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Authors: Belinda Williams
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some form of relaxation).
Paul Neilsen
Director
NTRtain Media Pty Ltd
My heart thumped in my chest at his unexpected reply, and continued to pound as I typed my reply. Why, oh why, did this man have to be unavailable?
To: Neilsen, Paul
Subject: You truly are wise
I’m about to walk up the road to my favorite Thai restaurant. Thai Fusion in Kirribilli. I can highly recommend it.
Madeleine Spencer
Director
Grounded Marketing Pty Ltd
My stomach growled after I hit send. My mobile phone would receive Paul’s emails once I left home, but for some reason I continued to stare at my computer screen. I frowned as a new email arrived a minute later, with an unfamiliar subject line.
From: Neilsen, Paul
Subject: Dinner
I hear you’re a loyal customer of Thai Fusion. As it turns out I am too.
Meet me there for dinner? It will put my mind at ease to know you’re not spending your Saturday night in front of your laptop.
Paul Neilsen
Director
NTRtain Media Pty Ltd
After I read, then re-read Paul’s reply, I swallowed. Had my hot business mentor just invited me to dinner under the thinly veiled guise of professional responsibility? Or was my perpetual single status affecting my ability to reason? There was only one way to find out.
My palms were sweaty as I typed my reply.
Chapter 10
I spent the ten-minute walk to the main street in Kirribilli uselessly debating with myself. Was this dinner something more than two business associates catching up socially? As soon as I thought it, I admonished myself for thinking it was anything else.
Paul was already sitting at a table for two when I arrived. I’d left my hair down and was wearing a simple yellow shift dress that contrasted my tanned skin. I was aiming for casual elegance, but now that I was standing in front of Paul the skirt suddenly felt too short and my arms very bare despite the balmy evening.
He stood up and brushed his lips against my cheek. His eyes dropped to my dress. “You look nice.”
I stepped back self-consciously. Having his eyes on me like that was making it hard to breathe. “How did you know about Thai Fusion?” I asked.
Paul’s eyes returned to mine and I refrained from breaking his intense gaze. He looked good tonight. The polo shirt he was wearing brought out the blue in his eyes.
“I live in Lavender Bay, so I’ve been here quite a few times,” he told me.
“So you’re a local like I am.”
We both sat down and silence stretched awkwardly between us. What the hell was I doing here? You’re not doing anything, Maddy, my subconscious reminded me. It’s called dinner with an acquaintance.
Paul cleared his throat and I couldn’t read his expression. “Are you up for a red?”
I nodded. “Wine would be good. Did you want to order separately or share?”
Why did this feel so ridiculous? Our small talk dinner conversation was bordering on painful.
“Let’s share,” he replied.
I set myself the task of studying the menu. After the waiter had taken our order, I found myself avoiding Paul’s eyes, opting to people watch instead. There was an older couple chatting heatedly in the far corner and I flinched when they erupted into raucous laughter. I’d assumed they were having an argument, but clearly I wasn’t very good at reading people.
“Madeleine.”
Why couldn’t he just call me Maddy? The effect of that one word was doing my head in. I returned my attention to him and realized he was observing me with a small smile.
“Do you always ignore your dinner partners?”
He was right. I was being rude. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m just distracted.” By you , I wanted to add, but didn’t.
The waiter arrived at our table with the bottle of wine and we waited as he poured us each a glass.
Paul nodded in my direction. “Now take a sip and relax.”
“Sorry,” I said again. I did as he’d suggested and
Paul Neilsen
Director
NTRtain Media Pty Ltd
My heart thumped in my chest at his unexpected reply, and continued to pound as I typed my reply. Why, oh why, did this man have to be unavailable?
To: Neilsen, Paul
Subject: You truly are wise
I’m about to walk up the road to my favorite Thai restaurant. Thai Fusion in Kirribilli. I can highly recommend it.
Madeleine Spencer
Director
Grounded Marketing Pty Ltd
My stomach growled after I hit send. My mobile phone would receive Paul’s emails once I left home, but for some reason I continued to stare at my computer screen. I frowned as a new email arrived a minute later, with an unfamiliar subject line.
From: Neilsen, Paul
Subject: Dinner
I hear you’re a loyal customer of Thai Fusion. As it turns out I am too.
Meet me there for dinner? It will put my mind at ease to know you’re not spending your Saturday night in front of your laptop.
Paul Neilsen
Director
NTRtain Media Pty Ltd
After I read, then re-read Paul’s reply, I swallowed. Had my hot business mentor just invited me to dinner under the thinly veiled guise of professional responsibility? Or was my perpetual single status affecting my ability to reason? There was only one way to find out.
My palms were sweaty as I typed my reply.
Chapter 10
I spent the ten-minute walk to the main street in Kirribilli uselessly debating with myself. Was this dinner something more than two business associates catching up socially? As soon as I thought it, I admonished myself for thinking it was anything else.
Paul was already sitting at a table for two when I arrived. I’d left my hair down and was wearing a simple yellow shift dress that contrasted my tanned skin. I was aiming for casual elegance, but now that I was standing in front of Paul the skirt suddenly felt too short and my arms very bare despite the balmy evening.
He stood up and brushed his lips against my cheek. His eyes dropped to my dress. “You look nice.”
I stepped back self-consciously. Having his eyes on me like that was making it hard to breathe. “How did you know about Thai Fusion?” I asked.
Paul’s eyes returned to mine and I refrained from breaking his intense gaze. He looked good tonight. The polo shirt he was wearing brought out the blue in his eyes.
“I live in Lavender Bay, so I’ve been here quite a few times,” he told me.
“So you’re a local like I am.”
We both sat down and silence stretched awkwardly between us. What the hell was I doing here? You’re not doing anything, Maddy, my subconscious reminded me. It’s called dinner with an acquaintance.
Paul cleared his throat and I couldn’t read his expression. “Are you up for a red?”
I nodded. “Wine would be good. Did you want to order separately or share?”
Why did this feel so ridiculous? Our small talk dinner conversation was bordering on painful.
“Let’s share,” he replied.
I set myself the task of studying the menu. After the waiter had taken our order, I found myself avoiding Paul’s eyes, opting to people watch instead. There was an older couple chatting heatedly in the far corner and I flinched when they erupted into raucous laughter. I’d assumed they were having an argument, but clearly I wasn’t very good at reading people.
“Madeleine.”
Why couldn’t he just call me Maddy? The effect of that one word was doing my head in. I returned my attention to him and realized he was observing me with a small smile.
“Do you always ignore your dinner partners?”
He was right. I was being rude. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m just distracted.” By you , I wanted to add, but didn’t.
The waiter arrived at our table with the bottle of wine and we waited as he poured us each a glass.
Paul nodded in my direction. “Now take a sip and relax.”
“Sorry,” I said again. I did as he’d suggested and
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