‘Watchin’ your carbs, mate?’ Nick asked, tearing his gaze away from Jenny to regard her date.
On their previous encounters, there’d always been either a bar between them or at least some distance, and this was the first time he’d actually been close enough for her to touch him … Not that she would, she hastily reminded herself, in case she did something stupid like reach out and poke the rather nice biceps peeping out from under his tight shirt to see if they were real.
Jenny let out a small, shaky breath. It was physically impossible for a mere look to actually spear you, but she was struggling to explain how it suddenly felt as though there was nothing holding her upright now that he’d taken his gaze away from her.Oh, for the love of … .This was ridiculous. He was just a guy, a hot—okay,incredibly hot—younger-than-her guy … Maybe this was some weird menopausal symptom. Was she too young to be going through menopause yet? She’d never been remotely interested in younger men before. He may not be young, as in her kids’ age kind of young, but he was definitely youngerthan her.
‘Jenny?’ Craig’s concerned voice interrupted her thoughts, and she snapped her head up.
‘Sorry?’
‘Are you ready to order?’
She scrambled to pick up the menu, which she knew off by heart now.
‘Or do you need more time?’ Mr Sex-on-Legs put in smoothly, and she lifted her gaze to meet his, instantly regretting it when she caught that smouldering look oncemore. Yes, she needed more time! Away from him. To work out what the hell was wrong with her.
‘I’ll have the same … with potatoes,’ she said. Maybe a good dose of carbs would help soak up some of the weirdness going on inside her.
‘Well, it’s not like you need to watch your carb intake,’ Craig said, his gaze roaming over her from across the table.
‘Oh,’ she said, caught off guard by the remark and the somewhat approving expression.
‘I actually like women with a few extra curves,’ he added, lowering his voice.
Extracurves?she thought. As far as compliments went, she supposed that one was meant to be taken as a good thing, but it occurred to her that despite the decidedly sexy look in his eye, it didn’t stir her blood. Jenny glanced at the bartender somewhat self-consciously, and noted that he was sending Craig a look she couldn’t quite decipher. It definitely wasn’t hospitable, that much she knew. Maybe theextra curveshadn’t been a compliment after all?
‘Anything else?’ Nick asked. His voice had dropped a few degrees in temperature.
‘I think that’s all?’ Craig said, giving her a questioning glance, and Jenny nodded.
‘I’ll send over drinks?’ Nick asked, lifting his eyebrows slightly at her and she nodded.
‘Just a soda water for me, thanks,’ Craig said, ‘and wine for the lady.’
She managed a polite smile at her date. ‘I’m fine with a soft drink or something too.’
‘Nonsense, just because I’m not drinking doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. It helps you unwind,’ Craig said with a wink.
She looked quickly at Nick.
‘You don’t have to have wine,’ he said calmly.
‘Wine will be fine, thanks,’ she said, suddenly feeling uncomfortable under the weight of his heavy stare. Since when did the bartender become the sober police? She could have one wine and still drive without it being a problem. For the first time in this whole terrible nightmare of dating, she was actually beginning to think maybe, just maybe, Craig might not be a complete write-off and she didn’t need the bartender butting in to derail the whole thing.
‘I really do like your curves, you know,’ Craig said when they were alone again. ‘Bigger women are my weakness.’
Bigger women? What the actual hell? Okay, she wasn’t a size ten, but seriously, she was within a normal weight range—at least, she’d always thought so. Any remaining interest in Craig instantly fizzled out. If there was one thing that annoyed her the most about men, it was this idea of perfection some of them had; the fact a woman had to look like the women in magazines or on the big screen. Maybe it was a leftover hang-up from her husband dumping her for a younger woman—who, yes, did look like a freaking Kardashian, with her long hair and fake nails and fake eyelashes. But that’s what the whole thing was—fake. Anyone could get hair extensions and fake eyelashes glued on and fillers pumped into them, but it wasn’t real. Although, Christydidhave youth on her side, so there was that. But still! What happened to being able to see thenatural beauty in someone? Maybe she was too old and jaded to be dating.
‘So, have you had much luck on the dating app?’ he asked, leaning back in his chair.
‘No, not really. You?’
‘Yeah, a bit. It’s good for finding some company—you know,’ he said, sending her a look across the table that she was sure was supposed to be smouldering but only added to her irritation.
A tall glass of sparkling liquid was placed, with a touch more force than seemed safe, in front of Craig, then Nick was at her side, placing her glass more gently on the table before walking away without comment.
‘You haven’t found anyone interesting so far, then?’ Craig continued without batting an eyelid at the interruption.
‘So far, all I’ve found are people who seem as disappointed in the whole process as I am.’
