Free London Lace, #2 by Catou Martine

Second Date
    Eliza stood in the middle of the Millennium Bridge, the Tate Modern on one side and the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral on the other. Todd said he’d meet her at noon, then take her to the races. He a horse running in Surrey this afternoon.
    He also had Eliza’s heart running in dizzying circles. 
    As she stood above the Thames, Londoners and tourists passing to and fro, she daydreamed about their unexpected and passionate previous night together, which had led to a surprisingly romantic morning, with Todd making her coffee in bed, and then making love to her, slowly, deliciously, languorously. He’d only brought one condom, so Eliza had had to dip into her stash, which added another layer to the future conversation they would eventually have.
    But it was still too early for that. This—whatever this was—was still too fresh, and yet, they both seemed to be reaching for something deep within each other already, not even twenty-four hours after they first met. She could feel it. But they had to go through the motions, didn’t they? Navigate the superficial to arrive naturally at an earned depth. Eliza felt its inevitability though, a pull coming from deep in her bones, and it scared her.
    Perhaps it was better to keep this casual. Why did her heart have to leap so far ahead of her other body parts in these matters? Being a woman maybe she couldn’t help it. But she was determined to enjoy these early moments, no matter what the rest amounted to. They were having fun. Enjoying each other. It didn’t need to get more complicated than that.
    After morning coffee, plus bonuses, Todd had talked her into driving out to Surrey with him. Since Eliza had already arranged for her assistant, Carmen, to mind the shop, she readily agreed. Her plans had originally been to meet with Stella to shop for silks, but when Eliza explained the strange and romantic turn of events, Stella told her go have fun. So Eliza found herself with an unexpected day off and an unexpected lover to share it with. Todd had gone home to change and arrange a car, and they agreed to meet on the bridge at noon.
    This had given Eliza time to bathe again, dress, and enjoy a refreshing walk through the city. It was a mild day for mid-March; spring was definitely in the air, and it was warm enough to get away with only knee-high socks instead of tights.
    Her cream, cable-knit socks reached just above the chocolate brown leather boots sheathing her calves, so her skin just above her knees was visible up to the line of her camel-colored, brushed cotton pencil skirt. A cream tunic sweater, fitted, fell just past her hips. A strip of it hung below the hem of her belted Burberry coat. And she wore a hat, of course. An homage to the classic Fedora—popular once again with both men and women—but this one smaller, more feminine, with a fine soft Tweed pattern (an homage to Todd) and a tiny owl feather tucked in its brown band.
    Eliza welcomed the walk from Piccadilly to St. Paul’s, it gave her time to clear her head and to stop by Kenzi’s salon.
    “Any chance you could squeeze me in?” said Eliza pushing through the front door and into a sea of white orchids—Kenzi’s signature touch.
    “Eliza!” said Kenzi coming out from behind the counter where she had been typing madly. Her dark almond-shaped eyes sparkled and her artistically lined lips curved into a wide smile. “It’s been ages, honey!”
    “Self-maintenance is not all it’s cracked up to be,” said Eliza as she was swept up into a hug by this petite friend who was so much stronger than her stature suggested.
    “What do you need?” said Kenzi stepping back and looking seriously into Eliza’s face. In a flash she seemed to scrutinize her eyebrows, eyelashes, upper lip, and hair roots, none of which Eliza had to deal with cosmetically, yet, but Kenzi was always on the lookout. It was her job. Her art, she called it.
    “I wish you’d let me work on your brows. I could get you looking