Page 6 of Taboo

Julienne hesitated. Did he know who she was? She didn’t fool herself into thinking everyone knew her, especially in the States. But she didn’t know if she should or not. She’d never actually dated a man without a proper introduction.

This is what you’re here for.

And it wasn’t a date. It was a drink in a lush bar with a sexy stranger. David had encouraged her to step out of her comfort zone. They didn’t have the normal relationship most PAs and bosses did. He was one of her best friends. In fact, next to Nicola, hewasher best friend. Most of those slags had abandoned her these last few months. And David had known she was lonely.

“Girlfriend, you need a good hard shag.”

She rolled her eyes. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

“Have a one-night stand.”

“That’s not my kind of thing.”

“No woman should reach the age of thirty and not have one night of dirty sex.”

“I have a feeling if my mother knew you said that to me, she would insist on firing you.”

“Please,” he said, waving his hand at her. “I’m pretty sure your mother has had more than a few nights of dirty sex. Your father was a DILF.”

“Ugh. Stop talking about my parents.”

“Anyway, if I find out you spent all night here in your room while I am out, I will never forgive you. Go downstairs and have a drink. Take a leap.”

She sighed as the memory faded away. The gorgeous man was still looking at her, and she made her decision right then and there.

“I think I would like to do that. Yes.”

His face lightened with humor, his eyes sparkling. Bloody hell, he was pretty, she thought once again.

“Thank you.”

She blinked. “For what?”

“I’ve never been called pretty, to my knowledge.”

Did she say that out loud? From the expression on his face, she realized she had indeed. She was such a mess, and this confirmed it. Maybe she should just go back to her room and hide until her flight tomorrow.

“Oh, now, don’t be embarrassed. After the day I’ve had, I welcome any and all compliments.”

There was a rhythm to his voice that she couldn’t place. Julienne had spent some time in the US and Canada, but his cadence was something different. Almost lyrical.

“Then, yes. I would love to have a drink with you.”

The grin he shot her made him look years younger. He waved his hand indicating that she should walk in front of him. As she did, heat prickled over her skin. Looking at many of the other patrons, she realized she might be a tad bit overdressed in her little black cocktail dress that hit just above her knees. It was a little tight unfortunately, thanks to the last few months of stress eating.

She thought she’d sit at the bar, out in the open, but when she saw a round booth tucked into the corner, Julienne headed straight for it. After she slid into the seat, the man joined her, sliding almost all the way around.

“Alek.”

She blinked. “Excuse me?”

“I figured that you would like to know the name of the man you’re having a drink with.”

She nodded. “Jules.”

He cocked his head. “Have we met before?”

“Isn’t that a bad pick up line?”

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