‘I’m gagging for one.’ Chloe winked. ‘But I’ll get them in. It’ll give me another shot with Luke.’
Tanya – tall, endless legs and long red hair she must have ironed flat, because no way did anyone have hair that straight – sighed. ‘Leave it, Chlo’. I know you’re just trying to wind me up.’
‘Maybe I am.’ She shrugged. ‘Or maybe I figure as you guys aren’t actually dating, I’ve got as much right to chat him up as you have.’
Mia watched as she sashayed off to the bar. When Luke turned to flash Chloe the same wide, sexy smile he’d given her, the tiny kernel of excitement she’d felt earlier, shrivelled.
She shrugged the disappointment off. The bar owner was clearly a major player. One of those men who flirted with anything in a skirt, and possibly slept with them all, too. She didn’t need a man like that in her life. What she did need, was friends. And maybe she didn’t have much in common with these girls with their high heels, fake tans and long, painted nails, maybe she’d found it easier talking to the guy behind the bar, but at least their company was real.
Luke kept the smile on his face as he served Chloe. It wasn’t that he didn’t like her, he did. Recently though, she seemed to have got it into her head that she fancied him. Wrong. Sure, he had a pretty solid ego, he knew to many women his smile and his muscles were attractive, but that wasn’t what Chloe saw in him. She only saw a chance to prove she wasn’t cut up over being dumped by her ex.
How did he know all this? He was a bartender, people talked to him, especially once they’d had a drink.
‘So, when do you get out of here?’ Chloe fluttered her long false eyelashes at him as he poured the house cocktail into the waiting glasses.
‘When the last customer has left, the rubbish cleared, glasses washed, bar wiped down and the floors mopped.’ He smiled. ‘Nobody said owning a bar was easy.’
Though her face fell a little, she gave him a valiant smile. ‘I can wait. Help you out, you know, if you like.’
Oh Christ. He ran a hand down his face, wondering if there was an easy way to do this that he hadn’t discovered yet. ‘That’s a great offer, Chloe, but you’ve got better things to do than hang out here.’
Her eyes dropped to the credit card she clutched. ‘What if I haven’t?’
He took the card from her, placing it on the bar before wrapping his hand around hers. ‘Chloe, don’t do this.’ Her gaze snapped to his and she tried to pull her hand away, but he held on. ‘You’re better than me, better than this.’ He indicated between them. ‘Clive was too dumb to realise what he had, but other guys won’t be. Give them a chance to realise you’re single again, and they’ll come running.’ He smiled. ‘You’ll be able to take your pick.’
‘Yeah, right.’ She sighed. ‘That’s just your way of turning me down.’
‘No. It’s my way of telling you that if we started anything, you’d regret it.’ He looked her straight in the eye. ‘I want you to keep coming to my bar, Chloe. I enjoy chatting with you, serving you. I don’t want that to stop because we got into something you regret and were too embarrassed, or too angry to come back.’
‘You sleep with Tanya.’
‘Sometimes, yes. But she’s different to you. She’s happy keeping things casual. You’re not that kind of girl, Chloe.’
She stuck out her bottom lip. ‘I could be.’
He dropped a kiss on her knuckles before letting her hand go. ‘No, don’t go changing. You stick out for what you really want. There are plenty of guys looking for a gorgeous woman to settle down with. Plenty who’d bend over backwards for a chance with you.’ He winked. ‘You never know, maybe you’ll meet him here. And if you do, you’ll thank your lucky stars you didn’t chuck away your principles and tumble into bed with the bartender.’
‘Chuffing Nora, Luke. You sure know how to turn a girl down.’ After a long exhale, she gave him a sly look from under her lashes. ‘Can’t promise I won’t stop flirting with you.’ Then she leant across the bar and flung her arms around his neck. ‘But ta for the ego massage.’
As he peeled Chloe off him, Luke caught sight of Mia, waiting behind her. A dart of satisfaction shot through him; she was still here. He smiled over. ‘I’ll be with you in a sec.’
To his disappointment, she shook her head. ‘I’m just here to give Chloe a hand carrying the drinks back.’
Chloe started to giggle. ‘Bummer, I nearly forgot yours, Mia.’ She turned to him. ‘And a—’
‘Bottle of beer. Got it.’ He bent to retrieve one from the fridge, looking again at Mia. ‘Sure I can’t tempt you to the radioactive cocktail?’
She smiled, shaking her head, but though it was friendly, he sensed a wall that hadn’t been there before. ‘I don’t want my hair going any greener.’
Chloe’s mouth fell open. ‘You’re kidding, right. I mean this stuff,’ she looked down at the tray of vivid green cocktails, ‘it isn’t going to turn me green, is it?’
‘Only if you have too many.’
‘What?’ Then she burst into laughter. ‘Oh right, you mean because I’ll be sick. No flaming way. I’m not chucking them up, not after all the money I’ve spent on them.’
Picking the card off the bar, Luke quickly took payment for the drinks. As Chloe reached for the tray, he put his hand on hers. ‘I’ll take them over.’
She gave him a wide, flirty smile. ‘Such a gentleman.’ Then tottered back to join the others.
Mia set off behind her, but Luke touched her shoulder, only realising then how short she was. ‘Hey, wait a sec.’ Slipping round the bar, he fetched the tray of drinks. ‘Good to see you still here.’
‘I met up with Chloe and Donna in the ladies. They persuaded me to stay.’
He gave her a crooked smile. ‘So it wasn’t the lure of continuing our conversation?’
‘Which conversation was that? The one about Somerset versus Manchester, cocktails—’
‘The one where I suggested meeting up outside this place,’ he interrupted, wondering if he’d got this totally wrong. He’d been certain there’d been a spark between them earlier. Sure, she was different from the women he usually chatted up at the bar, but that was part of the interest. He didn’t meet many women who had the confidence to come into a bar alone, and without the need to squeeze into a tight dress or put on make-up for the occasion.
Nor did he meet many people who outsmarted him in the banter.
‘Oh, that conversation.’
He was interrupted by Helen, one of his regulars, who gave him a smacker of a kiss on his cheek. ‘Luke, I’ve not seen you all evening.’ She darted a look at Mia. ‘Seems others have claimed your attention. I’m going to be upset if you don’t drop by our table when you’ve finished here. Lizzie, I know, will want to say hi. She was telling us how much she missed your pretty face.’
‘You’re busy.’ Mia’s eyes followed Helen as she walked back to her table.
‘Yeah, sorry, Saturday nights are usually mad. It’s quieter during the week. Easy to talk.’ When she didn’t reply to his opening, he gave it one last shot. ‘So, can I have your phone number? Maybe meet for coffee one day?’
‘Umm.’
‘I’ve lived here most of my life. I could be a pretty useful guide while you settle in.’ He grinned. ‘Cheapest coffee, best take-out, prettiest place to eat outside, most scenic running route if you’re into that.’ Crap, he sounded desperate.
Her eyes flicked over to where Chloe and … damn, Tanya was there. Was that what had put Mia off? She thought he was dating Tanya? ‘Look, I don’t know what you’ve heard, but—’
‘They’re waiting for the drinks.’ She gave him a small smile. ‘Thanks for the offer. I know where to come if I decide to take you up on it.’
‘Okay.’
She took the tray from him and nodded to where Helen was watching them. ‘Thanks, I’ve got it from here. You’d best go over there before she gets upset.’
He was left feeling confused, a little put out and, ye
ah, he had to admit, a lot disappointed.
Chapter Four
Sunday was quiet. Mia went running – surprise, surprise, she was capable of finding her own routes, quiet and short being the key criteria. Who needed scenic when it took all her effort to put one foot in front of the other? After that, she tried out Lidl, thanks to Stan’s recommendation. She’d keep the excitement of ready meals for one at Sainsbury’s until she’d been here at least a month.
If she thought, just occasionally, about the guy from the bar, it was because it had been a long while since she’d enjoyed chatting to a member of the opposite sex quite so much. Not because she regretted not giving him her phone number.
Pete had taught her a valuable lesson. No longer was she giving her number out easily. And considering her track record of dating men who appeared decent, but turned out to be total jerks, no way was she about to date a man who seemed like a bit of a jerk at the outset. Sure, Luke was gorgeous, charming and easy to talk to, but God, the bar seemed littered with women who’d either slept with him (Helen had to be an ex), were sleeping with him (Tanya, for one), or wanted to sleep with him (Chloe, plus all the girls who had sat at the bar and fluttered their eyes at him).
Monday, Mia woke to the usual routine. Drag herself out of bed, eat breakfast (Frosties) while checking on Immaculate Woman (dressed today in navy, her hair coiled in a bun). Take mug of coffee to desk. Turn on computer while glowering at Immaculate Woman. Work.
At 10 a.m. she stopped everything to ogle Mr Hot Guy Opposite … damn, she guessed she’d have to say ogle Luke. The idea felt uncomfortable because even though he was undeniably still hot, now she knew who he was.
Opposite her, Luke picked up the bar of weights and jerked it above his head. As his muscles bulged, Mia felt her pulse quicken, her blood heat, and she huffed out a resigned sigh. Fine, when it came to ogle worthiness, apparently she could overlook his womanising ways.
She sat and stared as he bent to put the bar back on the rack. When he straightened, his head angled in her direction and … shit no, please say he hadn’t caught her looking. Mia pushed her chair back, away from the window, and the connection, if there had been one, was lost. Breathing a sigh of relief, she pulled her desk towards her and watched the rest of the show from the shadows.
When it was over, she worked solidly until her stomach complained, then ate a sandwich at her desk while trying to avoid crumbs falling onto her keyboard. Later in the afternoon she took a call from her sister.
‘Yes Elle, you can tell Mum I’m still alive.’ Absently she glanced down and winced. Balls, she’d forgotten to shower and change. Wearing a dressing gown and pyjamas at three in the afternoon was not cool.
‘Please tell me you got out at the weekend. And going to the supermarket doesn’t count,’ Elle added, ruining Mia’s witty reply.
‘Actually, you’d be proud of me. I went to the local bar on Saturday and had conversations with actual people.’
There was a pause. ‘Sorry, can you repeat that? I thought I heard you’d gone to a bar.’
‘Very funny.’
‘So, who are these actual people you spoke to? Any dishy men?’
It was Mia’s turn to pause. ‘Sort of.’
Elle gasped. ‘OMG Mia, come on, spill.’
Damn, why was she chronically incapable of keeping her big mouth shut when it came to her sister? ‘Chill Elle, there’s nothing to spill. I went to a bar, met a few local girls and had a nice evening.’ Nice, pleasant. Funny how it had felt a lot less bland than that.
‘But where did the dishy men come in?’
‘Man,’ she corrected. ‘There was a dishy man.’ For the first time since this morning, when she’d nearly got caught ogling, Mia allowed her gaze to drift over to the flat opposite her. And her jaw dropped open. ‘Whoa, what on earth?’
‘Err, Elle calling Mia. What’s happening up there?’
Mia shook her head, but when she stared back at Luke’s flat again, the sheet of paper was still there in the window.
One simple word:
Hi
It couldn’t be meant for her. Could it?
‘Mia? Do I need to call 999?’
‘What? No.’ Heart racing, she stared at the message. It probably wasn’t for her. Luke was clearly well known round here. He could be saying hi to anyone. And God, since when did she attract men like him? Flashy, good-looking men? He asked for your number. Her palms felt sweaty, her heart loud in her ears. So what if it was for her? He’s a player.
She paused to take a breath.
‘Mia, will you tell me what the pissing hell is going on before I get really fucking angry, really sodding worried or both.’
Ouch. Elle didn’t often swear, but when she did, it wasn’t pretty. ‘Sorry sis.’ She drew in another breath, organised her thoughts. ‘The dishy man I mentioned was the bar owner. He chatted to me, like bartenders do, and he sort of flirted a bit and I was sort of interested for a bit. Then I found out he was sleeping with or had slept with half the women in the bar – slight exaggeration, but you see where I’m coming from. So I said no to his offer to meet up.’
‘Holy shit, give me a minute to work that through, it’s a lot to digest.’ Mia imagined Elle shifting on the sofa, rubbing her hands across the hugely swollen belly that was keeping Mia’s nephew safe until he decided to pop out.
‘While you’re digesting that, the reason I went radio silent on you was because I’ve just noticed a sign in his window saying “Hi”.’
‘Err, you know where he lives?’
Ah. ‘Yes, kind of, because it’s the flat directly opposite mine.’
‘You’ve been spying on him?’
‘No, of course not, that would be all sorts of wrong.’ Guiltily she remembered spending one sad evening looking at binoculars online. She hadn’t bought a pair though, that was the important part. ‘But if he decides to work out slap bang in front of the window, people are going to see and, well, watch.’
‘By people, you mean you.’
She guessed, given he lived directly opposite, she probably was the only one with such a clear view. ‘Okay, yes, me.’
Elle’s voice went quiet. ‘How big are his muscles? Are we talking just starting out, or Dwayne Johnson?’
‘Why are you whispering? Is Dave around?’ Dave was Elle’s saint of a husband.
‘What, no? I don’t want The Wriggler to hear me asking about a man who isn’t his dad.’
Mia snorted with laughter. ‘I thought he was Turnip?’
‘God, you’re so out of date. That was week seventeen. After that we went through Pepper, Mango and Cauliflower. By the time we got to Cabbage, Dave said he’d had enough and nicknamed him The Wriggler.’
‘For which I’m sure my nephew will be eternally grateful.’
‘All of which is a distraction from my original question about the size of the muscles on the dishy bar owner who lives opposite you.’
Mia bit into her lip as she thought. ‘I guess, if we’re going with your food analogy, we’re talking melons for his biceps.’
‘Melons? Wow, honeydew, or watermelon, or—?’
‘Stop! God, Elle, maternity leave is clearly making you even more bonkers than usual.’
Her sister sighed. ‘Okay, yes, good point. I shall stop thinking of my sister’s hot neighbour. But I will ask if you’re going to reply to the sign.’
‘It’s probably not for me.’ Men like Luke, cocky and good-looking, didn’t go for geek girls, she reminded herself. She attracted the shier, solid guys, who then turned out to be flakier than a Danish pastry.
‘You’ve just said your flat is dead opposite his,’ Elle protested. ‘And presumably this is the first time he’s put up a sign since you moved in, or you’d have noticed. Quite a coincidence that, you meeting him, him wanting to take you out, and now a message popping up in the window that looks directly into yours.’
Crap, maybe he had seen her.
‘Sounds like he’s trying to attract
your attention.’ Elle’s voice took on that sort of excited hush again. ‘Just think of it, Mia. Running your hands over all those straining muscles.’
Mia burst into laughter. ‘Err, hello pregnancy libido. I think it’s time you made yourself a chamomile tea and went to lie down. And I did some more work.’
‘So you haven’t thought about sex with the hot guy opposite?’
Nope, she wasn’t getting suckered into answering that one. ‘Bye Elle, talk to you later in the week.’
Mia put down her phone and stared back at the sign.
Then she shook her head and pulled down her blind.
The kick of disappointment he’d felt on Saturday night when Mia had turned down his offer to meet for a coffee had rolled through Luke again on Sunday when, despite his constant checking, she’d not walked through the door of the bar. He’d had to acknowledge it was possible his chance of seeing her again had all but disappeared.
But then this morning, when he’d been lifting weights and looking out of the window, which he did because lifting on his own at home was boring as shit, he’d spotted a flash of green hair opposite him.
No mistaking that hair, that face. The fact she’d still, as far as he could see, got her dressing gown on.
So he’d shifted even closer so she could see him, and he could see her. And yes, he’d flexed, pumped his muscles harder than usual. Some girls dug a guy who worked out, others preferred lean. As he had no hope of being the latter, he had to make the most of what he had, and hope Mia liked it.
Had she watched? He wasn’t sure. After that initial glance at her, she’d disappeared into the shadows.
Still, not being the sort to give up, before he’d left for work he’d scribbled a quick Hi on a sheet of paper.
Then he’d stuck it to the window with Blu Tack and gone off to the bar feeling mildly hopeful.
Falsely hopeful, it turned out, as there’d been no reply in Mia’s window when he’d come back last night.
Mr Right Across the Street: The perfect escape for lockdown and from one flat to another share in the most feel good romantic comedy of 2021! (The Kathryn Freeman Romcom Collection, Book 4) Page 3