‘Ah well I understand purchasing and I promised not to ask but I’m sure those girls are not that different.’
‘They are though. We have this one girl who models for the catalogues and she’s absolutely stunning. Anyway, what brings you to Paris?’ Emma asked steering the conversation away from underwear models. She had started to like Dan and didn’t think the best way to continue talking was to talk about gorgeous women in underwear.
‘Work. I’ve got a client who’s not happy so I needed to come over and smooth things over, it’s been a tough week but we got there in the end. How about you?’ Dan said.
‘Shopping. I’d got some holiday left over for the year and if I don’t use it I lose it so I just found a cheap flight and came over to get some gifts ready for Christmas. I’d not been before so it was really good. I’ve probably put on a load of weight though, the food here’s gorgeous.’ Emma said.
‘I doubt you’ve put on much in a couple of days, you look pretty slim to me. Who were you buying for? A boyfriend or just family stuff?’ Dan asked dropping the bait and hoping she wouldn’t sense he was trying to find out if she was single.
‘No, no boyfriend or anything like that, I’m a single pringle. It was just family stuff although I ended up buying myself a few things.’
‘Well that sounds nice.’ Dan’s brain went blank as he processed the chain of events that had landed the gorgeous single girl next to him. ‘If you can’t spoil yourself at Christmas. When can you?’
‘Exactly but I might regret it when I get my next credit card bill. Oh well, how often’s a girl in Paris?’
The pilots voice cut through the plane before Dan could reply, the pilot apologised and explained that the flight would be cancelled as the airport was closing runways. A collective groan went through the aircraft splattered with the occasional ‘Fuck.’ He continued to explain how there would be an airline representative waiting for them in the terminal to explain what happened next. Most of the passengers didn’t hear him as they were already taking down luggage from the overhead lockers and swearing.
‘Oh shit. What happens now? I’ve never had a flight cancelled before.’ Emma said looking at Dan nervously.
‘Usually they give you a voucher for a hotel and then fly back tomorrow. It’s happened a few times to me. It’s not really a problem unless you need to get back. I know a few hotels if you aren’t sure where to stop.’
‘No nothing planned, it’s just that I don’t know what happens. If you know somewhere that’d be great. I don’t really know anywhere other than where I stayed before.’
The passengers continued taking bags from the overhead lockers, grumbling and complaining as they did. Most of them always had problems with this airline, flights were always cancelled and luggage lost. Today the pilot had caused the snow too.
Dan jerked his head at the angry passengers. ‘It’s better to wait until the panic’s over unless you want to get out fast?’
‘No, it’s ok, I don’t want to get squashed. What happens with the stuff in the hold?’
‘Usually they keep it so it doesn’t need to go through security again so we can fly out early tomorrow.’
‘Shit. All my stuff is in there though. Can I get it back?’ Emma asked.
‘I don’t think so but if you go to a hotel they’ve usually got everything you need other than clean clothes. Toiletries and stuff like that. If you need something cleaning then they can sometimes do that as well though. Is there something specific you need?’ Dan said.
‘Nothing I can’t live without I guess, just make up, clothes and stuff. I guess I can rough it for a night.’
‘It’ll be like camping, just in a warm hotel room, in Paris.’ Dan paused. ‘You get something to tell people about anyway.’
‘I guess so, makes it a bit more interesting. It’s just a bit frustrating.’ Emma said.
‘I know, I shouldn’t have expected an easy trip really. Never mind. Have you eaten?’ Dan asked.
‘No. I haven’t, I was gonna get something here but then I was late. Will anywhere be open?’
‘It’s Paris, there’s always somewhere open.’ He smiled. ‘I know somewhere that does good pasta if you like it?’
‘I love pasta. Italian’s my favourite. It’d be really nice if you could show me somewhere. Thank you.’
Dan took back every bad thought he’d had about the God of Travel, the snow looked more like a blessing every minute.
# # #
The black leather seats, worn smooth by thousands of bodies, creaked beneath them as the taxi squeezed between the lines of parked cars, the big Mercedes struggled in the city but the airports still used them for their comfort and reliability. Paris had a system of parking spaces although they were largely misunderstood or ignored by everyone and came from a time when cars were small and rare. Dan understood now why the French were so good at building small cars and had left the Germans to focus on the big autobahn cruisers. He wondered how the Americans had coped when they brought their Cadillacs and trucks over to live on European airbases. The drive had been smooth until they reached the tight cobbled streets. The tyres crunched in the snow as the Mercedes slithered to a stop behind a pristine Renault Clio. This stood out as special amongst Parisian traffic, in all of his trips Dan was yet to see a car over two years old which wasn’t dented, scratched or held together with duct tape.
‘Here we are.’ Dan said as he leaned forward and handed the taxi driver a bunch of Euro’s.
‘Where is it?’ Emma asked.
‘Just there, the red building.’ Dan said opening the door and stepping out into the frigid air, his shoes soles slipped in the snow but he stayed upright and retained his dignity. ‘Be careful, it’s slippy.’
Emma slid across the seat and stepped out after him, he took her arm as she stood upright. ‘Thank you, it’s freezing. Are you sure they’ll still be serving food?’ Emma asked.
‘Yes, they open late and don’t close until the last person’s finished.’
The driver opened the boot and handed their hand luggage to Dan. ‘Merci.’ Dan said taking the bags. He turned to Emma as she reached out for her bag. ‘It’s ok, I’ve got yours.’
‘Oh ok. Thank you.’ Emma said.
The driver got back into the warmth of the car and pulled away. The wide tyres struggled for traction as the Mercedes slithered away. They stood in the silent side street, the old street lights stood like giant glowing dandelions in the falling snow. The buildings were dark and shuttered apart from one casting a warm glow onto the pavement. Dan ushered Emma across the pavement as the snow settled gently in her hair like tiny crystals glittering beneath the dandelions. A weathered red sign, hand painted in gold hung above the entrance. The same red paint had been used on the window frames. A red canopy was folded against the building, in the summer it would cover guests sat outside enjoying the atmosphere but tonight even the hardiest of foodies was inside. The scene looked like more like a painting than reality, the style upscale chain restaurants were desperate to achieve.
Dan pushed the door and held it open with one arm, standing aside as Emma stepped into the warmth. He followed and a bell jingled above their heads as the door closed behind them. Dan smiled at the lady behind the bar who returned the gesture and pointed to a table in the window. Their shoes left wet footprints on the worn oak floor as they walked to their table. The waitress smiled and picked up menu’s from behind the bar. Dan removed his coat and hung it on the stand behind him, he hung Emma’s coat and scarf on the next hook.
‘It’s lovely in here. Like something in an Audrey Hepburn film.’ Emma said looking around the restaurant.
‘I know, I’ve eaten here a few times now and it’s really good. The waitress is the owner’s daughter, it’s been in the family from before the war.’
‘Oh wow. That’s crazy.’ Emma said.
The waitress handed a menu to each of them. ‘Bonsoir Monsieur. I did not think to see you here so soon.’ Her English was almost p
erfect but her thick accent made every syllable sexy. She was young and casually beautiful in the way only French women manage. ‘Was it from the snow?’
‘Yes, the flight was cancelled but it does mean I get to eat here again.’ Dan smiled and closed his menu. ‘I think I know what I’ll be having.’
Emma flicked through the menu, felling a little pressured. She wasn’t sure what to order but most of all she wasn’t sure what the relationship was between Dan and the waitress. She liked him and she thought he had been flirty with her but now he seemed to have brought her to a restaurant where he possibly had a history with the waitress.
Dan noticed Emma struggling with the menu. ‘Could we have some water please?’ Dan said to the waitress. ‘Do you like white wine Emma?’
‘Yes, a little too much.’ Emma spoke without taking her eyes from the menu, she was sure he’d been showing an interest in her but now she knew she couldn’t compete with the exotic French waitress and her tousled hair.
‘Two Chardonnay’s.’ Dan said.
The waitress smiled and sashayed back to the bar.
‘Do you know what you’re having? Emma asked, looking up at Dan across the menu, she blushed as she compared herself to the waitress walking away.
‘Yes, I always have the Leek Fettucine, it’s gorgeous but it’s not on the menu. I only found this place because I worked with her husband and I eat here whenever I can.’
‘She’s married?’ Emma asked, her cheeks cooling.
‘Yes. He works for one of my clients and I was over here for the first time and mentioned that I didn’t know where to eat and that was that. I’ve eaten in other places but this is the best I’ve found anywhere.’
‘Oh ok, sounds good then. What’s in whatever you’re having?’ Emma’s cheeks had returned to normal now she knew there was nothing between Dan and the waitress.
‘Leeks and fettucine mostly.’ Dan smiled, his eyebrows raising as he looked at her.
Emma smiled a half smile, the left corner of her mouth raising while her eyes looked into Dan’s. ‘I know that, but what else?’
‘Well you asked.’ Dan said in a feigned innocent voice. ‘There is a little bit of prosciutto ham and it’s in a cream sauce. It’s nice and simple.’
‘Ok then, that sounds good. I’ll have that.’ Emma closed the menu and put it on the table in front of her.
‘Good choice, it’s my favourite.’
The waitress returned, casually balancing a tray with a carafe of water and two glasses of wine, she put the carafe and glasses on the table and paused looking at Dan.
‘Two of my usual’s please Anais. Unless it’s too late to order that?’ Dan said.
‘No no, it is no problem. It has been a quiet night from the snow but you are always welcome here, Romain will be sad to have missed you this time. I will bring the food quickly so chef can leave, I do not have such a way to travel.’ Her voice able to make travel plans sound exotic.
‘Merci Anais, I appreciate it.’ Dan said as she turned back to the bar.
‘She’s beautiful.’ Emma said quietly.
‘Yes, she is but Romain tells me that she’s got a temper on her. He’s come home from trips a couple of times to find his shirts missing their sleeves because he didn’t call her and she assumed he was with another woman.’
‘Oh, well I am sure she’s worth it.’ Emma said taking a sip of her wine. Her lipstick left a perfect red print on the glass.
‘I don’t know about that. I like shirts too much but he still married her.’
‘He’ll probably remember to call every evening though.’ Emma said.
Dan laughed, ‘You’re probably right but I’d be pissed off about my shirts becoming waist coats. Have you ever done anything like that?’
‘Like what?’ Emma asked taking another sip of her wine and looking at Dan.
‘Like cutting up some guys clothes or whatever because you thought he was cheating on you?’
‘Nope. If he wants to cheat then he is welcome to it, I just won’t be there when he gets back.’ Emma said. ‘Have you ever cheated?’
‘No, not really.’
‘What is not really? You either did or you didn’t.’ Emma said putting the wine glass down and looking across the table at Dan hoping he wasn’t a cheater or at least if he was he would be honest about it.
‘What I mean is, I’ve never really had a proper relationship. I never bothered when I was younger and I’m always travelling so I haven’t had chance to settle down.’
‘I see.’ Emma said wondering if he was just a player and whether he was sexy enough to play with.
‘I’ve never wanted to be in a position where I’d want to cheat. Now I’m getting older I’ve thought about it a bit but until now I haven’t found anyone.’
‘So, you just like to play the field?’ Emma said thinking that yes, she liked him enough for a one-night stand.
‘No not really. I mean I’m not innocent but I’m no playboy. It just wouldn’t be easy to settle down when I work away most weeks and then at a weekend I’m playing catch up with stuff I couldn’t do during the week.’
Emma looked out of the window, the snow still fell gently, the flakes dancing downwards in the streetlights. They were in no rush to end their gentle journey to earth where they would join their friends. Each flake seemed to understand that they had a brief life of uniqueness before they merged into a mass of white and then eventually vanished completely to become no different from their rain drop cousins.
Dan could see the snow but he watched Emma. She was beautiful and unique and perhaps as delicate as a snowflake. He wanted her and had done since the first time he saw her emerge from behind the giant, she was gorgeous and he knew he liked her more than physically. He watched the glass raise to her red lips and again thought of the snowflakes she reminded him of, beautiful to look at but one touch and they melt away, destroyed and lost forever.
‘It’s beautiful here. The snow and everything, it’s just like a dream.’ Emma said, still looking outside.
‘Definitely beautiful.’ Dan said thinking about more than the snow. ‘I like Paris a lot, but I prefer it at night and tonight it’s quiet.’
She turned to look at him again, her lips had left another red mark on the glass. ‘I’m almost glad the flight was cancelled. Emma brushed her lipstick from the glass with her thumb and lowered her eyes. ‘This is much better than rushing around to get a taxi.’ She lifted her eyes to meet Dan’s again praying the night would continue to go well.
‘I’m glad the flight was cancelled. Most people go to cities in the day time, alone, rushed and stressed. Cities are best experienced at night with someone, countryside in the day time and cities at night. That’s what I think.’
‘I haven’t thought about it like that but I agree, especially with the snow. It makes the lights look prettier.’
# # #
The snows surface had frozen. It spread out in front of them like a glittering white carpet, cracking like a crème brulee with each footstep. They walked closely together, the chill made it natural despite being strangers heading to an apartment. They were in Paris, romance ran through the city like The Seine but they still had their English ways and they were no longer teenagers who could get away with snogging in a bus stop. Their breath swirled behind them like a pair of cigar smokers. She stood tiny against him. His arm draped around her shoulders holding her close, her head rested against him as they walked through the deserted streets. Dan’s work week had been hard by anyone’s standards but it was all a distant memory to him now as he ushered the most beautiful girl he had seen through the white streets of Paris.
‘It’s just along here.’ Dan said pointing ahead.
‘Ok, I’m glad it’s close. I’m freezing.’ Emma said tucking her chin further into her chest feeling nervous but oddly comfortable.
‘Here we are, let’s go get warm.’ Dan said pointing to a bright red door. He held his wallet against a black steel box on the brickwor
k with a small blinking red light. There was a click and the light turned green, Dan pushed the door open and let Emma walk inside.
‘So, this place is yours?’ The hall was dark until lights flicked to life above them as Dan closed the door against the cold night.
‘No. The company owns it as an investment and it’s cheaper than hotels. Sometimes there’s a couple of us here but everybody else has found a reason to work from home so their Christmas holiday starts a bit earlier. The building’s shared with a few other people who do the same thing or use it as offices, the big companies use hotels but we tend to buy properties to have them as assets.’
Emma stopped, stunned as her eyes moved around the interior. She stood on a polished chess board floor stretching out in front of her with doors along the left and a sweeping staircase hugging the wall, curving to a balcony above them. Everything in the room was black, white or a natural wooden finish.
‘This is amazing.’ Emma asked unable to stop looking around the hallway. ‘Is it your company?’
‘Well not really, I’m just one of the partners. We basically thought instead of spending a fortune on hotels all the time we’d buy property in the places we visit a lot. It just made sense for a small team like ours and it’s an investment rather than dead money.’
‘I can’t believe this building though. It’s absolutely gorgeous.’ She walked to a wall sconce casting a soft white light upwards, she touched it as if it held magical powers.
‘It is nice. We’ve got the first floor. The rest’s other offices, it’s just us in the entire building tonight. It was part of a bigger house once upon a time apparently, the whole block was but now it’s just apartments and small business offices. The doors here are into what was the old downstairs rooms. Just go up while I do the alarm.’ He pointed to the stairs.
She climbed the stairs. The stone steps, worn smooth made her wonder how many people had climbed these stairs and who they were. She reached the landing, the stairs continued higher into the building but she stopped. The same black and white theme continued here and seemed to throughout the building as her eyes followed the staircase upwards. The doors on this floor were painted the same red as the front door. She wondered why these doors were so different to the rest of the interior. Her thoughts stopped when she felt Dan’s hand on her hip, she turned to face him and smiled.
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