Free O' for the love of Shakespeare by Brooke St Pier Page B

showing off his tanned muscular arms.   I wonder what his
skin feels like, to run my fingers across his naked chest…
    “Are you on holiday on your own?”  He frowns
slightly.  How do I answer this without sounding like a complete loser?
    “Yes, er my girlfriend was supposed to come
with me but she bailed on me at the last minute.  By girlfriend I mean my best
friend not partner.  She’s getting married and everything.  To a man, getting
married to her boyfriend.”  I am an idiot.  I hear the smallest laugh erupt
from him but he ends up just smirking at me.  I know, I know, I’m hilarious.
    “Well I think you are incredibly brave Jane coming
away on your own anyway.  It can be exciting to travel alone but it can also be
daunting.  I have to travel quite often on my own for work so I suppose I’m starting
to get used to it now but I still find it hard sometimes.  This is my first time
in Stratford-upon-Avon and I haven’t been here for long so I don’t really know
anyone.  I like it though, here I mean.”  I can feel my face warm at his
complement, he thinks I’m brave.  I feel myself sit a little straighter and I
pull my head up to smile at him. “Are you staying in town?”
    “Just in a little Bed and Breakfast over the
bridge.  It’s not great to be honest but it’s close to the centre which is the
main thing.  Are you staying close by?”
    “Yes not far from here but I’m sharing a room
with someone.”  Maybe he’s seeing someone?  “I’m sharing with someone from work
but it means I can’t really just sit and relax so I tend to come here when I
have time off to read.” He clarifies.  Phew.
     “So what do you do?  What brought you here?” 
I of course know the answer to this but I want to keep the conversation going for
as long as possible and for him to continue to think I’m brave.
    “I’m working at a theatre for a bit but I’ve
got this morning off.”  His eyes search my face for a moment and then he adds,
“I don’t suppose you would like to look around the sites with me for a bit this
morning, us being two people alone in this beautiful part of the world?”  He
leans forward ever so slightly awaiting my decision.  He bites his bottom lip
for the briefest of moments.  Stop staring at his mouth Jane.  Could I suggest
my bedroom at the Bed and Breakfast as being one of the main scenic attractions? 
No probably not.
    “Are you sure, with me?  I mean yes that would
be lovely Ryan thank you I’ll just quickly finish my Latte.”  We finish our
coffees in slightly awkward silence.
    “OK shall we?”  I still cannot believe he is
talking to me.
    “Yes I’m good to go.”  Don’t giggle Jane.  Be
mysterious, enigmatic, alluring.  Be anything but yourself.  People turn to
watch us as we leave the café and I can only think they are trying to work out
why such a beautiful man is leaving with plain Jane.  The day is warming up
fast, it looks as though it is going to be another glorious summer’s day.  And
I get to spend at least some of it with Ryan!
    “Where shall we go first?”  He turns to look at
me.
    “I don’t mind.”  You can take me anywhere.
    “Well where have you been so far and I will try
to think of somewhere different?”
    “I’ve been to the café at this theatre.”  I
point back over my shoulder with my thumb.  Ground swallow me up now.
    “When did you get here?”
    “Yesterday lunch time.”  Come on ground I’m
waiting, anytime now any size of a hole for me to disappear in to would be
great.  I did go to the theatre to see a play too which makes me feel a little
better but I of course cannot admit this to Cassio I mean Ryan.
    “Erm right, OK.”  He laughs a deep sexy laugh. 
“Well that gives us lots of possibilities anyway.”  Possibilities, oh I like
the sound of that.  “Well you can’t come to Stratford-upon-Avon without seeing
the Bard’s birthplace right?”  I nod enthusiastically back at him.