Page 60 of It Was Always You

They sat on the only two stools available at the bar and Adam glanced around the room. He somehow caught the eye of a dark-haired woman leaning up against a pillar by the dance floor. She smiled and he looked behind him to check who she was looking at. She laughed and bit her bottom lip seductively. Shit, she really is eyeing me up.

Lily glanced over in the direction of his gaze. She leaned into Adam and spoke directly into his ear, no doubt so she could be heard over the noise. ‘I think you’re in with a chance there, Adders.’ She pulled away and looked into his eyes.

He smiled and, bending forward, shouted into Lily’s ear. ‘You think so?’

She just nodded. He glanced back over and the dark-haired woman was still watching him. Lily leaned in again. ‘The more I lean into you, the more she licks her lips and stares. I’m making her jealous, which is making her want you more.’

He scrunched his nose. ‘Eh?’

Lily giggled. ‘Women usually want either what they can’t have… or what another woman has.’ She fought the urge to just kiss him, consequences be damned. What would he do?

‘Really? Bloody hell, Lil. You’re like a font of knowledge for all things female.’

She gaped at him. ‘You make that sound like a shocking thing! I am bloody female, you know?’

‘Yeah… yeah… you are… I know, sorry.’

‘I’m off to go pee.’ She huffed and stormed off.

Shit, I’ve pissed her off again. This is becoming a habit. He sat there drinking his beer and minding his own business when someone touched his leg.

‘Hi… is this seat taken?’ He swung his head around and locked gazes with the dark-haired woman.

‘I… erm… well.’ Smooth, Adam, very smooth.

‘Did you upset your girlfriend or will she be re-joining you?’ The woman had a sultry smile.

He shook his head. ‘Erm… no… Lily’s not my girlfriend.’

‘Oh, good, I’ll sit then. I’m Gina.’ She held out her hand.

He shook it a bit too firmly, like he would grasp the hand of a male colleague. ‘I’m Adam.’

‘Good to meet you, Adam.’

She was quite pretty close up. Slim and petite with black hair in a very short style, a little bit like a pixie. Her hair just covered her ears, and he had to fight his semi-drunken urge to check to see if they were pointy. Her eyes were almond shaped, and he couldn’t really tell how old she was.

‘Erm, good to meet you too. Can I get you a drink?’ Please say no, I may need a bank loan.

She held up her glass. ‘No, thanks, I’m good… just got one.’

Phew! ‘So… erm.’

‘Gina.’

‘So, Gina… what do you do?’

She tilted her head to the side. ‘I’m a hotel receptionist at the West Sentinel. You?’

‘Teacher… high school.’

She pouted a little. ‘Oh, wow, a brainbox then?’

He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling heat rise in his cheeks. ‘I wouldn’t say that.’

‘Are you kidding me? Teachers are hot.’

Okay, so Lil may have had a point.