by Maggie Brown
“The same, thanks.”
“Put away your money, luv. It’s on the house. The two of you have a good time now.”
With a bemused expression, Lindsey watched him walk off to the bar. “How do you know him, Daisy? He obviously thinks a lot of you.”
“Believe it or not, he was one of our first customers.”
“Really? I’d never have picked him for that. Did you find him a wife?”
“I did. Maureen, a lovely woman who looked after her ailing mother for years. After her mum passed away, she came to us convinced she was on the shelf. It was a match made in heaven. They are remarkably happy.”
Lindsey eyed her thoughtfully. “That’s something I’ve been meaning to ask. Are most of your matches between your clients?”
“No, not many. We don’t have the volume of the big Internet dating sites. Ours is an exclusive service—we limit the number of clients. Occasionally I find two people on the books compatible, but mostly if a client doesn’t already have someone in mind, then it’s my job to find that special person.”
“Is it difficult?”
“Not really,” answered Daisy. “I’ve a broad network in the social scene. After the grooming sessions, I introduce a client to people that suit their background and age. Once they’ve had the pertinent introductions, they generally take it from there. It’s not always quite that simple as you can appreciate, but that’s roughly how I work.”
“And that’s all your involvement?”
“Good heavens no. I continue to monitor their dating from further afield. I’m their safeguard. You’d be surprised how many predators are out there to take advantage of the lonely.”
“And you have a good success rate,” asked Lindsey.
“An excellent one. Only a couple have been with us long term, very nit-picky, but I’m confident I’ll match them up in the end. I’ve only had five I couldn’t help.”
“Why not?”
Daisy’s lips automatically thinned as she remembered. “Four turned out to be sleazebags, so I told them to go.”
“And the last?”
“He,” Daisy shifted uncomfortably in her seat, “…well…he became fixated on me. It was a very nasty experience, one I don’t wish to repeat.”
Though Lindsey’s eyes radiated empathy, she replied with a hard edge to her voice. “I’m sorry someone put you through that. Nobody deserves to be dragged through hell just because they’re pretty…or plain.”
About to pass it off with a noncommittal remark, it suddenly dawned on Daisy that Lindsey was truly upset. She’d mentioned her mother called her plain, but Daisy hadn’t understood the depth of her hurt. Evidently, she harboured a lot of resentment. When she looked at Lindsey again, the vulnerable look had dropped away to be replaced by something distant and guarded. Then the waiter arrived to take their orders, which effectively closed the subject.
Their stew was so tasty that they polished off their large, full bowls. They were on dessert when the floorshow began, so they angled their chairs around for a better view of the stage. The quick throb of music took over. A piano accordion, flute, fiddle, and tin whistle formed the lively band. The singer had a lilting low-pitched voice and sang his way through most of the traditional Irish songs plus a few modern tunes. As the night progressed, and drink flowed freely, patrons enthusiastically belted out the words with him. Daisy felt a tug of envy. Every Irish man and woman seemed to have been born musical. To her surprise, Lindsey hummed along with the old-time favourites.
“You obviously like music,” Daisy remarked.
“I love it,” said Lindsey, her eyes sparkling as her foot tapped to the tune.
Daisy felt a twitch of relief. She should enjoy the musical she had planned. “Would you like to see My Fair Lady? I’ve tickets.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
“You wouldn’t be nervous amongst the crowd?”
“I don’t think so. I was anxious at the cocktail bar but I feel calm here. Probably because no one’s looking at me. Either that or your confidence is rubbing off on me,” Lindsey said wryly.
“Self-esteem will come. That’s only what you’re lacking. You have everything else.”
Lindsey didn’t say anything more, and as time passed, they sidled closer together. Not touching, but Daisy knew it was a giant step for her to sit so close for an extended period. It wasn’t until after eleven that Lindsey called Joe to pick them up.
Half an hour later, they made their way out to the street to find their ride parked nearby. The clouds of the morning were only a memory under the clear night sky and the air had a chilly bite. Lindsey pulled the collar of her coat up to her ears, her eyes filmed by moisture. Daisy didn’t know if it was from the cool night breeze or from emotion, but she had no doubt the convivial atmosphere of the pub had affected the reserved woman. Wordlessly they climbed into the backseat to go home.
Aware they had found a real connection to each other, they were both reluctant to chance breaking it with idle conversation. It was too fragile yet. Daisy snuggled back into the leather upholstery with her eyes half-closed, while Lindsey stared silently out the window as they drove through the high-rises to the northern suburbs. The long streams of Saturday night traffic had been left far behind by the time they reached the turnoff into the estate. After the driver drove down the lane to the cottage to drop Daisy off, to her surprise, Lindsey walked her to the front door.
She shuffled from one foot to the other while Daisy fitted the key in the lock. When the door clicked open, Lindsey jammed her hands in her pockets and said in a low voice, “Thanks for the night, Daisy. I don’t know when I’ve had so much fun.” Then added after a pause, “Not for a very long time anyhow.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. I’d like to be your friend as well as your mentor.”
Lindsey raised her chin, her eyes glittering. “I’d like that too. Goodnight.”
Daisy didn’t go in immediately, instead thoughtfully watched the taillights disappear into the night. Lindsey intrigued her more and more. Strong one moment, fractured the next. There were dozens of questions she wanted to ask her but it was essential to go slowly. Though they had taken a big step in their relationship tonight, she knew if she pushed Lindsey it could drive her away.
And Daisy needed some distance to be objective. It wouldn’t do to be too invested in Lindsey’s emotional welfare. She was technically only an employee. A specialised one granted, but she was still there because she was paid to do a job. Ultimately, Lindsey would take control of her own life, make her own decisions and go her own way with whomever she chose to share her life.
She felt a quick ripple of unease. As she had watched Lindsey at the Hazy Grape doing the I-want-you-to-be-interested routine, Daisy’s libido had unexpectedly sprung to life. Although her mind was firmly centred on business, her body had answered the mating call.
Chapter Fifteen
“Good morning. It’s not like you to sleep in,” Bernice remarked as Lindsey wandered into the kitchen.
“We didn’t get in ’til after midnight.”
“Oh?”
“Daisy and I had a night out. It was very pleasant.”
Bernice stared at her. “Good grief. You went out on the town?”
Lindsey ignored the question and silently filled her coffee cup. Everything was too new, too private to share yet. She sipped as her mind drifted. She tried not to dwell on the near meltdown at the Hazy Grape. Cringe worthy. God knows what would have happened if she hadn’t managed to escape in time. An involuntary shudder rolled through her body. It had been close, gross humiliation avoided by a whisker.
The memories of the Bally Bog brought a smile. The pub had a quaint charm that resonated far more with her than the expensive restaurants she had frequented with her parents. It had been so much fun, like back in the days with Kirsty, before the accident, before everything went awry. Strangely, as they grew to know each other more, Daisy seemed to make her feel less
awkward and flustered. Maybe it was because she had nothing to prove to her. She knew exactly what a social klutz Lindsey was and it didn’t seem to faze her.
She sank back in the chair as a wave of apprehension struck. What would Daisy think of her when she knew how damaged she really was? She closed her eyes, willing herself not to go there. But she couldn’t keep it a secret forever. She would probably have to come clean before the actual dating and intimacy began.
She heard Bernice huffing as she flipped the eggs onto a plate and Lindsey prepared for her cross-examination. Her housekeeper hated to be left out of the loop. The sound of the bell saved her. With a bound, she escaped to answer the door. Clutching her briefcase, Daisy stood on the doorstep, dressed casually in faded jeans and a blue T-shirt embossed with the words Chocolate Understands. She looked like a Cadbury wrapper.
With a friendly nod, she met Lindsey’s eyes. “Hi there. Ready to start?”
“Sorry. I slept in. I’m still having breakfast. Would you like some?”
“I had some cereal earlier. A cup of coffee would be nice though.”
A delightful floral fragrance wafted after Daisy as she strolled up the hallway to the kitchen. Bernice greeted her enthusiastically, immediately dishing out another meal, accepted after a half-hearted protest. Lindsey sat back and listened to their prattle, impressed how Daisy shrewdly sidestepped the probing about the previous night. She had promised discretion and was proving true to her word. After the plates were taken away, Lindsey procrastinated over the coming lesson by dawdling over her coffee.
Finally, it was Daisy who glanced at her watch and exclaimed, “Oh my. Look at the time. We’d better make a start.”
Lindsey pursed her lips. “Let’s adjourn to the study.”
Daisy headed for the velvet chairs again, leaving her no choice but to follow. All the built-up goodwill dissolved as reams of papers were produced from the briefcase. “I thought this would only take us an hour at the max,” Lindsey said curtly.
“Whatever gave you that idea? This is a carefully tailored tutorial which will take us a while to get through.”
“Fire away then. By the way, what did you decide about my proposal?”
“I could manage it,” Daisy replied with a smile. “But I shall have to fit the work in when I can. Have you a timeline?”
Lindsey met her eyes, mirroring her smile. “Not really. Building the robots is ongoing. Just make sure you document your hours. I’ll get the finance department to write up a remuneration contract.”
“Okay. I’ll read up on what you’ve done so far and try to make a start while I’m at the cottage. We can discuss it when we have time.”
“Good to have you aboard. Perhaps after we finish here I can show you my notes.”
Daisy shook her head. “Not today. As soon as we’re finished here I’m taking you for a drive to the beach.”
“We’re going out?”
“Yep…our second date. We’ll have fish and chips for lunch beside the sea and then we’ll drive through the hinterland on the way home.”
Lindsey squirmed in her seat. She had unwittingly boarded an express train that was gathering momentum every minute. Her quiet orderly station was being left far behind. Better try to step on the brake. She rested both hands on the arms of her chair and said in a firm voice. “My driver is having the day off.”
“No worries,” said Daisy airily. “I intended to take my car.”
“Oh!” Lindsey sank back, unable to come up with another excuse. She wished she could—the little red car didn’t look particularly roadworthy.
“Let’s begin shall we.” Daisy spread out the papers on the coffee table. “First off, I’ll explain the stages of courtship. Though each love story is unique, they all have the same basic guidelines. ‘How to attract a prospective partner’ we covered. The second is more pronounced: initial conversation, ascertaining what you have in common and generally putting your best foot forward. There shouldn’t be much conflict at this stage because you’re trying to impress.”
“There wasn’t any conflict with Marian. She asked me to go home with her.”
Daisy narrowed her eyes. “Did she now? She was obviously after a hot night, not a long-term commitment.”
“You think? She may have wanted to talk in a quieter place. She did give me her number and seemed genuinely sorry I had to go.”
“Then ring her when you’re ready for the dating scene,” Daisy said brusquely. “Just remember that courtship precedes intimacy. Strength of a relationship is built slowly with patience. It takes time to build a good solid foundation. Once you jump in the sack, you can’t go back. Trying to find a life partner is very different from when you’re young and ruled by your hormones. Instant gratification is normal at that age.”
“Isn’t intimacy an important part of a relationship?”
“Naturally it is. I didn’t say you couldn’t go to bed with whomever you’re dating. Just don’t do it until you know you’re both ready.”
“How long will that take?”
Daisy rolled her eyes. “Just use your common sense. Surely…” She stopped and peered at Lindsey who was unsuccessfully trying to hide her amusement. “Okay, so you think this is funny.”
“Well, it is a bit. I might have emotional hang-ups, but I’ve a brain. I know what you’re saying and I agree. One problem is, the only real dating experience I’ve had was with boys and that was years ago.”
“You’ve never actually been on a proper date with a woman?”
“No.”
Daisy absently toyed with a curl. “Then we shall have to establish something first. Do you see yourself as the one doing the asking in this process or do you want to be asked?”
“I’m flexible to a point. Take Marian for example. I sensed she wanted to be the boss. Nicolle was different. I think the two of us would be on an equal footing.”
“Hmmm…so which one would you prefer?”
“Both were nice but Nicolle probably would suit me much better. Though Marian was a lovely stylish woman, she’s used to getting her own way. Too intimidating.”
Daisy stared at her. “You got all this from talking to them briefly?”
“I’ve made an extensive study of different personalities when I began working on artificial intelligence. The way people hold themselves, mannerisms et cetera. I also know a lot about powerful wealthy people. I’ve listened to them often enough.”
“So, what do you want in a wife?”
Lindsey let out an exasperated breath. “I wrote that on the questionnaire. You read it.”
“For crying out loud, Lindsey, you want a paragon of virtue who doesn’t exist. Where would I find a mature academic woman, who is kind, a homebody, tidy and always on time, and as well only has an occasional drink and never eats fast food? Even the Virgin Mary wouldn’t meet those standards.”
“Nonsense. There will be lots out there.”
“Stepford wives are damn fiction. No self-respecting woman wants to be a doormat,” Daisy said testily.
“I only want someone who would fit in with me. Why are you making such an issue out of it?”
Daisy opened her mouth then closed it again. A myriad of emotions flittered across her face and colour suffused her cheeks. She ducked her head. “I’m sorry. Let’s get back to today’s subject, shall we.” With her eyes fixed on the papers, she continued her lecture in a monotone. She poked across printouts every so often as she discussed each aspect of the initial communication phase.
Lindsey listened silently, but with only half an ear. All the joy seemed to have been sucked out of the room. She could think of nothing to break the ice. Daisy had obviously decided to keep her at arm’s length. Then an unsettling thought hit. She may have even decided she wasn’t worth much effort, period. Lindsey’s hand curled into a fist as a tight lump lodged in her stomach. Finally, to relieve the tension she stood up. “How about we take this outside into the garden? Leave the bookwork here and you can give me al
l your pointers verbally.”
Daisy raised her head in surprise. “I think getting some fresh air is a wonderful idea.”
Lindsey looked down at her and slowly extended her right hand. Daisy stared at it for a second, her gaze frank and assessing before she clasped it and allowed herself to be pulled up.
The soft warmth of Daisy’s hand seeped over Lindsey’s palm with a pleasant tingle. For a moment, she wondered if the circuits in her brain had crossed—it was such a delightful sensation she had trouble thinking of anything else. When Daisy gave a squeeze before she let go, Lindsey stepped back awkwardly and said, “I am trying to fit in with you, Daisy. You just have to be patient.”
“I know. I was interfering too much. It won’t happen again.”
A ghost of a smile flittered into Lindsey’s lips. “Ha, now that I can’t believe. You won’t be able to help yourself.” When a chuckle burst out from Daisy, she laughed too, more from relief than humour. Everything was on an even keel again. As she led the way out to the side patio, she didn’t even attempt to analyse why the thought of being abandoned by Daisy had upset her so much.
She tucked her hands in her pockets, proud of her garden as they wandered in between the beds. The spring flowers were in bloom: the asters, chrysanthemums, geraniums, gerberas, and plumbagoes spilled out colour. When they reached a rustic white-cedar bench under a poinciana tree, she stopped. “Let’s sit here.”
“This is ideal,” said Daisy as she sank down and stretched out her legs. “I know you aren’t fond of dry tutorials so we’ll do something more practical. I’ll be the guinea pig. This is the scenario…we’ve just met at a wedding and are attracted to each other, so after a couple of dances we have slipped away into the garden for a quiet chat. I’m a bit shy, so you lead. And I expect you to charm the pants off me.”
Catching a raised eyebrow, Daisy added with a chuckle, “Metaphorically speaking.”
“Right, here I go. Umm…are you having a good time?”
“Really Lindsey, you have to do better than that. You’re trying to make an impression here.”