Page 12 of A Matter of Time
“Sure,” Angelina responded. “Although all that greasy fried food you like to eat is going to catch up with you, sooner or later.”
Nick laughed. “Later, I hope.”
The three walkedoff down the street, Angelina, between the two men, as they discussed the day’s practice and Malcolm Granger.
“I’ve known Malcolm for a few years,” Angelina said. “He’s nothing, if not intense.”
“Yes, that would be putting it mildly. I’d say Malcolm and I started as friends, drinking buddies ye might say, but shortly after he realized that I was teaching medieval martial arts, he became confrontational and belligerent. The man doesn’t like to lose. Granted he never has, as long as I’ve known him, but he looks at me as a particular threat to his standing in the community. Now that yer here, Richard, he may become even more ruthless. We’ll have to wait and see.” Nick opened the door to the diner, ushering his friends inside. They settled in the first empty booth, Nick on one side and Angelina the other. Richard opted to sit next to Angelina and a thrill ran through him at the touch of her leg against his thigh. Nick handed menus to them both. “I dinnae need a menu. I know exactly what I want.”
Richard stared at the laminated card in his hand wondering what it was for, until he realized it listed the various foods available in this establishment. He wasn’t sure he’d made a wise decision sitting next to Angelina. Having her so close was making it uncomfortable for him, but he couldn’t exactly get up and walk away and Nick was entirely taking up the other side of the booth. He would simply have to suffer through the pain and pleasure of her nearness.
“I know what Nick is going to have,” Angelina said with a laugh. “What about you, Richard? What would you like?”
Richard cleared his throat to stop himself from saying,you.“I’ll have whatever Nick is having.” He glanced away from her penetrating eyes and took in thediner.It was a rather unusual place, but he assumed it operated in much the same way as the eating establishments he had seen in Glendaloch.
“Well, that’s not very original. I’m going to have the Ahi Tuna Salad. Nick doesn’t eat nearly enough veggies.”
“Nonsense, Angelina. I’m having french fries. They’re made with potatoes,” Nick stated with authority.
A young woman came to their table with paper and pen in hand. “My name is Serena, I’ll be your server tonight. What can I get you?” She sounded about as interested in serving them as Richard was in the conversation between Nick and Angelina over what Nick was going to eat. Nick ordered something he called a cheeseburger with fries and Angelina ordered her salad.
When it was Richard’s turn to order, he repeated Nick’s order and put his menu back in the holder Nick had taken it from. As he leaned across Angelina to do so, he had the overwhelming urge to kiss those pouty lips that tempted him from not more than a few inches away. She licked her lips and he groaned.
“Is everything okay,” Angelina asked.
He realized too late, he’d foolishly groaned out loud.What is wrong with you, Richard?“Fine,” he answered as he sat back on the bench. He saw the knowing grin on Angelina’s lips and stifled a chuckle.She knows exactly what she’s doing. Two can play this game.
The waitress returned with water, silverware and napkins. “Your food will be out shortly,” she said in the same disinterested tone.
“Thank you,” Angelina responded.
Richard gave up trying to contain himself to his half of the bench and spread his legs so that the one that was closest to Angelina was in contact with hers from hip to thigh. He threw his arm over the back of the booth and challenged her with a smile. “This is quite cozy, isn’t it?”
Nick, who had been observing the two of them quite closely, stifled a laugh.
Angelina for her part, didn’t appear bothered by it at all. Instead, she adjusted her own leg and in the process rubbed up against Richard’s. For the next ten minutes or so, they continued to tease one another until thankfully their food arrived, forcing them to drop their little game of cat and mouse, and eat. Richard having never seen one before, couldn’t help but be fascinated with Angelina’ssaladand it must have been obvious to her.
“Would you like to try it,” she asked, as she picked up a forkful of the unusual leafy greens and held it out to him.
He hardly had time to reply when he found it at his lips, so he opened his mouth and accepted her offering. The flavors were unlike any he’d ever tasted. “Delicious,” he said after swallowing the last bit. “Would you like to try mine?”
“I’ll have a french fry,” Angelina said and waited for him to feed it to her. “Ketchup, please.”
Richard looked to Nick for guidance on that one and watched as Nick picked up a fry and dipped it in the red liquid on his plate. Richard reached across and dipped the fry into the ketchup before returning it to Angelina’s mouth. The sensual way she accepted it from his fingers was more than he could bear, as a dribble of ketchup landed on her bottom lip. He quickly focused on his own food and tried to avoid further eye contact with her.
He had to admit that the food was very good. If he had no other choice, he imagined he could live here and learn to fit in the way Nick had. His friend would be there to guide him when needed and perhaps this woman who sat beside him would… what was he thinking? He didn’t want to stay here and he was going to do everything he could to find a way back to his own time and place. His family needed him. He’d been away much too often over the past few years and it was time for him to settle down and manage the family holdings. He had no idea how he would make that happen, but perhaps when Edna realized that she’d mistakenly sent him to the future, she’d find a way to get him back where he belonged. Unless it was her intention all along to send him here. Perhaps she wanted to keep him out of his own time and away from the MacKenzies. He was getting agitated just thinking about it and his tense posture, he noted, had Nick and Angelina exchanging concerned glances. Once again he had to get himself under control. He smiled warmly at his old friend and his new one. He would manage, no matter how things worked out. What choice did he have?
What’s up with him?Angelina thought as she watched Richard go from relaxed and enjoying their interplay, to tense and distracted. He was intriguing. She’d never met anyone quite like him before. He was everything she looked for in a man, along with a little something extra. Richard had an old world sensibility to him and she liked it. He also appeared to be completely genuine. He didn’t act like he was playing a part, trying to be someone he wasn’t in an effort to impress her. She’d seen enough of that in her dating life and she could spot it from a mile away. Angelina could tell within a date or two, just what to expect from a man and most of the time it wasn’t much, so she let them go. She enjoyed their company and found herself surrounded by different men all the time, but that was her choice. Contrary to popular belief among the women she knew, she wasn’t the type to sleep around. She valued herself too much and that was a gift that only went to those who proved to be worthy of it. Yes, she was a flirt. Everyone knew that about her, but her female acquaintances were jealous of her ability to attract men and so they fabricated stories about her, trying to make her appear ready to jump into bed with every man who came her way.
The truth, Angelina knew, was deeply hidden. No one knew her real reasons for keeping men at a distance and they never would if she had anything to say about it.
Chapter 7
The soundof a woman’s voice coming from the living room fireplace woke Richard with a start a few hours later. Someone had called his name. He had heard it loud and clear, but aside from himself, the room was empty. Nick had apparently gone off to bed a while ago, and left Richard sleeping on the sofa. He sat up, preparing to head to his own bedroom when the voice called to him again.
“Richard. Can ye hear me?” the voice asked.
“Yes. I can hear you.” The voice sounded familiar to his ear.
