FOR Kathryn, it was a magical evening. Although there was the nip of approaching winter in the air, she was warmed by Mitch's company as they strolled along the concourse toward the opera house. A host of ferries were coming in and out of the quay to transport commuters home to their north shore destinations. The great Sydney Harbour Bridge that towered above the scene was buzzing with traffic. People were rushing all around them, but not she and Mitch. He was giving her his time and attention and Kathryn revelled in it.
It was easy to make conversation with him. She enjoyed listening to details of his life as a barrister, his description of various colourful personalities he'd met. He asked her about Ric's business, how she was dealing with her end of it in the absence of her boss.
He also made it easy to relax with him when they stopped at a bar and he insisted she have a fancy cocktail for fun. The talk gradually moved on to current affairs, personal likes and dislikes. There were no awkward moments. Everything felt like a natural progression.
They dined at a harbour side restaurant, both of them ordering oysters and the fish of the day, sharing a preference for seafood. She had no hesitation in drinking the fine chardonnay Mitch ordered with it. It added to the happy intoxication of being with him and she didn't have to drive home.
Ever since moving to Bondi Junction she'd been catching the train to and from work—easier and faster than being trapped in peak hour road traffic. However, Mitch wouldn't allow her to catch a train home when their dinner was over, insisting on taking her in a taxi and seeing her safely to her door.
It was the act of a gentleman, she told herself, wary of reading too much into it, though he had shown every sign of taking pleasure in her company. She was even beginning to believe he was attracted to her. Would he have been so charming otherwise?
Quite a few times her heart had caught when his eyes had seemed to be simmering with more than casual warmth. But he'd made no move on her.
No attempt to even hold her hand. And certainly no open suggestion of sexual interest. Yet, as he climbed into the taxi beside her, Kathryn was acutely aware of her own physical—sexual—response to him.
In fact, she was so conscious of it she concentrated very hard on getting the seat belt fastened properly so he wouldn't have to help her this time.
Pride insisted that he not sense her vulnerability. So far he had given no indication that he actually wanted to pursue a relationship with her. This might only be a one-off night…an act of kindness, making her feel better about herself.
It was ending fairly early. Though it had started early, too. Five o'clock until ten o'clock was a considerable amount of time together. And he had to be on the ball in the courtroom tomorrow. A late night wouldn't be reasonable. Or was she making excuses because she hoped for so much more with this man?
Her nerves were wound up so tight she couldn't think of a thing to say. It was impossible to sound casually relaxed when she wasn't, anyway. The taxi left Circular Quay, heading up Macquarie Street. It would be fifteen minutes at most to Bondi Junction at this hour. Could she ask Mitch in for coffee? Would that be too forward, too suggestive, too needy?
They'd already had coffee.
She'd been out of the dating game so long, having been in an exclusive relationship for almost two years, she didn't know how it was played now. And Mitch Tyler was older, more mature than the men she had mixed with before Jeremy. Surely it was up to him to make a move…if he wanted to.
Or was he waiting for some sign from her that she wanted continuance? If he thought she was still hurting over having to break her engagement…
Her fingers were fretting at her skirt. Realising they were betraying her nervousness, she consciously slackened the agitated movement just as Mitch reached across and took one of her hands in his, enveloping it in warmth and causing her heart to slam against the constriction of her tight chest.
'Thank you for what has been a very pleasurable evening, Kathryn,' he said with what sounded like deep sincerity.
Was it an exit line or…?
She had to chance a look at him. He was smiling.
'I've enjoyed it too, Mitch,' she rushed out, her own mouth breaking into a hopeful smile.
'I was wondering…'
'Yes?' Did that sound too eager?
'You did say you liked classical music,' he went on smoothly. 'I have season tickets for the opera and an empty seat beside mine for the performance of La Bohème this coming Saturday night.'
An empty seat…that Harriet would have filled if they'd still been together?
But Harriet was out of his personal life, just as Jeremy was out of hers.
His eyes appealed for her acceptance as he added, 'We could take in a dinner first…or supper afterwards…'
Relief whooshed through her at what was definitely an invitation. 'I'd like that very much.' Was that too emphatic? She felt so giddy, controlling her response to him was beyond her.
'Good!' He grinned. 'Let's do the lot then. I'll pick you up at six, if that suits.'
'Six is fine. I'll be ready.'
She'd never been to an opera, didn't know if she'd like it or not, but she was ready to embrace any experience with Mitch Tyler. All her instincts said he was special. Very special.
During the rest of the taxi ride he told her that the La Bohème they were going to see was the new Baz Luhrmann production which updated the story to the 1950s—very revolutionary, and causing a sensation, making opera far more accessible to the general public—an experience not to be missed, he assured her. Kathryn happily agreed, though she was far more aware of him holding onto her hand than what he was telling her.
He asked the driver to wait for him when the taxi pulled up outside the block of apartments where she lived. Which meant he was not going to linger over seeing her to her door. She didn't know if she was disappointed or relieved that he didn't expect to be invited into her home tonight.
Did he only want companionship from her?
He caught her hand again as he escorted her inside, causing her pulse- rate to zoom and her throat to tighten up, especially since he fell silent and she didn't know what he was thinking.
It was an old block of apartments, only three storeys high and no elevator. Kathryn couldn't afford anything fancy by herself. The rentals in Sydney were sky-high. The foyer was rather shabby and there was certainly no class about the concrete staircase that led up to her first floor apartment.
Was Mitch noting the obvious status comedown from her living with Jeremy? Or was he as preoccupied as she was with what could come next?
When she stopped at her door he released her hand so she could get her key out of her bag. 'Six o'clock Saturday,' he said as a reminder once the door was unlocked and opened.
'Yes.' She quickly smiled her pleasure in the arrangement.
'Good night, Kathryn.' He leaned down and planted a friendly kiss on her cheek.
The warm, tingly contact brought a tide of heat up her throat. 'Good night, Mitch,' she replied somewhat breathlessly before he could see her becoming flushed. 'Thanks again.'
He nodded and she bolted into her apartment, closing the door and leaning back against it until her heart stopped pounding from the mad rush of excitement. Just a kiss on the cheek! How would she feel if he kissed her with passion?
Mitch returned to the taxi, elated that all his initiatives had paid off and relieved that he'd managed to maintain control over urges that might have screwed up the chance to start building a relationship with Kathryn. He was sure that patience would serve him better in the long run, given that she was still very sensitive about the break-up with Haynes.
Besides, he liked the idea of courting Kathryn in an old-fashioned manner. It had been all sex with Harriet, right from the beginning. Red-hot desire could blind a man to what he should be looking at. He wasn't going to make that mistake this time around, though how he was going to keep holding temptation at bay, he didn't know.
He got back in the taxi, gave his address to the driver and settled back for the ride. As the car pulled out from the kerb, Mitch's gaze was drawn to a man who was getting out of a BMW Roadster directly across the road, a streetlight shining down on his face.
Recognition hit him like a blow. Jeremy Haynes!
He'd only seen him once before but he hadn't forgotten anything about the man—Kathryn rushing into his embrace, being swung around. Mitch had hated every second of it while the saner section of his mind had acknowledged the physical and material assets that had drawn Kathryn to the guy she'd been intent on marrying.