Excerpt
Megan
What the hell just happened?
Speed dating had gone pretty much as expected. Alice, me and the other women who signed up were told to each occupy one table inside the pub, while the men took turns to join us. The allotted time was four minutes, and the conversation wasn’t just dull, it was excruciating.
Worst of all were the two guys who got into it with each other. They were even more obnoxious than I feared, and both seemed to think I was into them.
One might think it’s romantic having guys fight over you, and one might be completely wrong.
My foot is throbbing, but I’m not even thinking about that anymore. All I can focus on is the fine specimen of the male species right in front of me. The bouncer, who strangely seemed less interested in dealing with the troublemakers and more concerned about me. He caught my eye on the way in, and I have hardly been able to get him out of my thoughts throughout the stupid dates.
He helps me up, steadying me with his strong hands. His eyes stare down into mine, sending my heart racing and my thoughts spiralling out of control.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” he asks.
His demeanour has made a complete U-turn compared to when he first burst through the door. From fierce and imposing to gentle and caring. He has such an effect on me it reduces my voice to a whisper when I answer.
“Thanks, I am now.” I hold my breath. Things would be even better if you’d just kiss me already.
He nods once, and just like that, lets go and walks away. I try to breathe again, to compose myself, but his intervention as well as his sudden retreat have thrown me off.
“Megan, can you walk? Come sit over here!” Alexis joins me, and helps me up onto a bar stool. Meanwhile, Alice reappears from the bathroom and joins us.
“What happened here?” She points at the chairs lying on their backs on the ground.
Alexis waves her question away.
“Here.” She slides a glass in my direction. “On the house.”
It’s not quite as good as the mojitos I was enjoying earlier, but the first sip does calm my nerves somewhat. Still, I find my hand shaking when I put the glass back down.
“How’s your foot? These chairs are bloody heavy,” she says.
“Seriously, what did I miss?” Alice asks. “What happened to your foot?”
Alexis shakes her head. “Some assholes were getting ahead of themselves. Dean took care of it.”
“The bouncer?” Alice asks. “Damn, I would have liked to have been here for that!”
So, that’s his name. My knight in shining armour, whom I can’t make sense of at all.
“Anyway, a chair fell on me. It’s really not a big deal,” I mumble.
Alexis nods. “I told Bob I had a bad feeling about this event. But, does he ever listen to me?”
I catch myself staring at the door. Through the frosted glass, I can see Dean’s huge silhouette. He’s talking to someone, perhaps Bob, who must be the owner of this place.
“So, Dean. Has he worked here long?” I ask.
An eerie silence follows. I turn around again and find both Alexis and Alice staring at me.
“Why?” Alexis asks finally.
I shrug, hoping it looks nonchalant enough, but my cheeks instantly grow hot, giving the game away.
“Is he single?” Alice asks. “That’s what you’re really wanting to ask, right?”
God, these two!
“I can’t blame you, he’s hot,” she adds. “In a hulky sort of way.”
Alexis, meanwhile, is just shaking her head. “Bad idea, okay? The man is dumber than a bag of nails.”
Alice lets out a chuckle. “Maybe our Megan here isn’t attracted to his intellect, if you get my drift?”
I fold my arms in front of me, realise just how combative that looks, and unfold them again. “You guys! Stop making things awkward. I was just curious, that’s all.”
“Relax, okay. I’m just pulling your leg,” Alice says.
“Megan is trying to pull something else, I think,” Alexis remarks, while winking at me.
Both of them burst out laughing. Although my cheeks are still feeling the hot sting of shame, their laughter is infectious and I let out a giggle as well.
“Oh, Alice, I do have some bad news for you,” I remark. “That guy you were hitting it off with so well has been escorted out while you were in the bathroom.”
Alexis points in Alice’s direction and starts laughing again. “Not Steve, the used car salesman?”
Attention successfully diverted.
Alice shudders. “He was quite something. And not in a good way.”
I don’t know if it’s the adrenaline still in my system, or the drinks I’ve had so far, but I’m feeling uncharacteristically brave. He did seem interested, didn’t he? Even if a guy as fit as him should be way out of my league. And he’s just so… Oh my God, his touch made me feel things I don’t even know how to identify.
“Is he, though?” I ask.
Both of them turn to face me again.
“Is Dean single?” I repeat myself.
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