Operation Valentine by Loretta Hill Read Free Book Online

put her mug of tea down and went to open the door. Amy sprung into the room like a Special Ops commando looking for enemy soldiers.
    â€˜Are you okay?’
    Sarah rolled her eyes. ‘Of course I’m okay.’
    â€˜When I didn’t turn up last night I thought you might have done something stupid, like pick up some random guy from the bar.’
    Sarah blushed.
    Amy’s eyes widened. ‘ You didn’t .’
    â€˜Not exactly.’ Sarah looked away.
    Amy took her by the arm and dragged her to the couch. ‘What do you mean, not exactly .’
    â€˜I spoke to Owen Black last night.’
    â€˜Owen? The hot bar manager?’
    â€˜Yeah. I left my tampons at The Blue Saloon the other night and he returned them to me.’
    â€˜You left your what , where ?’
    Sarah wrinkled her nose. ‘Long story, but just cutting it short, he came and sat with me and –’
    â€˜He sat with you?’
    Sarah felt herself blush again. ‘Are you going to repeat everything I say?’
    Amy tilted her head so she could look down her nose. ‘Was he chatting you up? He was, wasn’t he?’
    Sarah raised her chin and schooled her tone to rational.
    â€˜He was very flirtatious but, no, he was not chatting me up. In fact, the exact opposite. We decided that we were not romantically compatible.’
    â€˜Who decided that? You or him?’
    â€˜Does it matter?’
    â€˜A great deal.’
    â€˜I can’t remember.’ Sarah frowned stubbornly. ‘The point is, he was actually quite helpful with going through my potentials on Soulmate.com .’
    Amy snorted. ‘What would he know about long-term relationships?’
    â€˜Well, that’s what I thought initially,’ Sarah agreed. ‘But it turns out he was married once and he has a thirteen-year-old daughter who he cares a lot about and –’
    â€˜How long were you talking to this guy?’ Amy gaped at her.
    â€˜About an hour.’
    Amy slapped her palm to her head. ‘You have the hots for him, don’t you? He’s got under your skin.’
    â€˜ No .’ Sarah was horrified.
    â€˜Do you know how dangerous this guy is?’
    â€˜Of course I know.’
    â€˜That man will break your heart faster than a stone through a window.’
    Sarah squeezed her arm to hush her. ‘It’s not what you think. We’ve just decided to be friends.’
    Amy smirked. ‘I don’t think Owen Black has friends who are women.’
    â€˜Actually, he admitted that,’ Sarah conceded. ‘But I’m not going to let it prejudice me. He seemed rather jaded, like he could use a low-pressure relationship in his life.’
    â€˜Honey, that’s not your responsibility and you’re deluding yourself if you think you can play with fire and not get burned.’
    â€˜I don’t have the hots for Owen Black,’ Sarah announced crossly and stood up. With arms folded protectively over her chest, she walked back to the kitchen. ‘In fact, I asked someone else out last night.’
    â€˜ Get out .’
    Sarah grinned as she picked up her tea again. ‘His name is Tom Beresford and he’s an accountant from South Perth.’
    Amy gasped. ‘He was at The Blue Saloon as well? Why didn’t you tell me that to start with?’
    â€˜No, he was on Soulmates.com. Owen thought he’d be perfect for me.’
    â€˜Oh, well then he must be,’ Amy retorted with heavy sarcasm.
    â€˜He is.’ Sarah lifted her chin defensively. ‘I can show you his profile.’
    She went to her handbag to withdraw her iPad but when she turned it on she saw that an email had already come through. ‘Oh wow. He’s responded.’
    â€˜Really?’ Amy stood up.
    Sarah clicked on her mail file and opened the message. She read the words out loud. ‘Dear Sarah, thanks for your email. You seem like a really nice person. I wouldlove to catch up