Page 40 of Bea's Book Wagon
‘Ooooh, the famous Lochlan,’ said Jess, her eyes scanning the room, trying to catch sight of him. ‘Bloody hell, Bea, is that him?’
Bea nodded as Lochlan made his way over, wearing a pair of skin-tight jeans and what looked like a designer shirt. Bea felt her pulse surge at the sight of him.
‘I know you said he was hot, but he’s gorgeous,’ whispered Jess.
‘You should see his car, mate,’ said Archie, turning to Nathan. ‘He’s got a bloody Maserati!’
‘Has he?’ said Nathan, coolly.
‘Hiya,’ said Bea, leaping up from her seat and kissing Lochlan on the cheek.
‘Hello, you,’ said Lochlan, his dark eyes fixed on hers.
She could stare into those eyes all day long…
‘Erm,’ said Jess, subtly clearing her throat, ‘Aren’t you going to introduce us?’
‘Oh, yes, sorry,’ said Bea, flustered. ‘Lochlan, these are my friends, Jess and Nathan, and this is my brother, Archie.’
‘Good to meet you all,’ said Lochlan, shaking Archie by the hand. ‘Can I get another round?’
‘Mine’s a cider, cheers, mate,’ said Archie, downing the dregs of his pint.
‘I’ll take a G&T, thanks,’ said Jess.
‘I’m good with this,’ said Nathan, holding up his half-full glass.
‘You sure?’ said Lochlan.
‘Yep, I’m good,’ Nathan repeated. Was Bea imagining it or was Nathan being frosty?
‘I’ll give you a hand,’ said Bea, following Lochlan towards the bar. ‘I’m glad you could come tonight, I know it was short notice…’
‘I can’t think of a better way to spend my Saturday night,’ said Lochlan, lacing his fingers through hers as they stood together at the bar.
‘Me neither,’ said Bea, staring up into his big, dark eyes.
All she could think about right now was kissing him, but the packed bar of the pub definitely wasn’t the time or the place for their first kiss. She wished they were alone…
‘Bea?’ said Lochlan, snapping her back to reality.
‘Sorry?’ she said, aware that she hadn’t been listening to anything he might have said in the past few minutes.
‘I was saying you were right, that’s all.’
‘About what?’
‘BorrowBox. I’m already halfway through listening to The Light Fantastic!’
‘Are you enjoying it?’ she asked.
‘It’s brilliant,’ he said, tipping his head to one side. ‘Thanks for the recommendation.’
‘I’m thinking of organizing an event, actually, like speed-dating, but for books.’
‘Well, aren’t you full of good ideas this evening?’ he said, leaning down to plant a kiss on her cheek. ‘I always get my best ideas in the shower. I have to get out and type them into my phone’s notes app before I forget, though, which is tricky when you’re soaped up and naked,’ he said, waggling his eyebrows.
‘True,’ she replied, picturing a lathered-up Lochlan. She swallowed hard.
