Page 64 of The Twelve Dates of Christmas
“I’m about to go in,” said Kate.
“Listen,” said Laura. “Are you sure this is a good idea? I told Ben about it and he went off the wall about how you don’t know him and I realized, he’s right! He could be a maniac! A cannibal!”
“Laura. You’ve got to calm down,” said Kate, sounding braver than she felt. “I traveled around the world on my own. I think I can handle myself. And besides, he’s a businessman; it’s generally considered a poor show to eat the clients.”
“But he’s not exempt from having a cellar full of women in chains!”
“Laura.”
“I know,” said Laura. “I know.You’re a very independent woman.But that doesn’t mean you’re impervious to serial killers.”
Kate laughed off her friend’s concerns, but she promised to keep her phone on, check in every hour, and text if they moved on to anywhere else. She also gave her most faithful assurances that she would text when she got home, no matter what time that might be.
•••••
The bar was stuffy. Kate was too hot as soon as she walked in. She unwound her scarf and looked for Richard the potential serial killer.
Richard emerged as though he’d just teleported into the middle of the pub. He was very tall and his black hair caught the lights and reflected streaks of blue like a raven’s wing. The punters parted like the Red Sea as he made his way through the crowded bar. He had a presence that could fill a room, and it wasn’t just the width of his shoulders. A smile broke across his face and Kate felt the room get even hotter as he walked toward her. She tried to blow an errant twist of hair out of her eyes as she wiggled out of her jacket.
Richard held out his hand and Kate shook it. He bent and lightly brushed her cheek with a kiss. He smelled like pine forests and wood smoke.Good God, he smells good.Kate breathed him in; he made her feel tipsy.
“Kate,” He said her name so smoothly she thought her knees would melt. “Thank you for giving me a second chance at a first date.”
Richard placed one of his hands in the small of Kate’s back and led her through the noisy pub, past the kitchen, the toilets, and the back bar. They headed down a darkened corridor and Kate began to wonder if she could dial 999 on her phone through her pocket, when the corridor opened out into an old timber-framed orangery.
Giant ferns brushed the glass roof and arched over their heads likefronded parasols. Orange and lemon trees were strung with fairy lights, and ivy climbed the wooden frames and splayed its leaves against the windowpanes. A wood burner flickered in the corner. And in the middle of the room, flanked by an olive tree, was a table set for two, complete with candles and a rose in a vase.
Kate drew a sharp intake of breath. She allowed herself to be guided to the table and seated. The pale snow drifted against the windows and made shallow banks against the French doors.
“It’s beautiful,” she said. “How did you do it?”
“My cousin owns the pub,” said Richard. “I told him I had a lot of making up to do.” He smiled and his eyes crinkled at the corners.
Kate laughed.
“Well, you’ve certainly made inroads with this,” she said.
“Unfortunately, my cousin’s repertoire only extends to beef sandwiches,” said Richard. He whipped out his phone and texted something quickly before putting it back in his pocket. “So, I’ve had to make other arrangements.”
At that moment a spotty youth in a tracksuit entered the orangery, carrying two rectangular paper parcels; he placed one on Kate’s plate and the other on Richard’s.
“Cheers, Trev,” said Richard.
The unmistakable aroma of fish and chips wafted up from the paper. Kate’s stomach growled loudly. Richard raised his eyebrows.
“No need to ask if you’re hungry,” he said.
Kate laughed.
“Bon appétit,” said Richard.
He leaned down briefly beneath the table and came back up holding a champagne bucket filled with bottles of ketchup, salt, vinegar, and tartar sauce. He plonked it on the table and Kate clapped her hands in delight.
“Brilliant.” She laughed and heaped a dollop of tartar sauce on the side of her plate.
Richard smiled warmly.
“Now,” he said. “You can have any drink you’d like from the bar. Or, a mug of tea.”
