Four
Jenny wondered what on earth Beth and the girls thought she would have remotely had in common with this man. Clearly, they’d been excited—even surprised—that someone had responded in the first place and weren’t willing to turn awayanycandidate. She took another sip from her glass and let her rising indignation block out whatever the hell Derrick was going on about that involved unencumbered security or some such shit.
‘So, I was thinking if you didn’t want the night to end yet …’
Oh, how she did want this God-awful night to end. ‘Actually,’ she said quickly, trying her best to soften it with a suitably regretful smile, ‘I’ve had a really long day at work and I think I should probably head home.’
She did feel the slightest stab of guilt as his face fell momentarily, but then he opened his mouth and his droningvoice brought forth a fresh urge to stab him with a fork, so she squashed the guilt back into its box and stood up.
Unable to do anything else except follow her lead, Derrick fluffed about for a moment before heading across to the front desk to settle the bill.
‘Calling it a night so soon?’
She jumped at the voice behind her. She’d been admiring some of the prints of the early days of the pub that lined the wall and turned to find the bartender doing the rounds of the tables, collecting dirty glasses.
Jenny cleared her throat and mustered her most formidable look, the one she usually reserved for drunken misbehaving youths who staggered through the doors of Emergency in the early hours of the morning. ‘It’s getting quite late.’
‘Yeah, I guess so. It’s almost … wow, nine,’ he said in a deadpan tone that didn’t match the slight twinkle in his eye.
Nine?Was that all it was? Crap—she’d thought for sure it had to be getting close to eleven. Shefeltlike it had to be close to eleven. ‘Yes, well it’s …’
‘Been a long day,’ he finished for her, nodding. ‘I hear ya. No judgement here.’
Oh, but therewasjudgement coming from this slightly-too-long-haired man who seemed to be finding everything about her date amusing. Who even asked him? So what if he had bad-boy vibes and looked really good in black jeans and a white T-shirt that seemed to hug his torso like a second skin. Not that she was taking any notice.
She smothered a silent groan. Why on earth had she told him about being set up on this stupid date? It was embarrassing. Itwas bad enough she’d agreed to it in the first place, without a complete stranger knowing about it as well.
‘Ready to leave, Jenny?’ Derrick asked, turning to beckon to her.
‘’Night, Jenny,’ the bartender murmured as he walked past carrying his load of glasses. He didn’t look back.
She wasn’t sure why this guy was bothering her so much—she didn’t know him from a bar of soap—but there was something about that cocky little grin he’d been wearing most of the night that annoyed her.
Nothing about this night was doing anything constructive to change her mind about her current relationship status. She’d been single for two years and she quite liked it. She didn’t have to worry about fitting in with a man’s plans. Didn’t have to remember to buy his mother’s birthday, Mother’s Day and Christmas gifts. Didn’t need to run any of her purchases or shopping trips past him. And certainly didn’t have to worry about shaving her legs on the off-chance someone might need to be that close and personal. She was more than happy with how single life was going and tonight had done nothing to sway her into giving it up.
The air was a little cooler now than it had been earlier and as the door of the pub shut behind them, the chatter from inside became muffled, barely breaking the quiet of the now almost empty main street. Night life was not Barkley’s forte. They didn’t have the late night cafes and multiple restaurants that Hamwell boasted, but they did have country charm—in bucketloads.
As Derrick’s voice continued to drone, Jenny saw her street sign come into view and relief surged through her at the thought of closing the front door and heading up to her comfy bed.
‘Are you sure I can’t tempt you into a little nightcap or something before we call it an evening?’ Derrick asked, turning his face towards her hopefully.
‘God,no,’ she breathed under her breath automatically.
‘Pardon?’ he asked, sending her a quick glance.
Jenny sat up straighter in her seat. She hadn’t realised she’d spoken out loud.
‘Unfortunately, no,’ she said, clearing her throat quickly, her gaze willing her house to come into sight faster. ‘I had a very early start. I’m not much of a night owl.’
‘Of course. Well, never mind. Next time maybe you can have an afternoon nap so you’ll be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed,’ he said with an encouraging grin.
Did he seriously just suggest she needed a nanna nap?
As Derrick made to get out of the car when they pulled up, Jenny quickly stopped him.
‘No, don’t worry about getting out. Thanks so much for a lovely dinner. It was very nice to meet you.’ She leaned across, intending to place a quick peck on his cheek in a friendly manner, only to have him turn his head at the last minute and latch onto her lips with surprising force. The sensation felt like a very strong octopus sucking at her face—and not in a good way … if ever therewasa good way for that experience to occur.
Jenny pulled away, silently shuddering at the smack of suction which followed, and groped blindly for the door latch to exit the car with as much dignity as one could, even as she was scrambling.
