Page 69 of Take a Moment

‘Let’s go.’

We drive through Birmingham’s suburbs and out into the countryside, fields and woods whizzing past us as we go. An hour later, Matt is perched on the open boot of the car checking the weather on his phone and I’m marvelling at my surroundings, rotating on the spot as I take in the natural landscape around me.

‘This place is fabulous. It’s so quiet and peaceful, and the air is so fresh… the smell from the trees and vegetation… it’s so invigorating.’

‘What did I tell you?’

‘They should bottle that smell and pump it into our workplaces. We’d surely all get more done.’

Matt chuckles. ‘I’m glad you’re so enthusiastic. Not everyone’s as into the outdoors.’

‘I genuinely don’t know why I don’t do this stuff more. I’m not just saying that. It really feels good for the soul.’

‘You certainly seem less tired. Told you it would work. Just didn’t expect it to be so quick.’

I fail to mention that it was the exhilarating hour-long drive with his gorgeous self, chatting about everything and nothing, that had the most invigorating effect.

‘So, this is Wyre Forest. It’s one of my favourite places.’

‘You come here a lot?’

‘Since I was a little boy. It’s probably what started my obsession with the outdoors.’ He glances at me. ‘It probably sounds cheesy but it’s had such a great effect on me. I hope to be able to pass on the same experience to my kids when I have them. You know, keep the active lifestyle in the family: wife, kids, dogs, starting out small and building up as they get older, eventually climbing the Munros together.’

For a second, I’m overwhelmed by him laying out his cards like this, until I realise it’s with no agenda. This is just the kind of guy he is: an open book. It’s certainly refreshing, but unfortunately, he’s already given the ending to his story away – and I can’t see how I would fit into it. There’s definitely no room for a wife with seriously reduced mobility in that equation. Annoyed at myself for jumping ahead, I shake my head to scatter these thoughts and remind myself that this is just dating. Period.

He points to a path leading into the woodland. ‘We’re going to do the Buzzard trail – a five-kilometre walk. Should take us about an hour and a half, then a nice pub lunch. Sound OK?’

‘Sounds wonderful.’ I force myself to focus on the moment and begin to rotate on the spot again, gazing up at the tall, bare trees.

‘Before we go though, there’s something I need to sort.’

‘What’s that?’

I finish my three-sixty turn and find myself face to face with Matt. My breath catches in my throat as he steps forward, slips his arms round my waist and gently pulls me towards him, checking I’m comfortable with the gesture before drawing me in for the most delicious first kiss. His touch is firm but gentle and this on top of the incredible surroundings sends my senses into overdrive. I pull him towards me hungrily, and he responds by mirroring my body language.

‘Wow,’ is all I can manage when we eventually pull apart breathlessly. ‘Forget putting forest air in our workplaces. We’d all be randy as—’

Matt erupts with laughter. ‘There was me thinking it was me that had that effect on you.’

‘It was. But there’s no doubt our surroundings made it that bit more enjoyable.’

He steps forward and pulls me in again, this time planting three solid but sensual kisses on my lips before taking my hand and intertwining his fingers between mine.

‘Now we’ve got that bit out of the way… shall we?’ he asks.

‘Absolutely.’

We head off along the trail, lost in each other as we engage in affectionate banter, stealing kisses and keeping our bodies as close as possible. The invisible boundaries between us are now well and truly lowered, and all thoughts of Dom’s proposition are banished from my mind.

As we walk, I’m relieved to find it’s fairly easy terrain, with a gentle downward slope. However, not long into our walk, the realisation dawns that what goes down must come up as I spot a less forgiving upward incline emerging ahead of us.

‘Do you have family in Glasgow?’ Matt asks me.

‘Yes, just my mother and sister. My dad passed away a while back.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that.’

‘It’s fine.’ I shrug, trying to ignore the fact that we’re now starting to climb. ‘I still really miss him, but I’m used to it now. My parents were divorced and he had moved down south, so I didn’t see him that much any more anyway. It was like I was being prepared for losing him altogether.’

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