After my shower, I slip on the bathrobe provided by the hotel. Back in the main suite, I open the ornate wardrobe and choose a T-shirt that I like and a pair of comfortable jeans. I disrobe and step into fresh underwear and then my clothes. As I am pulling down the T-shirt over my stomach, I hear a rapping at the door.  Opening the door, expecting it to be Jenny or Rich, I am surprised to see the concierge at my door. He offers up a professional smile.

“There is a delivery for you, Miss Megan.”

I smile, taking the large, grey box from his hands. He wishes me a good morning, and I return the sentiment before shutting the door. I place the box onto the coffee table, following the warning printed on the box to keep it upright. Carefully I open the box and the scent of fresh flowers reaches my nose. I reach in and pull out a cut-glass vase with a dozen long-stemmed pink roses. Placing it onto the coffee table, I notice a small, white envelope nestled among the leaves, written in perfect script is my name. I open the flap and remove a small white card.

Megan,

I hope you like roses, will see you again very soon.

Mark.

How did he know where I was staying? I place the box over by the waste-bin, leaving the card and the vase of flowers on the coffee table. I then heard my phone trilling out an incoming message. I walk to the bed, pick it up and smile. It is another from Mark.

My meeting has finished early, I’m going to go and get some breakfast and head home. What are your plans? X

I reply immediately:

I’m up, relaxing with a cuppa. Thank you so much for the flowers. They are beautiful.

You are very welcome; they are as beautiful as you are. Okay this might be a bit bold of me, do you fancy having lunch with me today? X

Maybe, what are you thinking?

There’s a little bistro near the bar from last night. X 

What time are you thinking? 

12ish, then we can relax. X

I reply quickly before I can change my mind:

Sounds like a plan.

I wonder if I have done the right thing, agreeing to meet him for lunch. Will I be safe with him on my own?  I need to stop worrying, live a little while I can. I like him, and well, he seems nice. I need to just trust my heart and go for it. I text Jenny to see what she thinks.

Mark’s asked me out for lunch, I’ve said yes. Don’t know if I should go or not. Xx

Jenny’s reply comes back five minutes later:

Go for it. Live a little. Xx

I decided not to change, but touch up my lip-gloss and apply some mascara. I put the lip-gloss and a few other essentials into my little black bag and spend the next half an hour fretting over the lunch date.

I receive a text from Mark.

Can I come and collect you from the hotel? X

If you want to, Mark.

I don’t want to seem like I don’t want him to collect me, but I don’t want to seem like I need to be looked after all the time. I will leave it up to him.

I do want to. Meet you in the lobby at 12. X

How did you know which hotel I was staying in?

It sounds a bit 'stalker-like’ but I rang all the hotels in the area until I found a Jenny and Megan staying in the same hotel.  X

Oh okay, determined man I see. Thank you again for the flowers they’re beautiful.

I slowly go down to the lobby of the hotel, not wanting to be late, but not wanting to seem too eager. Mark is already standing there, wearing dark coloured jeans and a white T-shirt. He looks amazing. I walk over to him, watching him watch me, as I get closer to him.

“Hi, Megan, you look gorgeous.” I feel myself start to blush and butterflies start to appear in my stomach.

“You look good. The jeans and T-shirt look works for you.” Mark winks at me.

“Thank you. Shall we head out?”

I nod, walking beside him out to a waiting taxi. Mark opens the rear passenger door, being a total gentleman, letting me get into the black taxi first.

Throughout the short taxi ride to the bistro, Mark tells me all about his meeting, and it is nice to just sit there and listen. I should really ask what he does, but I am feeling all nervous. I don’t want to talk. I don’t know how to act. It has been so long since I have been on a date or even been out with a male.

Arriving at the bistro, Mark takes the lead, holding his arm out for me to hold onto and linking my arm in his. Mark walks with me into the bistro through the door and tells the headwaiter that he has a table booked for two. He gives the man his name, and the waiter leads us to our table. It’s a very upmarket establishment, and I am surprised when the waiter pulls out a chair from the table for me to be seated first. I thank him and the waiter bows his head with professional courtesy. This all feels a little strange; I’m not accustomed to such places.

“Order anything you like, Megan,” Mark says. Perhaps he has noticed my nervousness.

“Thank you.”

I sit, looking at the menu as Mark tells me all about the bistro’s history, and I think he’s beginning to realize just how shy a person I am.

The menu is full of posh meals; there are so many things I don’t know on the menu. I decided to go for a Caesar salad to start with followed by pan fried sea bass. Mark orders a tomato and herb salad followed by steak tartare. Neither of us orders pudding. Mark explains that they ask you about them after the main course.

I keep my head down, looking at the table. I feel so open to attack that I can’t look at him, and I don’t know what to do or say. I can’t even remember the last time I went out on a date.

“Megan, relax please,” Mark says as he moves his hand around the table and places it on top of mine, rubbing it gently.

“Sorry, I am just very shy,” His hand on mine is nice, and I like it.

“Don’t be.”

I raise my head, and my eyes meet his immediately. His big smile manages to relax me a bit.

“You look amazing, if I didn’t already tell you.”

“Thank you,” I reply, feeling myself blush.

“Awe, you are so shy. It’s cute. You look even more beautiful when you blush.”

We sit there talking about plans for holidays this year. Mark informs me that he has just returned from America. He had been to Fairfield, Connecticut, for a work holiday, and he still got to go to his favourite donut shop, managing to get some donuts with chocolate icing and sprinkles.

“Beth introduced me to them. She is one of the ladies who works for the company, but she is based over there.”

“Oh, that was nice of her,” I state while wondering if they have a past. Were they a couple?

“These donuts are nothing like the ones you get here. They were amazing. I will have to get you some to try next time,” Mark responds.

“I have never been to America at all. Actually, I have never been abroad. Those donuts sound nice though.”

“Are you a chocolate girl?”

I nod. Who is not a chocolate girl?

“You need to relax more.” Mark pauses and looks at me. “I know that’s the worst chat up line. So, I know what to avoid,” he says, raising his eyebrow.

I can’t do anything but laugh.

“Well, that worked, so what would it be?”

“Did it hurt?” I question.

“Did what hurt?”

“When you fell from heaven?”

“That’s a bad one.” Mark laughs, trying to muffle it.

“It is. I don’t get why people would use those kinds of lines, but they do make me laugh,” he says just as our food arrives.

The smell of the food is wonderful and makes my mouth start to water immediately. I love food, but hate being watched eating, and definitely when it is a man watching me. It makes me feel so uncomfortable. I need to try though.

After our delicious main course, Mark lets the waitress leave us to choose our puddings.

“Would you like a pudding, Megan?” Mark asks.

“No, thank you. I am too full,” I state.

“Are you sure? The white chocolate Panna Cotta is to die for here,” Mark tells me.

“I’m fine. Please have one for yourself,” I say, waving him off.

Mark waves the waitress back over and orders Panna Cotta with two spoons. I just shake my head. I excuse myself to go to the bathroom, just so I can step away. I am feeling more comfortable, but I am not sure at all what to say to him. I feel so unsure of myself.

As I slowly walk back to the table, Mark gets up to pull my chair out.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Would you like anything else to drink?” Mark asks and points at my glass.

“No, I am okay with my water. Thank you.” I look at my glass, noticing I still have over half a glass left.

The waitress appears with pudding and places it onto the table between us.

“Please try a bit.” Mark passes me a spoon.

“Okay, only a little bit though.” Our hands brush as I take the spoon from him.

I take a little bit and taste it. He was right; it is amazing. I am too full to eat it, and I am definitely not a three-course meal kind of person.

“It's nice.” Forcing down the mouthful, it is nice, but not for me.

“Please, have more if you want it,” Mark states, pushing the dish towards me.

“I am fine. Thank you.” I place my hand out in front to stop him, pushing it farther towards me.

We finish our meal and leave the bistro. The journey back to the hotel is quiet. We don’t seem to say much at all. Mark points out a few monuments of the area as we go along.

Mark kindly takes me back to the hotel, saying our goodbyes in the lobby and giving me a hug before letting me go. I notice him sitting there watching me until I am out of sight.

Thank you for coming to lunch with me. X

Thank you for inviting me.

Anyday. x

Mark and I spend the rest of the day chatting by texts, finding out little bits about each other. It is so weird how natural I feel talking to him and how open I can be. We arrange plans to meet tomorrow and spend a little time together. Jenny is away with Rich again tomorrow, so I am free to do whatever I want. I secretly can’t wait for tomorrow to arrive.