Alexander looked. ‘Annie Slade. I know her father.’
‘I’m not asking if you’re attracted to her father, I’m asking if you’re attracted toher.’
‘I suppose.’
She checked his face. ‘So no, then. Good.’
He turned to her. ‘Good?’ Light flickered in his eyes.
‘Yep. It’s not looks that attract you, it’s personality.’ She patted his arm. ‘You’re a real man, after all.’
‘Is that helpful?’
‘Very.’ Mallory pointed at his glass. ‘Drink up. We have another place to visit.’
‘What sort of venue?’ Alexander asked suspiciously.
‘It’s not far. You’ll enjoy this.’
Alexander frownedat the neatly arranged tables lined up with two chairs on either side of each one. ‘I don’t understand. What is this?’
‘Speed dating.’ He stared at her. ‘It’s a straightforward concept. Twenty women. Twenty men. You spend three minutes with each woman then you move on.’
‘I’m aware of what speed dating is, Mallory. What I don’t understand is why I’m here.’
He knew exactly why she’d brought him here, he only wanted to hear her say it. ‘I think your problem is that you don’t know who you want or who truly attracts you. This will help you work it out.’
‘I can assure you that I know what I want and I know who I’m attracted to.’
‘Who?’
He didn’t answer, just looked at her as a muscle jerked in his cheek.
‘Well,’ Mallory said. ‘That settles it.’ She checked her watch. ‘You ought to get ready. It’s about to start.’
‘Mallory…’
‘Don’t be nervous! You’ll be great!’ She walked away before he could protest and hoped that this wouldn’t turn into a car crash of an evening.
‘Are you taking part?’ the barman asked as she sat on a bar stool that had a clear view of all the tables.
‘No. I’m here purely as a chaperone.’
‘Sounds kinky.’
She shook her head. ‘Not at all.’
She checked on Alexander who was glowering at her from the other side of the room. When a bell sounded, he was ushered to a chair; the fact that he wasn’t walking out of the room in a huff was something, Mallory decided, though it was a shame that his first ‘date’ was staring at him with wide-eyed, fan-girl astonishment. Still, he might enjoy a bit of that.
Mallory checked his body language: crossed arms, tight shoulders. Maybe not.
It was a long three minutes. Alexander spoke a few times but the woman was painfully nervous and scarcely opened her mouth. Mallory couldn’t blame her. The vibes emanating off Alexander were neither warm nor friendly; he looked like a man who’d been dragged here against his will. Although that wasn’t totally inaccurate, it wasn’t very helpful.
As soon as the bell rang to indicate the end of the first round, Mallory went over to him. Alexander was already on his feet. ‘Get me out of here.’
‘Absolutely not.’
‘This is a nightmare. I’m in hell. I’ve not always been an angelic soul but surely I’ve not been bad enough to deserve this! Save me, Mallory. Please.’
