Edge of Our Dreams

Lilly was giddy. A mixture of nerves, excitement and hunger were making her feel a little less stable than usual. She applied her last sweep of dark red lipstick and checked her appearance in the mirror one last time. She felt pretty, she felt gorgeous and the fact she’d hit the gym earlier allowed her to feel fit.

The knock on the door set the butterflies off. She’d had to close the curtains to stop herself starring out the window and waiting for him. Sarah had left half an hour before wishing her luck and demanding updates on how the date went.

She took a deep breath as she got up from her bed and slipped her pumps on. She’d gone for flat shoes with her flicky skirt and black crop top. The crop top made her nervous but she’d gone for it anyway, she hoped he liked and didn’t just think she was flashing too much skin.

She wasn’t. She reminded herself closing her eyes and taking one more deep calming breath before opening the door. Be confident.

As she opened the door his eyes slowly looked up from the floor taking in every inch of her till he was met with her beautiful eyes.

“Hi,” She smiled at him and instantly felt a little more relaxed when he smiled back. He had such a happy smile, one she believed could make anyone feel better about life. He could dazzle people with that smile, with perfect white teeth and bright blue eyes, his whole face seemed to light up.

“Lilly,” He greeted her as she stepped out of the house and closed the door behind her. “You look beautiful,” He said simply enjoying the blush on her pale cheeks. He took her hand and led her down to the car. She couldn’t help but check him out as she made her way out of the flat. Fitted shirt and tight suit trousers. He looked wonderful as ever, so well groomed, she wondered how much effort went into his look; did he have time for effort or was the effortless chic real for him?

“Thank you,” She smiled sweetly getting into the car as Tom held open the door and climbed in after her. “You don’t look bad yourself,” She admitted as he shut the door and the car pulled off. Tom laughed at her comment leaning back in the seat and looking particularly relaxed. She wished she felt the same, she was nervous; this was a real date and a real date she cared a lot about. “So what are the plans?”

“I have a table booked, and then cocktails afterwards,” He said simply with a smile he was still watching her. “Sorry, you just look incredible,” Lilly couldn’t quite believe he’d said that and had to give an embarrassed laugh in response. Though she couldn’t help the smile crossing her face, she felt gorgeous, having him confirm it was a bonus.

As they drove through the streets of London they discussed their days, talking about Lilly’s work, Tom discussing a play he was planning to see later in the month and an article they’d both seen in The Guardian. She enjoyed talking to him, and in particularly listening to him, he had a way of keeping her interested and engaged. Though she thought that probably was helped by his voice, so cultured and refined, that accent was to die for.

She was so focused on trying to listen that she’d lost track of where they were going and what part of London they had ended up in. Tom thanked the driver as they stopped and again refused to accept any money from Lilly for the taxi.

“Well here we are,” He smiled putting his arm out for her to link round, something she couldn’t remember any of her dates doing, especially not on a first date! They only walked a few meters along the main road before Tom turned off down a cobbled street and lead Lilly to an old, tall, red brick building. The outside was lit by fairy lights and the inside was even more spectacular. The restaurant took Lilly’s breath away. It was beautiful, rustic and romantic, with soft twinkling fairy lights, an old fashioned bar with a display of a variety of old glass bottles in front of the mirror, and an array of small cosy booths and old wooden tables for two.

This was not what she had imagined and yet it was still perfect.

“This is so romantic,” She muttered more to herself than Tom but the smug smile on his face told her he heard.

“What can I say?” He chuckled his hand pressing against her lower back as he lead her away from the bar and towards their table. “I believe in good old romance,” He’d leaned in, much closer to her, his skin brushing against her hair.

“Me too,” She replied with a soft smile as he moved away. They reached the table and predictably Tom pulled out the chair for her.

She smiled up at him, but her gaze was caught by a couple behind who had watched her sit down and were now whispering and glancing towards her and Tom’s table. Lilly caught the brunettes gaze and she quickly looked away and fixated on her glass of wine.

“Good evening,” The waiter appeared her side distracting her focus on the woman. He passed the menus over and started rattling on about specials and recommendations he had. Lilly just ignored him gazing over the menu and every so often sneaking glances at Tom.

“Red?” She heard him ask and nodded in response, the waiter smiled politely and left to get the drinks.

“This place is so gorgeous,” She added her eyes darting around. “Seriously how did you find it? It’s like a secret place,”

“Ah yes,” He smiled. “Very secret, you are only allowed to know about it if you are deadly serious about wooing a very beautiful woman,” Lilly couldn’t help but laugh. “And those were my intentions so here we are,” Tom kept her gaze, a wicked smirk crossing his lips, enjoying the very first steps in this friendship. He kept her talking and had her laughing through both the starter and main course. She felt at ease with him, the laughter came easy and the flirting was playful. He was a pleasure to be around.

“Do you do this a lot?” Lilly asked quietly earning a chuckle from Tom.

“Do I do what?” He questioned leaning back in his chair appraising his date. His finger tip running across his lip was utterly distracting.

“Treat women to amazing food and great company?” The smirk grew on his face and his fingertips fell to his chin.

“I don’t Lilly,” He sighed and sat back up in his chair, but kept her gaze. “As I said on the tube, I lead a very busy life and never really made much time to really devote to the woman who deserve it,”

“Well I feel lucky,”

“If you weren’t so gorgeous and had such a wonderful personality, I probably wouldn’t have returned that scarf,” He mocked taking a sip of his wine. Lilly opened and closed her mouth a few times not quite sure what to say to that. “You Lilly,” His hand ran over hers that she’d left on the table. “I want to spend a hell of a lot more time with you, and honestly,” He paused, his beautiful eyes fixing on hers. “That hasn’t happened in a very long time,” Lilly didn’t care if that was a line or not, she just had to smile at him.

“I want something very similar,” She admitted, enjoying the feeling over his fingertips brushing across the top of her hand. He smiled back finishing the last bit of his wine. “So we can do this again?” She mentally scolded herself for speaking before thinking, she sounded a little desperate.

“We can do this again anytime you’d like Lilly, however,” Her eyes flicked up to his doubt flooding her mind, though she relaxed when she saw his smirk. “You said I could have desert,” She couldn’t help but laugh at how young he sounded. He laughed with her enjoying how relaxed she had become through the night. This was a perfect date, and it almost worried him how perfect.

“So what are you going for?” She questioned picking up the desert menu and scanning it.

“I am sorely tempted by the Dare Devil Sundae,” Lilly gazed over it and nodded.

“Wow,” She laughed reading it. “That’s some sundae!”

“Share?” He questioned making her gaze up to catch his look. “You can’t deny it sounds irresistible,” He smirked as the waiter walked towards the table. “One Dare Devil Sundae, two spoons,” So they were sharing and secretly Lilly was pleased. She hadn’t felt hungry enough for desert but there was something about sharing desert that made it all the more romantic. She felt like a bit of a hopeless romantic.

“Wow that was sooo good,” Lilly smiled sipping the last drops of her drink and leaning back in the chair. “You’re going to have to go on like a million runs to work that off,” Tom just laughed and shook his head.

“No thank you! There are so many more ways to work that off,” Lilly raised her eyebrows a smirk crossing her lips as Tom gazed at her, it took him a few seconds before he started laughing. “You’ll never believe me but that is not what I meant,”

“Oh I don’t know, I think-“ Tom just laughed at her watching the suggestive look cross her face again, her eyes seemed to glisten in the low lights so bright and blue. She watched him finish his glass of wine, his fingertips brushed softly over his lips as he watched over her. There was something about that pose that was so sexy. God he was a good date.

“Sir,” Lilly was distracted by the arm going in front of her and the plate with the check being placed on the table.

“Thank you,” Tom replied keeping his gaze on Lilly. “Are sure I can’t get you anything else?”

“No thank you, I’m honestly done, this has been amazing,”

“Oh I agree,” Tom replied placing money on the plate. Lilly went to get her bag but earned a shake of the head from Tom. “No you don’t,”

“You pay for-“ But he interrupted her before she could finish.

“I can afford to,” He smiled pushing his chair out and standing to his full height. He held out a hand for Lilly to take. She watched him

“Thank you,” Lilly smiled as they got outside the restaurant, the evening had closed in but the city was still alive. A chill was in the air, and she shrugged her jacket over her shoulders to keep herself warmer. Tom gazed down to see what she was doing and smiled putting an arm around her shoulders. “Oh I’m okay,”

“Sorry I-“ He went to remove his arm and Lilly shook her head, she didn’t quite mean that.

“No actually I’m cold,” She smirked earning a laugh from Tom his put his arm back round her shoulders and pulled her closer.

“Oh really, you just remember how good my hugs were,”

“Well they weren’t bad,” She laughed as they walked towards the main road. “Are we walking back or taxi?”

“Taxi of course,” Tom smiled. “I’m not letting you walk back on your own!”

“I’ll be fine,”

“Mhmm,” He nodded as if he didn’t believe that for a second. The road was quiet as Tom looked up and down, waiting for a taxi to flag down. “Do you mind waiting here for a few seconds, I’m sure a taxi will appear,”

“That’s fine,” She moved a little closer looking up to him.

“Not going to freeze on me,” He chuckled putting an arm around her wiast to move her a little closer to him. “You aren’t exactly dressed for this,” Lilly bit her lip feeling her cheeks go red, she wasn’t dressed appropriately. “Not that that is a bad thing,” Tom added noticing her embarrassed look. “You look beautiful, I told you that,” His fingertips brushed under her chin so she looked back up at him.

Her breath hitched in her throat when she looked straight into his eyes, bright blue and sparkling, he was watching her every move. He titled his head down, his eyes closing slightly, she knew what was coming. Every hair stood on end as his fingertips gripped her waist and his lips found their way perfectly to hers. This wasn’t their first kiss but it was just as exciting if not more. He held her gently as she moved her lips against his. She’d forgot the sounds of the city, the scent of cologne, the warmth of Tom’s body and softness of his lips the only thing registering in her mind. Her hands went to his sides, underneath his open jacket, able to feel the warmth of his skin through the thin shirt.

As they natural separated his fingertips grazed down her cheek, his hand resting on her shoulder, as his fingertips caressed her neck.

Her eyes stayed low not wanting to break such a magical moment. Lilly knew if she looked up she’d want to do that all over again.

“Taxi,” Tom whispered his hand move away from her neck to flag the taxi down. Lilly looked up this time to see him watching the taxi as he slowed down to a stop beside the pair. He completely let go of her to lean into the window and state her address. He opened the door of Lilly as he moved away from the window but grabbed her hand before she could get in. “I wish this taxi hadn’t appeared,” He smiled pressing a kiss to her cheek before letting her get in.

She couldn’t hide the huge smile that broke on her face as he climbed into the cab behind her. She was in deep trouble here she couldn’t deny liking this man.

The taxi pulled away and Tom’s hand found hers within seconds. She looked towards him and smiled, she couldn’t help it, she was happy. Tom chuckled and squeezed her hand leaning back in the taxi looking very relaxed.

As the taxi pulled up Lilly got out her purse able to beat Tom with the correct change, he rolled his eyes but she wasn’t giving in.

“Stay, you are not tripping over again,” He said as collected her change, he let go of her hand and climbed out the car leaving her alone. In a matter of seconds he was the other side of the car opening her door and offering his hand to her. “Gently,” He smirked as she took his hand and stepped out into the night air. It was closing in to midnight and Lilly wanted nothing more than to replay the whole evening.

She bit her lip feeling awkward at having to say goodbye; they’d had such a wonderful night though.

Tom took over, she wondered if they trained him at gentlemen school on how to deal with all social situations. She smiled a little at the idea of gentleman school and caught Tom watching her. He kept hold of her hand as she lead him up the steps to her flat.

When they reached the top she stopped going to let go and search for her keys but Tom kept her hands enclosed in his.

“I’ve had a wonderful night,” She said simply feeling the need to fill the quiet night to stop her getting nervous.

“The pleasure has been all mine,” He replied a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “We should do this again,” Lilly nodded not able to hide her smile as he suggested it.

“I’d like that, next week isn’t too busy,”

“Wednesday?” He questioned keeping her hand in his as he stepped down one of the steps.

“Come here,” Lilly added. “I’ll cook,” She was a little surprised at herself for offering such a suggestion.

“That sounds good,” He smiled back squeezing her hand before letting go. “I look forward to it, but I must go,” He sighed.

“Thank you for tonight,” She smiled and noticed the smirk growing on his face.

“Stop that,” He chuckled shaking his head, Lilly looked down innocently. “That smile, you’re making me want to kiss you again, and if I kiss you again I won’t leave!” Lilly just laughed and leant down to press her first kiss against him. He smiled into the kiss, cupping the back of her neck before she let go.

“Go,” She smiled. “Goodnight Tom,”

“Good night Lilly,” He kissed her hand before jogging down the rest of the steps and back into the car.