holly hepburn he’s the one

A daring chance with the delicious waiter – could jelly-legged Gilly really be as bold as her sister?

Did you know goldfish have four-second memories?” Gilly lowered her fork and stared at her sister. “What on earth made you say that?”

Melanie shrugged, her gaze meandering around the crowded restaurant.

“I read it somewhere. Wouldn’t it be great to wake up with absolutely no idea what the day was going to bring?”

A mental image of the lengthy to-do list in her handbag sprang into Gilly’s mind. “Maybe.”

“There’s no maybe about it,” Mel snorted. “Just think how liberating it would be.” Terrifying more like, Gilly decided. Not for the first time she found herself wondering if their parents had secretly adopted one of them. How else could anyone explain the complete lack of similarities between the two sisters?

Where she was quiet and steady, Mel was flighty and extrovert, to the point where it was a family joke that she’d been away the day they taught responsibility. Gilly whole-heartedly agreed. Mel flitted from one temporary job to another, preferring the excitement of a new situation to settling down anywhere. Her attitude towards men was the same.

“Some of us like a bit of stability,” Gilly said, and tried not to wince at the disapproving note in her voice. Even she had to admit she sounded older than her thirty-three years.

Mel rolled her eyes. “You certainly had that with Simon. If he’d been any more stable he’d have had foundations.”

Gilly flushed. Her ex might not have been flamboyant but he’d been honest and dependable. Well, right up to the moment he’d left her for his secretary.

“Even that was predictable,” Mel had sighed when she’d heard the news. Gilly knew deep down that her sister was trying to make her feel better but it had been less than comforting at the time. “It’s time you learned a bit of spontaneity,” Mel advised Gilly, a determined look on her face. “How about signing up to Tinder?”

The arrival of the waiter saved Gilly from having to respond. “Would you like to see the dessert menu?”

“Only if you’re on it,” Mel said, eyeing him appreciatively.

Gilly felt herself sink down in her chair. “Mel, stop it!”

Mel’s gaze slid from his name badge to his face. “You don’t mind, do you, Marco?” She shook her head in mock disgust. “Honestly, Gilly, it’s like being out for lunch with Great Aunt Mildred.”

Marco smiled politely. “May I recommend the tiramisu?”

Once Marco was safely out of the way, Gilly fanned her pink cheeks. “You embarrassed him.”

Mel was supremely unconcerned. “Rubbish. He’s gorgeous. He probably gets chatted up every day. Pity he’s not really Italian, though. If his name’s actually Marco, I’m Beyonce.”

Gilly hadn’t thought of it that way but, judging from the largely female restaurant clientele, there was a good chance that Mel was right. She found herself observing their waiter with fresh appraisal; how many times had he been propositioned so far today?

“So, what do you think?” Mel went on relentlessly. “Ready to carpe the diem?”

Disappointed, if unsurprised, that the prospect of dessert hadn’t diverted her sister’s brain, Gilly said, “If you mean

Her eyes GLEAMED, “Let’s play dare.” Gilly got that COLD feeling

online dating, forget it. Besides, I can be spontaneous. In fact, I’ve started an evening class.”

Mel perked up. “Any good-looking men there?” “Actually…” Mel wasn’t listening. Her eyes were glued to Marco as he weaved expertly between the tables.

“He really is delicious, isn’t he?” A mischievous expression crept across Mel’s face. “Remember that game we used to play when we were kids?”

There had been several as Gilly recalled and she’d never won at any of them. Even in Monopoly, Mel’s risky strategies paid off. “Which one?” Her sister’s eyes gleamed. “Dare.” Frowning, Gilly said, “I remember I always ended up humiliated.” Mel smiled. “Fancy a game now?” Getting a cold feeling in her stomach, Gilly shook her head. “No.”

“I think I’m going to insist.” She jerked her head at the approaching waiter laden with their desserts. “Dare you to ask him out,” she said. “Or will you be jelly-legged Gilly again?”

Heart pounding, Gilly tried to ignore her sister’s smirk as the waiter laid a sumptuous-looking tiramisu in front of her. It had been a long time since Mel had dared her to do anything but it might as well have been yesterday, so fresh was the sickening flood of anxiety and reluctance.

But at the same time she felt the mule-kick of adrenaline. It wasn’t a bad sensation; she could almost understand her sister’s addiction to it.

Mel’s taunting expression filled her with unexpected resolve. Jelly-legged Gilly lacked spontaneity, did she?

She removed the napkin from her lap and stood up. As Marco placed the second dessert on the table, she took two rapid steps to stand beside him. Without stopping to think, she reached up and pulled his face to her own, planting her lips firmly on his for several long seconds. Then she let go and sat down, as if nothing had happened.

Marco simply stared for a moment, an amused expression on his face before he turned towards the kitchen. Mel’s mouth was a perfect O of astonishment!

“You owe me a forfeit,” Gilly said, sinking her spoon into the tiramisu. “How… what.…?” Mel managed. Gilly just smiled. As they left the restaurant, Gilly’s phone vibrated.

Yoursisterisjustlikeyousaidshe’d be, the text message read. Seeyoulater foranencore?Markx

Gilly slipped her mobile back into her bag. When her sister had suggested lunch at La Trevi, Gilly had wondered whether to tell her about the man she’d met at her Italian For Beginners class.

She’d chickened out at the last minute and now she was glad she had.

Of course, Mel would no longer be impressed when she discovered the kiss hadn’t been as daring as it looked, but she’d get over it.

Gilly bit back a secret grin. This time, she’d definitely seized the day!