frustratingly one-dimensional, but with Charlie he could sense hidden depths. He longed to be alone with her, away from other people, but knew that he had to be patient and let her take things at her own pace.
The waiter came over for their order and Felipe realised that food was the last thing on his mind. He got the impression that Charlie felt the same as she skipped ordering a starter and went for a light choice of miso-roasted black cod. Usually Felipe would have had a ribeye steak from the grill but now he went for salmon.
‘I noticed your tattoo on the beach this afternoon. Whose are the initials? Not your ex’s, I hope?’
‘No, thank God!’ Charlie turned in her chair and showed off her left shoulder where there was a small tattoo. ‘It’s my twin brother’s initials and mine. We both had them done for our eighteenth birthday. My mum went mad. She hates tattoos, thinks they’re dead common and that we’ll regret it. I haven’t so far.’
Felipe felt a tug of desire. All he could think of was how much he wanted to kiss the skin that she had revealed, but he managed to say, ‘You must be very close to him then.’
‘I am but I don’t see much of him as he’s in Manchester and I’m in London.’ She seemed reluctant to say any more, and Felipe didn’t want to push it.
The waiter approached their table and re-filled their champagne flutes.
‘So, have you upset any more waiters lately?’ Charlie asked.
‘I have been on my best behaviour and treated everyone with respect, whatever they do. Everyone deserves respect, Charlie, didn’t you know that?’ He repeated her words to him. She looked faintly embarrassed.
‘Sorry, I guess I’m extra-sensitive. I worked as a chambermaid in a hotel when I was a student and was treated like shit by so many of the guests.’
‘A chambermaid? What kind of uniform did you have? Let me guess – a short black dress? A frilly white apron? Stockings?’ Felipe teased her.
Charlie pouted. ‘That’s exactly the kind of comment I had to put up with from all the pervert men!’
‘But come on! I’m sure it cuts both ways. For instance, I bet you like a man in uniform? Say … a fireman?’
What woman didn’t?
‘Okay,’ Charlie conceded, ‘but I didn’t like the way the men felt they could say anything to me, and it wasn’t just about the uniform. They thought they were superior to me because of the job I was doing. But people shouldn’t be defined by what they do.’ She gave him a challenging stare and he was aware of the grit and determination within her.
‘I completely agree.’ He raised his glass, and clinked it against hers.
Their meal arrived and they continued their flirtatious banter as they both picked at their food – far more interested in each other than in dinner. She was feisty, opinionated and passionate; he liked that. Paloma only seemed to get fired up about Prada’s latest collection. Charlie made a refreshing change.
When the waiter cleared away their half-empty plates Felipe made a point of thanking him. Hell! He would have offered to clear the plates away himself and do the washing up for the entire restaurant if it helped win him Charlie. And just as he thought he was doing well on that score, he nearly blew it with his next suggestion. ‘We could have dessert in my suite?’
Charlie shook her head. ‘You never give up, do you?’
‘No, you will find that I am very persistent. And that I nearly always get my own way.’ But sensing he was in danger of not getting it this time, he added, ‘How about a walk on the beach?’
He felt as if he’d won first prize in a race when Charlie agreed.
It was a beautiful night with a full moon casting a shimmer of silver across the ocean. The air was fragrant with the scent of jasmine, and a slight breeze caused the palm trees to sway slightly and their huge leaves to rustle gently. Charlie stumbled slightly in her heels as she walked down the stone steps and Felipe reached out
The waiter came over for their order and Felipe realised that food was the last thing on his mind. He got the impression that Charlie felt the same as she skipped ordering a starter and went for a light choice of miso-roasted black cod. Usually Felipe would have had a ribeye steak from the grill but now he went for salmon.
‘I noticed your tattoo on the beach this afternoon. Whose are the initials? Not your ex’s, I hope?’
‘No, thank God!’ Charlie turned in her chair and showed off her left shoulder where there was a small tattoo. ‘It’s my twin brother’s initials and mine. We both had them done for our eighteenth birthday. My mum went mad. She hates tattoos, thinks they’re dead common and that we’ll regret it. I haven’t so far.’
Felipe felt a tug of desire. All he could think of was how much he wanted to kiss the skin that she had revealed, but he managed to say, ‘You must be very close to him then.’
‘I am but I don’t see much of him as he’s in Manchester and I’m in London.’ She seemed reluctant to say any more, and Felipe didn’t want to push it.
The waiter approached their table and re-filled their champagne flutes.
‘So, have you upset any more waiters lately?’ Charlie asked.
‘I have been on my best behaviour and treated everyone with respect, whatever they do. Everyone deserves respect, Charlie, didn’t you know that?’ He repeated her words to him. She looked faintly embarrassed.
‘Sorry, I guess I’m extra-sensitive. I worked as a chambermaid in a hotel when I was a student and was treated like shit by so many of the guests.’
‘A chambermaid? What kind of uniform did you have? Let me guess – a short black dress? A frilly white apron? Stockings?’ Felipe teased her.
Charlie pouted. ‘That’s exactly the kind of comment I had to put up with from all the pervert men!’
‘But come on! I’m sure it cuts both ways. For instance, I bet you like a man in uniform? Say … a fireman?’
What woman didn’t?
‘Okay,’ Charlie conceded, ‘but I didn’t like the way the men felt they could say anything to me, and it wasn’t just about the uniform. They thought they were superior to me because of the job I was doing. But people shouldn’t be defined by what they do.’ She gave him a challenging stare and he was aware of the grit and determination within her.
‘I completely agree.’ He raised his glass, and clinked it against hers.
Their meal arrived and they continued their flirtatious banter as they both picked at their food – far more interested in each other than in dinner. She was feisty, opinionated and passionate; he liked that. Paloma only seemed to get fired up about Prada’s latest collection. Charlie made a refreshing change.
When the waiter cleared away their half-empty plates Felipe made a point of thanking him. Hell! He would have offered to clear the plates away himself and do the washing up for the entire restaurant if it helped win him Charlie. And just as he thought he was doing well on that score, he nearly blew it with his next suggestion. ‘We could have dessert in my suite?’
Charlie shook her head. ‘You never give up, do you?’
‘No, you will find that I am very persistent. And that I nearly always get my own way.’ But sensing he was in danger of not getting it this time, he added, ‘How about a walk on the beach?’
He felt as if he’d won first prize in a race when Charlie agreed.
It was a beautiful night with a full moon casting a shimmer of silver across the ocean. The air was fragrant with the scent of jasmine, and a slight breeze caused the palm trees to sway slightly and their huge leaves to rustle gently. Charlie stumbled slightly in her heels as she walked down the stone steps and Felipe reached out
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