Page 38 of Three's a Crowd
The waiter returned then with two menus.
‘So,’ Zach said, ‘what do you fancy eating? They do great steak frites in here. Or would you prefer something a bit fancier? Have whatever you want. My treat.’
‘Well, in that case…’ Daisy said, looking down the menu that the waiter had left on the table for her. She carefully considered all the meals on offer, but the thought of steak frites had captivated her and she knew nothing else she chose would compare to it now.
‘Steak frites it is,’ she said.
He grinned and shifted in his seat, as if pleased that he’d called it right for her again.
Daisy was suddenly hyper aware of his legs under the table only inches away from hers. If she just moved her knee forwardvery slightly, it would brush against his. She quickly banished the thought, reprimanding herself for letting her mind wander in this direction.
It had to be the alcoholshe told herself, deciding to stop drinking until she had some food inside her.
Who knew what she might end up saying if she was drunk?
He, on the other hand, appeared to be drinking sparkling water, she noticed.
‘Are you teetotal now?’ she asked.
Perhaps he’d had a drink problem that she didn’t know about.
Zach laughed. ‘No, I’m driving, remember?’
She felt stupid now at her question and her face heated with embarrassment.
‘I’ve got something fun planned for after the meal,’ he added, obviously aware of her discomfort and determined to pull her out of it.
Her passport, which was nestled safely in her bag, flashed into her mind and she wondered again what she could possibly need it for.
‘So, you’re really not going to tell me why I need a passport tonight?’ she probed.
But Zach just shook his head, flashing her a teasing smile.
Despite herself, she laughed, suddenly feeling elated. She was here, in Cannes, reconciled with a good friend that she really cared about, a friend who obviously valued her friendship, in a great restaurant, drinking champagne cocktails and about to go off on an adventure.
She realised with a shock that she hadn’t felt excited like this for an awfully long time.
The waiter arrived back at their table and Zach ordered steak frites as well, but rare, while Daisy asked for hers medium rare;normally, she would have said medium to well-done, but she didn’t want Zach to think she was unsophisticated.
‘I’m just going to powder my nose,’ she told him, feeling an urge to be on her own for a few moments to gather her thoughts.
‘It’s just up the stairs to the left,’ he told her, motioning in the direction she needed to go.
‘Thanks,’ she said, getting up carefully from the table. The cocktail had really gone to her head and she felt a little light headed.
She floated up the stairs and into the ladies’ room, stopping on the way to look at her reflection in the mirror. A glowing, happy-looking woman stared back. Her eyes were alight and her skin had tanned a little in the sun, making her whole face radiate health.
I’m okay, she told herself,I don’t need fancy clothes and expensive make-up. I’m an attractive, confident woman. And I’m here with Zach, who a lot of women would be falling over themselves to be with right now.
At this final thought, she shook her head, trying to dislodge it from her brain. She’d escaped from Zach’s presence so she could clear her head for a moment, but it seemed her overactive imagination wasn’t going to let her.
After washing her hands and giving herself a hard stare in the mirror, she exited the bathroom and climbed carefully back down the stairs to where Zach was waiting for her, her heart racing more than before she’d left him.
9
When she arrived back at the table, the food had magically appeared.
‘That was quick,’ she exclaimed, sitting down swiftly so as not to hold up the eating of it any longer. ‘Have I really been away that long?’
