by Coleen Kwan
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
® and ™ are trademarks of Harlequin Enterprises Limited and are used under license to the Publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in Australia, New Zealand, the United States Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries.
www.escapepublishing.com.au
Excerpt from No Strings Attached by Bridget Gray
Chinese Proverb: Kissing is like drinking salted water: You drink and your thirst increases.
“We’ve met before.” Mei Jing eyed him with a half smile while his mates around the bar table grinned. She’d been introduced to them by her friend, Mick, only a moment ago, and she’d homed in on the cute blond one with glasses.
She’d recognised him immediately. The circumstances were dramatically different, but it was definitely him. Last time she’d seen him he’d been half dead, but … he was here in Brisbane, hanging out with her friend. She stopped breathing. Be brave. Be cool. Breathe.
He half smiled back, looking nervous. “Really?”
Mei Jing nodded. “It doesn’t do my ego much good that you don’t remember. You’re Rod Keller, right? An architect?”
“Yeah,” he answered. “Where did we meet?” Rod squinted. Mei Jing understood. Squinting always helped her remember better.
“Well, I could just tell you … or … I could flirt outrageously with you and not tell you.” Mei Jing considered her options while the guys at the table started to snigger. “No. Not going to tell,” she said firmly. “I’ll give you a hint though. How many Chinese Australian girls have you met?”
The blond architect looked bemused. “A few.”
“Hmm …” Mei Jing smiled as she pretended to ponder. “OK. Let’s narrow it down. How many Chinese Australian girls have you kissed?”
He scrunched his forehead. “None that I can remember.”
Mei Jing feigned distress. “This is seriously damaging my self-esteem.”
He smiled properly this time, and asked hopefully, “Did we sleep together?”
Ouch! Mei Jing’s face froze. That was a bit rude! The sniggering stopped. The awkwardness began. Some guys just took it too far. She knew she’d think of something clever to say later, but for now, she gave a disappointed raise of her eyebrows, turned and walked back towards the bar. It was Friday night and the Platform Bar at Central Station was crowded and getting noisier.
“You OK?” asked Tina. Her friend since college, it didn’t take much of a blip in Mei Jing’s mood for Tina to notice.
“Great,” lied Mei Jing.
“OK, spit it out. Who got your goat up? Do you need me to take them out?”
Tina stretched herself tall and puffed out her chest. She clenched her fists by her side and did her best to look fearsome. Tina was a tiny size eight, with pale skin and a cute pageboy haircut. At twenty-five years old, she was often asked for ID. Mei Jing didn’t think Tina did ‘fearsome’ very well.
“That guy over there,” Mei Jing indicated with a tilt of her head, “I’ve seen him before but he doesn’t remember. Not that he should, but …” Mei Jing’s voice trailed off.
Tina glanced over at the group. Mick was still chatting to them and gave her a wave. “Which one?” she asked.
Mei Jing remained silent, sure that Tina would get it in a minute.
“Which one?” she asked again. “Oooooh … Isn’t that …? That looks a lot like … Oooooh …?” Tina grabbed Mei Jing’s arm and pulled her further away from Mick and his friends. “It’s him, isn’t it?” She was now staring openly at Rod, the architect.
“Yep,” said Mei Jing, focussed in the opposite direction.
Tina gaped at Mei Jing. “And he had no idea who you are?”
“Nope.”
“Oh! … My! … God!”
“Yep.”
“Are you going to tell him?”
Mei Jing frowned and shrugged. “Why?”
“Girls! What’s going on? M.J., what’s with the bolt from the boys?” Mick manoeuvred his giant frame between the girls, slinging a muscled arm round each of them.
“Tina and I were just discussing whether the Cherry Ripe is better in the plain or dark chocolate,” Mei Jing answered.
“Ah.” Mick nodded in understanding. “Life’s big questions.”
Tina wiggled out from under Mick’s arm and looked up at him. “Who’s your friend with the glasses?”
Mick turned back to the group of boys who were pretending they weren’t watching. “You mean Rod. He’s Stewey’s housemate. We played indoor cricket together last year. Why? Has M.J. got the hots for him? She definitely seemed keen there.” He waggled his eyebrows at Mei Jing.
Mei Jing willed Tina to keep her mouth shut. Mick and Tina had been best friends since they were kids, and secrets between them were rare. And this was a good one.
Tina leaned into Mick. “That’s the guy from Phuket,” Tina stage-whispered
“What guy?” asked Mick.
Mei Jing rolled her eyes. It always took Mick a minute to catch up.
“What guy?” he repeated. Mei Jing and Tina watched as the cogs in his male memory turned and clicked into place.
“That guy?”
“Yep.” Tina nodded earnestly.
Mick spun round to stare at Rod. Men were useless at subtlety. “Does he know who you are?” He turned back to Mei Jing.
“Nope.” Mei Jing avoided eye contact and moved to a bar table to fetch the cocktail menu.
“Are you going to tell him?” Mick persisted.
“And say what?” Mei Jing studied the drinks on offer. The cocktail of the month, the ‘Thai Salad Sensation’, had caught her eye.
“Well, you might get a free beer at least.”
Mei Jing shook her head. Mick knew how to simplify a situation.
“Mick. Don’t tell him.” Mei Jing used her school teacher tone to dismiss him. “I’m going to get a drink,” she said and moved to the bar with the cocktail menu in hand.
While she waited to be served, she tried to concentrate on the decision ahead of her. What to do? The Thai Salad Sensation did sound amazing; it was described as ‘an adventure for the tastebuds’, but she’d always been a Caprioska girl. She didn’t do adventurous as a rule. But seeing Rod here tonight … her uncharacteristic flirting … No. Flirting had failed; best stick to the tried and tested. A Caprioska it was.
Decision made, she looked up from the cocktail menu, but without an important beverage choice to focus on, she found herself thinking about Rod. An adventure that still caused her confusion. She’d often wondered what it would be like to see him again. He looked exactly the same. Except, of course, today he was conscious.
She looked down at the floor, wondering if she should tell him. Wondering if he’d want to know, or would that just make things awkward. Mei Jing didn’t do awkward. So … No, won’t tell him. Phew—another decision made. She looked back at the cocktail menu.
“What’s the decision?” a voice beside her asked. Mei Jing turned to see Rod.
“No, not going to tell you,” Mei Jing replied quickly.
“You’re not going to tell me what cocktail you’re having?” Rod asked, his eyes shining with amusement.
“Ah … that … Ummm, yes … I’m having a Thai Salad Sensation.”
Hang on … that wasn’t it. Why was she talking to him anyway. He’d been rude. “I’ll get it,” said Rod. “A peace offering for being an arse before.” He looked contrite. And cute. His eyes crinkled behind his glasses. And he really didn’t seem like an arse. She hoped he wasn’t an arse.
“You know …” said Mei Jing, “if we’d slept together you would have remembered.”
There she went again. Oh God. She was such a farce. Mei Jing couldn’t remember the last time she’d b
een suggestive. Surely he could see right through her. She was not a good flirter.
Rod laughed. “It doesn’t matter how I reply to that—I’m in trouble aren’t I?”
Mei Jing smiled. “Pretty much.”
They’d reached the bar and Rod ordered a Thai Salad Sensation and a Caprioska.
“You drink Caprioskas?” Mei Jing asked, surprised. She looked at the cocktail menu. It wasn’t even one of their standards.
“Yeah,” said Rod. “You’ll have to try it. I got hooked on them when I was on a scuba diving trip to the Polynesian Islands. They make them good there. They use a thick sugary syrup made with cane sugar and vodka, add more vodka, then pour it over crushed ice and add lime. I’m trying to find a bar in Brisbane that does them the same, but a lot of bar tenders don’t even know what it is.”
“I know!” said Mei Jing. “It’s a travesty. I don’t understand why Caprioskas aren’t part of Bar Training 101.”
“You drink Caprioskas too?” he asked.
“Almost always.”
He tipped his head to one side to look at her. “What’s with the Thai Salad Sensation then?”
“Just trying something a little adventurous.”
Their drinks arrived and they carried them to the side of the bar. Mei Jing took a sip and allowed the flavours to settle in her mouth.
“Wow—that’s good,” she said, taking another sip. “I could convert.”
“What?” Rod looked shocked. “And turn your back on the Caprioska? You are a fickle woman. I was about to ask you to join me on my Best-In-Brisbane-Caprioska mission but you can forget it now. Go back to your Thai Salad Sensation.”
Mei Jing offered him her drink and Rod took a sip.
“Ahhhhh,” he breathed out loudly as the chilli hit him. “Whoa! That is rocket fuel. Thai Salad flavoured rocket fuel. Can I have some more?” He took another sip. “That’s amazing. You can really differentiate the flavours. Basil, ginger, chilli, mint, and there’s something else …”
“Coriander,” Mei Jing offered.
“Yeah, of course.” He nodded thoughtfully. “Tastes and smells can transport you, can’t they? Like when I taste Caprioska …” he took a sip to helpfully demonstrate his point, “I can immediately see the bar in Tahiti where I’d hang out, and the big black islander bartender, Jimmy, who used to make them.” He took another sip of the Caprioska.
“What about the Thai Salad Sensation?” Mei Jing asked. She held her breath while he again tasted her drink.
“Ah, memories aren’t so vivid there.” He looked thoughtful, pausing while the chilli hit his palate. “That is so hot! Don’t you find it hot?”
“My parents are from the Szechuan province. We put chilli in cupcakes.”
“Ah.” He nodded with respect. “Hardcore. So, back to the conflict at hand,” Rod became business-like, “you promised to flirt outrageously with me and I don’t see you flirting. So you’re going to have to tell me where we met.”
Mei Jing, sensing that the question was coming, had turned to seek out Tina. Luckily, Tina and Mick had been trying to eavesdrop, and so before Rod had finished his sentence, they were standing beside her, ready for their conversation rescue mission.
“Hey Rod, have you met Tina?” asked Mick.
“Hey Rod,” Tina sung out. “I’m stealing M.J. to dance. I love this song.”
The boys leant back on the bar and watched the girls find their way to the dance floor. It was too early for dancing and Mei Jing and Tina had the space to themselves.
“You playing indoor cricket this season?” Mick asked Rod as he watched Tina wiggle to the music. She really was a terrible dancer. She lacked any kind of rhythm and her moves were all over the place. Mick grinned as Tina attempted a Beyoncé-style bottom manoeuvre. If Tina had a bum she may have been able to pull it off, but with missing buttocks—she just looked like a wiggling stick.
“Yeah, the season starts next week,” Rod replied. “You should come along. Stewey’s playing again, and Brad. We’re having a team barbie on Sunday at our place. Come along, bring the girls.”
“Sounds good,” Mick replied, his eyes not leaving the dance floor.
“So is that the missus?” Rod nodded in the direction of Tina, who was now working on an interpretive dance to ‘It’s Raining Men’, ensuring that the lyrics had corresponding actions.
“Nah. We’re neighbours. Or at least our parents are, and we lived next door to each other from the time I was five.”
“Not childhood sweethearts though?”
“No. Just friends.” Mick hadn’t taken his eyes off Tina. He grinned as security had a quiet word to her. Security didn’t get Tina’s creativity when it came to her dance moves. Just because she was doing a terrible impression of the moonwalk did not mean she was drunk. He could tell this wouldn’t end well.
“You’ve never even kissed?” Rod asked. Mick shook his head. “That sucks man,” Rod empathised. “She’s hot.”
Mick nodded. “Anyway,” he said, “suppose that’s my cue to leave.” Security were escorting Tina to the door while Mei Jing tagged along behind, finishing her Thai Salad Sensation. “You gonna say goodbye to the girls?” Mick asked Rod.
Rod and Mick caught up with the girls outside the door to the bar, where security were doing their best impressions of Greek pillars.
“Where are you guys going now?” Rod asked the trio.
Mei Jing looked at Tina and Mick, but they were leaving this up to her. She hesitated. Where did she want this to go? It’s not like she hadn’t imagined meeting Rod again Natural curiosity. But in all her daydreams, he knew exactly who she was. In none of her imaginings was she in the least bit attracted to him. Eeek! Confusing! What to do in the absence of a daydream to direct you?
“Have you tried the Caprioskas at the Green Buddha?” she asked.
“Hang on.” Rod pulled a creased napkin from his wallet. “Let’s see … Green Buddha … Green Buddha …” He ran his finger down a list. “Yes. Yes I have. No, they were crap. Didn’t even bother to crush the ice.”
“You’re kidding!” Mei Jing said, outraged. Her heart was beating faster. He wrote lists and carried them around. “OK, how about the Jubilee?”
“Not a chance. They brought me a cappuccino.”
Mei Jing closed her eyes and shook her head in shared disgust. “How about Andy’s House? It’s a new reggae place in New Farm?”
“Yes! Let’s go there,” Tina butted in, no longer leaving it up to Mei Jing. This could take all night; besides, she had some mean reggae dance moves. “You coming, Rod?”
“Sure,” said Rod. “I do have an interrogation to finish after all.” He smiled at Mei Jing.
When Rod went inside to say good-bye to his mates, Tina gave Mei Jing her ‘talking to’.
“He’s nice, good looking and at first glance does not appear to have homicidal tendencies. You’ve got to tell him. You like him—tell him.”
“But if I tell him,” said Mei Jing, “the dynamics will change. He’ll like me for what I did for him, not for who I am. It’s too much pressure. Let’s just see how tonight goes.”
“We’re going to his house for a barbie on Sunday,” said Mick. “You can always tell him then.”
“We are?” asked Tina. She pulled out her phone to check her calendar. “We’re supposed to be at home on Sunday morning for Mum’s birthday brunch.”
“I know,” said Mick. “But I can go to your Mum’s, then we can pick M.J up on the way to Stewey’s. I picked up your Mum’s present, by the way.”
“Thanks,” said Tina distractedly as she typed the new appointment into her calendar. “How much do I owe you?”
Mick smiled, shaking his head. “I’ll add it to your tab.”
Andy’s House was actually a house. An old Queenslander, complete with verandahs around three sides, set amongst a small but lush rainforest garden. Inside, the restaurant had polished wooden floors and small candlelit tables. The restaurant was half-full, mostly with
couples soaking up the relaxed atmosphere. On one of the side verandahs the reggae band was set up with a dance floor in front. Steps led down into the garden, which had a scattering of outdoor furniture arranged in beer garden style. The whole house was decorated in bright prints, bright table-cloths and flowering pot plants.
Although it was only eight o’clock, it was already buzzing.
“I have a good feeling about this place,” said Rod. “I’ll get the first round.”
Mick hunted down a table while the girls found the bathroom. Mei Jing checked her appearance. Normally she didn’t fuss. Her long, straight black hair rarely did anything but be long, straight black hair. Her eyeliner was intact and she touched up her lip gloss. Done.
Mei Jing watched while her friend did the fussing. Tina added powder, enhancing her naturally fair complexion, added another layer of eyeliner, touched up her eye shadow, brightened her blush, re-did her lipliner and finished with three coats of lipstick. Tina was cute in an under-age kind of way, which was a bit of a drawback when they headed out on the town for a sophisticated night out. Tina often looked like she was playing dress ups.
“Do you think you can get plastic surgery to add wrinkles?” Tina asked.
Mei Jing shook her head at her friend. When she’d first met Tina at the Queensland Uni orientation, they were both just out of school, still underage and both scared witless. Tina sat next to Mei Jing in the lecture theatre and after standard small talk introductions, they’d spent the rest of the presentation playing hangman.
Luckily for both of them, Mick, who was a year older and therefore so very much more experienced, took it upon himself to show the girls the ropes. He got them false ID’s, taught them how to skull a beer, and introduced them to Sunday sessions at the Regatta Hotel. He protected them from sleazebags, carried them home when they fell over drunk and expected nothing more than to be introduced to their gorgeous girlfriends—most of whom he slept with and then moved on.
Eight years later they still watched out for each other. Tina had only lasted a semester at Uni before deferring, promising to come back. She never did and was now a barista at a funky coffee shop in New Farm.