Free All the Rage by Spencer Coleman Page B

long black sable coat and high heels and silver drop earrings with diamonds. He smelt her skin and imagined the contours of her smooth body. He placed a flute of sparkling bubbles in front of her.
    â€˜Champagne: how lovely! ’
    Lauren allowed the waiter to remove her coat, revealing her lithesome figure in a hugging sequined black dress, slashed at the front to show her breasts, half covered. Michael inhaled deeply and hesitated for a moment, caught off balance by the intoxicating vision of this incredible creature before him. He was aware that all eyes in the room were on her.
    â€˜Are you OK? ’ she asked mischievously. ‘Is it too hot in here for you? ’
    It was getting too damn hot, he admitted silently to himself.
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    ***
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    After the movie had ended, Kara and Marcus retreated to an old fashioned pub across the street, where they sat perched on high uncomfortable stools at the main bar. He saw her displeasure.
    The atmosphere was brash and heated and smoky.
    â€˜Not your scene,’ Marcus said his voice shouting above the din.
    â€˜Why do you think that? ’ Kara asked, unsmiling.
    He ordered a Bud for himself and a gin and tonic for her. ‘I had you down as a wine bar girl, to be honest. ’
    â€˜Never be presumptuous, Marcus. I’m a chameleon, always adapting to my surroundings. I’m a born survivor. ’
    Marcus shrugged. ‘Survival, eh? Is that how you view your life? ’
    â€˜ Far too heavy,’ Kara said. ‘Let’s just say I prefer to blend in. ’
    They swallowed their drinks quickly and decided to reorder, against her better judgement. This time she paid, making her gin and tonic a double.
    â€˜So – not unlike the fate of the leading lady in the film? ’ Marcus said, venturing boldly. ‘She chose survival over the challenge. ’
    Kara shifted in her chair. ‘I wasn’t looking for similarities. ’
    He persisted. ‘Well, the way I see it, the character only revalued her priorities when she found the reason to open her mind to other possibilities. Then he saved her. ’
    â€˜The knight in shining armour theory? ’
    â€˜Exactly. She discovered herself through him. ’
    Kara screwed her face up. ‘And found true happiness and everlasting love? ’
    â€˜Something like that. ’
    â€˜Hmm, a little too clichéd for me, I’m afraid. ’
    â€˜But that was the message,’ Marcus preached, taking up the argument. ‘I found it magical, that two people could find each other and truly connect. ’
    Kara smirked, sank the last remains from her glass and stood to go. ‘Well, if you want my opinion, I found it pretentious tosh. ’
    Before he had a chance to react, Kara pulled him closer and kissed him hard on the mouth.
    â€˜Let’s go to bed,’ she shouted above the din, catching the startled attention of those closest in earshot. ‘That’s what you really want. Be honest. ’
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    ***
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    â€˜Would you care for another pot of coffee, sir? ’
    Michael gazed up at the waiter, somewhat surprised. The restaurant was virtually empty. He looked at his wristwatch: Midnight. Christ.
    â€˜We are fine, thank you. Can we have the bill instead, please? ’ He turned to Lauren, and grinned. ‘Amazing,’ he remarked, ‘The evening has simply flown by. ’
    Michael had the perfect night of fun and laughter, fine wine and good food. For the first time Michael began to see Lauren flourish and relax and unwind from the problems that had clearly beset her. They talked freely and found ironic humour in their mutual experiences of respective marriage breakdowns. Certainly for him, he gained an inner strength from relating to their shared stories, some painful, some hilarious. Michael fell in love with Lauren this night, without telling her.
    Lauren stretched out her arm and took his hand. ‘I’ve had a truly wonderful evening.