minute.”
“Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. I couldn’t… I haven't had sex… not since Drew died.” I suddenly realised what I'd said and wanted the floor to open up and swallow me. “God, did I really just say that out loud? Why on earth am I telling you this!”
“Sympathetic Stranger Syndrome. Easier to tell a stranger things than someone close to you.” he replied coolly. “Don't worry. I’m actually a pretty decent listener, if you wanted someone to talk to. And I do have some idea how hard it is to move on after your life takes a totally different direction from the one you’d always envisaged. ”
“Look, I think it’s about time we got back to work isn’t it?”
Mortified, I quickly changed the subject and stood up ready to head back to the office. But Caleb gently caught hold of my arm and held me back.
“I mean it, Faith. You might find it helpful to get a different perspective on things. I expect you feel you have to put on a brave face for your friends and family, and you’d probably die rather than discuss anything like having a sex life again with them.”
I laughed. “That’s certainly true as far as my family is concerned.”
“See, that’s where a sympathetic stranger like me comes in. One who is open minded and has some relevant experience.”
“What are you, some kind of a counsellor, on a secret mission from head office?” I joked.
“Now there’s a thought for a new career direction,” he quipped back, although he looked rather uncomfortable for some reason. “But I mean it. I have hours of spare time to kill while I'm over here, especially in the evenings.”
“Caleb, that’s very sweet of you, but I'm sure you’d much rather spend an evening sampling some of London’s nightlife, rather than listen to me droning on about all sorts of crappy stuff,” I insisted firmly. “Now, let’s get back to work.”
***
“So what’s this Yank like that you’re having to work with? Is it that dreadful woman you thought they’d be sending over?”
I’d moaned to Harry at the weekend about having this assignment sprung on me, so now she was quizzing me as we were sitting at her table eating our spag bol, sharing a nice bottle of red wine. Stan was snoozing as he lay stretched out on her sofa, making himself perfectly at home, in the way that cats do.
“Actually, turned out they sent a drop dead gorgeous guy, as it happens,” I raised my eyebrows expectantly as I waited for her reaction to this tasty bit of gossip. I was not disappointed.
“What? A guy? Why did I not know this before? Do you have pictures of him as evidence of his gorgeousness?” she shrieked.
“No, I don’t have pictures, Harry. But trust me, he may not be my type, but I’m sure you’d think he was sex on legs, especially as he has a voice and accent to disintegrate your undies.”
She hurried off, before quickly reappearing with her laptop.
“I need to see what this guy looks like for myself, if he’s actually pinged up on your radar. Is his picture on the bank’s web site? Or have you taken a few sneaky pictures of him on your mobile?”
“Er no, in case you’ve forgotten, my job involves accessing highly sensitive and confidential banking data. Flashing a camera phone around while working with the executive responsible for security would probably not be the most sensible career move,” I pointed out.
“What’s his name? And is he single? Please tell me you’ve at least found that out.” Harry sat poised with her laptop, ready to search the American Western website.
“Caleb Mackenzie. And he’s told me he’s divorced.”
She frowned as she studied the screen.
“What a boring website they have. No personal pictures at all. How disappointing,” she sighed. “I’ll just have to take your word for how gorgeous this Caleb is, unless maybe you can sneak a picture of him to me while you're on your lunch break or something?”
“No,
“Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. I couldn’t… I haven't had sex… not since Drew died.” I suddenly realised what I'd said and wanted the floor to open up and swallow me. “God, did I really just say that out loud? Why on earth am I telling you this!”
“Sympathetic Stranger Syndrome. Easier to tell a stranger things than someone close to you.” he replied coolly. “Don't worry. I’m actually a pretty decent listener, if you wanted someone to talk to. And I do have some idea how hard it is to move on after your life takes a totally different direction from the one you’d always envisaged. ”
“Look, I think it’s about time we got back to work isn’t it?”
Mortified, I quickly changed the subject and stood up ready to head back to the office. But Caleb gently caught hold of my arm and held me back.
“I mean it, Faith. You might find it helpful to get a different perspective on things. I expect you feel you have to put on a brave face for your friends and family, and you’d probably die rather than discuss anything like having a sex life again with them.”
I laughed. “That’s certainly true as far as my family is concerned.”
“See, that’s where a sympathetic stranger like me comes in. One who is open minded and has some relevant experience.”
“What are you, some kind of a counsellor, on a secret mission from head office?” I joked.
“Now there’s a thought for a new career direction,” he quipped back, although he looked rather uncomfortable for some reason. “But I mean it. I have hours of spare time to kill while I'm over here, especially in the evenings.”
“Caleb, that’s very sweet of you, but I'm sure you’d much rather spend an evening sampling some of London’s nightlife, rather than listen to me droning on about all sorts of crappy stuff,” I insisted firmly. “Now, let’s get back to work.”
***
“So what’s this Yank like that you’re having to work with? Is it that dreadful woman you thought they’d be sending over?”
I’d moaned to Harry at the weekend about having this assignment sprung on me, so now she was quizzing me as we were sitting at her table eating our spag bol, sharing a nice bottle of red wine. Stan was snoozing as he lay stretched out on her sofa, making himself perfectly at home, in the way that cats do.
“Actually, turned out they sent a drop dead gorgeous guy, as it happens,” I raised my eyebrows expectantly as I waited for her reaction to this tasty bit of gossip. I was not disappointed.
“What? A guy? Why did I not know this before? Do you have pictures of him as evidence of his gorgeousness?” she shrieked.
“No, I don’t have pictures, Harry. But trust me, he may not be my type, but I’m sure you’d think he was sex on legs, especially as he has a voice and accent to disintegrate your undies.”
She hurried off, before quickly reappearing with her laptop.
“I need to see what this guy looks like for myself, if he’s actually pinged up on your radar. Is his picture on the bank’s web site? Or have you taken a few sneaky pictures of him on your mobile?”
“Er no, in case you’ve forgotten, my job involves accessing highly sensitive and confidential banking data. Flashing a camera phone around while working with the executive responsible for security would probably not be the most sensible career move,” I pointed out.
“What’s his name? And is he single? Please tell me you’ve at least found that out.” Harry sat poised with her laptop, ready to search the American Western website.
“Caleb Mackenzie. And he’s told me he’s divorced.”
She frowned as she studied the screen.
“What a boring website they have. No personal pictures at all. How disappointing,” she sighed. “I’ll just have to take your word for how gorgeous this Caleb is, unless maybe you can sneak a picture of him to me while you're on your lunch break or something?”
“No,
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