Read Online The No-Kids Club by Talli Roland - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Talli Roland
Ads: Link
a nearby restaurant. Inside, it was crowded and warm, and a maître d’ showed them to an empty table in the corner.
‘So I’m interested in your take on Madame Butterfly,’ Nicholas said as he settled into his chair. ‘Tragic or idiotic? I know where I stan d,’ he continued before she could respond. ‘I mean, I understand in that society, women had little power. But to kill yourself because you lost your husband? Purely idiotic in my books.’
Clare nodded. Although she had felt sorry for Madame Butterfly and her plight, ending one’s life over a failed relationship was ridiculous. Her mind flipped again to Anna and her relationship with her husband. In a million years, Clare couldn’t fathom making one person your all. What would happen if Michael ever left? Clare had found it hard enough when she and Edward broke up, and they’d only been together a few months.
All in all, it provided a very good case for the kind of relationship Clare was seeking now: one that wouldn’t consume her emotions or her life.
‘I have to agree with you there,’ she said finally.
‘The woman had a child, too.’ Nicholas shook his head. ‘At the very least, she should have stayed alive to take care of him.’
‘If you make the choice to have kids, you should honour the responsibility.’ As she spoke the words, Clare couldn’t help thinking of her mother.
‘Exactly.’ Nicholas nodded emphatically, pausing to order a bottle of red from the waiter.
‘So you’ve never wanted children?’ She hated when people asked her that, but she knew Nicholas wouldn’t judge her, and they were on the subject anyway . . .
Nicholas shrugged and then reached out to grab the menu. ‘It’s a lot of responsibility,’ he said distractedly as he scanned the tiny print. ‘Hmm, I think I’ll get the steak and chips. How about you ?’
Finally, a man who wanted to talk less about kids than she did. ‘That sounds perfect,’ Clare said, although the thought of food made her stomach groan in protest.
A waiter swooped in and took their orders. Nicholas reached across the table and clasped her hand again. The feel of his skin against hers was lovely, even though she felt curiously detached, as if she were watching from above. They chatted as they downed their dinner, Nicholas regaling her with humorous tales from his job. He’d just finished describing how the on-set chef had spectacularly burnt a roast lamb in the oven when Clare caught a glimpse of the clock on the wall.
‘Yikes, it’s after midnight. Guess we had better make a move. I’ve got an early start in the morning.’ She pushed back her chair, rummaged through her handbag, then removed her credit card. ‘Shall we split this?’ Edward had always rejected her offer, but Nicholas just shrugged.
‘Sure,’ he said, taking her card and handing it over with his to the waiter. At last, a bloke who didn’t feel obliged to pay for her, Clare thought. She hated feeling like she owed her date, and besides, Nicholas had given her a free ticket to tonight’s performance .
Out on the street, Clare breathed in the cool night air, glad to escape from the stuffy restaurant. She’d choked down most her dinner, and her stomach was having difficulty accepting her efforts. As they climbed into the car, Nicholas kept up a running commentary about his job. Clare let the patter wash over her, trying to suppress a yawn. She’d enjoyed the evening, but exhaustion was pressing down on her, and curling up on the leather seats to snooze was becoming more and more irresistible.
‘Here we are.’ Nicholas pulled over in front of her flat, eyes glittering as he turned towards her. He laid a cool hand against her cheek. ‘I’ve had a great night with you, Clare. I’d like to do it again some time.’
Clare nodded. ‘Me, too. Thanks for asking me.’
He leaned in and she closed the space between them. His mouth slid against hers, and his arms encircled her. There was no awkward bumping
‘So I’m interested in your take on Madame Butterfly,’ Nicholas said as he settled into his chair. ‘Tragic or idiotic? I know where I stan d,’ he continued before she could respond. ‘I mean, I understand in that society, women had little power. But to kill yourself because you lost your husband? Purely idiotic in my books.’
Clare nodded. Although she had felt sorry for Madame Butterfly and her plight, ending one’s life over a failed relationship was ridiculous. Her mind flipped again to Anna and her relationship with her husband. In a million years, Clare couldn’t fathom making one person your all. What would happen if Michael ever left? Clare had found it hard enough when she and Edward broke up, and they’d only been together a few months.
All in all, it provided a very good case for the kind of relationship Clare was seeking now: one that wouldn’t consume her emotions or her life.
‘I have to agree with you there,’ she said finally.
‘The woman had a child, too.’ Nicholas shook his head. ‘At the very least, she should have stayed alive to take care of him.’
‘If you make the choice to have kids, you should honour the responsibility.’ As she spoke the words, Clare couldn’t help thinking of her mother.
‘Exactly.’ Nicholas nodded emphatically, pausing to order a bottle of red from the waiter.
‘So you’ve never wanted children?’ She hated when people asked her that, but she knew Nicholas wouldn’t judge her, and they were on the subject anyway . . .
Nicholas shrugged and then reached out to grab the menu. ‘It’s a lot of responsibility,’ he said distractedly as he scanned the tiny print. ‘Hmm, I think I’ll get the steak and chips. How about you ?’
Finally, a man who wanted to talk less about kids than she did. ‘That sounds perfect,’ Clare said, although the thought of food made her stomach groan in protest.
A waiter swooped in and took their orders. Nicholas reached across the table and clasped her hand again. The feel of his skin against hers was lovely, even though she felt curiously detached, as if she were watching from above. They chatted as they downed their dinner, Nicholas regaling her with humorous tales from his job. He’d just finished describing how the on-set chef had spectacularly burnt a roast lamb in the oven when Clare caught a glimpse of the clock on the wall.
‘Yikes, it’s after midnight. Guess we had better make a move. I’ve got an early start in the morning.’ She pushed back her chair, rummaged through her handbag, then removed her credit card. ‘Shall we split this?’ Edward had always rejected her offer, but Nicholas just shrugged.
‘Sure,’ he said, taking her card and handing it over with his to the waiter. At last, a bloke who didn’t feel obliged to pay for her, Clare thought. She hated feeling like she owed her date, and besides, Nicholas had given her a free ticket to tonight’s performance .
Out on the street, Clare breathed in the cool night air, glad to escape from the stuffy restaurant. She’d choked down most her dinner, and her stomach was having difficulty accepting her efforts. As they climbed into the car, Nicholas kept up a running commentary about his job. Clare let the patter wash over her, trying to suppress a yawn. She’d enjoyed the evening, but exhaustion was pressing down on her, and curling up on the leather seats to snooze was becoming more and more irresistible.
‘Here we are.’ Nicholas pulled over in front of her flat, eyes glittering as he turned towards her. He laid a cool hand against her cheek. ‘I’ve had a great night with you, Clare. I’d like to do it again some time.’
Clare nodded. ‘Me, too. Thanks for asking me.’
He leaned in and she closed the space between them. His mouth slid against hers, and his arms encircled her. There was no awkward bumping
Similar Books
