Free Unforgettable Embrace by Joanne Clancy Page B

patches. She even had a tiny piece of white tissue paper stuck to her forehead. Wonderful, she thought, I wonder how long that's been there? John must think I'm a total nut job by now. She carefully picked the tissue off her forehead, leaving a pale patch behind; clearly she'd overdone it on the bronzing powder.
    She continued dabbing the sweat from her face. There wasn't any air in the bathroom, so instead of cooling down she was actually getting hotter.
    How long have I been in here now? She asked herself.
    She decided to leave the bathroom and fervently hoped she would start cooling down fast.
     
    John looked up from the drinks menu just as she approached the table. “Everything OK?” he asked cautiously, “I was starting to think you'd run away on me.”
    “ No, no, of course not,” Rachel laughed, “there was a queue for the loo.”
    “ I see,” John replied, doubtfully, as the place was empty except for the two of them. “Would you like a drink?” he asked.
    “ Definitely, vodka and coke please, with lots of ice,” Rachel said enthusiastically, as John made his way towards the bar to order their drinks. She sincerely hoped it would help to reduce her body temperature.
     
    She really didn't know what was wrong with her. She'd given herself plenty of time to get ready for her date. She'd even gotten a taxi from her house into town. She'd actually arrived early. It was the walk around the shopping centre that had made her warm. She was a fast walker, wherever she went, she always had to walk fast. She'd met John just outside the restaurant, but the minute they'd sat down she'd started sweating profusely.
     
    John handed her her drink. It was a double vodka and coke.
    “ Thank you,” she smiled gratefully up at him and downed her drink in a few gulps.
    She considered wiping an ice cube around her face, but thought that might be a step too far. “You're welcome,” John said, looking concerned.
    “ I'm not an alcoholic, honestly,” Rachel insisted, “I'm so hot and so thirsty.”
    “ Would you like another?” John asked.
    “ I'll get these, my round,” Rachel made her way towards the bar and seized the opportunity to dab a few beads of sweat from her forehead with a tissue again.
     
    She plonked herself back into her seat and sipped her second drink more slowly, whilst fanning herself with the menu. She was desperately fighting the urge to suck on the ice cubes; they looked so cold and inviting.
    “ Are you sure you're OK?” John seemed worried now.
    “ I'm fine, just hot, I'll have cooled down in a minute,” she replied, continuing to fan her damp face.
    They spent the next half an hour chatting and getting to know each other. Rachel's body temperature was finally back to normal. John seemed like a decent guy. He worked as a project manager and had recently purchased a new apartment which he was very excited about.
    He had a five year old son from a previous relationship, who lived with his mother and who John had at the weekends. Rachel liked children, but she had forgotten that some of her dates may have children and that wasn't an ideal situation for her. She wanted to be a mother some day, but not yet. She liked John and had already hoped that he would ask her out on another date, that's if he didn't think she was a total mentalist after her performance earlier in the evening. He seemed to like her; she hoped he wasn't just being polite.
     
    The rest of their date went well. The meal was delicious and the ambience was perfect for a date, with soft lighting and a very attentive waiter. They'd already shared two bottles of wine with dinner, and were the last people to leave the restaurant. All good signs, Rachel thought happily. John was the perfect gentleman. He paid for dinner, despite Rachel's offer to pay her share and then he walked her to her taxi home.
    He gave her a kiss on the cheek goodnight and thanked her for a lovely evening, saying that he hoped to see her again soon. Rachel was