Page 3

ChapterThree

T urning quickly, Lucy gave a soft groan.

Rob stared at her from a few paces away.

Lucy quickly excused herself and almost raced to the bar to order the drinks. Carefully carrying a tray, she once more fought through the dancing throng, trying to avoid where she’d seen Rob. As she reached the large doorway through to the lounge, there he was in front of her.

“Hello, Lucy.”

“Hi, Rob.”

“Would you like to dance later?”

“Oh sorry, Rob, I’m sure you just saw I’m not much of a dancer.”

Lucy gave him a weak smile as she headed back toward the gang.

Unfortunately, someone had claimed her seat while she was missing.

She handed down the drinks to the three girls, threw her change in her clutch on the table, and planted herself along the wall where a few of her fellow office workers leaned.

Taking a sip of her lemon, lime, and bitters, she looked around the room. Damn, I’m out of place here. Although everyone had been friendly, she hadn’t gotten close to her co-workers. I’m like a ship passing in the night. She met people, enjoyed some time with them, then sailed onward.

Lost in her imaginings, Lucy grinned. In her mind, she could see her co-workers, each one in little comical boats drifting past her as she sailed away into the distance. Coming back to reality with a tiny shake of her head, she gazed ahead.

Damn!

Rob stared in her direction, so she turned her head to look elsewhere.

Across the room was a hunk. There was no other word for it.

He appeared enormously tall compared to the people around him, maybe six-five or six.

Even from here, Lucy thought he looked fit, broad, and muscular.

From this distance, she couldn’t see what color his eyes were, but his soft blond hair draped against the collar of his white shirt he wore tucked into faded blue jeans.

It was his face that drew her. It was the sort of face Lucy wished would fill her erotic dreams at night instead of smelly, short, latte spillers. She thought him older than a lot of the other patrons, maybe around her age—perfect to dream about. Lucy sighed softly, imagining him naked.

She had to tear her gaze away swiftly when he caught her staring at him. Maybe she imagined it, but she thought she saw the ghost of a smile.

When one of her companions asked her a question, she turned away to answer him.

“Sorry, Pete. What did you say?”

“I asked where’re you off to next, Lucy?”

“Don’t know at the moment. Have to wait until the temp agency finds me a new position.”

“Does that take long?”

“Not normally.” She shook her head. “I think the longest I’ve been without work since I started with them is three weeks.”

“That isn’t too bad.”

“They know I’m free from Monday so I’m hoping I get a call sometime early into next week.”

They chatted a little about various jobs they’d both held. When he was called by someone else and moved away, Lucy casually glanced over at the hunk on the other side of the room.

Be still my beating heart .

He was speaking with another hottie!

This one looked a fraction taller. He had very dark, maybe black hair, and it was like a wild halo around his head. His skin appeared colored a gorgeous rich, deep, burnt sienna. He had a much leaner frame, but even from where she stood, it looked all muscle.

She couldn’t decide which one to drool over. They both looked absolutely delicious. Dammit I’ll just have to lust over them both.

Hottie number one turned his head toward her and their gazes met again.

Lucy shivered as he gave her a definite smile, then said something to his companion. He, too, looked over at Lucy. Her cheeks burned as she flushed. She fumbled with her drink and turned her head to look to the adjoining wide doorway.

Oh hell!

Rob waved.

She gave him a half-hearted smile, then took another mouthful from her glass, only to discover it was empty.

Somehow, Rob managed to swim through the crowd and stand in front of her. “Can I buy you a drink, Lucy?”

She shook her head. “No thanks, Rob.”

He looked disappointed. “Dance?”

As politely as she could, she said, “Sorry, as I told you I’m not much of a dancer.”

He looked her up and down. “You look fantastic.”

“Thank you, Rob.”

“Hey, Lucy! Mark wants to see you. He’s near the bar.”

“Oh thanks, Margaret. Excuse me, Rob.” Relieved, she smiled at him as she silently thanked Mark and made her way to the bar again. Nonchalantly glancing over to the other side of the room as she walked, Lucy noticed only one hottie there.

Reaching the bar, Mark, the company manager, spoke. “Hey, Lucy, just wondered if you wanted a drink. Margaret said she thought you’d finished yours, and I wanted to buy you one before you left, to say thank you for all the work you did for us.”

“Oh, gee thanks, Mark.” Lucy quickly studied the mocktails list. “Can I have a Red Giant, please?” It was a large glass filled with cranberry and strawberry juice then topped with lemon-lime soda.

He ordered a large round of drinks, and Lucy took hers from him as he struggled to find enough space for the others on a tray.

“Thanks, Mark. I appreciate it, and I’ve enjoyed working with you all.”

She followed him back toward the group, but once again Rob intercepted her, this time at the wall edge of the lounge area.

“I thought you didn’t want a drink,” he grumpily stated.

“I’m really sorry, Rob. It’s just Mark wanted to buy me one, and I felt I should say yes because he is the company manager.” She wished someone she knew was nearby to save her from Rob, but no one was looking.

“I asked you first,” he complained.

“I know you did and I’m really sorry.”

In a gravelly voice, he said, “Well, will you go out with me now?”

“No, sorry.” Lucy shook her head and tried to walk past him.

He put his hand against the wall, preventing her from entering the lounge without making a scene. “I’m trying to be nice.”

There was an aggressive tone to his voice that scared her a little.

As carefully as she could, she responded, “I know you are, Rob, and I appreciate it. I’m trying to be nice too, but please, you have to understand I’m just not interested.”

“Why?” He demanded, a little too loudly.

“I simply don’t want to go out with you. There is far too big an age difference between us. And, as I told you before, I’m involved with someone.”

Once more she tried to push past. He grabbed her wrist tightly, frightening her by his reaction. He was definitely angry and Lucy’s legs began shaking.

“Please let go of my arm, Rob,” she hissed softly.

There was no mistaking his belligerent tone as he spat, “Not good enough for you, am I?”

Her heart raced as she searched wildly around. This was getting so out of hand and she wanted to crawl away, hide from his obvious rage. She whispered through clenched teeth, “Please let me go, Rob.”

His hand actually tightened on her wrist.

Lucy managed to keep hold of her glass, but most of her drink spilled onto the floor.

Suddenly, someone kissed her cheek from behind, and a sexy, male voice spoke in her ear. Two hands on her shoulders pulled her close.