"You mean to say there are really that many choices when it comes to painting a nursery?" Ryan asked, sceptically. He and Gemma were having dinner at a little Italian restaurant in Primrose Hill, one that they had frequented only on special occasions growing up.
"You'd be surprised! Especially when you're expecting boy-girl twins!" Gemma laughed. The waiter topped up her wine glass and she smiled appreciatively. Ryan was shaking his head. "I'm telling you! There's always the magnolias, the creams, or you know, white. But that's so boring. Then there are the gender neutral ones; pale yellows, greens, that sort of thing. But then, then there's the option of pink and blue pinstripes! Not to mention the matter of patterned wallpaper. And I've been noticing a trend of murals and themed rooms."
"Murals? It's not the bloody Sistine Chapel!" Ryan mocked.
"You know, like an under-the-sea theme, with blue walls and then one wall with little fish, seahorses, coral reef..." Gemma's voice trailed off. She could see the glint in Ryan's eye and she knew he was just teasing her. "I suppose it is a little extravagant." She conceded.
"A little extravagant? Try borderline ridiculous." He leaned back in the chair and grinned.
"Anyway, who are you to give me a hard time? At least I have a real job." Ryan began to protest, but Gemma just held her hand up to silence him. "No, Ryan. 'Managing your money' is not a real job, and you're far too young to be speaking at seminars for the rest of your life."
Ryan was in a daze as Gemma began suggesting he exercise his creativity in a productive manner. He didn't hear a word of what she was saying, instead his eyes focussed on her mouth. It was like he had tunnel vision and the only thing he could see was her cupid's bow, her pouty lips, the way her white teeth shone when she smiled. He was transfixed.
"You're not even listening to me!" She complained with an easy, gentle smile. That was one of the things Ryan loved about Gemma. She wasn't a nag, she cared about him and she pushed him to better himself, but her flirtatious and affectionate manner meant that she had a way of making him feel like all her ideas were actually his.
"You're right." Ryan said, flatly.
"I know I'm right! You need to find a new project!"
"No, I meant you're right. I wasn't listening to you." Ryan said dryly. He picked up his glass of whisky and winked at her. Gemma bit her lip as if to stifle a giggle. Ryan couldn't resist when she did that. His attention returned to her lips and he longed to kiss her, to taste her.
"It's last orders, Sir. Would you like dessert?" The waiter asked. Gemma looked around and realised the restaurant was more or less empty. They'd spent a good three hours over dinner. She remembered how with her ex-boyfriend, James, they never had time to just enjoy each other's company. Then she looked at the man across the table from her, and she realised how much she took for granted how he always had time for her.
"Gem? Anything?" Ryan asked. Gemma declined and he asked for the bill. She swirled the last of her wine in the glass and savoured the taste as the crimson liquid slid down her throat.
She watched the man sitting opposite her. How did they get here? Where would they go from here?
...
"Thanks for dinner, Ryan. It was lovely." Gemma said as Ryan held the door open for her.
"Anytime."
A gust of wind interrupted what was an otherwise still, balmy summer evening. A rarity in London. Ryan let Gemma stroll ahead of him by a couple of paces, so he could admire the way she looked in the silver satin babydoll dress she was wearing. She could sense his eyes caressing her body, so she swivelled around on her heels to catch him.
By the time Ryan's eyes reached hers he knew he'd been caught in the act. She raised an eyebrow at him and he ran his fingers through his hair. "I...You..." Ryan tried to offer an explanation.
"Yes?" Gemma teased, cocking her head to the side.
"You know you look good." Ryan laughed. Gemma grinned back at him and he put his arm around her waist as they walked to his place.
...
"Don't tell me you still haven't picked something." Gemma had taken out some grapes from the fridge and was sitting on the sofa with the bowl between her crossed legs.
Ryan was huddled over his iPod, trying to decide what music to put on. He had a playlist for everything, including one that he normally used in situations like this. Situations where he'd brought a girl back after dinner and wanted to set the mood. He cringed when he realised how rehearsed his technique had become.
"Hurry up, it's just music!" Although she didn't admit it, Gemma could sense that Ryan was nervous. There was a tangible shift in the way they were acting around each other, and frankly she wasn't sure whether or not she should do something about it. In fact, she was enjoying watching him on edge!
