RC.

Ch7 ............ M

Night has fallen as we drive back into town. The atmosphere is strange ...

The interlude with Ryan felt so surreal ... It's as if I was afraid of waking up and realising it had all just been a dream.

Ryan breaks the silence.

R:"So ... what are you going to say about me on your blog, this time ...?"

I glance at him. His lips stretch into a cheeky smile.

T:"You know, sir, that I don't always talk about you on my blog. From time to time I also talk about cooking."

This time, I'm the one smirking.

R:"I was thinking of something along the lines of: Today I had an amazing time with my boss" ...""

T:"I wouldn't want to make my readers jealous."

He rolls his eyes, shaking his head.

Honestly? How can he not realise how much women love what he represents?

He pulls out to the right, overtaking a pick-up truck that's struggling up the hill. He handles the gearstick with ease and his expression becomes more serious.

R:"Have you ever looked into improving your retention?"

T:"My what?"

R:"The retention. On your blog."

He glances at me inquisitively. I've heard about water retention, but I don't think he's about to advise me on wearing support stockings ...

I just stare at him, dumb. I feel a little stupid all of sudden.

T:"Can you speak English?"

R:"Retention is the fact that people come back to visit your site regularly."

He explains this to me as cool as a cucumber whilst taking a fast, tight curve.

T:"Er... No, not really. I mean... I post my articles, I highlight my dishes with pretty photos. I..."

R:"Don't you have a facebook page or Instagram to disseminate your articles?"

T:"No."

This last statement seems to upset him.

R:"You have to."

He says this to me as if it were total carelessness not to have done it already.

I sweep a sideways glance at him, both amused and touched.

(He's cute.)

T:"The businessman is back!!"

I chuckle. I see he's finding it hard not to smile.

R:"He's never far away."

He gives me a rather cute knowing look...

R:"Seriously, you create a Facebook page from which you send your community back towards your blog."

R:"People are easy on Facebook, so they'll see it more easily."

T:"I'll think about it."

T:"Thank you for your advice, but I do it mainly for the pleasure of sharing my recipes with other enthusiasts."

R:"You sound like Jenny ..."

He murmurs this sighing. There's affection in his voice . Like every time he talks about his half sister.