The Lunchtime Special

Chapter 25 - The Indisputable Allure of Black Lace

The rain eases off around dinner time so I decide to browse a few shops before making my way to Jake's flat. Coming from a small community where everything pretty much shuts down by seven, the novelty of retail stores being open this late at night shines like a glittery disco ball. I wander in and out of high fashion, homewares, electrical and gourmet food before my eye is caught and held by a huge bookstore. These are my nemesis, my kryptonite; I have never in my life been able to resist wandering into a bookstore. When I discover this one has a cosy nook with soft armchairs and cappuccino, I am ready to set up camp for the remainder of my time in Melbourne. Well, if it weren't for the lure of a certain gentleman, that is.

Laila's keys are burning a hole in my coat pocket and I'm constantly tamping down my rising excitement. Every three minutes I check my phone, frustrated that time isn't moving faster. I feel like a kid at Christmas and Jake is the present I've been asking for all year, neatly wrapped under the tree, just waiting for the morning so I can open him up and play with him.

And there will be playing, of this I am utterly certain. Oh god, yes.

When the books and coffee can't hold my attention any longer, I give up and wander instead into the lingerie section of a nearby department store, drawn by the scraps of lace, satin and silk. Men love lingerie, I reason, gazing around. My eyes fall on a beautiful coral lace balconette bra and panty set; it's playful yet sexy and the thought of wearing it as I greet Jake at the door makes me take to the changing room immediately.

"This colour looks gorgeous with your skin tone," the saleslady tells me after adjusting the bra straps. "The black would suit you too." When I try them on I can't help but agree and in a burst of enthusiasm tell her I'll take both sets. "Would you like to keep this on now?" she asks, removing the tags when I agree; I put my clothes back on over the top as she goes to the register to ring up the sale.

"Thank you, have a good evening." She gives me a friendly smile and I wonder fleetingly how much of her work she takes home, then laugh at the thought just as my phone rings.

"Jake? How are you ringing me from the plane? Doesn't it interfere with the navigation system or something?"

"I'm sure it would, beautiful, but I'm not on the plane, I'm here."

"What?" I stop in my tracks and the woman behind me mutters something angrily as she steps around me to avoid a collision. "Sorry," I mumble. "You're here? You mean, here here, as in...?"

"As in I got off work ahead of time, caught an earlier flight and am here at my flat. Are you at the hotel?"

"No, I...I'm in the city, doing some shopping." I'm still wrapping my head around him being back already.

"Whereabouts in the city?"

"Um..." I shake my head to clear it. "Just leaving Myer."

"In the Bourke Street mall? Honey, you're only minutes away. On the corner nearest you, which should be to your right, can you see the post office building? There's a big chemist opposite."

I take a few steps in that direction until I see them. "Yes."

"Okay, that's Elizabeth Street. Walk up Bourke Street for another block and you'll come to Hardware Lane. Turn right and follow it across Little Bourke Street and Lonsdale Street, where it changes name to Hardware Street. You'll see my building on the corner – do you remember it?"

"Yes," I tell him, already on the move and catching the pedestrian cross signal. "I'll see you soon."

"Call me if you...have any problems."

I laugh. "If I get lost, you mean."

The obvious grin in his voice makes me laugh again. "Well, beautiful, it's been known to happen to country folks when they visit the Big Smoke."