The Dating Game (15 page)

Friday 16th September

Stepping out of the taxi, Gill looked up at the lavishly
decorated exterior of Fountain of Siam, complete with ornamental fountain.  She
hadn’t been for a while, but she loved the food here. Just as she was entering
the restaurant, a voice behind her called ‘Gill!’

Turning, she saw Charlie waving at her, as he, too, got out
of a taxi.  He paid the driver and then walked towards Gill.

‘Hi.  You look fantastic,’ he said, as he drew level with
her, taking in her little black dress and high heels.

‘Thanks.  You brush up pretty well, too.’

Gill felt a little overdressed as Charlie was wearing black
jeans and a white short-sleeved, linen shirt.  He didn’t even have a jacket
with him.

‘It’s great to see you again,’ he kissed her on the cheek.

‘You too.  Shall we?’ Gill gestured towards the restaurant.

‘Yes, after you,’ Charlie held the door open.

‘Table for Prentice, for two,’ Charlie instructed the
maître
d’
.

The
maître d’
checked his computer and then,
signalling to one of the waitresses, told her at which table to seat them.

They were led to a table in the centre of the room.  Charlie
looked round, trying to see if they could be moved to another table, but the
restaurant was packed. 

The waitress pulled out Gill’s chair for her and explained
the specials.  She then took their drinks order and left them with the menus. 

‘I haven’t been in here for ages,’ Charlie confided in Gill.

‘Me neither.  We used to come here a lot.  Me and the
girls,’ she clarified.

Charlie’s momentary high alert relaxed, ‘Ah.’

Everything on the menu looked good to Gill.  How to choose
something which wasn’t too garlicky?  Maybe she should take her lead from
Charlie.  If he ordered a dish laden with garlic, then she’d feel she could do
the same.  Plus he was so well travelled that he would probably choose
something more authentic.  She restrained herself from simply ordering Red Thai
Curry, which she adored.  Looking at the menu, she would be quite happy to
order the starter sharing platter.  Or maybe she’d have Thai Satay.  Chu Chu
Beef looked a good option for the main course, but it had garlic in it.  Gill
scanned the menu to see what she could choose that didn’t contain garlic.

‘Anything you like?’ Charlie peered over the top of his
menu.

‘Too many things,’ smiled Gill.

‘It’s good that you’re easy to please.’

Gill wondered if he was thinking ahead to later.  She didn’t
think she was particularly easy to please, as she had very high standards.  She
expected a lot of a potential partner, but then, she gave a lot, more than she
ever received.

‘What about you?’

‘Well, what about the sharing platter to start?’

‘I was just thinking the same thing.’

‘That’s settled then.  Any ideas for the main course?’

Since the starter probably contained garlic, Gill decided to
have the Chu Chu Beef; marinated beef, with garlic, spring onion, oyster sauce
and straw mushroom, for her main course.  Her mouth watered just thinking about
it.

‘Yes, I think I’m going to have the Chu Chu Beef.’

‘Oh that’s delicious.  I had that last time I was here.  I
enjoyed it so much, I tried making it at home, but it didn’t turn out quite the
same.  I’m going to quiz them about their secret ingredient,’ Charlie told her.

‘You’re quite the cook.’

‘I try, and I am pretty adventurous.’

From Charlie’s tone Gill had the distinct impression that
his comment concealed a hidden message.

‘Indeed,’ she wanted to move to safer ground.  She had no
idea how things were going to pan out with her and Charlie, but she wasn’t
ready yet for veiled sexual references.

‘So what have you rustled up this week then?’ Gill fiddled
with her napkin.

‘Nothing terribly exciting.  I made a really nice vegetarian
lasagne.  I’m not usually big on vegetarian dishes, but vegetarian lasagne, if
made well, can be amazing.’

Gill agreed.  It was one of the few vegetarian dishes she
would eat.  The thought of tofu, bean sprouts, and vegetarian meatloaf did
nothing for her.

‘Have you decided on a main course?’ she asked him, as she
closed the menu and placed it in front of her.

‘I think I’m going to go for the Weeping Tiger.’

‘Weeping Tiger?’ Gill scrunched up her face in disbelief.

‘Yes, grilled sirloin steak on a sizzling platter.’

‘Ah, OK.’

‘I know I’m in a Thai restaurant, but that’s what I’m in the
mood for.’

‘It’s on the menu, no reason why you can’t have it. 
Besides, the starter has plenty of Thai dishes in it.’

‘True.  Would you like some wine with dinner?’

‘Red for me, please, since I’m having beef.’

‘Me too.  Cabernet Sauvignon OK for you?’

‘Sounds good.’

Just then the waitress appeared with the drinks they had
asked for. 

‘Are you ready to order?’

Gill sipped her drink and listened as Charlie talked
impassionedly about food, the different dishes he knew how to cook, and those
he would like to learn to.

‘Cooking’s easy.  I haven’t always been able to cook.  Then
when Jamie Oliver came on the scene, I tried a few of his recipes and I’ve
never looked back.  I’ve always loved food, so it made sense for me to learn
how to make it.’

To Gill, who viewed cooking as a necessary evil and whose
culinary prowess extended to chicken with a pour over sauce, the concept of
doing it for pleasure seemed alien.  ‘Yes, I suppose.’

Their starters arrived and they both used the chopsticks
provided to drag the Chicken in Pandan Leaf, Tong Tung and Prawn Satay from the
platter to their plates.

Charlie laughed, ‘Looks like we have the same priorities.’

‘Sorry?’

‘We’ve both taken the same three items first.’

Gill glanced at her plate, then at Charlie’s.  He was
right.  She looked at the platter and saw that they had both left the
relatively uninspiring Spring Rolls, Fish Cake and Chicken Satay until last.

‘So, now that we’ve ascertained that we both like to eat the
best things first, what else do you like?’

Charlie demurred and then said, ‘To be honest, anything
tasty.  I hate bland food and I particularly loathe floppy pasta.’

Gill knew what he meant.  There were few things worse than
being served pasta which wasn’t
al dente
.  It always managed to have the
lack of flavour and the unappetising consistency of a ready meal.

‘So what have you been up to this week?’ Charlie asked as he
expertly used his chopsticks to lift his Tong Tung.

Neglecting to mention her other dates, Gill relayed to Charlie
the events surrounding the interview process and how she had been doing a lot
of work from home, to stay on top of things, whilst she looked for another
recruitment consultant.

‘It must be a relief to have finally found someone.’

‘You have no idea.’

‘Mmm, this Tong Tung is delicious.’

‘The Prawn Satay’s pretty good, too, but then I love satay.’

‘I’m actually allergic to raw peanuts, but for whatever
reason, I’m OK if they’re cooked.’

Gill dabbed at her lips with her napkin, ‘Bizarre.’

‘I know, but it’s just as well, as I love satay too much. 
I’d have to eat it, and then give myself an adrenalin shot, to counteract it!’

‘That sounds a tad extreme.’

‘Well, don’t you have a food you couldn’t live without?’

Gill hesitated before saying ‘Chocolate.’

‘Ah.  Yes I think a lot of women would give that answer.’

The waitress cleared away their plates.

‘That was lovely.’

‘Yes, I really enjoyed it, too.  I’ve never had a bad meal
in here,’ Charlie stretched his right leg out.  ‘Sorry, I’ve got cramp in my
foot.’

‘God, I hate that.’

Unfortunately the waitress bringing their main courses
didn’t see Charlie’s outstretched leg and tripped over it, sending the contents
flying through the air.  Gill could only watch in horror as their main courses
rained down on Charlie; all the way down his pristine white shirt, with his
steak catapulting into his stomach, making him flinch.  It resembled a scene
from a
Carry On
movie.  Gill opened her mouth but nothing came out.  In
other circumstances it might have been comical, but Charlie looked so
distraught, she really felt for him.  The waitress clucked around and must have
said sorry ten times.  Charlie knew it was his own fault and didn’t hold it
against her.  Instead he turned to Gill and said,

‘Look, I’m really sorry, but I obviously can’t sit here
covered head to toe, or,’ he looked down ruefully at his stomach, ‘at least,
head to stomach in sauce.  Do you mind if we get out of here?’

‘Of course,’ Gill said sympathetically.

The manager came over, apologising profusely.  When Charlie
advised they were going to leave, as he didn’t feel comfortable sitting in a
restaurant covered in food, the manager told them there would be no charge for
their starters and handed them a voucher for a free meal for two.

‘Thanks, could you order us a taxi please?’

Charlie went to the toilets to try to get the worst of the
meal off his clothing.  When he returned a few minutes later, his shirt still
looked a mess, like one of the award-winning modern art pieces Gill had come
across in her time and which she would never understand.

‘Do you want to come back to mine?  I could cook for you.’

A little voice inside Gill’s head told her to be careful. 
She barely knew the man.  Yet she felt touched that in the midst of his
distress at having been liberally covered in Thai food, he was still thinking
of a way to salvage their ruined date.  That earned him a big tick in Gill’s
book.

Deciding she was a big girl, who could handle herself, Gill
said, ‘Sure. I’d like that, if it’s not too much trouble.’

‘Not at all.’

‘OK, let me just use the Ladies’ before the taxi turns up.’

Once in the Ladies’, Gill hurriedly battered out a text to
Debbie,

‘Am about to go to Charlie’s house.  Waitress spilt food all
over him at restaurant.  He is going to cook for us. I’ll be fine, but thought
should let you know, Gill x.’

The taxi drew up in front of a block of sandstone flats near
Queens Park.  Charlie gave Gill his hand to steady her as she stepped out of
the taxi.  Unaccustomed to wearing such high heels, she was grateful for the
small courtesy.

Charlie unlocked the outer door and said, ‘After you.’  Gill
preceded him into the passageway and hesitated until Charlie said, ‘Second
floor.’

On the second floor, Gill came to a blue door with plant
pots outside it.  Opposite it, a red door, with a Charles Rennie Mackintosh
nameplate.  Gill guessed that was Charlie’s.

‘The red door?’

‘Yes, that obvious?’

‘Mackintosh.’

‘Ah.’  Charlie opened the storm door, which led to a stained
glass inner door.  He showed Gill into a spacious hall.

‘Go right in.  The living room’s on the right.  I’ll just
get us some drinks. Wine OK?’

‘Yes, white, if you have it.’

Gill entered Charlie’s living room, which although
definitely a man’s domain, was pristine. Two brown Chesterfield sofas took
pride of place, with an oak coffee table strategically positioned between
them.  Gill walked around the room, looking at the books in the mahogany
bookcases.  She picked up a couple, trying to work out what they told her about
Charlie.

‘Here you are,’ Charlie handed her a glass. ‘Semillon
Chardonnay.  It was the only white I had.  I tend to drink mainly red.’

‘That’s fine, thanks.’

‘Why don’t you choose some music?  My iPod’s over there.  Do
you like seafood?’

‘Yes, I like most things,’ Gill smiled at him.

‘Good.  Make yourself at home and I’ll be back shortly.’

Whilst Gill perused Charlie’s playlist, Charlie changed his
shirt, then busied himself in the kitchen.  Luckily he’d been to the
supermarket the day before and picked up a few ready meals.  Seafood gratin,
just enough for two.  He’d serve that with some rocket.  Turning on the oven,
he removed the packaging and put it in the bin.  Gill didn’t need to know that
he hadn’t cooked it from scratch.

When he returned to the living room, Gill was standing at
the window, with her mobile in her hand, tapping her foot to Blondie. 

‘Just waiting for the oven to heat up.  How’s the wine?’

‘Fine, thanks.  You have a nice home.’

‘Thanks. I like to be comfortable,’ Charlie said, ensconcing
himself on the sofa.

‘So what’s for dinner?’

‘It’s a surprise.’

‘A seafood related surprise?’

‘That’s right.’

Gill sat on the sofa beside him.  She was definitely
attracted to him and felt at ease in his company.  Did she want anything to
happen?  If so, then being in his home gave them the advantage of privacy.  She
knew she wouldn’t sleep with him.  Not yet anyway.  She liked him, but not
enough for that.  It would, however, be fun getting to know him.

‘Let me just check on the oven.’

Charlie nipped back to the kitchen, popped the seafood gratin
in the oven and prepared the plates and cutlery for later. 

What a stroke of luck
, he thought.  He’d been
mortified and more than a little annoyed at the waitress spilling food over
him, even if it was largely his fault.  Yet things couldn’t have turned out
better.  Gill was here in his home.  He could tell she liked him.  She looked a
knockout in that dress – voluptuous and womanly – just the way he liked. If he
had anything to do with it, after they’d eaten, she wouldn’t be wearing it.

‘That was delicious,’ Gill’s approval was clear from her
empty plate.

‘Glad you liked it.  More wine?’