straight teeth, as he said it. He was very cute, confident and carefree.
She blushed furiously as she looked at him, thrown by his interest, then she spilled a tiny bit of wine on her lips, she couldn’t believe her ears, did he just say she is hot? The night couldn’t get any better and she was hoping David wasn’t going anywhere.
‘Well, thank you sweetie, you aren’t bad yourself,” she said in a whisper.
“So you have the rest of the night off, what have you got planned?” She asked brightly.
“Well, I was planning to go straight home and just relax in my apartment,” he rubbed his chin in quiet deliberation. “But now that I met you, I am not so sure,” his sensual gaze appraising her.
Jackie smiled up at him, her heart skipping a beat and she felt an odd exhilarating shiver run through her, she was immensely attracted to him.
“So what’s a good looking man like you doing single?”
He laughed off her remark, “you know I should ask you the same then, what’s a gorgeous chick like you going dateless, on a night like this?”
He had a point, he was definitely no fool she thought.
“Well some relationships end and that’s why I am single,” she said, sounding both breathless and hopeful.
“Same here, I am single for the same reason.”
Jackie was definitely interested in him, but she knew she had a magazine to publish, so what was she doing diverting all her attention to a sexy guy she had just met? She should be mingling with the other guests and making a mental note in her head on best and worst dressed!
She turned to him politely, realising she had better control herself, as this guy looked like he would bed her tonight, if she gave him the all clear. He was one hot guy, no one should be this good looking, it was way too distracting for a professional woman like herself.
“Well I think you look tired,” she said convincingly. “How about I give you my number and we can catch up for a coffee date, what do you say?”
“You are trying to get rid of me, right?” He looked mildly interested, but above all polite.
“No way, I really like you, but I have to pay attention tonight, I have to review the whole event in the next issue of Glamour.”
“Well gorgeous, I’ll let you take care of business tonight and I shall take care of you soon,” he said with a trace of humour in his smile.
Jackie gave him her number and he added her on his mobile phone. She honestly wished he could stay, but he was far too distracting and she had to put her job first, before her love life. She didn’t want to be too easy either, he seemed like the type of man that could get any women in his pants and she wanted to make him work for her affections. She liked him enough to want to keep him for the long haul and not give him the impression, that she just wanted to sleep with him. She didn’t want to go down that road, so many men were so immature and only thought about one thing and she was hoping, he wasn’t just interested in sex.
“Well I better go to my seat, it’s reserved and the fashion show is going to start soon.”
“Cool, I’ll give you a call tomorrow, nice to have met you,” he winked.
Jackie returned a huge grin and waved goodbye at him. That was it! He disappeared and although she would have loved to chat with him, the show was about to start.
The girls from Glitzy modelling agency were all rake thin, with no ass or boobs, just hangers wearing the latest fashion, from international and local designers. It seemed the agents were very selective and were hiring much younger models, who could easily fit into a size zero.
Jackie had heard through another source, that modelling agencies, were selecting the much younger, skinnier models, over the older bustier ones.
Jackie didn’t like that about the industry, but fashion designers were deliberately doing this, because it was about cutting down costs and skinnier models used less material. It was disgraceful, that there were so many designers guilty of hiring coat hangers. The models on the catwalk looked gaunt and under fed, they didn’t even look real, they resembled mannequins coming to life.
However Jackie, always made sure the models featured in Glamour, looked well-fed with curves, they were healthy and attractive, that’s why she believed the publication, had been a success. In reality, women with healthy frames would be buying the magazine and wearing the clothing, not the underweight.
On the catwalk, there was plenty of monochrome, there was a high contrast of black and white, which of late, had long held the fashion spotlight. The models all wore stacked heels, which made them look a lot taller, than they actually were. There were checkerboard designs, stripes and offbeat prints and the fit was relaxed or tailored. The fine details were worn in the accessories, every piece lifted every look. Jackie really loved the gold-plated pewter and glass necklaces. Costume jewellery had been all the rage for a while, simply because real gold wasn’t as showy, nor did it have the bolder, striking effect in magazines or fashion shows. Jewellery was all about colour and vibrancy and the more unusual the more favourable. Knuckle clusters replaced ordinary rings and vibrant colours gave winter outfits personality. The classic LBD was a huge highlight on the night, the models wore snakeskin heels with a matching clutch. It was all about mixing up the dress with diverse accessories. It was effortless to execute a
nd a standout for its versatility. Jackie noticed the makeup was not as heavy as she anticipated, it looked natural, but the lipstick had made a comeback for winter. Bright pink and coral was a nice change, from the signature red every season. Jackie was impressed with the latest fashion on the catwalk, there was a mixed field of luxe labels and new starters. There was plenty to report back on, when she would resume work on Monday and she knew she had lots of work ahead with the rest of her staff. As the readers, were sharp-shooting style bloggers for Glamour.
The finale was quite unforseen and surprising, as there was a spring shoe drobe update, that was bold and fearless. Every piece of shoe, was embellished with to die for studs, in gold, silver and black. Studs were huge this season and they were going to be even bigger for spring. The models had worn lush prints in big berry shades and saturated pinks for the spring collection. The sexy, skinnier black leggings, were a major hit. Teal and splashy turquoise were also making a huge comeback worn with studded leather and silver jewels. And there was an explosion of colour on the catwalk, with candy coloured handbags, that popped.
All in all the night had proven a success, despite the gaunt look of the models, the fashion was the highlight of the night. From high end to high street fashion ready, it was all about an accessory reboot and a ready, set embellish evening, that maxed up the glam factor.
It had been a long day and night for Jackie, who had both experienced a touch of romance with a waiter, that could possibly soon be her boyfriend. And a night of never ending fashion, that was so overwhelming, it had been mind boggling.
As midnight approached she had been as gregarious, as she could ever be on the night making small talk, with as many people in the industry, as she had time for and thanking her staff and employer, for a wonderful night.
She actually did feel a tad bit like Cinderella, almost losing her shoe, as she stepped outside in the freezing cold, to walk to her car. However the question, that had remained unanswered in her head, did she finally meet her Prince?
Chapter Five
The following day when she got out of bed, her phone rang, it was a text message from David, she smiled as she read it. “Hey Jackie, so glad we met, you free tonight, I would love to see you?”
“Me too,” she replied her eyes sparkling. “How does seven thirty sound at Splash?”
“Awesome,’’ David text back, “see you then.”
Splash was a popular restaurant in the outer suburbs of West Sydney, it was always busy and bookings were essential. There was light entertainment and the atmosphere was full of buzz. Jackie had been to dinner there, several times with her sister and had often had drinks with friends from work. She had been looking forward to going out on a date with a guy that she fancied. She knew it was hard to find a good looking, single guy who would be interested in dating. This generation of men were often into sports, going out drinking with their mates and booty calls, most lacked a vision for the future.
It wasn’t about meeting the person you wanted to be with for the rest of your life and creating some kind of future with them. Men didn’t think that way anymore, it was a male syndrome, that Jackie had read about recently. Most of them didn’t even picture a steady girlfriend in their minds, they just preferred to have sex and dating was something, that made them cringe. The gentlemen who were born in the early sixties and seventies were likely to date you. But if you preferred someone younger born in the eighties, you would have a tough time, trying to find someone to date. The majority of men had no class and many, had rejected the idea of courting a woman.
Jackie was impressed with David’s keen interest in her, considering he was much younger than her. She was planning the date in her head and what she would wear and was getting butterflies thinking about it. She was attracted to David and she had hoped to impress him on the first date. She hadn’t dated a man for over a year and she was really excited to be dating again. He was twenty-six and she was thirty-eight, but she had hoped age wouldn’t be a barrier in their relationship.
She had arrived ten minutes earlier at the restaurant and decided to go straight to the rest room to tidy up her hair, as the ferocious wind outside, had knocked it to one side of her face. That was her worst nightmare, she was lucky it hadn’t rained, which often happens, when she straightens her hair. The gush of wind tonight, didn’t seem to do her any favours, she tried sweeping it with a hairbrush back in place and re-applied a bright pink lipstick, that had faded from her lips. She was wearing a pair of white skinny pants, with a transparent cream blouse, it was off the shoulders with a baroque pattern and she looked classy and sexy. When she made it down to her table, David had just arrived, as he turned and smiled at her. Jackie’s gaze was fixated on the sexy young man, who was wearing black pants, a plain white t-shirt and a tailored jacket. He was to die for as she looked at him, almost slipping, on a pair of high stillettos. She regained her composure and her step and walked towards David. And in an almost embarrassing tone in her voice, she leaned over and kissed him, “good timing.”
David grinned as he pulled out a seat in front of their table and she sat down, she was impressed by his kindness and good manners.
“Indeed good timing,” he said in a deep, masculine voice, not that of a younger man’s.
The waitress walked up to their table promptly, as she passed on the menus to each of them. “Can I get you something to drink, before you order your mains?”
Jackie looked at David and his eyes were fixated on her and he didn’t bother to look at the menu,
“I’ll have a glass of Shiraz.”
Jackie felt almost seduced solely by his voice, “make that two,” she added.
When the waitress left, there was a pleasurable silence between them and David stroked his chin thoughtfully, while Jackie gazed at his hazel eyes for a long moment.
“I love your sexy body.” He winked at her.
Jackie couldn’t help hiding behind the menu, in between intervals of conversation, she wasn’t shy, but she could easily get nervous, if she was in the company of the opposite sex and fancied them.
“Really is my body, what you like most?”
“Absolutely I do, I love it.” He reassured her.
Jackie took a sip of red wine, staining the glass with her pink lipstick, “thankyou sweetie,” she smiled ecstatically up at him.
The waitress came back, slightly interrupting the tender moment between them.
“Are you ready to order now?” She said in a hurried voice.
Jackie hadn’t studied the whole menu, she had been too busy fixated on David, “I’ll just have the Chef’s special thanks.”
“Make that two please,” broke in David, with a twinkle in his eye.
The waitress, took the menus away then left.
David gazed at Jackie, like a hungry puppy ready to devour her. “You are so hot,” he said out aloud.
“I’m okay,” she said timidly, the corners of her mouth lifting up into a smile.
“No you are and I can’t believe a hot woman like you, isn’t attached?”
“Well, I am now,” she said with cheek in her voice.
“Too right you are and I am one lucky boy,” he said mischievously, grabbing her hand almost on impulse and stroking it with his.
David moved a fraction closer and for a split second, Jackie thought he was going to lean over and kiss her, but he leaned back in place again as the waitress cut in, “Serving roast lamb with baked mash and diane sauce, enjoy!”
David’s face dropped looking slightly embarrassed, that the waitress had stolen his moment of pleasure. Jackie was struggling to regain her composure, as she played with her food. David was very much a young boy in age, but his experience with women, seemed to be that of a much older man. He seemed charismatic, with a slightly wondering eye, but someone who seemed like fun and was by no means pensive.
“Hmm, this lamb is delicious, considering I haven’t had a proper meal in days, so excuse me if I stuff my face with food?”
Jackie laughed, “I’m glad you like the food, but why haven’t you had any dinner for days?”
Jackie forked a few pieces of roast lamb which she chewed slowly, showing far more interest in David than dinner, she wasn’t a big eater and nor a fast one. She liked to savour her food in her mouth and always preferred to go slow, enjoying every mouthful.
“Well I had a falling out with my mother, who usually has me over for dinner, I would rather not talk about it.”
“That’s okay, I understand, don’t worry about it,” Jackie said warmly. But she couldn’t help wonder, what the falling out had been about.
“All I am going to say is my mother has a new man in her life,” he looked deeply remorseful, as he said it, “and I don’t like him.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,’’ she reassured him, “we won’t talk about it, if you don’t want to?”
David was devouring down chunky pieces of food in his mouth and he looked as hungry as a bull. The falling out with his mother, must have been hard and Jackie didn’t want that conversation, to spoil their first date.
After dinner was over they went for a stroll to the Lakeside, David was holding her hand and they sat down on a park bench and he leaned in for a kiss. It was seductive and sweet and she enjoyed his lips on hers, they felt rugged and in charge.
Later they walked to an outdoor cafe nearby, all the time smiling.
Shallow Love Page 4
