Release by Louise J Read Free Book Online Page B

with the tense moment that seemed to come from nowhere. In
fairness to him, I’m the one that got arsey.
    Dane’s approach and attitude
has been perfect, and his honesty is exactly what I need right now. That’s
played a major factor in my decision to see him again. I’d like to. I hope he
feels the same way.
    Maybe the fact that it’s now
ten a.m. and he told me he needed to be at work for nine means he does.
    Dane holds the door open, I
exit the cafe and turn to face him, unsure how to express my interest in seeing
him again. If this was any other man, and not one I shouldn’t want to see, I
wouldn’t have a problem making it clear.
    “Same time same place
tomorrow? Just for coffee?” he says.
    My smile is slight, but in
my mind I’m jumping with joy and doing summersaults and the splits and all
kinds of other excited expressions.
    “Yeah, I’ll see you
tomorrow,” I say, calmly.
     
    When I get home, I go straight to Leona’s room. She’s
still in bed, but awake, so I lie next to her, on my tummy and propped up by my
forearms, and give her the info on Dane.
    I question whether I’m a
fool and if I’m asking for trouble, but on a deeper level that I can’t seem to
grasp an understanding of, I want to keep going with this. I really, really
hope I’m doing the right thing.
    “Tell me honestly, Lee, do
you think I’m mad seeing him again? Do you think I’m playing with fire?”
    “I wouldn’t go that far,
babe. The problem with him is he sleeps around and doesn’t get involved. He
isn’t dodgy. It’s obviously wise not to go into this with expectations, but if
you just want to have a good time with him, I don’t see the problem. You
deserve to have fun, and what better payback is there to that wanker of an ex
than you going out and enjoying yourself – with another man. Dane might be the
perfect person for it, because he won’t expect too much from you.”
    “I didn’t think of it like
that. I don’t really want to put myself out there as another random shag of
his, though.”
    “You don’t have to. The
choice is yours , and that’s my point. The ball’s in your court.”
    She’s right. It’s up to me whether or not anything happens with Dane.
     
    After class and a lengthy stretch session, the three
of us go to get some lunch. Kayla’s face is practically stuck to the glass as
she looks at the variety of choices for her sub on the other side. Leona’s
doing the same thing. I know what I want.
    Whilst I stand waiting for
them, a musky, slightly citrus aroma captivates my senses. It’s potent, but not
unpleasant. I glance at the man to my right – the one responsible for the
lovely cologne – and he’s watching Kayla. I’ve never seen him before, but my
friend seems to have caught his attention. Is this another Cupid moment? I’ve
decided his name is Shaun and he’s a stockbroker.
    ‘Shaun’ is tall, I’d say
around six-foot, with short, strawberry-blond hair. When my brother’s hair is
wet in the morning, he runs his fingers through it and voilà ,
done. It’s left slightly disordered and looks so good. This guy probably does
that, too. His skin looks like it’s been kissed by the sun, a nice golden
shimmer remaining. Given that it’s not consistently sunny here in San Francisco,
that’s likely his natural tone or he’s recently been somewhere hot. He’s not my
type, but I can still appreciate the handsomeness of a man that doesn’t fit my
ideal. He must be on his lunch break, because he’s dressed in a white shirt
with a claret colored tie knotted neatly at the collar and black pinstripe
trousers. The sleeves being rolled up to his elbows doesn’t lessen how well
presented he is.
    I wonder if he’ll speak to
Kayla. She’s single at the moment. He isn’t her type, either. She likes the rough,
edgy look, but personally I think they’d suit, if going by appearances alone.
    She’s gorgeous with golden
curls cascading down to the middle of her back and amazing, big