A Kiss and a Cuddle by Sophie Sloane Read Free Book Online Page A

“I already knew
that.  I love your music,” she managed to say as her face became flushed and
she turned to walk away quickly back into the café.
    It
sounded like he was warming up to her.  “You scared her off, Derek.  She
couldn’t walk away fast enough!” I joked.
    “I
didn’t scare her,” he disagreed and took a sip of his coffee.  “She was
just so flustered by my manly charms that she had to rush away.”
    I
laughed out loud.  “Oh yes, that was so smooth, Derek,” I replied and rolled my
eyes.  “More likely, she probably realized that we were both staring at her and
watching her wiggle as she walked away.”
    “Her
wiggle?” he asked.
    “Yes,
there is nothing worse than knowing that your crush is watching your booty walk
away.  You either need to commit to the slow, sexy wiggle or just speed up,
walk like you mean business, and get out of there.  She chose the latter.”
    “Girls
are absolutely crazy.  I would love to spend a day inside of your mind to
figure it all out.”
    “I
can’t give away all of my secrets…” I replied coyly and sipped my latte.  “Then
some poor boy might actually understand me and I’d have to, God forbid, marry
him or something.”
    Derek
threw his head back and laughed.  “Oh Rose, you are the quirkiest person I
know.  Speaking of boys, do you think Rex Byron plans on ruining your album
release gig as well?”
    “Oh,
him?  I don’t think he meant to ruin it, really…” I started to say.
    Derek
raised an eyebrow.  “Someone has changed her tune.  Didn’t you call him a
pompous man-boy who tried to steal your spotlight?”  He actually sounded upset
with me.
    “Well,
yes.  He was…” I stumbled on my words.
    Derek
pursed his lips and rolled his eyes.  “Don’t tell me.  You are falling for his
British charm and wit, aren’t you?”
    “No,
no, no.  We are just friends,” I reassured him.
    “Just
friends.  I have heard that before.”  He looked away in frustration.
    “We
are honestly just friends, Derek.  Not as good of a friend as you are, though,”
I smiled, trying to win him over.  “Please don’t tell anybody that I am hanging
out with him.  I think he is trying to avoid attention.”
    “If
he was trying to avoid attention, he wouldn’t have made such a grand entrance. 
Be careful, Rose.  This guy is trouble.”
    I
nodded obediently.  “There is nothing to worry about, Derek.  Just friends.” I
repeated, unsure if I was trying to convince Derek or myself this time.

TWELVE
    The
next day, Rex called me, and I agreed to meet up with him to show him around
Denver.  He requested that we do very typical “American” things.  I was not
generally one for doing touristy activities, but it was a sunny afternoon, and Rex
was surprisingly good company to have around.
    I
waited for him outside of my condominium building on the corner of Sixteenth
and Larimer Street.  I still felt a twinge of guilt after being so dismissive
to him earlier in the week, and I was strangely excited to see him again.
    I
felt a vibration in my purse, and I pulled out my phone to see a text message
from Derek: “Hey Rose, want to come by the studio?  I want to show you
something.”  I quickly texted back: “Hey Derek, sorry!  I am busy today.  I’ll
be at your gig tomorrow.  Your #1 fan!”
    I
put my phone away and looked up to see Rex rounding the corner, walking next to
his two bodyguards.  The bodyguards looked and acted like regular men.  It just
appeared as though Rex was walking with his uncles or slightly older friends.  One
of the bodyguards was slightly bigger and balder than the other.  Rex had told
me that his name was Clive, and the smaller man with more hair was called
Johnny.  Clive was originally from Scotland, but he moved to London to train
with the London Police Service.  He had been married for fifteen years and had
three children, who all lived in London.  Johnny was a single man, who was
originally from