Sarah looked over the lunchtime menu once again. Calculating the cost of what she was willing to pay for her share of the bill. It was usually how she decided on what she was going to eat. Even if she knew that there was absolutely no way that the man sitting opposite her would allow her pay, let alone get the offer to do so out of her mouth in time.

"Well, Loopy? Have you finally managed to make up your mind or what?"

Duncan glared at Sarah over the top of the leather-bound menu.

"I don't really know."

Sarah was indecisive between the tomato and basil pasta and soup of the day. Both were within her price range and making her stomach rumble. She smiled lopsidedly at the dark man facing her. Wriggling her bottom on the uncomfortable wooden bench of the booth in the 'gastropub' Duncan had chosen.

"I mean, it's a case of do I go for the solid, stable carbs? Or do I get something new, unknown, yet bound to be filling?"

"Loops." Duncan's face creased into an expression of 'do I look like I care'. "I honestly love you to pieces but for Christ's sake just make up your mind so that I can get back to my wonderful world of the millennium crisis?"

"That settles it then." Sarah slammed the menu down and beamed a broad, winning smile across the table. "Pasta it is. Are we having wine too?"

Duncan shrugged and winked at her as he raised a hand to get the waiter's attention. "Don't see why not, not after what you've been telling me. Seems like you've got something to celebrate."

Sarah twisted the napkin she'd placed on her lap. Her sparkly, blue nail polish caught the lights of the restaurant.

"I wouldn't go that far. I'm not even sure if I want to take it."

The waiter made his way to the table, and after hastily giving their order, Duncan sighed as though trying to make sense of Sarah's hesitancy.

"Come on, what's not to take? Witch of a boss gives you the shop - bloody take it, girl! That old hags lost her marbles for sure, but think about it, yours and yours alone. I'll give you a hand with all the bookwork and taxes stuff. Nothing to worry about. What an opportunity. Can't give away something like that, you know?"

Sarah sat silent. She watched Duncan's face. She heard his words. She saw the waiter exit the kitchen with a tray carrying a half bottle of white wine and a small bottle of water for them. She felt the world slow down. The chatter in the room dulled and faded away. The moment wasn't real. This morning's events just couldn't be real.

"Hey." Duncan clicked his fingers in front of her face, snapping her back.

"Sorry."

She smiled a thank you to the waiter as he set down the drinks, and she also gave Duncan an apologetic grin when he poured her a glass of wine.

"Listen," he spoke lightly, lifting the mood of the moment. "I'm not convinced if I'm reading this right, but are you still caught up with the idea of thinking you owe something to that God-awful place you call a home? Honestly, I think it's time to let it go. There's nothing left for you there - no future, no business. Get rid of it. I know at least five clients who are looking to start 'the good life' in such a perfect, rural setting. Give it up." He reached over the table and clutched her hand, squeezing her cold fingers with his warm grasp. "Life's too short, and God knows you've paid your dues. Time to move on."

They sat that way for a while, sipping drinks and holding hands. Neither saying a word. Five minutes passed before the waiter delivered the meal. It smelt great - fresh tomatoes and basil. Sarah lifted her head to say thank you and Duncan nodded his approval. The piped music started playing Eric Clapton's 'Wonderful tonight'.

"I don't know if it's right."

He let Sarah's hand go free and turned his attention to his lunch.

"Why wouldn't it be right?"

Sarah picked at her pasta with the heavy fork. The stainless steel felt cold.

"It's not really my farm to sell. If my dad gets better... Well, anyway, I think it's only right that the sale should be done with his consent. How's that supposed to happen? There's no way I can afford to keep paying the bills on that place, plus pay rent on something closer to the centre. This just isn't going to work."

"Who says you have to move to the city?"

"Nobody, but I'd have thought that would make it easier to run the place. Why? What are you getting at?"

Duncan leaned back into the booth's bench. The fake, red leather squeaked against his back. He held his hands up as though he felt under attack for giving air to his reasons.

"Why not take advantage of an outside option to your predicament? I'm going to be moving out of my flat very, very soon. Not soon enough, as I'm sure you'll understand after our talk on the phone last night."

Sarah lifted her left eyebrow in response, continuing to prod at the pieces of pasta.

"I'm looking for a new place in the city and it would be a great help to have somebody to share the rent so that I can get something more modern."

"You mean too new to have ghosts."

"Exactly, too new to have anything Come on. Think about it. We make a pretty good team, don't we?" He studied her face, maybe for some kind of sign?

She gave nothing away.

"I don't mean that we should jump into the same bed or anything." He snorted, and she wondered if she'd read this situation right.

She looked up and her lip curved into a slight, uneasy smile. "Oh, no. I wouldn't possibly make that assumption you, bad, bad boy."

Duncan swallowed. "So, what do you think? You have to admit it makes sense. You, me, the city?"

Sarah put down her fork and ran her fingers through her hair.

"So much has changed." Emotion strained her voice, her words came out dry and raspy. "I have no idea what to think, what to say, or even what to do anymore."

Tears began to well in her green eyes. She blinked them back. She thought she caught a guilty look on his face. It made her believe that maybe he was in just as much torment as she was.

"Listen up. Little Miss Loops." He held her hands in his once again. His tight grip and steady gaze reassured her, his grey-blue eyes twinkling under the restaurant lights. He spoke quietly and earnestly to her, seemingly willing her to believe every syllable he uttered. "I can be whoever you want me to be. Your friend. Your partner. Your flatmate or, your man."

He let her hands slip free and finished his meal without another word. Sarah sank back in her seat, and stared at him. Her thoughts whirring on overdrive, her hands slippy with sweat, the cutlery heavy and cold in her fingers.
Did he really just say that?
Her eyebrows raised before she noticed, she had no idea of what to say back. Taking a large gulp of wine, she pushed the food around her plate.
His honesty astounded her. He'd put it out there completely at her disposal. His heart on the line. She hoped he wasn't going to hold his breath for an answer. She couldn't cope with that. Not yet.

Sarah was convinced that silence was the way to go. She finished her drink and avoided any possible eye contact with Duncan.

She followed him to the cash desk and when the waiter read out the charge, she made an attempt to pass Duncan a £20 note. As predicted, he waved her offer away and put the bill on his company card. She still didn't meet his eye when she gratefully thanked him. Did he really want her?

They walked outside just as a dark cloud moved past the sun, the resulting bright daylight causing them to blink and refocus.

"Will you think about it, Sarah?"

Duncan turned up the collar on his smart, blue blazer. The action gave her a feeling of normality within this alien moment of truth.

Sarah zipped together her jacket, taking her time to bring the zipper up to the top. The sound of the metal teeth gently grinding gave her a serene notion of controlling time. She smiled at the pavement then lifted her head cautiously to look at him.

He was fiddling with his wallet, contemplating her expression.

Sarah watched him quietly. She placed her hands on his forearms, her sweet smile clinging to her lips. She said nothing.

Duncan leaned in for a kiss. Nothing demanding. Just a peck on the cheek.

Sarah waited for the kiss. She didn't dare to move. When his lips touched her skin, she enjoyed the tender touch.

When he pulled back, the daylight was brighter, her body alive. Could he tell that she was willing to go further?

They stood apart, holding hands. Her right to his left. She could feel the light beat of her pulse under his fingers tips. Did he feel it too? The heat of her body next to his?

He let go first.

"Speak to you later, okay?"

Duncan walked away into the crowd and was lost to Sarah's view.

It took her a minute to come round from the ethereal stupor which had claimed her body. Her mind, on the other hand, was buzzing.

What now? How did they move on from here? She'd come to him searching for answers and now she was afloat and adrift with so many questions more. A part of her hated him for messing things up, for forcing her to face up to her emotions and make choices she really hadn't wanted to think about. A part was in love, she knew. He should never have said it. Things were so much simpler without it being released in the open air. He'd forced her to confront her feelings about Luke, as well as himself, leaving her with no escape. Why couldn't things just stay the same?

Her predicament was no clearer than it had been before lunch. In fact, far worse, now not only was she messed up about her future, but also about her heart. There was only one thing for it. She needed to get a second opinion.