Irritated with the track his mind seemed bent on, Joseph shifted against the bar, scanning the place, surreptitiously looking at women’s chests and checking for sheep brooches. He was happy not knowing what she’d look like, the anticipation of finding out coiling inside him, tight as a spring. Of course he hoped there’d be chemistry—he’d be up for adventures on sheepskin rugs if she wanted—but if she didn’t do it for him, then he would enjoy having a drink with her in any case. She’d been witty and fun online, and that counted for something.
His phone vibrated in the pocket of his jeans. Pulling it out, he glanced down at the screen. A reminder about Jude’s exhibition opening tonight stared back at him.
Shit. He’d forgotten. As usual, he’d been so focused on one thing he’d forgotten everything else. The reminders were supposed to help, but often he forgot to check them or dismissed them without thinking. God, he hated that part of himself sometimes, especially when he let people down. Important people like his sister.
Cursing, he glanced at the time. Jude’s photography exhibition would probably go on until late so perhaps he could go there after he’d finished his date with Naughtygirl. Hell, maybe he could even bring her with him if they got on well enough.
Quickly Joseph sent his sister a text.
I’ll be late. Sorry. Got caught up. Usual story. Okay to bring a date?
Jude would understand. She was used to the ADHD playing havoc with his memory.
A moment later, a text came back.
Sure. No worries. Who’s the date? Actually, no, don’t tell me. She’ll be gone by morning anyway.
Joseph snorted. Judith tended to be snarky about his transient love life.
After flicking off a sarcastic reply, Joseph put the phone back in his pocket. Then he picked up his half-empty bottle of beer and took another scan around the bar.
Where the hell was Naughtygirl25? He was getting antsy, the familiar, impatient tension building inside him. When he felt like this, he’d often spend an hour on the treadmill or get on with some work. But he couldn’t do that now. Instead he began recounting in his head every single thing he’d done that day, a trick he’d learned as a teenager to help himself relax and concentrate.
It was as he was going over the minutiae of the afternoon’s third product launch meeting that he spotted an interesting-looking woman—very tall, very skinny, with a quantity of chestnut hair swept up on top of her head. Sexy, though. Very sexy. He was a leg man all the way, and her legs, left bare by the extremely short black dress she wore, were spectacular. Though it wasn’t just about her legs. There was something unusual about her. Unlike all the other women in the bar, she appeared to be the only one who obviously did not want to be here. In fact, her whole manner projected intense discomfort, as if she were marching to face a firing squad. Beside her stood another woman, blond and curvy, who kept leaning over and whispering in her ear. The interesting brunette had a hand planted over her heart, a growing, almost mutinous look on her face. As if her friend were telling her things she didn’t want to hear.
Joseph watched them, interest piqued. As if sensing his gaze, the brunette looked in his direction. Her pale face was delicate, pointed, with thickly fringed dark eyes the color of green agates. Not beautiful, but not plain, either. Striking somehow. His interest sharpened, attention focusing on her in the way it always did when he spotted something or someone intriguing.
Her eyes widened when they met his and color flooded her skin, flushing her face bright red. Then she turned hurriedly away and was out the door before he could move.
But not before he’d caught a glimpse of the silver brooch pinned to her black dress. A brooch in the shape of leaping lamb.
Naughtygirl25. And she’d bloody well run out on him.
…
Christie came to a teetering halt outside the packed bar, her heart galloping like a racehorse at Ascot. Her lungs felt tight, the air thin and lacking in oxygen.
Man, talk about a WTF moment. What the hell had gotten into her? First she’d been standing there, freaking out about meeting Studman500 and trying to ignore Marisa telling her to get her hand off the silly lamb brooch she had pinned to her chest so everyone could see it. Then she’d noticed the guy at the bar. The incredibly hot guy. And he’d been staring at her as if she were the only person in the room. Such absolute and complete attention. His gaze refracted heat like sun through a magnifying glass and something inside her had burst into flames, filling her with a strange panic. Then before she could stop herself, she’d fled. Idiot. She was an idiot.
She took a couple of steps along the sidewalk, high, unfamiliar heels making her stumble.