thought.
‘It means getting up at half-past three weekday mornings, but I don’t mind,’ he continued. ‘I’ve been there for eight years now, so I’m used to it.’ Nicholas took a sip of his espresso. ‘Kids don’t fit easily into that kind of lifestyle, you know? And the responsibility weighs you down.’
‘I hear you,’ Clare said. ‘My job has some crazy hours, too, and I like my life and my independence too much.’
‘You seem like a woman after my own heart. I tell you, it’s so difficult to meet people who feel that way! I should know—I’ve been trying. My friends have even taken to pairing me off with post-menopausal women.’ Nicholas grinned, and she felt warmth and mutual recognition pass between them.
‘Sounds fun.’ Clare could identify all too well. The last dinner party she’d been to, an old mate from university had made a more than obvious attempt to match her up with a man who must have been about seventy. He even had a cane, for God’s sake! “But at least he didn’t want kids,” her friend had whispered.
Nicholas looked at his watch. ‘Oh, bollocks. I’m sorry. I have to run.’ He smiled at her, then a thoughtful expression came over his face. ‘Look, I know this is kind of sudden and we’ve just met, but I got a pair of tickets through work to this evening’s performance of Madame Butterfly . I was planning to blow them off and stay in, but would you be free to join me? I’d love to spend more time with you.’
This evening? Clare jerked in surprise. Usually, she liked taking things slowly on the dating front. And the opera? It seemed so formal . . . she’d much prefer a quiet pub dinner or somewhere they’d be able to chat.
Come on, she chided herself. The opera might not be her ideal first date, but Nicholas was exactly what she was seeking: someone to have a little fun with and enjoy life together. Plus, he was incredibly handsome, and they were definitely on the same page—not just about children, but work, too. She could sense he really got her, and she did want to get to know him better. Anyway, what else did she have planned? A hot date with a Chinese takeaway?
‘That would be great,’ Clare said, meeting his blue eyes.
‘Perfect.’ Nicholas got to his feet. ‘I’ll come by at six—just message me your address on Facebook. I’m so sorry to dash off.’ He grabbed the bill from the table. ‘And I’ll take care of this. You sit here and enjoy your espresso.’
His cool, smooth cheek brushed against hers as he leaned down to kiss her goodbye. It was different from Edward’s, which had been littered with stubble and was always warm, even in the chill of winter . She’d used to joke he was like a furnace that kept burning at all hours.
Lifting a hand to wave goodbye, she felt a flicker of hope course through her. Nicholas was exactly what she needed to forget the past few months and move on.
She’d been right to start the No-Kids Club. Already it was paying off.
CHAPTER NINE
A few hours later, Clare perched in front of the kitchen window, waiting for Nicholas to pick her up. She gave herself a quick once-over in the mirror: dark hair twisted into an elegant chignon , slim black trousers, and a tailored blouse. Not too dressy, but not too casual either. Nerves jolted through her, and she told herself not to be anxious. It wasn’t as if she was looking for ‘her everything’, like Anna had said, and she didn’t need to determine if Nicholas was the one. Clare was dubious ‘the one’ existed, anyway. How could you find someone who slipped perfectly into your life, and you into his? Disagreement and compromise were inevitable. Much better to keep things simple and fun.
A black BMW pulled over in front of her flat. Clare slipped her feet into court shoes, threw on a fawn-coloured mac, then hurried outside. She opened the car door, smiling at Nicholas, whose navy blazer made his eyes look even bluer. Inside the close space, the air was thick
‘It means getting up at half-past three weekday mornings, but I don’t mind,’ he continued. ‘I’ve been there for eight years now, so I’m used to it.’ Nicholas took a sip of his espresso. ‘Kids don’t fit easily into that kind of lifestyle, you know? And the responsibility weighs you down.’
‘I hear you,’ Clare said. ‘My job has some crazy hours, too, and I like my life and my independence too much.’
‘You seem like a woman after my own heart. I tell you, it’s so difficult to meet people who feel that way! I should know—I’ve been trying. My friends have even taken to pairing me off with post-menopausal women.’ Nicholas grinned, and she felt warmth and mutual recognition pass between them.
‘Sounds fun.’ Clare could identify all too well. The last dinner party she’d been to, an old mate from university had made a more than obvious attempt to match her up with a man who must have been about seventy. He even had a cane, for God’s sake! “But at least he didn’t want kids,” her friend had whispered.
Nicholas looked at his watch. ‘Oh, bollocks. I’m sorry. I have to run.’ He smiled at her, then a thoughtful expression came over his face. ‘Look, I know this is kind of sudden and we’ve just met, but I got a pair of tickets through work to this evening’s performance of Madame Butterfly . I was planning to blow them off and stay in, but would you be free to join me? I’d love to spend more time with you.’
This evening? Clare jerked in surprise. Usually, she liked taking things slowly on the dating front. And the opera? It seemed so formal . . . she’d much prefer a quiet pub dinner or somewhere they’d be able to chat.
Come on, she chided herself. The opera might not be her ideal first date, but Nicholas was exactly what she was seeking: someone to have a little fun with and enjoy life together. Plus, he was incredibly handsome, and they were definitely on the same page—not just about children, but work, too. She could sense he really got her, and she did want to get to know him better. Anyway, what else did she have planned? A hot date with a Chinese takeaway?
‘That would be great,’ Clare said, meeting his blue eyes.
‘Perfect.’ Nicholas got to his feet. ‘I’ll come by at six—just message me your address on Facebook. I’m so sorry to dash off.’ He grabbed the bill from the table. ‘And I’ll take care of this. You sit here and enjoy your espresso.’
His cool, smooth cheek brushed against hers as he leaned down to kiss her goodbye. It was different from Edward’s, which had been littered with stubble and was always warm, even in the chill of winter . She’d used to joke he was like a furnace that kept burning at all hours.
Lifting a hand to wave goodbye, she felt a flicker of hope course through her. Nicholas was exactly what she needed to forget the past few months and move on.
She’d been right to start the No-Kids Club. Already it was paying off.
CHAPTER NINE
A few hours later, Clare perched in front of the kitchen window, waiting for Nicholas to pick her up. She gave herself a quick once-over in the mirror: dark hair twisted into an elegant chignon , slim black trousers, and a tailored blouse. Not too dressy, but not too casual either. Nerves jolted through her, and she told herself not to be anxious. It wasn’t as if she was looking for ‘her everything’, like Anna had said, and she didn’t need to determine if Nicholas was the one. Clare was dubious ‘the one’ existed, anyway. How could you find someone who slipped perfectly into your life, and you into his? Disagreement and compromise were inevitable. Much better to keep things simple and fun.
A black BMW pulled over in front of her flat. Clare slipped her feet into court shoes, threw on a fawn-coloured mac, then hurried outside. She opened the car door, smiling at Nicholas, whose navy blazer made his eyes look even bluer. Inside the close space, the air was thick
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