“I’m working.”
“Until when?”
She could easily have lied, and told him she was doing the late shift. But a part of her fired to life, reminding her that it wasn’t illegal to enjoy talking to a handsome guy. It wasn’t even unethical. She and Aaron had split three months earlier, and apart from the occasional message pertaining to the wedding’s cancellation, hadn’t spoken since. Which made his earlier text message all the more galling. “Ten minutes,” she blurted out, no doubt in some defiance of Aaron having a say in her life anymore.
“Will the world stop turning if you finish earlier?”
She tried to stave off her temptation, but the truth was, this man was hypnotically fascinating. Like a black hole she wanted to sink right into. “You’re impatient for company.”
“Your company.”
Her lips parted on a rushed breath. “Why?”
His eyes roamed her face again, sending little pin pricks of awareness through her whole body, rocking her in a way she’d never known. Elodie and Aaron had been together a long time—since they were teenagers. There’d been the usual rush of hormones, that had driven them into bed, but the whole experience had been clumsy and underwhelming at first. Over the years, they’d improved, but sex with them had never set the world on fire. Another thing she’d been prepared to put up with because she ‘loved’ him.
Irritation flared just beneath her skin’s surface.
“Because you are beautiful, and I like to spend time with beautiful women.”
The compliment made her stomach feel all loopy, as he’d no doubt intended. “That’s quite a pick-up line.”
He arched a brow. “Did it work?”
“I’m still standing here, aren’t I?”
“Regrettably on the wrong side of the counter.”
Elodie glanced towards the clock on the wall, biting down on her lower lip. She had more like seven minutes of her shift remaining—so it was hardly the biggest deal to join him. The bar was also quiet. She could sit with this man, have a conversation, and get back up and help if needed.
She poured him another scotch, and a mineral water for herself, before she came around and perched on the edge of the seat beside him. He moved quickly, swivelling to face her, his legs on either side of her stool, so she realised how much bigger he was than she’d first appreciated. Big and strong, with a sturdy frame that could easily envelop hers. The thought sent a shiver rioting down her spine.
“Water?”
“I don’t really drink.” Their budget had rarely extended to wine. On special occasions, they might have shared some fizz, but those nights were few and far between.
“Do you live near here?” The question had those same shivers running right back up her spine.
“Yes.”
“Nice area.”
“It is.” Part of the reason she’d taken this job, rather than keep looking for an admin or receptionist role was the proximity to her cousin’s flat. Literally a hundred metres walk, she could work late and not stress about getting home.
“You’re from London?”
She took a sip of her water. “I only moved here a few months ago.”
He arched a brow. “From?”
“The Cotswolds,” she murmured. “Or, the outskirts of it,” she amended, because the little village she’d called home was nothing like the Jilly Cooper-esque towns that tended to be filled with wealthy Londoners. “And you?” she prompted. “You’re not from the UK?”
He arched a brow sardonically. “Clearly.”
“Well, not necessarily,” she said, but a smile tugged at her lips. “Your English is excellent.”
“But accented.”
Yes, and at present, that accent was doing a very good job of driving her completely wild. He reached out then, surprising her by putting a hand on her thigh. It was slow. Slow enough to guess his intentions and move her leg, to shift away from him.
