It’s A Date!

Would Amanda meet the love of her life online?

I’LL do it,” Amanda volunteered. An article on online dating could be fun and might earn her some Brownie points. She tried to remember if any of her friends had met that way, but nobody sprang immediately to mind.

“Bring me a new take on it,” her editor said brusquely. “Follow your gut.

“Remember, we need some feel-good factor as well, especially after all the doom and gloom of late.

“I want romance with a capital R. Take a few weeks to research and write it.

“Though I’m not letting you off your normal work; you’ll have to juggle both.”

“I’m on it,” Amanda promised.

She knew exactly which dating site to try first.

“Get your happy ever after, like the ones you see on the screen.”

The words had echoed around Amanda’s mind as she remembered hearing the dating site’s motto in some jingle.

A bit of a Hollywood cliché, it was true, but maybe just what was needed right now.

But what sort of angle could she use?

Her gaze drifted out of a nearby window, studying the leaves on a nearby tree fluttering gently in the warm breeze.

People of a certain age had been done before, as had people in certain professions, and with a particular taste in food.

She needed something different. Something more personal, that the readers could identify with and cheer for.

Her eyes widened in realisation. Of course!

She was looking for love herself, so why not do the article from her point of view and get the readers involved in her search for Mr Right?

Would that be different enough for her editor?

When she ran the idea past him, his eyes gleamed.

“I like it. Let our readers share your ups and downs as you search for love. Keep me posted. And good luck,” he added as an afterthought. “Thanks.” Heading for her desk, Amanda filled out the site questionnaire before glancing through prospective suitors.

She liked to read their bios rather than just flick through their photographs.

Sure, looks played a part, but it was the personality behind the face that interested her more nowadays.

Cupping her face in her palm as she stared at the screen, her thoughts drifted. Was it possible to find the perfect person online?

She’d never tried herself, normally able to get dates easily, but none of them had turned into the ideal romance.

She wanted someone with manners and oldfashioned charm, not someone brash and insincere.

She grimaced. She’d been through enough heartache in the past to know that.

It had to be someone on her wavelength. Someone kind and thoughtful, too, who’d make her laugh.

Ten days later and Amanda’s enthusiasm was waning. This was her seventh date and nobody she’d met so far had turned into anything like a happy ever after.

Thankfully she’d been able to interview some of the dating agency success stories, which proved that romance in this uncertain world was still blooming.

But it would have been nice to find someone she’d at least like to see again.

Unfortunately, it seemed, from what she’d discovered, that people liked to exaggerate their accomplishments and gloss over their inadequacies.

She thought back to her first “date”, Pete, a gangly fellow with glasses he kept fiddling with as they slipped down his nose.

Amanda had thought he might be interesting, as he’d listed amongst his hobbies “exploring the great outdoors” and “historical sites of interest”.

She had visions of him talking animatedly about the Lake District or the Cairngorms, or maybe as far afield as Egypt or the Far East, sharing interesting titbits he’d discovered on some archaeological ruins scattered somewhere.

It turned out that he hadn’t ventured further than his local park and used his computer to do any travelling.

Then there was goodlooking Samuel, who had the most gorgeous hazel eyes and said he loved gourmet meals.

She’d thought he might be a chef – he hadn’t included his occupation in his bio – but he’d had no idea how to boil an egg, let alone attempt a lamb roast!

She hoped today’s date would be more successful.

Pushing open the coffee shop door, Amanda glanced around. It didn’t look like he’d

arrived yet.

He was supposed to be around her own age, and interested in environmental issues.

Taking a seat in the window, she ordered a cappuccino with an extra sprinkle of chocolate.

“Hi. Sorry, but don’t I know you?”

Amanda turned her head and something stirred at the back of her mind.

Funnily enough, he did look a little familiar.

“I’m not sure,” she said honestly.

The man continued to stare at her with a friendly expression.

“Weren’t we at school together? Are you Amanda

Blake, by any chance?”

Amanda met his gaze, thinking back to her school days.

Was that where she’d seen him before? She couldn’t remember.

“I’m Joe Craven. Known as Joseph back then.”

Had she been friends with a Joseph Craven? The name didn’t ring any bells.

“I’m sorry. We might have been, but my memory’s not the best.”

That was partly true, as she sometimes did have trouble remembering people’s names.

These days she tended to connect a new name with a visual image when someone introduced themselves.

Looking at Joe now, she immediately pictured a large teddy bear. Very random, even for her.

“That’s OK. I wasn’t really expecting you to remember me.

“I looked a little different then. We didn’t really mix much.”

For some weird reason she felt a twinge of guilt, especially as the man sitting opposite her was rather good-looking, with a sharp, straight nose set into an open, warm face that was grinning in a friendly fashion.

The summer sun radiating through the window caught gleaming coppery highlights in his thick brown hair.

Flecks of gold sparkled in his soft, bright eyes, and he had eyelashes she’d kill for!

A memory suddenly popped into her mind – of a freckle-faced boy who, according to her friends, had fancied her.

Now she thought about it, she was sure it was him – but he’d changed.

She had vague recollections of a nervous individual who wouldn’t say boo to a goose.

The man sitting in front of her seemed confident and at ease, leaning back comfortably in the hard plastic chairs.

“I do remember you.” She returned his warm grin.

“Yeah? How are you?” He brushed his fingers through his hair.

“Fine. You?” Her mouth felt a little dry and she took a quick sip of coffee.

“Good. How long has it been since we were at school? Twelve years?”

“Something like that.” Amanda nodded.

“Are you meeting someone, or would you like to join me?”

Her date hadn’t arrived yet, so why not?

“I am. But it beats sitting here on my tod. Thanks.” Taking a seat, she gazed at him.

“Didn’t you wear glasses at school?” The words slipped out unintentionally. Joe made a face. “Yeah. My mum always said they made me look brainy.”

Amanda laughed.

“As I recall, you were one of the clever ones.” “A nerd?”

She could feel a faint warming of her cheeks. That had probably sounded rude.

“No. Just smart.”

His eyes twinkled with amusement.

“Hey, being a nerd got me a good job in finance. What about you?”

“I’m a reporter on the local paper,” Amanda explained. “I’m actually doing an article on online dating.

“I joined a few sites, but so far I’m not impressed.”

Joe’s brows knitted together in surprise.

“Oh? Several of my friends have found love that way.”

“Really? Would they be willing to be interviewed?” Seeing his uncertain face, she gave a small laugh. “Sorry. It’s the reporter in me.”

He smiled.

“That’s OK. I guess I can ask them and see if they’d mind.”

“Thanks.” Amanda took another sip of coffee, before glancing at her watch. “My date is actually running late now.”

“That’s got to score a black mark,” Joe replied.

“Definitely. So, did you find your true love online?” She glanced at his left hand, but saw no ring.

“No. I prefer to meet people the old-fashioned way,” he admitted.

“I’m a bit of a traditionalist. I’m still single, though, so maybe I ought to try the online dating thing.

“What about you?” Joe went on. “Or is the dating thing for real as well as for work?”

Feeling an absurd flush of pleasure that he was single, Amanda grinned.

“A bit of both. I always believed in the fairy tale of eyes meeting across a crowded room and knowing you’re meant to be together!”

Joe grinned and nodded, looking as though he knew exactly what she meant.

“I’ve always believed that, too. Trouble is, I fell for someone at school and have never been able to forget her.

“She always seemed out of my league, though.” He gave her a shy smile and she saw his eyes look a little uncertain.

Was he flirting with her? She felt her heart skip a beat.

“Do I know her?” she asked, deliberately keeping her tone light.

“Without a doubt.” He stared intently into her eyes.

Now there was no doubt as to his meaning.

She glanced down, trailing her spoon across the foamed milk.

Joe seemed like a really nice guy, and she knew she wanted to get to know him better.

Why had she never seen what he was really like when they were at school?

Had she really been that shallow, only dating the boys she perceived to be good-looking?

Thank goodness she knew better nowadays and was able to look beyond the façade to see someone’s true nature.

A sudden movement caught her eye – a man entering the coffee shop.

Her date had arrived, though he looked to be much older than his bio had said.

Still, she consoled herself, he might be interesting to talk to and have some tips on saving the planet.

“That him?” Joe angled his head, noticing her gaze.

Amanda noted his lips twitching. The look on her face must have given her away.

“Yeah. I’d better chat to him. Don’t want to leave the poor guy hanging.”

She decided to take a chance.

“If you’re not doing anything later, maybe we could meet up for a drink?”

“That would be nice.” Joe gave a warm smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

It was a genuine smile. One that reached his eyes. She liked that.

Standing up to meet her date, Amanda felt a little bubble of happiness frothing like the cream in her coffee.

It looked like the dating agency had been right, in a roundabout way. Some stories did have happy ever afters.

And sometimes your eyes could meet across a crowded room, just like the Hollywood cliché. ■

“As I recall, you were one of the clever ones”