Relationships Blog

Dating Diary

April 10, 2008: flying off to Barcelona with the legal eagle

Linda Franklin

This week Linda Franklin takes a city break with the sexy legal aid lawyer, but things never quite take off

I was meeting Alan the lawyer at Gatwick. We were Barcelona bound for a couple of nights. And there he was: tall, broad shouldered, fit, with longish dark curly hair, just a bit grey at the temples. He kissed me and I liked his scent: I could see I was going to thoroughly enjoy a couple of days of freedom from being mum. The company was not only very easy on the eye and nice to be next to, but very entertaining too. Who knows what might blossom?

Our hotel was in Las Ramblas - separate rooms as agreed, but next door to each other. Oo-er... We unpacked, freshened up and I knocked on his door: 'Let's go and explore and get some food,' I said. 'I'm starving.' No need to rush things, I thought, plenty of time for romance to develop in its own time...

'Righto,' he said.

The street was alive with musicians, singers, jugglers, mime artists and thronging tourists like us, a crackling party spirit in the air. As we sauntered along, arm in arm, watching everyone and everything, I could feel his strength and the muscular body beneath the jacket as we were thrown together by the crowds and, you know, it felt great to be in a couple for once and on holiday. We sat and had a jug of Sangria in one of the pavement cafes and chatted.

Then we ate tapas in a bar by the cathedral, sharing little dishes in an easy way, and - whenever we came to the last piece - he would take it in his fingers and bid me bite half, so he could have the other half. I watched his sensuous lips as he ate and was certainly in the mood to go a bit further than the - very nice actually - kisses he'd so far given me on his trips to Brighton. We went back to the hotel, our bodies now more intertwined than arm and arm: the wine and the closeness and the carnival atmosphere were doing their magical thing.

Outside the door of my room he said: 'I've had a really great day, Linda.' And kissed my cheek. I put my lips up to his. He chuckled slightly and bent down and kissed me: very nicely. Very dutifully. Then he smiled and wished me good night. 'I'm very tired...' he explained.

'Of course,' I sympathised. 'I'll see you tomorrow morning...'

And the next morning I got up early in anticipation, put on full make-up and scent, a pretty slip of a nightie. And - sure enough - he knocked on the door bright and early. I opened it, smiling and - I hoped - alluringly.

'Not ready yet?' He was in jeans and jumper. Get a shift on, slow coach - breakfast is served and it's included in the price. I'll see you down there.'

Well, a man has to eat. So I dressed and went down and there he was, on his second breakfast. So: lots of energy then - for me...

'I want to see the Sagrada Familia and the Park Guell and do the tour bus today,' he said decisively. And we did.

Now I once read a dating coach who advised that it was always up to the woman both to make the first move and to move things up to the next level - let the man know the door was open so to speak. And I did want to see what else he had to offer beside the promising snogging we'd indulged in briefly in Brighton. So when we got back to the hotel ready to get ready for dinner - and suggested he - erm... rest in my room.

'I can't, Linda,' he sighed. 'I just can't. We'll talk over dinner.'

'I thought I was over her,' he said over a glass of wine. 'But coming away with you has made up my mind. You're great - but you're not her...'

'Is she that young woman who was with you when we met?'

'Oh no - she was just a silly young thing. Greta's an older woman.'

'Older than me?' That would be a first!

'Yes - much.'

I was just so amazed it was an older woman who had his heart that I couldn't feel upset in any way. I just thought: gosh, having someone like that in love with you is really something to look forward to - I can't wait to grow up a bit more!

More from Linda
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