What the heck was she going to wear?
Conscious of time ticking away, Callie stared into her wardrobe, waiting for a new, sexy outfit to miraculously appear on the racks. It would have been better if the invitation to dinner was spontaneous. Then she wouldn’t have had time to worry about what to wear or for the nerves to hit in full force. She was going on her first official date with Nathan. Also her first date at all in what felt like a hundred years. What did people do on dates these days? Last time she’d dated they’d hung around the milk bar and listened to Madonna and Bon Jovi, or gone parking in the Wooraroogan National Park.
Her stomach quivered at the thought of making out with Nathan at the popular spot. Was it still the go-to place for horny teenagers? She was far too old and inflexible to make love in a car these days, but the thought of it still made her toes curl. It seemed premature to be thinking about making love with Nathan, but she had no doubt he’d be a sensitive, caring lover. One who put her own pleasure ahead of his. His kisses were already enough to blow her socks off, and that was while fully clothed.
For a brief moment she allowed herself the luxury of imagining Nathan naked. His toned body and tight backside bared for her to see and touch. Meowing indignantly, Minerva strolled regally into the bedroom, jumped up onto the bed and began to groom herself, one leg cocked in the air. Obviously her cat didn’t appreciate the direction her thoughts were taking.
Callie pulled a black and white oriental print dress from the rail. The tulip-shaped hem flattered her legs—her best feature, being toned from all the walking she did. There was just enough time to have a quick shower and make up her face before Nathan arrived at her door. If she didn’t get side-tracked by daydreaming about him naked again.
She wiped a clear spot on the steamy mirror and stared at her reflection. So much for not having time for a relationship. He crooks his finger and asks you out and all of your resolutions fly south for the winter.
‘I’ll make time. I’ve been waiting for this practically my whole life. I’ll make it work.’ Her voice echoed in the small bathroom.
By the time he knocked on her door she was ready. She took one last look in the full-length mirror on her bedroom wall, smoothing down her dress with sweaty palms. ‘How do I look, Minerva?’ The cat gave her a haughty look as if to say why should I care? You’re going out and leaving me, and turned her back.
Everyone’s a critic. Callie picked up her shawl and clutch purse from the hall-stand, took a deep breath and opened the front door.
Nathan’s eyes roamed over her before he wolf-whistled. ‘You look fantastic. I wish we had somewhere fancier than the Ace to go to now.’
‘Thanks. You scrub up all right too.’ In black trousers and a red and white striped cotton shirt, sleeves rolled up to show his muscular forearms, Nathan looked ready for a classy restaurant too. But they weren’t going to find one of those in Mindalby. Not that she needed fancy. She’d be just as happy going to a backyard barbie with him.
He leaned forward and placed his hands on her waist, then dropped his head to kiss her. She turned her head so his kiss landed on her cheek. ‘I’ve just put my face on. Don’t want to smudge my lippie.’
He trailed his lips down to her neck. ‘Can I smudge your lippie later?’
She grabbed at his shoulder for support, letting her head fall back. Her knees weakened like overcooked noodles. ‘I think we can arrange something.’
He straightened and let his hands drop to his side. ‘Well, let’s hurry up and eat, so later comes that much quicker.’
***
Bringing Callie to the bistro at the Ace had no doubt kicked the rumours up another notch in town. They’d bypassed the bar and entered straight into the dining area. There were only a handful of diners but even here were people who knew them. Knew their complicated history.
He’d heard a muttered aside from one old codger as they’d walked past him on the footpath on their way in. He hadn’t caught all the words but it sounded like watch she doesn’t burn your stuff, mate. She didn’t seem to have heard, luckily and he’d hurried her past him before the old bloke could say any more.
But if the gossips were going to talk, he was happy to give them something to talk about. He’d kept his arm around Callie’s waist as they’d entered, pulled her chair out as they sat down at the small table near the fireplace, and couldn’t stop gazing into her eyes over the tealight candle in a jam jar serving as a centrepiece.
And as they ate, they’d slipped so easily back into the friendship they’d shared for so long. Laughing, joking around and talking about whatever came into their minds. He’d never met anyone who made him feel so comfortable. But as much as he enjoyed spending time in conversation with Callie, the meal was taking forever. The touches across the table were making him crave more and the promise of being alone with her later and smudging her lippie sent his pulse rate soaring.
He spooned up the last mouthful of his slow cooked curry beef and rice, and drank deeply of his beer to soothe the spiciness. They’d spent much of the meal discussing her first day. He watched her face light up when she described her first customer, and he wanted to kiss away the sadness when she worried about the slow start to her opening.
‘I guess I did choose the worst possible time to open a store. I knew that. The community is hurting at the moment.’ She took another bite of her crumbed fish, looking thoughtful while she chewed.
He reached across and stole a chip from her plate. ‘I’ve been making plans for something I can contribute to the town. I’m looking at what’s involved in starting a Men’s Shed. You know, where men can come and use tools while getting together with other blokes to talk?’
Her eyes lit up. ‘What a great idea.’ She pushed her plate aside, cutlery carefully aligned, and patted her lips with her napkin.
‘I’ve been researching what’s required. I’ve got my shed there and all the tools. That’ll be enough to get us started. I’ve got so many ideas for projects we can do.’ He’d stayed up for hours looking on the Men’s Shed website and jotting down plans. His crew were all keen on the idea too, although Mischa was peeved that she’d be excluded. She’d thrown a carpenter’s pencil at him when he’d suggested she join the Country Women’s Association and bake cakes instead.
It was a fair point though, and he’d noticed that some organisations had a ladies only night. Mixed nights wouldn’t work. The whole point was for men to get together with other men and feel comfortable enough to talk through issues. Even if the way they talked was different to how women did.
‘You sound pretty keen about it.’
The young waitress walked over and collected their empty plates. After she’d gone, Nathan reached across the table and took hold of Callie’s hands, toying with the small silver band she wore on the ring finger of her right hand.
‘I am keen about the idea. There was a young kid at footy training—Aiden—well, it really hit home how much the closure is affecting people. I’ve been wracking my brains trying to come up with a way I can help and this feels right.’ It was hard to put into words all the thoughts he had rushing around in his brain. ‘I know it’s not going to put food on his table, but it might help his dad find new work, or stop his parents fighting so much, or stop one person killing themselves from stress. It can help in the long term while others, like the CWA, help in the short term with their food parcels and things like that.’
He stopped as he saw Julie walk into the bistro. She spotted them, her eyes immediately zooming over to the table where he and Callie held hands, and her face turned stormy. The curry sat heavily in his gut. Julie reached for her mobile phone and jammed her fingers on the screen even as she turned and pushed her way back out of the dining room.
‘Shit.’ He had a nasty taste in his mouth. He knew Julie meant trouble.
‘What?’ Callie looked around the room.
‘Julie just spotted us. She didn’t look happy.’ The fact she’d been such close friends with his ex-wife flashed huge warning signs to him. Who was she ringing? Why was it any of her business that he and Callie were on a date?
‘So? We’re both single. We can have a meal together, date, do anything we like.’ She lowered her eyelids as if embarrassed by what she’d said, but he’d spotted the flash of desire and his imagination had already taken flight.
He forced himself to push Julie out of his mind. There wasn’t anything he could do to stop whatever she had planned. All he could do was manage the fallout so it didn’t hurt Callie.
‘Anything?’ He raised her hands to his mouth and playfully nibbled the tips of her fingers.
Cheeks red, she met his gaze. ‘Anything.’
Blood shot straight to his groin. ‘When? Now?’
She pulled her hands away from his and sat up primly. God that turned him on. ‘Well obviously not now, we’re in public. And need I remind you that this is only our first date. I’m not that kind of girl.’
He groaned. ‘Seriously? What about the Chinese takeaway, fishing and the picnic? Besides, we’ve had a thirty-four-year-long courtship. Surely that counts as something.’
She leaned across the table so that her lips were inches from his. Her voice was low and husky. ‘Well, when you put it that way … You can be mighty convincing, mister. Why don’t we go home and you can show me exactly how convincing.’
He was more than happy to oblige.