Candice was late for a lunch date with Drake. She hurried along the busy London streets to try and catch up the time to arrive before he did. She wanted to arrive before him so she had time to observe at a distance and run in case he was another weird guy like the last one.
The air was warm with a touch of heat, enough to make sweat marks on the underside of her pale tunic. She flings her long, dark chestnut hair over her shoulder to cool down her neck from the clamminess. She was unsure of the time but to take a moment to check would slow her down. She notices the man in front of her walking with a sway as he took long strides along the pavement. He has an aura of confidence with his smart dark blue jeans and white shirt. His sleeves rolled up halfway between his elbow and wrist which held a Rolex and exposing tattoo’s peeking out of his sleeve. He bumps into a man walking toward him. As they collide, a piece of paper falls out his pocket which she retrieves as it whooshed past her and settles on the ground. She picks it up and rushed to catch him so she can reunite the scrunched up piece of scrap.
‘Excuse me.’ She slips through the crowd as she sees him getting away with his long strides. She picks up the pace and catches him. ‘Sorry, can I get through’ she says as she squeezes between the strangers slowing her down. Candice is a few steps away as he stops in front of her, and checks his pocket. She smacks straight into his rear and trips over the curb where he was waiting to cross. Two girls outside Costa, sipping Lattes titter at her clumsiness and snigger to themselves. As she glares at their rudeness she taps him on the arm.
‘Excuse me, Hi, you dropped this.’ Her smile turns into awe as she drinks in his face as he turns towards her. She is taken aback at his sheer perfection! She freezes and stares as she takes in his neat facial hair trimmed to firm perfected lines around his strong sharp jawline. His face tanned with the most piercing aquamarine eyes she ever saw. Hair so dark and naturally smooth, partly shaved to the side and an aroma of spicy aftershave. She opens her mouth to speak as she faulted and apologise ‘Sorry… but… Shit! You’re the most beautiful man I ever saw!’
‘Urr, thank you? I’m flattered.’ He turns away with a puzzled look and frown that a beautiful stranger complimented him so frankly yet so sorry he doesn’t have the time to properly complement her back. He takes the paper from her outstretched hand and smiles, holding it up ‘Thank you. You too. Well… not a beautiful man obviously. You’re beautiful too.’
‘… Thank you.’ Candice, not being used to compliments, lowers her eyes a little embarrassed, which he finds endearing.
She calls after him as they walk, ‘I understand it’s bizarre to tell a stranger they are beautiful, especially a man but You are! It’s your eyes… they are absolutely mesmerizing. I just had to tell you!’
He smiles at her over his shoulder and reluctantly faces forward again and continues his rushed journey to his destination that he is already late for. He wants to arrive before her to be the gentleman he is.
A few meters up the road Candice sees the newsagents and quickly nips in, to buy polos. She picks up the pace as she notices the time as leaves the shop in a hurry. Two minutes to be at the uptown cafe. She thinks to herself of the perfect man born to be a model and wonders why she isn’t lucky enough to meet such gorgeous men like him on Lonelyhearts.com. She rolls her eyes as she realises any guy that gorgeous would not be single. With those looks, he could have a pick of all of the available girls in London.
She sees the Cafe on the corner. A local French Pattisiere in the Centre of London. She rushes across the road and pushes open the heavy door with its long vertical brass handle and drops her bag to her feet upon entering. She bends down to pick it up admiring the black shoes polished so shiny she could check her makeup in them. She raises her eyes and stares into the pools of ocean blue.
He passes her the bag and she stands slowly as she drinks him in. ‘It seems we meet again.’
‘Yes. I’m meeting someone here. You?’
‘Me too. A blind date actually.’ She smiles. ‘Drake’
‘Yes?’ he looks puzzled at her as the realisation washes over him and grins at his luck.
‘His name is Drake.’ she looks at him puzzled.
‘Yes. I am Drake, it is a pleasure to meet you officially.’
‘Fucking hell! Hi!’
Madison
Madison Ward 