Page 7 of Ruby’s Outback Love

Why I felt so nervous about spending the night with Phil was a mystery. Maybe it was because I’d wished, hoped and dreamed about it for so long.

I twisted one way then the other and sighed, I’d have to do. I knew I was no budding model but it appeared Phil liked me as I was, so I wasn’t going to stress. I slicked on a dash of pink lipstick; it was the only makeup I ever wore.

“Ruby…Phil’s here!” My mother’s shout from the other end of the hallway was loud enough to wake the dead.

“Coming,” I shouted back.

I snatched up my handbag, a small overnight bag which held a change of clothes and essentials and rushed out to the living room.

Phil stood chatting about his studies and job at the station in Brisbane. My family had never been as far as the northern city and dad asked him all sorts of questions.

When I entered the room, Phil turned toward me and smiled.

“Ready?”

“Yes, I am.” I leaned over and gave mum a kiss on the cheek before dad hugged me.

While mum whispered for me to have a great time, dad threatened to do all kinds of bodily harm to poor Phil if he hurt one hair on my head. Dad liked him a lot but loved me with the fierceness of a bear protecting his cubs.

I’m sure Phil was more than pleased when I grabbed his hand and pulled him from the house. He led me to where his blue Ford Ranger was parked in the driveway.

He opened the rear door and tossed my bag into the back seat, before opening the passenger side door and helping me in. After closing the door, I pulled on my seatbelt and watched as he rounded the front of the car. The driver’s door opened and he slid behind the wheel.

Before he started the engine, he leaned over and brushed his lips across mine.

“You look beautiful, Ruby.”

“Thank you.” I lowered my head, feeling shy. I had no idea why.

***

Diggers on the Darling was a popular restaurant in town and as the name suggested, it was a restaurant in the RSL club.

I’d been once or twice before, but never on a date. Phil held my hand as he led me inside, many people stopped to say hello and ask us how we were doing. They were particularly curious about Phil’s career in the police force.

While the men were pleasant and interested in what we both had to say, the women glared at me and drooled all over Phil. Well, not literally but you get what I mean. I couldn’t quite figure out their animosity towards me, they had dates of their own. Why did they also want Phil?

I shrugged it off and was happy when Phil finally excused us and led me to a table which was tucked away in a far corner – intimate and romantic.

He pulled out my chair, waited until I was seated and helped me scoot closer to the table. He then seated himself to my left. The table was square, meant for four people with one person on each side. After placing a napkin on my lap, more out of nervousness than necessity at this point, I picked up the menu and pretended to study it. I already knew what I was having.

Phil gathered my hand in his. “Drink?”

“White wine, please. A glass of whatever the house wine is.”

Phil stood and I watched as he headed to the bar. God the man was gorgeous, he’d filled out beautifully – huge shoulders, slim waist, an arse to kill for and thick, muscled arms and thighs. I sighed, why on earth was he interested in me?

I glanced around the restaurant. It had a homely feel; warm and friendly but the psychedelic red and black carpet could do with being changed.

Being a part of the local RSL, the walls were filled with Defence Force history in the form of dozens of photographs. There were also a few black and white images of old buildings around town. The room comprised wooden tables and wooden chairs padded with black leather.

I was deep in thought when Phil returned to the table and placed a glass of wine in front of me, beer in front of his seat. He leaned towards me.

“What would you like to eat? I’ll order now.”

“I’d like the grilled chicken with chips and garden salad, please.”

“Entrée, dessert?”