Read Online Tripping on Love by Carrie Stone - Free Book Online Page B

steady as the cool liquid took effect.
    A gentle tap at the door ensued. Taking a deep breath, I walked casually into the hall, aware he could see my every move through the stained glass panelling.   Gently opening the door, I felt my face flush. He was even more handsome than I’d recalled. Wearing a blue suit, no tie and carrying an extremely large bunch of exotic flowers, he smiled. I noticed as his eyes drank me in and began to twinkle.
    'Wow Lizzie, you look stunning' he said with a genuinity and warmth I had never before experienced from a first date.
    'Why, thank you' I allowed my eyes to fix firmly on his, ignoring the palpitations it sent riveting through my body. 'You look rather dashing yourself. Almost as good as those beautiful flowers you're holding' I gestured him to come inside.
    As he stepped into the hall I felt his presence tower above me. His well built frame, obvious beneath his suit. He handed me the flowers and I delicately took them, leading us through to the kitchen. I silently prayed that he wouldn’t notice the half empty wine bottle and empty glass that sat on the table. I didn’t want him thinking I was a lush.
    'Nice place you have here' he said nodding his head and looking around the room.
    I shrugged , a little embarrassed. 'Thanks, it’s actually my friend Mel's house. I’m just a tenant.'
    I span around searching for a vase, grateful for the excuse to shield my mortification. I was in my late twenties and I didn’t even own my own property. There was no use lying about it; if he and I were to marry, he'd be expecting me to sell and contribute towards the family home at some point. Now I’d been upfront, he probably assumed I had a huge savings balance instead – responsibly contributing on a monthly basis.
    Except I had no such thing. I didn’t even own a car. My total worth came down to thirty eight pairs of shoes, four large suitcases of clothes and three diamond rings. If I online auctioned the majority of it, then I could raise a couple of thousand pounds at most. Enough to buy a one way ticket to Africa and become a volunteer on a reserve. At least they provided accommodation and food. Realistically, I’d probably only need five pairs of shoes there and certainly no more than one suitcase.
    He leaned against the worktop in a comfortable manner; at ease as if he were in his own home.
    'I’ve always loved apartment living. I have a house in the country that I rent out, and here in the city I have an apartment in the Docklands. However, I'm mostly overseas at the moment' he said as I finished arranging the flowers in a vase.
    I turned to face him and once again felt my face flush. He was perfect in every way possible. I was sure it wasn’t my imagination but there seemed to be an electric current between us.
    Struggling to find words to hold a conversation with him, I politely nodded. His presence was unnerving me, my thoughts were becoming erratic. His effect on me was glaringly obvious.
    'Shall we go? I've made dinner reservations at Le Garçon if that's suitable for you?' he asked boring into my eyes.
    ‘Sounds perfect’ I lied. I had absolutely no idea where Le Garçon was and I wasn’t keen on French food. However, nothing could spoil the feeling of rightness that was taking over me as we headed out into the night together towards his car, my arm in Edward's.
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    Le Garçon was small, dimly lit and appeared as if it belonged in a fairytale. A quaint, cottage style façade covered in climbing ivy; it emanated a warm, inviting ambience through its decorative, leaded windows.
    Edward put his arm around my shoulders as we walked the short distance to the doorway. I felt safe, protected and strangely like I belonged there within his embrace.
    We were greeted by Marcel, a pretty French woman who upon seeing Edward blushed deep scarlet and stumbled on her welcoming speech. Marcel couldn’t hide her envy as she led Edward and I to our discreetly situated table at the