sea below. Wow! The small island of Tabarca could be seen in the distance. Now a marine reserve
and tourist attraction, the island was once a pirate’s hideout. The entrance to the restaurant was
decorated in a theme of all things nautical and a highly polished ship’s wheel hung on the wall.
‘Buenas tardes, Señora.’ Jill was greeted by an impeccably dressed waiter who escorted
her to a table alongside a small window. Karl Jansen stood up and welcomed her. He was a
tall, good looking man who towered above her slight build. Jill had known from the information
and photograph the dating club had sent her that Karl was a stylish man who spoke near perfect
English - a good thing really as she spoke no Dutch.
‘Hey! Hello Jill. It’s good to finally meet with you,’ Karl said, as he politely held out his hand.
‘Please, let’s sit down. Would you like a glass of wine; or maybe a brandy? To steady your nerves, I
know I needed one when I got here,’ he said, smiling. Their eyes locked across the table for just a
brief moment.
‘White wine would be fine. Thank you.’ Jill glanced around the intimate restaurant, taking in
her surroundings. ‘This is so different. It’s my first time on a . . .’
‘Blind date?’ interrupted Karl.
‘No, my first time on a train without a railway line to take me somewhere,’ Jill answered
wittily. ‘And yes, my first blind date as well.’
The ice had been broken now and they both relaxed a little. The waiter returned with a bottle of
Verdejo Casa Maria, presenting the label to them.
‘Es un vino muy bueno,’ said the waiter. ‘Is a very good wine, no?’
Both Jill and Karl nodded their approval. The waiter retrieved his corkscrew from his pocket,
opened the bottle and half filled their glasses before leaving their table.
Glancing up from the menu in her hands Jill noted Karl’s pristine white shirt lay open at the
neckline giving her a glimpse of a heavy gold curb chain. His slightly greying fair hair was neatly
trimmed and he had deep blue eyes. She liked what she saw. His trim physique was good for a
man of 45. His face, open and honest, had a smile that melted into her soul soothing away the
edginess she’d felt before they met. She was pleased now that she hadn’t cancelled.
The evening passed far too quickly. They shared a beautiful three-course dinner and the
bottle of white wine recommended to them by their waiter. Comfortable in each other’s presence
they both spoke of their previous relationships, of their families and their lives and where each
hoped that their lives would lead from this point in time.
Reaching across towards the almost empty wine bottle Karl’s fingers rested fleetingly
alongside Jill’s delicately painted fingernails. A shiver coursed down her spine. Their eyes locked
again and Jill felt a desire that she hadn’t felt for a long time, a fire stirring low down in her belly.
She felt her face flush in embarrassment, ashamed of her reaction and certain that he’d read her
innermost thoughts in that split second touch. She hadn’t felt such a spark since meeting her
husband all those years ago. Ex-husband, she reminded herself.
‘Would you like some more wine?’ Karl had broken the spell and Jill was sharply brought
back to reality.
‘No. No I’m fine, thank you.’
‘We may as well finish the bottle before we go.’
Jill realised that Karl was trying to prolong the evening and smiled.
‘Okay, but only a little. I have to drive home and it’s quite a distance, especially in the dark
on my own.’
Immediately regretting what she’d just said, Jill worried that he would think of it as an invite
to join her. She carefully examined his face for any kind of reaction but found none. Maybe he
doesn’t like me anyway. Or maybe he’s thinking that I am a bit forward. Jill’s mind was struggling
to cope with the feelings she was having right now. She felt confused. Do I really fancy him or is it
because I still miss Mike?
The waiter brought the requested bill to the table. Karl placed his credit card on the
small tray but Jill was insistent on paying for herself. Opening her clutch bag and ignoring the
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