Craig
Russell waited in reception for about 10 minutes while Jade Kimberly changed
into something more suitable for a January evening in Sharpington and as he
watched her exit the lifts and cross the foyer he was struck by two things,
firstly how much more strident and confident she was when not in her mother’s
wake, her auburn hair bouncing in unison with her purposeful step, and secondly
how attractive she was.
He
had briefly noticed her pretty smile on their first meeting but that was very
fleeting, but as she approached, he had a chance to look at the girl and not
the drab little mouse.
Jade
also appeared to be taller than she was before as she wasn’t hunched over
staring at her feet.
Her
clothing, however, was still autumnal as before, she was wearing a long drab
coloured skirt, knee high boots and a long leather brown coat.
He
knew she liked colour; he had seen the evidence spill from her bag in the
Hummingbird, but she still managed to look pretty despite the drabness.
As
she got closer, she saw him looking and her freckled face blushed, but she
still managed to smile.
Clifford,
the concierge, hailed them a cab and they got in.
“I’ve
never been to an Ice Hockey game before” she announced as the cab pulled off. “I’m
quite excited”
“I’m
afraid they’re only standing tickets,” he confessed hoping it wouldn’t curb her
enthusiasm.
“What
by the glass?” she asked
“I’m
afraid so” he admitted
“Even
better” she squealed “Thank you so much for bringing me”
“You
don’t mind then?” he asked
“Not
at all, normally if I’m lucky enough to go to sports events we’re in the
Directors box or sitting in the posh seats with people who know nothing about
what they’re watching” she said
“I’m
going to be on the rink side with the real fans”
“I
know what you mean” he said “I’m normally in the press box with a bunch of
cynical old hacks that have no passion for what they’re watching”
“This
is as close as I can get” the driver said
“No
problem” Craig said and paid the fare
Once
on the pavement he said to Jade
“We’ll
have to walk from here”
“Great,
we can soak up the atmosphere” she said brightly and meant it.
At
the end of a thrilling match the Sharks were victorious, winning 6-3.
“That
was brilliant” Jade shouted enthusiastically almost hoarse as the capacity
crowd celebrated the victory.
When
they were outside they followed the crowd back to the promenade until they came
to a bar and went inside with some of the other fans for a quick drink and
stayed for three and were both feeling a little lightheaded when they left as
neither of them had eaten however that was soon remedied when they found a
little Italian restaurant only a little way along from the bar.
After
their very welcome satisfying repast, they booked an Uber for the ride back to
the Hotel.
It
was quite late by then and the journey passed relatively quietly as they began
to feel the effects of the Hockey, beer and pasta; it was a comfortable
silence, however.
Once
back at the Hotel they picked up their keys from reception and rode up in the
lift together, still in relative quiet.
They
reached her first floor, and being a gentleman, he delivered her to her door.
“Well,
here we are milady; I have delivered you safely to your door” he said with a
bow
“Thank
you, kind sir,” she replied and performed an ungraceful curtsy
“Seriously
though, thank you so much again” she said “I had a great time”
“No
need for thanks, you were excellent company” he responded
“Which
reminds me I’m having dinner tomorrow night with my cousin Angus and his
family, and I wondered if you would like to join me? Although it won’t match
the excitement of tonight’s game, I can promise it will be enjoyable”
And
before he could add anything else her mouth was on his, which he took to mean
yes to dinner and judging by what followed she had clearly gotten her second
wind.
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