One In A Billion by Anne-Marie Hart Read Free Book Online Page A

expecting to come face to face with another low number who had come over to either flirt with me, get some more champagne or tell me to stop daydreaming and get back to work. I nearly dropped my tray when I saw him. Dark hair, muscular build, well-dressed, natural facial hair, smouldering green eyes that looked like marbles made of space rock. When he smiled, and showed me a perfect set of natural teeth, I couldn't help but say it out loud.
    ' Ten.'
    I instantly put my hand to my mouth, and nearly dropped the tray again. Ten helped me just in time before it fell to the floor, but in doing so I spilt champagne all over his suit.
    ' Shit', I said. 'Shit, I'm so sorry.'
    ' That's ok', Ten said, while I fussed over him. 'Really it's ok.'
    I left it and took a step back. He was holding my tray, and the champagne bottle at this point, and when he noticed, he handed them both back to me.
    ' I'm sorry', I said. 'I can be clumsy at times. Do you want me to pour you some more champagne?'
    ' No, that's ok', he said, and smiled at me. An awkward moment passed while he continued to stare.
    'Is everything ok ?' I said finally, feeling a little self-conscious. I guess that would be perfectly reasonable considering the fact that I was dressed in a tight fitting playboy bunny outfit, complete with fake ears and tail, that was practically cutting off the circulation to my entire lower body.
    ' I saw you looking at the art', he said. 'No-one else has paid as much attention to where we are tonight but you. I don't think most of this lot would be able to tell a Picasso from a Pollack. Are you an artist? You know, when you're not being a bunny.'
    ' Sort of I guess', I said touching my ears self consciously. 'I'm a writer. Or I'm trying to be a writer at least.'
    ' A writer, really?' Ten said. 'I could tell you did something creative. What kind of stuff do you write? Are you published?'
    ' Self published', I was quick to say, seemingly unable to big myself up in the way that came naturally to mostly everyone else. 'And romance mostly, sort of human interest, you know, kitchen sink, socio-economic class divide, the grind, you know, the endless grind, that kind of thing.'
    I was losing him, and I knew it.
    ' Boy meets girl, they fall in love and live happily ever after, that's basically it.' I added, just about rescuing myself.
    ' Wow', Ten said. 'I'm impressed. I tried to write a book in my teens once, but it was so hard I had to give up. You should be proud of yourself, it's a hard thing to do, I know from my own experiences. I bet your family are proud.'
    ' Yeah, well, not really', I said. 'It's hard when your brother's a successful children's author.'
    ' Oh', Ten said, 'well, boyfriend then.'
    I smiled and shook my head.
    ' Don't tell me a beautiful girl like you is single like me. What a coincidence!'
    ' I'm afraid so', I said.
    ' Well it isn't all that bad', Ten said. 'I've had my fair share of experience with it. No one to tell you what to do, no one to complain at you for not doing what they thought you should have done in the first place. No one stealing the duvet in the night.'
    ' I guess that's true', I said.
    ' Of course the other part of it is that you don't have anyone to share your life with. You have to eat alone, go to the cinema alone, go on holiday alone. It's a double sided coin.'
    At that moment, while I was lost in Ten's lips and eyes, Sophia breezed past.
    ' Cover for me if you see Janice', she said, putting her hand on my arm momentarily.
    ' Again?' I said.
    ' Five minutes', Sophia said, and she was away again. It made me realise that I had to get back to work.
    ' Shit', I said. 'I'll get bollocked if Janice catches me chatting. I've got to get back to work.'
    ' Don't worry about it', Ten said.
    ' No really, I need the money', I said. 'I can't afford to lose the job.'
    ' If Janice comes past, I'll talk to her', Ten said. 'This is my companies event, and I say what I want my bunnies to be doing.'
    ' This is your event?' I