Free Tears of Endurance (Romantic Drama) Book #1 by D.G. Torrens Page B

himself. He glanced at the white envelope sitting on the kitchen counter and was reminded of his out-patient’s visit the following day at the Westview Hospital. He was no longer feeling concerned about his headaches as they had subsided over the last couple of weeks and he was feeling altogether better.
    After breakfast, Ben took Charlie for a quick walk before hopping into his car and making the 25-minute drive to Coleshill via the M6. He was surprised to discover he was feeling rather nervous, a feeling he ’d not felt for a long time. He felt a knot forming in his lower stomach and shook his head. This is just unbelievable, I hardly know this woman and already I feel like a teenager asking a girl out for the very first time , he thought as he approached Coleshill high street and slowed down accordingly. He drove around to the back of the high street and parked opposite the local leisure centre. As he neared the gallery, he took a deep breath before turning the corner and entering the building, where he was greeted by a smiling Arianna. The first thing he noticed was the sparkle in her eyes and beautiful warmth that radiated from her smile, a welcoming smile that eased his nerves. Arianna swept a stray hair from her face as she came out from behind her desk to greet Ben.
    “ It’s lovely to see you again, Arianna. I’ve come for my painting.” Ben could not take his eyes off her, he was enamoured by her and wanted nothing more than to get to know the woman behind the warm smile.
    “ Likewise, Ben. I have the painting ready for you, follow me it’s in the back room for safe keeping.” As Arianna walked gracefully in front of Ben, his eyes were drawn to her lithe, toned legs and perfect silhouette. “Here it is, Ben, and may I say what a great choice you have made. This is a beautiful painting. I had three more offers for this particular piece that night and one person even offered above the asking price. But I put him right and told him that’s not how I work! If a painting is sold, then it’s sold and that’s that.”
    Ben liked her even more by the minute ; not only was she beautiful, she was also a woman who was not swayed by money. “Thank you for not selling my painting to a higher bidder; there are many that would have in your position.”
    Arianna smiled and indicated for him to follow her upstairs to the main gallery. “I too bought a painting on Saturday from my own show. What do you think?” Arianna stood in front of the enigmatic and deeply emotional painting.
    “ Wow, that is beautiful. I see you too made a great choice.”
    Ben and Arianna stood in silence for a while, admiring the painting before them, then Ben decided the moment couldn ’t be more perfect. He turned around and looked directly into Arianna’s eyes. “Do you fancy going to lunch sometime?” Ben waited with great anticipation for an answer, but remained cool, not showing his nerves.
    Arianna picked up her bag from the chair then looked to Ben. “That sounds like a great idea. How about right now? I was just about to close up for lunch anyway.”
    Ben could not believe his luck. Smiling wide like the cat that got the cream, he followed Arianna downstairs and waited outside the gallery while she locked up and turned the sign indicating to any customer she would be back in an hour over on the door.
    “I thought we could lunch at the Coleshill Hotel, they have a great lunch menu and the service is second to none,” suggested Arianna.
    “ Well, as it comes so highly recommended, the Coleshill Hotel it is,” said Ben, smiling.
    They strolled up the high street looking like a perfectly-matched couple. Arianna glanced in Ben ’s direction, took in his square jaw line, and noticed the cute dimple in his chin, which made her smile. She liked what she saw and was very much looking forward to getting to know more about him. She wondered why such a tall good-looking guy like Ben was single; she’d already noticed his wedding finger