Until I Met You (6 page)

A quirk of a smile touched her lips as she paced the room a little.  She was looking around, going through the motions, but I was wondering if she was really interested in this place or not.

“So, you have a boyfriend?”  Her back is turned, but I could tell she was still smiling.

“Yes,” I answered, quickly.

“And what is his name?” 

Oh dear
, I wasn’t ready for that.  I didn’t know why this was relevant, but maybe she was just trying to put me on the spot.  My head was spinning for an answer, but I didn’t want to hesitate too long.  Eventually, the only name that popped into my head was the man whore’s name.  “Jacob,” I said in one breath.  My goodness, inventing boyfriends was harder than I thought.

“Jacob?” she asked.

“Yes, that’s my boyfriend’s name, Jacob.  I love him very much.”  It was a strange feeling having to explain myself to this devil woman.  If she were a man, I would just tell her to fuck off.  It’s not like I haven’t done that countless of times before.  I suppose having a woman try it on with you for the very first time would do that to you.  It was all new territory for me.

“I see,” she said turning towards me.  “I very much like this house, Angelina.  I would like to put in an offer, if I may?”

Wow, of all the things, I wasn’t expecting that.  “Okay,” I said nervously.  “How much would you like to offer?”

“Let’s round it down to four, shall we?  I assume that’s what they’re after?”  She swiftly turned again and looked out of the bedroom window.

“I think you may be right, but I will have to speak with the vendor first and get back to you.”

She walked towards me quickly and stroked my chin.  “Please do so.”

I immediately tensed again, but she was outside of the bedroom door and heading down the stairs quicker than my head could register.

Oh, thank God that’s over! 

I practically ran down the stairs, and outside where Cruella was waiting for me.  “I’ll speak to the vendors as soon as I get back to the office, and call you with an answer as soon as I have one.”

“Great,” she said, handing me a card.  “Call me if you ever get tired of your boyfriend.”  She locked eyes with me and winked.

I smiled awkwardly and took the card, but it wasn’t until I walked past her with my back to her that I felt it.  Her hand on my arse!

Her hot breath was now invading my ear.  “It was lovely seeing you again, Angelina.  I look forward to your call.”  She strolled off, shaking her hips back and forth as she went.  To a man, this would be hot, but to me, it was completely wasted.

With a sharp intake of breath, I was ready to bolt. Suddenly my feet found so much movement that I was practically running back to work.  It was starting to rain a little, so I tried putting up my umbrella.  It was no use though.  I was so uptight and anxious to get as far away from that woman as possible that nothing I did worked.  I was so caught up in trying to undo the thing when my head practically slammed into a very solid chest.  “I’m sorry,” I said, still looking at my umbrella.

“Would you like me to help with that?” 

Oh my fucking God, that voice.  If ever heaven invented the sound of a voice so beautiful, so sexy, so seductive, his would be it.  I followed my eyes up from the umbrella, to his chest.  He was wearing a grey jacket with blue shirt and navy tie that clung to his broad shoulders.  I followed higher and found his lips.  The most curved, sculptured pouty lips I had ever seen on a man.

The next thing I noticed was his sexy stubble.  What I wouldn’t give to run my fingers up and down his face.  Then I saw his eyes.  The most beautiful light blue eyes—like swimming pools, I wanted to dive in.

Then there was his hair, or lack of it.  He obviously liked a close shave, but there was a hint of very dark hair on top of his head.  He must have been in his mid-twenties, and oozed sex appeal with an air of wealth—which only added to his allure. 

Could this guy be any sexier
?!

I found myself staring for what seemed like an age.  My stomach was not only having butterflies, it had an all out war going on in there.  I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, this man was so beautiful.

The feeling inside me was alien and I didn’t like it.  I watched as he drunk me in; his eyes were waving at me with those luscious eyelashes of his.  I wanted to run—wanted to bolt—but it was like my feet were cemented to the ground.  My heart couldn’t seem to find any rhythm and my breathing quickly followed suit. 

What is wrong with me?

I suddenly felt anger towards this stranger.  How dare he make me feel this way.  I didn’t even know him and I felt my insides were going to explode if he looked at me one more time with those fucking come-to-bed eyes of his.

“I’m fine,” I said with gritted teeth.  Lords knows how I found the two words to string together, but I did.  They came out like I was a baby practising speech, but I got there somehow.

“I don’t think I recall ever seeing you around here before.”  The sexy stranger grinned at me and I nearly passed out.

“Well it is a big place,” I said, sarcastically.  I’m not doing very well.  I’m being rude to him and making it obvious.  Instead I got back to fiddling with my umbrella just so I didn’t have to look at him again.  No matter how much I actually did want to look at him.

“Here, Angel, let me help you with that.”

Snapping my head up at him, my eyes bulged.  “How did you…?” I began.  He stared at me, noticing my shocked reaction.  “Oh, never mind,” I said storming off.

“Wait!” he shouted after me.  “You’re name’s not Angel is it?”

I turned around, feeling the drops coming that little bit more persistently.  “No, it’s Angelina.”  I looked at him like I didn’t give a fuck, but I know I do.  I sure hope I have a good poker face.

“Heaven most be missing one,” he said with a cheeky grin.

“Oh really.”  I rolled my eyes at him.  “Like I’ve never heard that one before.”  He looked at me, somewhat confused.  I could see he was trying to figure something out, but I didn’t know what.  I’m about to turn around but then I hear that damn voice of his again.  “Goodbye, my angel.” 

With a swing of my heels, I was about to snap at him again, but it was almost like he had vanished into thin air.  Poof, he was gone.  I started to wonder if Cruella had slipped me something without my knowledge.  I was starting to see things now.

I eventually got back to the office in one piece.  Although it was difficult, I somehow managed to put the umbrella up in the end.  I don’t know why I even bothered to tell you the truth, as I was all wet now.  My hair was dripping all over the floor by the time I was back at the shop.  I didn’t give a shit.  I wanted a drink.

A full set of eyes lingered on me the minute I pushed the door open.  Shelly, Brad, and Anthony were looking at me with great big fuck off grins on their faces. 

Pricks.

“What you smiling at?”  I wasn’t in the mood.  I was wet, I was uncomfortable—I’d just been felt up by the Dalmatian lady—and had a mirage of the most gorgeous arsehole I had ever seen on the planet.

“How did it go?” Anthony sat there, nervously twiddling his thumbs.  He could see I was angry, so tried to ask as nicely as possible.

“It was hideous.  I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but Cruella’s got roving hands,” I said, trying to dust myself off.  “At least she made an offer.”

“She did?”  Shelly almost squealed the words.

“Yes, now I have to ring the vendors and get this whole thing wrapped up as quickly as possible.  The pub is calling me.”

I sat down—or rather flopped down—at my desk, and flicked through my list of contacts.  I quickly found the Marcus’s mobile number and dialled.

They were happy when I called as it sounded as though they wanted the sale as quickly as possible.  They were moving to the US and were keen to cut ties as quickly as possible.  They were happy with the four million, and I was very happy with the nice commission cheque I was about to receive at the end of the month.  Although the day didn’t go extremely well, at least I could be happy with one thing.

I rang Charming Charmers and told her the good news.  She was happy and said that she would make arrangements for the transfer of the deposit tomorrow.

I was finally happy and breathing more easily by the time I had hung the phone up on her.  I rushed in quickly to tell Jonathan the good news—which he was more than pleased with.

“You better go home and get dried up, Angelina.  You’ll catch a death.”

“Thanks,” I said, relieved.  “We’re going for drinks in a little while, fancy joining us?”

He looked up, watching my wet hair drip down my blouse.  I didn’t think he could help it, but he lingered as a very wet area was forming around my breast.

“Erm,” he said, clearing his throat.  “I have things to do this evening.  Maybe another time though.”  He tried to look at anything, but me—which was quite sweet.

“Okay, I’ll be off then.  See you tomorrow, Jonathan.”  Turning around, I headed for the door.

“Yes, see you tomorrow. Oh, and Angelina… well done for today.  Tell everyone they’re free to go.  I think we’ve done about all that we can for the day.”

“Okay, thanks Jonathan.”

As I entered the shop I told everyone they could leave.  Anthony had already gone home to be with his wife, so that just left me, Shelly, Brad, and the evil twins.  They didn’t look best pleased that I had come out to tell them to go home.  I just ignored them and concentrated on Shelly and Brad.  “Do you two want to head over to the bar and I’ll join you once I change?”

They both nodded and told me that they’d be at Antonio’s across the road.

I ventured up to my beloved flat and quickly got changed into a nice pencil skirt and black polo neck top.  I tried towel drying and brushing the tangles out, but it was no use.  In the end, I just left it loose to dry naturally.  I touched up my make-up and dabbed some shiny lip gloss on.  I was as ready as I could ever be with the short time I had.

Right, time to do some heavy drinking!

CHAPTER
4

As I walked into the bar I found it pretty lively.  Shelly and Brad were propped up in deep conversation.  They spotted me straight away and Shelly motioned to a drink on the bar.

“Double vodka tonic, me lady.”  She smiled her sweet, childlike smile and I couldn’t help aim one right back at her.

“Thanks.  I really need this.”  And I did really need it.  I picked it up and bolted it down in one go.  I had been too good these past three weeks—time to be a bit naughty.

I had two pair of eyes bulging at me like I had just broke wind or something.

“Okay… time to get you another.”  Brad motioned to the barman and I smiled. 

“Now, that’s what I’m talking about.”  I looked at Shelly, but noticed her eyes scanning something behind my back.

“Oh. My. Fucking. God.”

I turned around to see what she was looking at and spotted my mirage.  It was almost as if he felt my eyes staring—as within seconds—his were burning into mine.  He had company—lots of company.  The women were practically drooling all over him.  “Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.”  I kept saying it, and Shelly and Brad kept looking at me like I’d lost the plot.  I think I may have—just a little.

“What’s the matter?” Shelly asked.

“I bumped into him earlier.  He asked if he could help with my umbrella.  He called me Angel and I nearly flipped.”

“Wow, what a coincidence.  You must have checked him out a little, he’s hot—like, steaming hot.”

“There are no guys present in this group at all.”  Brian motioned with his hands as if to say, “What the fuck?” He obviously didn’t like the fact he was the only man with a couple of girls—one of which was leering at a man.

“No, you’ll do.”

“Shelly!” I shouted.  “That was rude.  Excuse the lovely Miss McIntyre here, Anthony.  She obviously left her manners at home.”

“Oh come on, Angelina.  If Brad wants to check out the ladies, I won’t be offended.  Check away my man.  Indulge yourself.  Talk about breasts and fannies, I don’t care.”

Brad handed me my second Vodka Tonic and I gladly took it from him.  I was about to take a sip when Shelly was tugging on my arm.  “What?”

“Sexy beast is heading our way, Angelina, and he’s certainly zeroing in on you my friend.”

I looked around and my breath caught instantly.  His stare was intense, almost hypnotic.  I couldn’t seem to keep my eyes off him. 

“Angel, how lovely to see you again.  Not following me now, are you?”

Oh great, not only was he the sexiest man I had ever seen, he was a wiseass as well.  “Yeah, and wouldn’t you like that?”  His eyebrow raised and I almost melted.

“Yes, I would actually.  It’s very rare to find an angel fall at your feet—or in this case—collide into my chest when I’m out taking a stroll.”

Oh and what a chest it was.  I looked briefly, but didn’t want him to see that he affected me.

“Can I buy you all a drink?”  He looked at everyone and I saw Shelly looking like all those other drooling women he had waiting for his return.  She was about to say something when I stepped on her foot.

“We’re fine,” I said, stubbornly. 

Shelly glared as she bent over and started rubbing her toe.  She wasn’t pleased.  I knew she was going to say yes to the guy and I didn’t want him here.  Even though I did.  God, I hate him.

“You’re still wet I see.  I don’t know what you normally look like dry, but…”

I had to stop him talking for my sake.  I really couldn’t hear anymore.  “Are you always like this?”

“Like what, Angel?”

“Don’t call me Angel.  I only let one person call me that.  My name is Angelina.”  He studied me a moment with those fucking come-to-bed eyes of his.  I had never in this world reacted so instantly to someone in my life.  It was quite frankly pissing me off—but most of all—it scared the shit out of me.  I didn’t want him here.  I wanted him far away, so I could go back to my normal life I was in control of.  When I looked at this man, my control wavered.  I didn’t like it.

“So who’s the lucky man who gets to call you that?”  He stood there looking all sexy, but I didn’t answer him.  He patiently waited for an answer, but all I did was look indignant.  Shelly saw my reaction and rolled her eyes at me.

“I think it must be her dad or something.  She hasn’t got a boyfriend, I can tell you that.”

“Shelly!”  I couldn’t believe she just told him that I was single.  She had no right to tell this sexy stranger my personal life.

“Don’t be mad at Shelly, my angel.  She’s just trying to help.”

“I. Am. Not. Your. Angel.”  I think a little smoke was coming out of my ears.

Sexy arsehole looked over at Shelly and Brad.  “Is she always like this?”

“No,” they both said in unison.

“So, it’s just me then.” 

It wasn’t a question, it was an observation.  He was smiling now, but I didn’t know what was so amusing.

“Well, as you already know my name’s Shelly—this is Brad by the way—is it not too much to ask yours?”

He puffed out his wonderfully formed chest and smiled.  “Seth,” he announced.

Oh God, even his name sounded sexy.

“Nice to meet you, Seth.”  They all shook hands, but I didn’t offer mine.  Seth just stood there smiling like the sexy prick he is.

“You know you look rather sexy when you’re angry.  And you’re wet, too.  You could drive a guy mental with that kind of image in his mind.”  His eyes slanted as he looked me over.  If my belly could dance, it would be doing every conceivable move known in the history of dance moves.

As I felt this, an unwanted memory quickly surfaced of my mum and I in the kitchen on Julia’s wedding night.  Men don’t make my stomach dance.  They never have.  The thought scared me that much that I was actually contemplating going back to Cornwall.  Just that split second, an insane notion had me packing up my bags and going home.

Who on earth was this guy, and why in the hell am I letting myself be affected by him so much?  That split second thought of running home was stupid.  I don’t know this guy and the chances of bumping into him again so soon, was remote… so why am I so frightened?

“You’re a jerk, do you know that?”  I’m desperately trying to stand my ground with this guy.  If I had to have any kind of an emotion for him, it had to be anger.  Judging by the group of girls waiting for him, he is obviously a playboy.  That was a red danger sign right there.

“Keep that up, Angel, I may have to take you home with me and never let you leave.”

My eyes bugged right out of my head.  My mind screamed “Asshole,” but my body screamed, “Yes, take me now!”  He was making me weak.

“I am not your angel.  Look, you obviously have company waiting for you and I’m here with my colleagues for a quiet drink.  Why don’t you just toodle off and make with your bunnies over there.”

“Toodle off?” he asked, amused.  His smile was infectious, but I couldn’t let him see me back down.

“Okay, Angel.  I’ll ‘toodle off’, but I want you to know that this thing… ” With a flick of his hand he pointed his finger between him and I.  “Isn’t over yet.  I’ll see you again, and when I do I will ask you out—and you will say yes.”

I tried to see a hint of a smile, anything just to let me know he was joking—but he was deadly serious.  “In your dreams, pal.”  I sneered at him and that made him smile.

“I’m sure you will be.”  He turned, revealing the most perfectly rounded, pert ass I had ever seen.  It was just there and ripe for the touch.  All I had to do was reach out and squeeze it.  Just that little bit.  Just a tiny squeeze.

I had to snap myself out of this.  I looked to all the squealing girls and that was all it took to realise how silly my thinking was.  He was a player.  One to avoid at all costs.  “Can you believe that arsehole?” I asked Shelly and Brad.

“Oh yeah, sexy beast lurves ya.  What a fucking bummer that must be.”  She rolled her eyes again at me and took a swig of her drink, hand on hip.

“Well, I don’t lurrrrrve him.  Who does he think he is coming over here being all, ‘I’m going to ask you out and you’ll say yes’, crap?”

“He was a bit forward,” Brad interjected.

“Thank you, Brad.”

“Wow, he really does wind you up, doesn’t he?”  Shelly winked at me and I looked over to where Seth the Asshole was.  His play bunnies were doing their giggly, drooly thing and it made me feel sick.  His eyes still burned a hole in my insides and it made the hairs stick up at the back of my neck.  I tingled when he looked at me and I loved it and hated it, all in one mushy, messed up ball of sexual energy.  He oozed sex appeal like a prowling lion.  I needed to get away from him and fast.

“Hey, I got an idea.  I have a bottle of rum at home with our name on it.  Instead of staying here and paying for our drinks, why don’t we just go to mine and get it for free?”  Shelly looked at me like she wasn’t buying what I was selling.  Brad just swigged the remainder of his drink back down and nodded his head.  “I’m up for that.  Lead the way, Miss Bradshaw.”

We drank what was left of our drinks and I grabbed my bag and coat.  I didn’t want to look at Seth on my way out, but I couldn’t help it.  The cheeky smile said it all.  And then he had the gall to wave his fingers goodbye at me—all the while, he had women clinging from every limb. 

Bastard!

Once we were outside, I took a welcome lungful of air.  I was glad to be getting away from that man.  It was almost as though we had a surge of electricity running from him into me.  I could feel it the whole time I was there.  The pins and needles at the ends of my fingers.  The strange tingly sensation you get when someone touches you ever so lightly—but this felt somehow magnified.

By the time we all reached the apartment—that I’ve quickly called my home—I was still feeling the slight hum from the charge.  It was better though.  Much more manageable now that he wasn’t around me anymore.

“I didn’t know you had a pet.”  Both Shelly and Brad were bending down to take a closer look at Jerry.

“This is Jerry, my main man.  He’s a cockatiel.”

“How sweet.  Can he talk?” Shelly asked.

“He can a little bit, but he also likes to sing.”  Shelly’s face was a picture of excitement.  She almost looked like a child at times.

“Can we hear him?”  Her eyes darted from me to Jerry and I had to laugh.

I retrieved three glasses from the cabinet and placed them down with my unopened bottle of rum.

Handing both Shelly and Brad their glasses, I shook my head.  “He’s a cockatiel Shelly, not a wind-up toy.  I can’t make him sing.  He sings when he wants to.  I can certainly try for you though.  He may or may not be in the mood.”

Brad looked up to me, as intrigued as Shelly was.  “How long have you had him?” 

“About a year now.  I raised him since he was a baby.  I had to hand feed him milk.  He used to screech like a banshee every time he saw me, and he wouldn’t stop until I put that syringe down his gob.  And then the noise—blimey—you’d think a bike with a loose wheel was riding around the room.” 

Walking over to his cage, I cooed at him.  He responded with a full belter of a wolf whistle.  “I think he’s happy.  Let me try playing his favourite song.”

I swiftly made my way over to my CD player and pressed play—the sound of, “I see you Baby,” swiftly coming through the speakers. 

Jerry reacted to it quite quickly, bopping his head to the sound, and moving up and down his perch.  All of us laughed and had a little boogie ourselves—shouting, “Go Jerry… go Jerry… go Jerry!”

When the song ended I switched it off, but Jerry obviously thought it was still playing in his little world.  He carried on singing, “I see you baby, shaking that ass… shaking that ass… shaking that ass.”

Both Shelly and Brad were in hysterics.  They thought it was the funniest, adorable thing they had ever seen.

Brad asked if he could hold him, so I undid the cage and Jerry was straight there—standing to attention—desperate to get out.  He climbed aboard my hand and right up to my shoulder where he sat contently perched up high.  Things were going well—right up to the point Brad stuck his hand out towards Jerry.  He screeched, flew at Brad’s face, causing him to fall head over, flat on his arse.

Jerry was flapping his wings at his face and Brad was screaming like a little girl.  Both Shelly and I tried to help, but as soon as we did that, Jerry flew up and landed, flapping his wings on Shelly’s hair.  Shelly screamed the place down—running around in circles.  She was flapping her hands out, almost as if she was trying to take off herself.  Jerry just sat on her head, perched up high, ignoring the whole spectacle.  He was probably enjoying the ride from up there.

Eventually I managed to get Shelly to hold still so I could get Jerry off her head.  I offered him my hand and he immediately shifted, climbing onto my finger.  I grabbed him so that he couldn’t fly off anymore, and immediately put him back in his cage.

We all breathed a sigh of relief and heard Jerry shout, “Julia Gulia!”  This ran a chorus of laughter around the room and it just wouldn’t stop.  After about five minutes of continued roaring, I made sure both Shelly and Brad were okay—before we all sat down to relax.