Page 6

Story: A Country Quandary

The attractions at The Five Bobhadimproved. She’d take sculpted buttocks over tadpoles any day. Wide-eyed and with heat creeping over her face, Kitty lowered her heels silently and pretended to study the wine list, praying that the owner of that beautiful bottom had a gorgeous face to match.

After a few seconds, he emerged, as tall, dark and handsome as she’d prayed he would be.He ran his hands through his slicked-back hair, then placed them on the bar top.

Kitty looked at them, spread out on the wood, and the man coughed as if to get her attention. The noise startled her.Crap. What if he thought she’d been checking for a wedding band or a hint at the size of his package? She quickly brought her eyes up to his face, but before she did, she couldn’t help but notice he wore no ring on his finger, and his hands were a most satisfactory size.

When their gazes met, the professional look he’d had on his face disappeared instantly. Instead, a devilish smile slowly grew on his lips that had Kitty licking her own. The glint behind his dark eyelashes set a fire in her cheeks like his stare held an invitation to join him on a dark adventure. Cursing her traitorous capillaries, she straightened her shoulders.

“Hello there,” the man said.

“Oh! Hello,” Kitty replied, feigning surprise at his sudden appearance. “I didn’t see you down there. Can I please get something to take out?”

The man drew up close to the bar, his eyes glued to hers.

“What did you have in mind?”he murmured.

Kitty didn’t want to admit what she had in mind. With those buttocks, the possibilities were endless.

“I’m not sure. I’m thinking bubbles or perhaps a bottle of gin.”

“Well, what’s the occasion?” he asked, leaning on the bar, broadening his delicious smile.

“It’s a thank-you gift. I’m staying with someone in the village and don’t want to turn up empty-handed.”

“Perhaps I can help. Who are you staying with, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Ignoring every anti-stalker rule she’d ever made for herself, Kitty told him.

“My aunt, Julia Finch.”

“Your aunt?” the man asked with a raised eyebrow, moving to take something from out of the fridge behind him.

He handed her a cold bottle of champagne, holding onto its neck a second longer than was necessary, in Kitty’s opinion. She looked into his inky eyes, and as she took the bottle, a playful gleam danced there. A fizzing tickled in her chest, and under his scrutiny, she was aware of her glasses and make-up-free face.

“It’s on the house,” the man said, leaning back on the bar. “Please give Julia my love and best wishes for a speedy recovery.”

“And you are?” Kitty asked, clenching her fingers around the chilled glass to stop them from shaking. Why the hell did good-looking men always make her nervous?

“I’m Daniel. Daniel Cunningham. Julia and my mother are old friends.”

Daniel, Daniel Cunningham. Double-oh gorgeous and licenced to thrill.

Kitty’s lips twitched at her thought, but then she remembered he’d offered to pay for the bottle. If she accepted, wouldn’t she then be in his debt? She could easily afford a bottle of champagne on her own, and taking gifts from good-looking men with perfect buttocks was probably a bad idea.

“Thank you for the offer, but I’d prefer to pay myself. I’ll pass on your message, though.”

“As you like,” he said, not even looking slightly phased. “Will you be staying long with your aunt?”

Kitty found her wallet and paid for the champagne.

“I’m here for a while.”

His lips twitched at the corners. “Then let me know if it’s not to your liking. I’m sure I can help you find exactly what you’re looking for.”

Kitty’s eyes widened, sure there was a hidden meaning in his words, but his smooth smile betrayed nothing. Had she just imagined the flirtatious undertone? Had her sister’s words about good-looking men and Tottenbridge seeped into her brain overnight?

Taking a breath, Kitty nodded, smiled, and turned to leave. Her whole body was on fire. It’d been a long time since anyone had made her feel so jittery. So skittish.

She’d taken issue with Ronnie’s suggestion that she get laid and live a little, intending to do precisely the opposite. One-night stands weren’t her style, and anything more wasn’t in her career plan. Still, the tingles of attraction felt good. It was nice to know she was still alive.