“Busted.” Julia’s eyes glowed with silent laughter. It made Connor realize her behavior bordered on reserved.
“How are things with you, Jules? I haven’t seen you much lately.” Although they’d never slept together, they were close, and he often stopped by her apartment. Since hooking up with Maggie, he hadn’t visited as often.
“I’m fine. Nothing a holiday in the sun wouldn’t fix.”
Connor knew the feeling. He’d love a week on a Pacific Island with Maggie. Time in a place without interruptions and where they didn’t need to hide they were a couple sounded like heaven. Rarotonga or maybe Samoa. Even Fiji.
“See anyone interesting?” Julia interrupted his daydreams of sand and sun.
Maggie in a bikini. Maggie naked.
“I’m too scared to study the women.”
“Good men are hard to find,” Julia said. “That’s why a function like this has more women than men.”
“So why did you agree to come?”
“Bored with my own company,” Julia said.
“But—”
“Despite popular opinion, I’m not a slut. I don’t have a constant parade of men through my bed.”
Connor blinked. “I never said you were. Are you sure nothing is wrong?”
Julia sniffed. “Positive.” The sheen of tears in her eyes said otherwise. Momentary panic hit him, his relief when the woman in charge of the event approached the mike on the stage again almost palpable. Crying women always got to him because he never knew how to comfort them. Sometimes it didn’t matter what a man did or said. They cried regardless.
“Gentlemen, please find the desk with your number on it and take a seat. They’re labeled behind the screens. Ladies, the numbers of your dates are all in the same area. We’ll get started in a few minutes, just as soon as the gentlemen are seated and ready to proceed. Remember you have five minutes with each date. The bell will go when your time is up and you move onto the next one. At the end of the dating, everyone will complete a form, detailing the numbers they’re interested in meeting again. We’ll take things from there and contact you with your list of prospective dates. Good luck, and have fun!”
Applause filled the hotel ballroom, some clapping with more enthusiasm than others. Connor fell in the lukewarm category.
“That’s your cue,” Julia said, sending him a wink.
“Right.” With a last glance at Maggie, he strode off to find his desk behind the screened off area of the ballroom.
“I’ve been looking forward to this all week, but now that I’ve seen the men I’m not so keen,” Susan said in a glum voice.
Maggie agreed, although it wasn’t right to judge by appearance. “There is a couple of guys who look okay.” One of them was Connor. She’d noticed the way the women had scanned him, like a dieter studied a chocolate bar.
She tried to tamp down her blooming jealousy. No reason for resentment. They’d both agreed they were free to date others.
A bell interrupted her jumbled thoughts. “Ladies, the gentlemen are ready for you. If you’re lost and not sure where to go, look for the ladies wearing the bright yellow T-shirts. They’re stewards and will help with directions.”
“I feel as if I’m at school,” Christina said. “And look how the women outnumber the men. It’s a competition and that makes me nervous.”
“You and me both,” Susan agreed.
“I will need drinks after this,” Julia said. “Anyone else want to hit a bar with me?”
Maggie nodded. “I’m in. We can discuss our dates. Good luck. Something tells me we’re going to need it.”
There were some beautiful women present tonight. Old insecurities surged back to haunt her. If they couldn’t find dates, what hope did she have?
She slipped into the seat opposite her first date and forced a smile. “Hi, I’m Maggie.”
“Stewart,” he said. “I like stamp collecting and reading Superman comics.”
“That’s nice.”
