Martine The Beginning (Cruising to Love, The Prequel) Read Free Page B

Alfredo’s for spaghetti and Chianti!  It was quite lovely.”
      “Oh!  Well, that’s a surprise.  I don’t remember you ever going for a meal with a
    young man before.  You ’re always working. Or too tired.  You have no social life at all, my friend.”
      “Well,” Martine blushed, “maybe I do now…”
      “Ah…I smell something more in the air.  Did he kiss you goodnight?”
      Martine ’s blush deepened.  “Yes, he did.  Very thoroughly, Penny. He kissed me goodnight four times….” she smiled at the thought.
      “I take it you enjoyed this Lucas kissing you goodnight four times?”
      “Oh, yes.  And he’s taking me to Alfredo’s again on Saturday night…”
      Penny giggled.  “About time somebody whisked you out of here for a night out, Martine.  About time you noticed a handsome young man.”
      She settled herself on the stool behind the counter.  “Now, tell me all about him.  How old is he, what does he do?”
      “I think he’s about twenty five. He has his own business, a management consulting firm.  Worked his way through University.  Worked for a big firm for a couple of years.  Now he’s started out on his own.  I suspect he’s in the same position as me, just starting out. Probably not a ton of money to spend on entertaining
    young ladies.  But he wouldn ’t hear of me paying my own bill…said it wasn’t ‘right’.  I think Lucas likes to do things properly.”  Martine smiled dreamily. 
      “He certainly kisses properly, Penny.”
      “Well, take it easy, Martine.  You have no experience with men at all. None.  Don’t let him take advantage of you.  Get to know him before you go beyond the goodnight kissing stage.”
      “Yes, Mother,” Martine laughed.
      “I’m serious, Martine.  You are more innocent than most fourteen year old school girls these days.  You keep the brakes on.  And your clothes.  Until I meet this man and vet him for you…He might be a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and heaven knows, I’ve had to deal with enough of them since I’ve been singing.”
      “Yes, Mother,” Martine repeated.  “Oh, Penny, you would have laughed.  Gloria obviously has a crush on him.  She didn’t like him turning up at Alfredo’s with me.  He usually has dinner there on Fridays, from the sound of it, alone, and when you and I go, it’s Saturdays, so that’s why we’ve never seen him before…
      The door opened.  The girls turned round. It was a delivery boy with a florist ’s box.
      “I’m looking for Martine,” the young man said.
      “That would be her,” smiled Penny.
      He handed her the box and left. 
      Pink roses, a dozen pink roses.  The card read,
                                “ I’m so happy we met.”
                                              Lucas
      “Well,” smiled Penny.  “Roses.  Pink is more suitable for you than red, I think. You’re still a young girl, innocent.  And he saw that.  Yes,
    Martine, I think this young man might do things properly.  Either that or he ’s a world class seducer…”
      “They’re lovely, just lovely,” breathed Martine.  “No one ever sent me flowers before…”
      “Did anyone ever kiss you before?” asked Penny.
      “No.  A couple of the chaps at the Art School have tried, at their parties.  I have gone to a couple of their parties, to get to know the artists.  But I always just turned my head, so they got my cheek.  And the message.”
      “But you didn’t turn your head last night?”
      “No, I closed my eyes and kissed him back.  He said I am a very good kisser.  So he had two more to last until Saturday…” Martine smiled that dreamy smile again.
      “It’s too bad I leave for Birmingham at five today.  We have a three day gig, tonight, tomorrow and Saturday at the Cavendish Club.  I’d like to have dropped by Alfredo’s and had a look at