Match Pointe. Indigo Bloome
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you.’
Eloise couldn’t believe the size and lushness of the rooftop garden. The flora looked almost technicoloured against the somewhat monochromatic landscape of London.
They found a table for two within the garden, and just as they had settled in, two French pear martinis arrived along with some canapés, compliments of the chef. Just as Noah had promised, they would be drinking something stronger than a pint. Eloise was not used to spirits, but the fresh-tasting vodka and champagne concoction slid down her throat all too easily, while their discussion flowed effortlessly amidst interruptions of congratulations from the staff, who obviously knew Noah well.
The grey clouds in the sky turned a vivid orange as the sun finally began to set on the mild evening. Eloise couldn’t remember a night out when she had felt so at ease; this was one of the rare occasions when she was able to have a few drinks without having to worry about a performance the next day. It was on this basis that she happily reached for her second martini when another round of drinks arrived at their table as if by magic.
‘So, what’s next for you in the tennis schedule?’
‘I’m hanging around London for a week to catch up with some friends, before heading to Hamburg for the German Championships. Then it’s off to America to prepare for the US Open.’
‘You don’t get too much downtime after something as major as Wimbledon.’
‘I suppose not, though it would be much the same for you, wouldn’t it? With your performances and travel.’
Eloise shifted slightly in her seat. She hadn’t spoken to anyone about having left the Royal Ballet and wasn’t sure exactly what to say.
‘I’m sorry, have I said something wrong? It’s just that when we met you mentioned dance, travel …’ His voice trailed off. ‘Are you no longer performing?’
‘Well, I’m no longer with the Royal Ballet, so I’m not performing quite like I used to …’
‘And are you going to elaborate on that, or will I have to ply you with straight martinis to get to the truth?’ he asked jokingly, just as she noticed the delicious impact of vodka filtering through her body.
She deliberately placed her glass back on the table and picked up a coconut crumbed prawn to dip into the tangy sauce alongside it. ‘You know how I mentioned a decision the afternoon we met?’
‘Sure, and talked about taking risks.’
‘Well, I ended up accepting the risks and everything else that came with them. And here I am, now indirectly part of the tennis world.’
‘Whoa, wait up! Really? You weren’t just there for the final like thousands of other fans?’
‘Not exactly …’ She wasn’t sure how much she should mention with her mind already feeling a little blurred. She had signed a confidentiality agreement as part of Caesar’s requirements and didn’t want to jeopardise anything by having loose lips.
‘At the moment, I only perform for Ivan,’ she said rather sheepishly as she glanced towards Noah, who had raised his eyebrows at this admission. ‘He loves ballet,’ she added, as if that disclosure should explain everything.
‘Wow. I’ve never heard of anything like that.’
‘Yeah, it was weird for me at first, but now I really enjoy it. Each time I’ve danced for him, he’s won. That is, up until today.’ She absently wondered how he was taking the loss.
‘So, if I become Number One in the world, will you dance for me too?’
So thrown was Eloise by the accuracy of his mischievous offhand query that she quickly reached for her martini and drank the remainder down in one gulp.
Noah could sense her unease. ‘Hey, it’s OK. As long as you’re happy, it’s none of my business. Honestly.’ He squeezed her hand as she tried to compose herself.
‘Nothing makes me happier than when I’m dancing. But tonight, I’m very happy that I’m out with you,’ she added sincerely.
Noah sensed she wanted to drop the subject, so he dabbed his mouth with a serviette and readily accepted her compliment. ‘Well, if dancing makes you happy and I do too, let’s go get some groove on to the music.’
If anyone else had said the words, she would have thought they were nerdy, but coming from Noah they felt exactly right. There was no denying he was gorgeous and lovable, and he made her feel as light and carefree as a feather. She knew she could never deny anything that kept him smiling. She accepted his hand graciously, and the next few hours slipped into a fun-loving blur.
* * *
The next morning she awoke in her suite at the Dorchester to find two envelopes under the door. She opened the top one first, recognising Ivan’s crisp white stationery. Fleetingly she wondered whether she might be in some trouble, then immediately pushed the thought from her mind.
I have returned to St Petersburg and will not be requiring any performances from you for the next ten days.
The impersonal nature of the note felt like a punch in the gut, though she shouldn’t have been surprised; he was never one for small talk, or much talk at all, for that matter.
It meant she had over a week to herself. She had no idea what she would do with the time, since an opportunity like this had never arisen before.
The second envelope was on Dorchester stationery.
Hey Elle,
I hated saying goodbye to you last night. So I was thinking you might want to spend a bit more time together in London – too much too soon, maybe? I’ll never know if I don’t ask! Either way, give me a call. I’d love to see you again, and sooner rather than later.
Noah xox
Eloise couldn’t contain her excitement as she called him to make arrangements. Problem solved. As he’d said, the universe worked in strange ways and right now it seemed to be doing exactly that – in their favour!
Friends?
Noah and Eloise spent the next week cruising around the canals of greater London. She met his friends, ‘the lads’ as he called them, in various pubs along the waterways, and found them just as easygoing and unpretentious as he was. No one would have guessed Noah was one of the top tennis players in the world, and rapidly rising further up the ranks thanks to his Wimbledon performance.
Eloise was privy to a world she’d never imagined could be possible for a professional athlete. Her life with the ballet had ensured she was strict and disciplined with herself around the clock – regardless of whether she had the day off or not – and her enforced breaks over summer had only meant an opportunity to train harder to ensure she was always better than her peers. Noah, on the other hand, happily drank with his friends as though tennis was the furthest thing from his mind. She had to wonder how someone so nonchalant had the stamina for the demands of the game.
On their first afternoon together, lazing in the sunshine, it was impossible for Eloise not to admire his loose locks tickling his shoulders and delectable shirtless body as his feet dangled over the side of the boat. She didn’t even bother to hide her sideways glances towards him.
When he casually lit a cigarette as though it weren’t an issue at all, the look on her face sent him into a fit of laughter. She watched, frankly aghast, as he deeply inhaled.
‘What? Don’t tell me you’ve never had a smoke before?’ He took another drag and began puffing smoke rings towards the water.
Eloise was speechless. Even more so when he offered it to her!
‘Well …?’ He paused to look at