Somewhere in Sevenoakes (6 page)

For the first time in over a year, Maddy was unable to concentrate at work. She spent her entire day sighing and twisting her hair around her fingers, wondering whether James had been telling the truth about work distracting him, or whether or not she'd behaved unsuitably outside the front door of her flat. Given it was close to two years since she'd physically been with a man, she knew she was out of practise. James was easy-going but he didn't come across as the kind of man who wanted an easy girlfriend.

Replaying Tuesday night over and over in her head, her computer screen became a jumble of numbers that were a nonsense to Maddy. After yet another heavy sigh, she was struck by a paper-clip. She looked across her desk to Helen who sat opposite her.

”What on earth is going on with you today, Maddison Bridie?”

She laughed at Helen's exasperated face.

”Nothing.”

”Seriously, you're driving me nuts. Are you cooking the books or something? I can't remember the last time I saw you this flustered. You've not tapped a key on that keyboard all morning.”

”I wasn't aware you were monitoring my productivity.”

”Ahhh, you admit there is something bothering you.”

”No,” said Maddy primly, ”I'm merely agreeing that I haven't been typing this morning. That doesn't mean I'm not working.”

”I can hear the cogs in your brain turning Maddy, but I have a feeling it has absolutely nothing to do with the accounts.”

Maddy was bursting to reveal all to Helen. Off-loading her concerns would probably be a huge relief. Helen had a bustling love life. There was nothing she didn't know about the dating scene. She'd be the perfect ally and mentor in these circumstances. Maddy knew she was trustworthy and supportive but Helen wasn't renown for keeping secrets. In fact, she was jokingly nicknamed 'The Oracle' because she knew all the gossip in the office. Her heart of gold made it easy to confide in her. When Maddy discovered Rick had cheated on her and she was forced to cancel the wedding, Helen had stood by her side loyally, backing her all the way. Helen was a firm friend but she couldn't keep anything to herself. Maddy weighed up whether Helen's advice was worth the cost of the office finding out about her new romance – potential romance, she reminded herself. Given the events of the morning, Maddy had absolutely no idea where she stood with James at present.

”I can't get into work today,” she whispered to Helen.

”Why not?”

Helen's response was an exaggerated stage whisper. The heads of the entire accounts team bobbed up from their computer monitors to see what the exchange was about.

Maddy rolled her eyes at Helen. Helen's hands flew across the keyboard. An alert emitted from Maddy's computer notifying her of a message in her in-box. She read the email – 'Toilet in five minutes, Helen'. Maddy sucked her cheeks in to suppress her smile. It had been far too long since she'd had this kind of fun. She was only twenty-six but for the past two years she'd felt forty-six. Helen's email, the sneaking to the ladies' toilets for a gossip made her feel sixteen again. Love was starting to return her sense of fun. She waited a minute after Helen left for the toilets before following.

Walking into the bathroom, Helen was sitting on the sink swinging her legs.

”Spill! If I didn't know better, I'd say it was man troubles,” said Helen smugly.

”Because I know better, I wouldn't dream of giving you the whole story.”

”Then give me the juicy bits,” winked Helen.

”Here's the deal,” bargained Maddy, ”I ask the questions which will divulge the problem area but you can't ask for additional details.”

”What if I need the extra details to give you a thorough and considered answer?”

”We'll see how that goes, shall we?”

”Ask 'The Oracle' and she will endeavour to solve all the problems of your love life.”

”Is it slutty to kiss on a first date?” asked Maddy brazenly.

”No. Sex on a first date is risky, but a kiss is necessary if you want to secure a second date. Men are insecure creatures themselves. They are unable to read the subtle signs we women deliver. If you don't kiss a guy on a first date, he's likely not to arrange a second because he'll think you don't fancy him.”

”What if the kiss got a little hot and heavy?”

”How hot and heavy,” Helen's eyes narrowed.

”Nothing naked,” rambled Maddy, ”more kind of a hands on affair.”

”Was he hands on or were you?”

”I was hands on.”

”You dirty devil, Maddison Bridie.”

”Do you think he'll think I'm cheap?”

It was evident to Helen that whoever this mystery man was, he was important to Maddison. She jumped off the sink to hug her friend.

”Maddy, you aren't cheap. Why would he think that? You kissed him. There was passion there. I'd say whatever happened it went well. Did he ask you for a second date?”

”I guess.”

”What do you mean you guess?”

Helen's expression was of pure confusion.

”I'm seeing him tonight, but I think it might be a sympathy date.”

”Maddy, there's no such thing as sympathy dates with men. There's sympathy shags so they can get their end away, but no man will ever take you out on a date because he feels sorry for you. Dates don't automatically mean sex. If he said he wants to take you on another date, take it from me, he wants to see you.”

Maddison trusted Helen. She wasn't the kind of friend who minced her words. Sometimes people perceived her attitude as insensitive and thoughtless, but she was honest and there were times when the truth could sting.

”I shouldn't be worried?”

Maddy was desperate for reassurance.

”The only thing you need to worry about is whether you should sleep with him on the second date or not,” ribbed Helen.

”Isn't the rule to wait for the third date?”

Helen raised her hand for a high five. Maddy slapped her hand, laughing genuinely for the first time that day.

”Nice to see you aren't totally out of touch with the dating game. It'll be just like riding a bike!”

”I'll let you know after the third date.”

”That's the spirit,” encouraged Helen. ”Do you want to tell me all about him?”

”No thank you. I am glad we spoke though,” said Maddy sincerely.

”Best to make a move. Tongues will wag if we spend too long in here.”

The girls walked out together and returned to their respective desks. Talking to Helen had helped with her nervousness regarding the situation with James, but it took an enormous amount of effort to plough through the remainder of her work. Once the office had emptied for the evening, Maddy's head had cleared. She seized the quiet time to catch up on her neglected output of the day. Satisfied with what she'd cleared from her in-box tray, she went to the bathroom to groom herself for the evening ahead.

James hadn't said what he had planned, only that it would be different, which covered a multiple of activities given Maddy's life tended to revolve around the office. She applied light make up in the mirror; a little blusher to highlight her high cheekbones, mascara with eyeliner to bring out her oval-shaped eyes and a dash of colour on her already pink lips. Satisfied she was passable to be seen in public with a devastatingly handsome man, she left the building.

Typical of London weather, the skies were overcast with rain drops threatening to become heavier and plentiful. She walked as briskly as she could to the station. Frowning as she got on the train, she had a sneaky suspicion the rain had frizzed her hair. If it had, Maddy knew that when James saw her he'd probably think she'd arrived by broomstick rather than rail. She remained by the doors, rather than take a seat, in order to get off without being trampled by people frantically trying to make their way home.

James spotted her luscious legs stepping out of the door. His white teeth flashed at her when their eyes met. Nervous, he ran a hand over his head. The buzz-cut meant he didn't have the length in his hair for the action to be of any practical use. He always used to run his hands through his dirty blonde hair when he'd had shoulder-length hair in his misspent youth masquerading as a surfer. At the time, it was a good excuse to move his messy fringe from his eyes. Nowadays when he did it, he was all too aware an observant person would correctly guess it was a habit born out of anxiety. Part of him was thrilled to see Maddy, but another part of him felt as though he was betraying someone who didn't deserve it.

”I can't believe it's raining,” greeted Maddy. ”How I love the English summers!”

”How long have you lived in London for?” he asked.

”Born and bred. I remain the eternal optimist though. One day we'll have a summer that lasts more than three days.”

”When hell freezes over,” remarked James glibly.

”It was sunny on Monday and Tuesday. I thought it was you bringing the sunshine in my life; that's why I was happy to accessorize and have you hanging on my arm. Now it's pouring rain, I might have to trade you back in for the umbrella I lost on Monday when my bag split.”

Affectionately, James swung an arm over her shoulders. The more he spoke to Maddy the more attractive she became to him. He liked her sense of humour. It was no secret that accountants had a reputation as being boring, but Maddy completely contradicted that stereotype. He fancied her like crazy. She ticked all of his boxes in terms of personality – she was funny, determined, intelligent, self-reliant with the nicest touch of vulnerability and insecurity. That she had him eager to find out more about her was something he hadn't felt in a long time with any woman – if ever.

”I thought I could introduce you to the sights of the City of London.”

Maddy wrinkled her nose, pretending to be dubious.

”Can it really compete with the theatrical buzz and excessive shopping the West End boasts of?”

Stepping out of the station, James waved his hand towards The Shard. The seventy-two storey, free standing structure made 'The Shard' the tallest building in the European Union, indelibly stabbing the London skyline.

”Did they ever finish that building? It doesn't look closed in. Where's the roof?” asked Maddy.