felt her stomach flip. She’d seen them. She’d walked through the show flat as if she’d been in a dream world. Or a nightmare, once she’d seen the price. It had been gorgeous, a silver bespoke kitchen with appliances to die for, the most luxurious red velvet sofa she’d ever seen, with cushions you could just sink into, matching curtains with a view over the spectacular marina where all the million-pound boats were moored. And the pièce de résistance, the huge white bedroom with mahogany four-poster bed. Every little girl’s dream bedroom. The kind of carpet so white you were scared to step on it in case you left a mark. She remembered the blue plastic covers they had been forced to put on over their own shoes before they had been allowed in the show flat. Once she’d seen the white bedroom Melissa had completely understood. He must be a millionaire to own a flat like that.
‘So what brings you to Kessington?’ she asked curiously. One of the largest towns in the North of England, Kessington had a thriving marina and affluent business district. She wondered what he did for a living. Her interest was definitely piqued.
A frown flickered across his brow. It was the second time she’d seen that moment of hesitation from him. What was he hiding?
His eyes met hers again. Heat flared between them. ‘This and that,’ he answered dismissively. The noise in the bar swelled again as another crowd of revellers surged through the door. His hand automatically went to her waist again, pulling her closer so that his lips were brushing the top of her earlobe. The movement sent tiny electrical impulses down her spine, leaving the little hairs at the back of her neck standing deliciously on end. Melissa could hear imaginary voices in her head screaming, He’s gorgeous. Go for it, girl! She could feel her knees start to tremble. When was the last time someone had tried to chat her up? She couldn’t even remember. For the first time in her life she felt as if she was about to be swept off her feet, like some damsel in distress being rescued by a white knight on a beautiful stallion. A smile danced across her lips as she stared at the gorgeous man in front of her. If only he could see the picture inside her head right now, he would probably run screaming from the room! She pulled her mind from her fantasy and brought it back to the present. What did ‘this and that’ mean? Their eyes connected again, leaving her in no doubt that the feelings were entirely mutual.
Cooper gave her a wide smile. This was just what he needed. The last two years at work had been painful. The last year had been especially painful as his colleagues had seemed to decide that the official ‘mourning period’ should be over. That had resulted in a procession of female colleagues under his nose who had obviously decided he was an eligible bachelor again. It had become almost painful to have a conversation with a member of the female staff. It hadn’t helped that hospitals seemed to have an unending supply of women. Heavy hints had been dropped all around him, telling him it was time to move on.
But this was different. This was his decision. To see a beautiful woman in a bar and have a conversation with her. To know that he felt attracted to her. There was freedom in this that he’d never experienced before and it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He didn’t even want to think about work right now. He gave a little sigh. His eyes swept downwards. The thin fabric of her green dress clung to her curves, showing just enough of her cleavage to give him a hint of what lay beneath. He found his voice again. ‘What about you?’
Melissa was conscious of his fingers at her waist. Tingles swept along her skin where his hand lay, causing her to suck her breath in again deeply. There was something enticing about the mystery between them.
She liked the fact that someone, especially a tall, dark handsome someone, was interested in her. She decided to play him at his own game.
She threw back her head, tossing her chestnut curls over her shoulder. ‘I’m a bit like yourself,’ she teased, a twinkle in her eyes, ‘a bit of this and a bit of that.’
Cooper almost laughed. He could see the flicker of panic that whizzed across her face. He knew she wasn’t used to this. But then again, neither was he. He hadn’t felt this good in a long time. It made him determined not to let this night end. He leaned forward, his breath on the skin at the side of her neck. ‘So, mysterious Missy, let’s have some fun.’
She delighted in the shivers that quivered down her spine and the thoughts that were immediately conjured up in her mind. His voice was rich and husky; it made him all the more attractive to her. Boy, he was sexy.
Her bright eyes fixed on his. ‘What do you mean?’ Was it time for her to start panicking? How had he interpreted what she’d just said? This was so unlike her. She wasn’t used to meeting men in pubs and having flirtatious conversations. But there was just something about him that was irresistible. And she knew she didn’t want this to end.
‘Well, I don’t know much about you—you don’t know much about me. How about we remedy that?’ His hand around her waist had tightened its grip, turning her around to face him. Her breasts were now skimming his chest. She could feel the response of her nipples underneath the confines of her clingy dress. On an ordinary day she would have been horrified and embarrassed, but tonight she didn’t even look down—she didn’t have to—she just moved a little closer.
His right hand came out from his pocket to rest on her other hip. ‘I’ve got a suggestion. Some questions—but only completely truthful answers.’ His smile was a little crooked, so he wasn’t quite so perfect after all.
She raised herself up on her tiptoes, her hands resting on his broad shoulders as she whispered in his ear, ‘I think I’m up for that.’
He looked quickly round the crowded bar. ‘It’s too noisy in here. Let’s take a walk,’ he said, turning her towards the door. He lifted her thick black coat and held it open for her to slip her arms inside. Melissa glanced around the bar. She couldn’t see her friend at the bar any more and didn’t want to waste time looking for her. She’d probably already left without her. Her stomach fluttered a little. She didn’t do this. She didn’t meet strange men in pubs and leave with them. She was Melissa. Reliable. Dependable. Great in a crisis. Sister in the labour ward and the most sensible person that even she knew. No one would believe her if she told them about this. Part of that was the attraction. Missy instinctively felt safe with him and her instincts had always been good. She’d spent the last six months eating, sleeping and working. There was more to life and she knew it. It was time to throw caution to the wind and act on instinct. And it felt delicious.
His hand pressed gently on her back as he ushered her through the crowd and out the door. The biting cold wind hit her immediately and she fastened her coat up round her neck. He stood next to her, patiently waiting. ‘Give me a second,’ she said, pulling her mobile from her pocket. ‘I’m just going to send my friend a text to let her know I’ve left.’ She dabbed quickly on the keypad, her fingers rapidly going white with cold, before finally pressing ‘Send’. She lifted her hands to her mouth, blowing on them to try and revive them. In an instant she felt his warm hand encircle hers and she stuck the other hand deep in her pocket, pushing her phone away safely. A smile danced across her face as she pictured her friend receiving the text Left with the gorgeous man in black WOO HOO!
Lynn would be stunned. She hadn’t met the new, reckless Melissa. She was used to the sensible friend who made sure she got home safely at the end of the night. Another little wave of excitement ran through Melissa. This felt good.
‘Let’s go this way,’ Cooper said as he automatically turned towards the marina. She felt her heart quicken in her chest. The roads and pavements were glistening with frost that was starting to form on the cold winter’s night. She grasped his hand a little tighter. Her beautiful black high-heeled shoes were a joy to look at, but not so much of a joy to walk in. She teetered along precariously next to him, shooting him a smile and pretending to walk with confidence.
‘So, Missy,’ he said, ‘tell me a bit about yourself. Do you often leave pubs with strange men?’
‘Oh.’ She was caught off guard. She stopped walking abruptly. ‘Of course I don’t!’ The words came out more harshly than she’d expected. Did he think she was easy?
‘Calm