Instruction in Seduction (12 page)

Nick took her breath away.

She’d been thinking along the same lines herself about Sofa City.

But was she ready to take charity and backing from Nick, when he’d have to go back to reality soon?

“Maybe,” she said. She felt his fingers skim her shoulders with a touch that could make her submit to anything. He pulled away her robe and she let out a shaky sigh.

“Come here,” Nick kissed her shoulder bone in a manner that told it was something he did better than most. “You’re tense. I think I may need to try out my massage techniques …”

And when he kissed her in that way, in spite of the whirring doubts that were starting to cloud her mind, how could a girl resist him?

***

Ailsa closed her eyes as very, very hard as she possibly could.

She chanted lightly, “Kirsty, can’t you give me a sign?”

A long pause. Nothing. No harp music, no breathy sighs. No feathers fluttering in the gentle breeze.

“I need your guidance. I like Nick but I think he’s serious. How do I keep my heart out of reach? Was this what you wanted or should I be letting him go?”

Still all she could hear was the twitter of the budgerigar cages from the aviary in the garden of the man next door. No swish of celestial wings. Not a peep.

“Do you want me to go and find other guys? Am I doing this right? Do you need me to start seeing more men? Or is Nick sufficient? Your letter wasn’t detailed enough.”

A silence hung over Ailsa’s intent probings for answers.

“Kirsty. Where are you?”

The big telephone in the sky remained well and truly off the hook. Ailsa opened her eyes.

“Told you,” she whispered. “You’re going loopy. Now let it go.”

As much as it moved her she resolved to keep this flirtation light. Okay Nick was her Seduction Instructor. But it was just short-term, a fling. She needed more research. That’s what Kirsty meant, wasn’t it?

She needed to keep this light. To survive the impact on her heart.

***

“Hell’s pyjamas. I don’t believe it,” said Lisa when Ailsa walked into ‘Ultimo Coffee Bar’ at three for their pre-arranged coffee stop next day. Ailsa’s sexy new image was unveiled; the smile on her face couldn’t be budged.

“What d’you reckon? Irresistible?”

She looked like she’d stepped out of a Personal Shopper Paradise and she knew it. She held more than a dozen glossy store bags in both hands. Carrie Bradshaw only better.

“Now I know you’ve lost your marbles.” Lisa said just staring. “You look like a different woman. A loose different woman. A woman with fun on her mind and action in her bedroom.”

Lisa’s response did not shatter how pleased Ailsa was with her expensive new look. She’d seized the day, lived the Resolution. And man did it feel fabulous or what?

“Spontaneity in action,” Ailsa fluffed and pouted. “I do feel kind of sexy now you mention. I’ve spent the morning in the spa. Do you know how liberating it is spending money and not looking at the price tags but only concentrating on how good the reflection makes you feel?”

“Overdrawn, most likely!” Lisa answered but laughed heartily into her mug.

Ailsa regarded her reflection in the coffee house mirror. She wished she’d taken the plunge and done this years before. Of course her credit card had taken a hit and her savings would have to take a dent for the privilege.

Already she was turning heads. Particularly male heads, the waiters being her first victims.

“What can I get you, miss?” asked a waiter in an over-fresh manner. Pity he was fresh from Kindergarten.

“Green tea,” answered Ailsa.

“Something hot and tasty too?”

She shook her head and ignored the come on eyeball tricks. Then she and Lisa giggled and kicked legs below the table.

“You’re glowing from something, I thought this New Year thing was a whim. Now I see it’s a life mission.”

Maybe the glow was ‘the great instruction’. She was still on another planet since Nick’s live-affirming induction. A planet in a far, far away galaxy alive with promise and sensational potential. One where super speed extra thrill launchers were the only way to travel.

Her New Year New Leaf actions were surging apace.

“I’ve done some planning,” said Ailsa as their drinks order arrived. “My official Instruction List,” she pushed her pad to Lisa. “Check it out.”

Lying in bed that morning after he’d left she’d formulated her List. It made impressive reading.

Lisa scanned. “Is there a web cam in here catching my shocked expression?”

Kirsty’s Instructions
Achieved

1. Proposition a stranger √
   

2. Make Demands – Work & Play √
   

3. Get a makeover. New wardrobe. Lingerie.
   

4. Chat up a guy in a bar and dance until dawn
   

5. Have a man at your mercy
   

6. Kitchen table. Bathroom Bubbles.
   

7. Spend weekend in bed
   

8. Break Hearts
   

9. Indulge In A Date For Lust
   

10. Prepare A Seduction Dinner Supreme.
    

“You can’t go making lists like that?” Lisa said emphatically and her mouth making a circle of pure shock. “You’re sensible Ailsa, remember? It’s contrived. It’s positively un-you.” She paused and contemplated. “But I dig this new assertive you. You’re inspiring.”

Ailsa merely ticked number three with her pen. “Makeover successful. Look at what I bought. Masses of gorgeous things to wear, my credit card’s gasping for imported oxygen. Why have I wasted my time being so careful?”

Littered at her feet were exciting, expensive looking bags. Designer labels were heavily represented along with a very exclusive lingerie boutique where Lisa knew it cost half a month’s pay cheque for some sheer but sexy nothings.

What Lisa didn’t yet know was that there was an expensive body fitting black suit. A scarlet thigh skimming shirt dress. Skirts that showed legs, lashings of lingerie. There was a divine ‘couldn’t pass it’ funky suede coat with perfect brown stiletto boots that even she knew made her look like a rock diva. A trendy hat; a gorgeous necklace and a powder puff that put glitter in places she’d never dreamed of putting glitter before.

“Great work,” Lisa breathed. “Wow. And all inspired by Nick the Aussie Sex God?”

Ailsa breathed deep. “Nick’s quite a guy.”

“Don’t tell me, you’ll make me jealous.” Lisa narrowed her eyes Kojak style. “I hope your accountant’s got no heart problems. That new leaf thing, it’s proving expensive. Can I have some of what you’re on?” Lisa sipped her latte and stirred the froth rapidly into nothingness. “My New Year stinks, in stark comparison to yours. No man. No shopping, no boyfriend now. Ironic huh?”

“No Andy?” Ailsa asked.

“We argued. I packed his case. I was so mad I threw it down the stairs on him.”

“You’ll kiss and make up.”

Lisa sighed, “No chance, it escalated. After last night’s row I threw something else and it hit its mark. Put it this way he was walking with a limp on his way out. And his prized motorbike replica ornament thingie needs more than superglue. It was a collector’s piece too.”

Ailsa bit her lip and sipped her drink. “Ouch. That’s drastic.”

“You’re showing me the way though,” Lisa remarked. “This New Year thing. Will you help me work on a list for me?”

“Woah there! You and Andy are different.” Ailsa put her hands up in objection.

“You’re getting what you want.” Lisa pleaded. “That’s where I’m going wrong. I want more than a long term live in boyfriend who takes me for granted. And now I plan to get it, by copying you.” Lisa waggled her dark brows.

Ailsa blinked. Sipped her coffee then shook her head.

Lisa whispered, “I want to get married. And a baby. I want a flat of my own. He can take it or leave it. I mean it this time. Andy’s used his chances. If he can’t deliver it’s time to move on.”

“But it was you who inspired me in the first place,” said Ailsa. “You and Andy being happy. Now you’re breaking up; that’s serious.”

Lisa never seemed the forever and babies type. She’d been the party hard girl who always pulled the exams out of the bag. Now she wanted family over coupledom?

“Doesn’t Andy want what you do?”

“He says I’m freaking him out. But I am serious. My sister’s just found out after waiting, getting the director level career, now she can’t have kids. I don’t want to put it off,” she replied. “It’s time to show Andy he has to commit. Or I find someone who will. I’ve been buying bridal and baby mags and hiding them.”

Ailsa clasped her hand over her friend’s. “Who’d have thought it? Me playing floozie. You a big fat floating meringue wannabe.”

A cheeky grin that caused her chin to dimple appeared on Lisa’s face. “Shame to waste new gear. Fancy a night out? That list says dancing 'til dawn.”

Ailsa could squeeze in a night out, though she’d agreed to meet Nick’s sister at her restaurant tonight. “If we can go out say around nine-ish?” She nodded, smiled, nodded harder.

“One more question,” said Lisa. “Was Nick really so good you can’t stop grinning?”

Ailsa smiled. “Maybe. C’mon, there’s two hours left until the shops shut. My credit card needs exercise. And, as you keep telling me, my conscience has lost its inhibitions.”

***

“Hi, not too early, am I?”

Ailsa put forward her best smile and the tissue wrapped bottle of Chablis she’d brought when she arrived at ‘The Witches Nest’; Sally Palmer’s stylish Old Town bistro and Johnny Deans’ latest joint venture.

Sally smiled and welcomed her inside, sweeping Ailsa’s coat away just as a cavalcade of wonderful cooking smells greeted her and led her onwards.

“This place is gorgeous. And it makes me so hungry.”

“I love that dress. Suits you so well.” Sally smiled, she was quite a looker herself. Brown hair like Nick. Tall, slim, gorgeous eyes.

Ailsa hadn’t been able to resist donning the scarlet dress she’d bought earlier. She felt fabulous in it, even the assistant said it was perfect.

“Good to meet you properly,” said Sally taking her arm. “I’m so glad Nick’s met somebody nice. He’s a hard man to please. Some would say perfectionist. He said he’d be here shortly.”

Sally gave Ailsa what she could have sworn was a knowing wink when she said ‘perfectionist’. She chose to ignore it.

“From the look of this place, perfectionist tendencies run in the family.”

‘The Witches Nest’ name may conjure up a rustic, creaky old pile but the décor and furnishings were modern with style and appeal aplenty. The artwork was tasteful and high end, the furniture modern and sleek.

The restaurant was open for business; several couples and one party were eating downstairs. Sally led Ailsa to an upper floor; a quieter area for their exclusive use. Her assistant chef was at the helm this evening while Sally took time out. And while they chatted easily, Ailsa soon discovered Sally Palmer was truly lovely. In contrast to her brother who arrived more brooding than she’d ever seen him before in his life.

“Nick’s been telling me a lot about you,” Sally had begun with unhappy timing because they’d looked up to see Nick. His familiar dark head emerged in the stairway doorframe, scowling openly. He stared at her looking utterly riled. Johnny followed him; smiling and sharply in contrast to Nick who was most seriously displeased.

And he was not caring much who knew it. The mood matched his clothes: black.

“Hi Nick,” said Sally. “We were wondering where you were.”

“Seeing a friend,” he said simply and the women shrugged. “A friend with interesting things to tell me. Andy as it happens.”

“The food smells good,” Johnny said to lift the atmosphere.

Ailsa felt Nick’s gaze stay on her, taking in the clothes. Then he sighed and raised his eyes to the ceiling. Yes it was a drastic change of image; it seemed to be displeasing him.

“I see you’ve been busy. I heard about it too.”

Earth to Ailsa: What’s up with Mr Angry?

She shrugged. “Just a few new outfits.” She made jovial polite conversation. His one word answers did not go unnoticed by his sister either.

“Had a pressing day? You seem blue?” she said softly to him. The last she’d seen him he’d been kissing her neck and nibbling her ear on his way out of the door. Was this the hidden flaw in his character; bi-polar mood swings that threatened everybody’s stability?

“No more than usual,” Nick said. They placed their orders and Johnny poured drinks. The atmosphere was strained because of Nick’s mystery black mood.

Ailsa caught herself catching wistful looks across the table. He was so gorgeous it was hard not to marvel. So irritated it was difficult to ignore it and be normal.

“So,” said Nick to his sister. “Had any thoughts about giving this place up and coming back to London with me?”

“Nick,” said Sally, “This isn’t the time; we have company. And anyway now that the project with Johnny’s underway I may have other ideas. Maybe I don’t want to trip right back to London with you. Anyway we’ll talk later. Right now we have guests.”

Since drawing Nick out of his deeply irked disposition wasn’t an option Ailsa threw herself eagerly into enjoying the food – seafood linguine – and conversation about how Sally and Johnny saw their joint venture developing.

Johnny, when fired up, was always the life and soul of any gathering and tonight was no exception. He seemed clearly taken with Sally, impressed by her business and in full throttle about their plans for the project.

“Think a dramatic night of tales of the mysteries and macabre events that took place along this stretch of street. One of the most famous streets in Europe; a street dripping with history and atmosphere. It’s rumoured to be haunted so we’ll use that to steer research.”

Sally nodded enthusiastically too. Nick seemed to stare at his cutlery.

“I’m thinking re-enactments by drama students, a ‘who dunnit’ evening. A guest spiritualist speaker. The spiritualist will relay the vibes from the building, table tilting, a séance? Add a murder tale against the backdrop of a traditional old style Scots supper with musicians in the bistro to round off. I envisage a sell out.”