Stilettos & Stubble by Amanda Egan Read Free Book Online

I need sustenance and if I ever set eyes
on that woman again, I’m telling her I’m gay.’

 
     
     
    Chapter
Five
     
     
    I was feeling
pretty hot for the first time in my life.  And when I say ‘hot’, for once I didn’t
mean sweaty and uncomfortable.  I looked fit and attractive and it was all I
could do to stop myself from pausing and admiring myself in shop windows or the
wing mirrors of parked cars.
     
    My new clothes
had toned down my size and the carefully applied make up (techniques passed on
by an orange beauty assistant) made the most of my strong face. 
     
    As it was such a
beautiful day, I’d decided to give my new look a whirl and head into the City to
see if the world was ready to take on the tweaked version of me.  It may have
been my imagination, or maybe my newfound confidence, but I could have sworn
that I’d turned the heads of a few men and even had a couple of cars toot me!
     
    Elated, I decided
to treat myself to coffee outside a little Italian café as I browsed the paper
for any suitable jobs.  There had to be something out there for me - a
job where I was useful and part of a team.  I just wanted to feel that I had a place
and purpose in life.
     
    The usual dross
was under the ‘Situations Vacant’ section - telesales, commission only and
lap-dancing.  I giggled to myself, wondering what sort of a reaction I’d get if
I turned up for an audition for that !
     
    I suddenly spotted
an older man at the table next to me.  He smiled, obviously wondering why I was
chuckling to myself, but I had no intention of telling him.  He was bald - totally,
shiningly bald - with the most stunning features.  A good strong jaw line,
razor sharp cheekbones and strikingly feline eyes.  His hands, though huge,
were immaculate and put my own to shame.  It was evident that he was a regular
at the local nail bar.  I made a mental note to give my own a seeing to when I
got home and then slipped both hands under my bottom to hide them.
     
    ‘Lovely day,
isn’t it?’  His voice was soft and with an underlying hint of playfulness.  He
was gay - that much I was certain of - my gaydar was a finely tuned piece of equipment
and, for some inexplicable reason, homosexual gentlemen always wanted to
befriend me.
     
    ‘Beautiful day,
yes,’ I answered with a smile and then returned to my paper.  Shit, my voice
was deeper than his !  I could change some things but there were
others I just had to accept.  My thousand pound loan wouldn’t stretch to changing
the pitch of my voice but some men liked a woman to be deep and husky, didn’t
they?
     
    ‘Not seen you
round here before.’  He clearly wanted to strike up a conversation.  ‘This
isn’t your regular caffeine-hit joint is it?’
     
    I put my paper
down and explained that I was from Fulham and was just in town for the day,
having a mooch around and enjoying the sunshine.  He didn’t need to know about
the new me or how I was giving it a trial run - it felt too personal to share
with a total stranger and I didn’t relish the questions it might encourage.  He
certainly seemed direct enough to ask them.
     
    He gestured to my
folded paper.  ‘Job searching?’
     
    I nodded.  ‘Pretty
unsuccessfully too.  Not much out there at the moment for an …’  I stopped
myself from adding ‘ unattractive big girl’ - I wasn’t unattractive any more, I was fit and gorgeous and this was my new confident self
- ‘… for anyone really,’ I added.  ‘Not much work about for anyone.’
     
    He swigged back
the last of his coffee and stubbed out a cigarette.  Then he stood and reached
into his jeans pocket, chucking a business card on my table as he left.
     
    ‘I might just be
able to help you there.  Give me a call tomorrow and we’ll have a chat.  Ciao!’
     
    As I saw him lean
over the table to leave the card, I was sure I saw the faintest traces of
leftover make up on his chin and lashes.
     
    But then he was
gone, shouting