The Dating Game by Susan Buchanan Page B

that
morning and she made up some of her lost time.  Arriving at the office, the
first thing she did was switch on the kettle, even before she plugged in her
laptop.  She’d feel better after a caffeine hit.
    Laptop on, coffee mug in hand, she checked through her
personal e-mails before starting the morning’s work.  Charlie Prentice.  Well,
it was about time.  Taking a sip of her coffee and swearing as it was too hot
and burned the roof of her mouth, she clicked open the e-mail.
     
    ‘Hi Gill.  Sorry couldn’t get in touch
sooner.  Away rock climbing, only just got back.  Had a long weekend.  No
reception to get e-mails.  When would you like to meet up?  Friday’s out I’m
afraid, as I have a stag do.  Apart from that any other night this week is OK
for me. Charlie.’
     
    Well, he did have a reasonable enough excuse for not
contacting her earlier.  She would forgive him for that.  But was he assuming
that asking her on Tuesday, she would be free at such short notice?  That was a
tad presumptuous.  Anyway, she was already going out on Thursday with Anton. 
Then chiding herself that she shouldn’t be putting all her eggs in one basket
so soon, she tried to think when she could meet Charlie.  If he was out on
Friday at a stag do, he would be unlikely to be up to going out on Saturday
lunchtime.  She’d suggest Sunday afternoon.
     
    ‘Nice to hear from you, Charlie,’ Gill began.  ‘I’m afraid I’m busy this week.  What about
Sunday lunchtime for a drink?  Gill.’
     
    There, short and to the point.  Let’s see if he would be
happy to see her at the weekend.
    Gill scrolled through the rest of her e-mails, responding to
as many as she could, then came across one from Anton.
     
    ‘Gill, I just wanted to say that I really
enjoyed meeting you, and our kiss…See you on Thursday, Anton.’
     
    Gill smiled to herself, remembering that fleeting kiss,
which had held the promise of something more.
    She’d just about reached the end of her e-mails, when she
saw one from Caroline.
     
    ‘Gill, hope your date went well last
night.  I have two more profiles for you. Please see attached.’
     
    Gill clicked on the attachment.
     
    Candidate Profile
    Name:  Gary Kelly
    Age:  47
    Lives:  Renfrewshire
    Occupation:  Engineer (oil & gas)
    Qualifications:  BEng
    Height:  5’ 11’
    Marital status:  Divorced, no children
    Smoker:  N
    Interests:  Formula One, dining out, socialising,
photography, reading the classics
    Further information:  Originally from Northamptonshire,
I have lived in Scotland for ten years.
    Looking to meet:  A fun, sexy woman who likes to spoil
and be spoiled by her partner.  Also needs to be able to accept that, as an
engineer on the rigs, I have odd shift patterns and be willing to work around
that.
    Gill read through his profile.  He had short dark hair, was
of medium build with, were those green eyes?  He definitely had a twinkle in
them, as if he knew exactly what you were thinking.  He looked fun.  Quite
sexy, in a Liam Neeson way.  Very direct, too, about his work and she didn’t
think he was rude in pointing out about his shifts, more practical. She knew
that often these guys did two weeks on, two weeks off the rigs.  He must be
working from Aberdeen .  The only surprise to her was that he lived so far
down from there, in the central belt.  Well, he certainly merited a second
look.  Formula One as his main hobby – she hoped he wasn’t a petrol head.  She
hated when men drove fast – it always appeared they were trying to make up for
something else.  Another engineer.  With a wry smile, Gill realised he could
easily have been placed by her agency, although his name didn’t ring a bell.
She wondered who he worked for.  Of course if she were to go on a date with
him, that subject was taboo until they knew each other better.  Photography,
well that sounded more civilised.  Unless he was photographing cars.  Reading
the classics.  She