An Acute Attraction (2 page)

This is the woman that once walked into a shop in the middle of summer looking for a job. I casually walked up to a shop assistant and to make conversation said how the heat must be terrible in her ‘condition’, only then to be told she wasn’t pregnant and had in fact lost 3 stone in weight. Needless to say I slinked back out without picking up an application form.

“Well done Miss Chambers, well done”, I say to myself.

Hoping that a shower will dispel the smell of humiliation as well as alcohol, I head to my room on the first floor. As rooms go in a hotel, number 112 is sufficient. It had nearly everything I needed for a short stay:  Soft double bed: needed more pillows though; a decent hair dryer; flat screen TV; tea and coffee making facilities: no skimmed milk, just creamer; a view over the car park; and a power shower lacking in the power department.

Ok so it was adequate.

Now, just to let you know, I’m not a body confident woman. A size 18-20, but having recently dropped three dress sizes I was getting better…until I step into a shower that has floor to ceiling mirrors surrounding it – room downgraded again!

Despite all of that, the Non-power shower has been refreshing. Now sat at the dresser with my red/auburn tresses piled high in a towel; I apply the new lush, vanilla scented body lotion I treated myself to. Inhaling such a sweet aroma means I can almost taste it. Mmm! I wonder if it would be the same for the dark, handsome mystery guy. Shaking such thoughts from my mind, I continue to get ready for the evening. Sliding into the blue knee length dress, straightening my hair and applying a little make –up I am almost ready. Being the age I am, I don’t go mad, a tad of foundation, eye shadow and mascara will do, and without being too modest, I feel and look pretty good, airing on sexy. Oh yeah!

For dinner I opt to dine in a restaurant just a couple of blocks away. It is the mouth-watering smell of steaks being grilled that entices me in; I do have a weakness for a tender, juicy steak. Inside the atmosphere is set with low lighting, easy listening background music and cheerful chatter. Needless to say the food tastes as good as it smells and accompanied with a crisp white glass of wine, it really has been a lovely evening. So leaving feeling happy and full, I saunter back to the hotel. According to the reception clock it is 8.30pm by the time I get back. The bar is open 24/7 so I know I can sit back and relax. Before heading on off up to bed, I call “Number one” son to make sure the house hasn’t been burnt down or blown up. I have no need to worry however; as he says everything is fine and is enjoying the peace and quiet. I sense he is enjoying being on his own a little too much and just hope I don’t get home next weekend to find the locks changed!

                The following day I take it easy by taking a gentle stroll into the town and around the outdoor market. The high street is like a g
host town compared to how it used to be before we moved away, the recession has had an impact on all businesses here and it is such a shame. The one place that doesn’t seemed to have lost much trade, is the pub on the square as you can still get a decent cheap meal and drink from it, which is where I head off to spend a couple of hours reading with a cup of coffee or two.

  An hour after I arrive back at the hotel, I am sitting in the bar area and have just finished reading the local newspaper when I see him. Oh.My.God! I’m sure I could hear a celestial choir of angels signalling his arrival. Willing my heart to slow from its rapid beating, I take several deep breaths. Calm yourself Chambers, he’s just a man. Ok, a goddam sumptuous and heavenly looking man, but still just a man.

Distraction! Thinking of a distraction I decide to go over to the bar and order another Pinot. With a half full glass in hand I call one of the bartenders over. Realising I now look like an alcoholic; I turn to return to my seat.

“Shit!” I look upwards to where those angels could have alerted me.

Not two seats away from where my jacket is draped over a chair, Mr Fantastic is sitting back with his right foot leisurely resting on his left thigh, as he casually reads a broadsheet newspaper.

This is stupid! Deciding to get a grip of myself, I valiantly walk back to my seat, placing both of the large wine glasses on to the dark oak table. I have brought my kindle with me,
if I’m honest I take it everywhere and so reaching into my bag I pull it out to find the latest, newly released book I have been reading for the past week. I’m not afraid to admit that I enjoy reading contemporary, erotic romance novels, just like the one’s you’ve read no doubt. Saying that, I’m thankful that the advantage of having a Kindle is that there is no cover to the book to advertise the fact. Starting from where I left off, I continue reading occasionally sipping at my wine.

Don’t ask me what makes me look up from my book; I must have a sixth sense or something, but when I do, Mr Fantastic is looking directly at me, with an amused look on his beautifully sculptured face.

As I am looking behind to see if there is someone else standing there, he speaks to me, yes to me!

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare at you. It’s just that you were making some rather interesting faces. Then when you giggled to yourself and bit your lip… Well I just found it amusing; in a winsome kind of way of course.”

I listen to his seductive American accent, but my sense of hearing has shut down not long after he said “interesting faces”, so his hot, sensual mouth is still moving without any of the sound coming out.

Once I see he has stopped I reply “Oh!”

You have got to be kidding me Chambers. Oh! Is that all I can say? Bloody “Oh!”

If I could, I would face plant myself on to the table
right this instant, however knowing that it isn’t an option here I continue.

“I’m sorry about that. I didn’t mean to disturb you from your reading.”

“Oh you didn’t don’t worry. I found it, how can I say, cute in a way.”

Did my stomach just do a spectacular, triple axel or am I imagining it? As the row of six perfect scores goes up, I deduce that it wasn’t my imagination.

Turning his attention back to his paper, it takes me a good 5 minutes to compose myself. I need to talk to my best friend Jackie like now. This is a moment where I know I really need her and her sound, logical thinking advice.

I am taken back to the conversation we had one month earlier, leading up to me making the leap of faith and coming down here:

          “It will do you the world of good Izzy, you need to take some time out and I don’t think you’ll find as perfect time as now. You’re 39 years old and you’ve not spent anytime away from the boys in nearly 10 years.”

            Blowing my piping hot cappuccino to cool it down, I half listen to my best friend Jackie and half to the little voice in the back of my head saying I’m nuts! I don’t disagree with either of them.

          “You really deserve this. Being a working single mother is tough and you can’t switch off from it. You need to be there emotionally 24hours a day, 7 days a week, but the boys are growing up now, so it’s time to think about you for a little while. I personally can’t think of any reason as to why you shouldn’t go.” Oh, oh! Jackie has her serious face on and emphasises the seriousness by sitting back crossing her arms.

            I know she is right. I’ve been on my own for 4 years since he who shall not be named “left”. Believe me when I say it was the best thing to happen to us and I became a far stronger woman through it. The children are happier and thriving in school. I can see the both of them being heart breakers in the future, not in a malicious way of course, but because of what young gentlemen they are already growing up to be. Now however, I am starting to feel a bit lost and lonely. My social life is virtually zilch, so it seems it’s currently all work and no play. I think I’ve also forgotten how to talk as an adult to an adult, what with working as a teacher as well. I love my children to bits, don’t get me wrong, but something is missing! What that is I have yet to find out. Is it the lack of male companionship? Or is it that I need to discover myself again, start living my life, go places and make discoveries? I sigh to myself. I’ve tried setting up a single parent group, but unfortunately there was no interest in it. I seriously considered starting dance lessons; hey! you can stop cringing like that, it was Ballroom and not street, but guess what? I needed a partner. I sounded a bit pathetic over the phone when explaining I didn’t have anyone and didn’t exactly enjoy the sympathetic tone in the woman’s voice when she said that there weren’t any other ‘singletons’ at the class. Why is it then, I’m still trying to talk myself out of it? 

            “It’s the first time I’ve ever done anything like this before and a week on my own is a long time.”

           Cocking her eyebrow up, as if to say I’m scraping the barrel with my excuses, Jackie yet again has a response.

          “You won’t be totally on your own. I’m only a phone call away. You’re a people person Izzy, you’re not afraid to meet new folk. You’ll be fine, I know you will. Ok, see it like this. You’re taking Joseph down there anyway and if you stay you are not that far away should he need you. You used to live down there as well; wouldn’t it be good to see the place again? You know how much you loved Cambridge, along with the other smaller towns and typically English villages. Go!”

           Again she’s right, when isn’t she? The pros certainly outweigh the cons. What the heck, come on Chambers. Do it!

I have known Jackie for all of her 34 years and she has always offered sound advice. I love her to bits and I would say we are more like sisters than friends. She so totally lives up to the name she was christened as her mum held a passion for the elegance and sophistication of Jackie Onassis, widow to JFK and married to multi-millionaire Aristotle Onassis; so my Jackie wears her “Hollywood” sunglasses with the same flair and grace, ever likely then she is a hit with the men. A happily married career woman with a beautiful daughter, she has it all, hence why I am so proud of her.

  Impetuously I send her a text.

“Help me! There is this one guy sitting in the hotel bar. Here I am a sexually frustrated woman and right now I could just jump his bones.”

Within no time my phone whistles, yes whistles, its reply. I quickly set my phone to silent before I read and exchange messages.

“Is he cute?”

“Cute!! He is hot, no he is smouldering, and he is oozing sex!”

“So he’s ok then? Hahaha!”

“Oh Haha!”

“Well, flash him a smile and bat your eyelashes”

Great advice, I think sarcastically rolling my eyes.

I ironically type out;

“Haha! If only that’s all it took…”

“Well you have to start somewhere. Be brave woman, you won’t ever be there again.”

How true are those words? None the less bravery is something that doesn’t come that easy to me. Taking a deep breath, I wait for a moment when he isn’t engrossed in his paper. Just as he puts it to one side and takes a sip of his red wine, I dive in… Come on, not literally of course.

“It’s a bit quiet in here tonight,” I say in his direction. Inwardly I cringe at saying such a naff statement; what are you Chambers, 21 again? I half wish I was sometimes.

“I wouldn’t know what it’s usually like I’m afraid, as it’s my first time staying here.”

  Yes, I am as shocked as what you are. He didn’t guffaw at my lame attempt to start a conversation - just don’t mess it up now woman.

“Oh right. Are you here for a holiday or a short break?” I nervously ask.

He laughs, “No if only that was the case. Although I would like to do some sight seeing while I’m here, it would be a shame to come all of this way and not get to see some of the classic English countryside.”

He lifts up out of his seat and stretches a muscular arm out. “I’m Marc, Marc Sanders”

I shake the hand he has offered, Mother Mary; even his hand is warm and strong.

“Hello Marc, I’m Isabel, Isabel Chambers.”

“I’m pleased to meet you Isabel.” Just excuse me for a moment while I call for housekeeping to mop me back up off the floor.

Marc’s heady eyes drift to the table, “I would offer you a drink, but it looks like you’re well stocked up there.”

I don’t even have to ask what he means- busted. “Ah yes! Well I believe in being resourceful and energy saving is the way to go these days. So, getting two glasses at one time was my contribution for this evening.”  I put the most sincere face on to emphasise my dry sense of humour.

Marc graciously goes along with the joke, “Well I have to say you have done a remarkable job. The G8 Summit ought to take a look at your efforts; it may put an end to the fear of global warming.”

I chuckle. That’s politics right? I’m no bimbo, but you just never know what the latest boyband name is going to be.

Did I tell you I was inquisitive as well? Some might say nosy, but I’ll stick with inquisitive. Ah! Yes I believe I did. Oh well, I may as well take advantage of what I am good at.

“If you’re not here for pleasure, then I will take an educated guess it is for business.”

Crossing his leg again, Marc seems pretty comfortable with the way in which the conversation is going.

“Yeah, I’m a senior research executive over in the States. I work at Harvard University and I’ve come over to hopefully persuade Cambridge University to work along side us now and again. We’ve been doing a lot of research over the last couple of years on a new development into how antibodies help fight diseases, so feasibly leading to better vaccines. It’s never a done deal, but we can only try.”