Page 33 of The Lottery Win
I pick up my drink and slug down a third of it in one go.
Doug is leaning back, smiling at me, that lock of rebellioushair flopping over his forehead once more, and I long to lean right forward andtuck it back for him. I’m suddenly aware of the alcohol hitting my system andmy whole body seeming to loosen in gratitude. But I need to take it slowlybecause goodness knows what I’ll be tempted to do if I glug down the rest of mywine like that! It’s just a small glass because obviously I’m driving, but I’malready feeling weirdly intoxicated by Doug’s nearness...
He asks me if I’m feeling more relaxed and I nod and thankhim for suggesting we come here, and I ask him how long he’s worked at the carshowroom.
‘Oh, not long,’ he says, waving away my question as if he’snot that keen on the work. ‘I studied automotive engineering at uni and mydream is to set up a business restoring classic cars.’
‘Oh. Right. Sounds great. But I guess you need very deeppockets to do something like that?’
He looks down. ‘You’re right. You do.’ Looking up, hesmiles. ‘But hey, I’ll get there some day.’
‘You need someone who believes in you. Someone to back youin the venture. What about family? Could they help?’
He shrugs. ‘Not really. But it’ll happen. One day.’
‘I’m sure it will. I’m going to sign up for a course ininterior design.’
‘That sounds good.’ He smiles. ‘Another drink?’
I nod, about to say I’d like a soft drink this time, when Ihear Carrie’s voice in my ear.Be careful. You don’t really know him.
I look Doug straight in the eye, trying to be objective.Would you buy a used car from this man? And actually, my gut is saying yes, Iwould. Because something inside is telling me that I can trust him.
That’s only because you fancy him, whispers Carrie inmy ear.
But I wave that away. Carrie doesn’t know Doug, so of courseshe’d be wary. But if she knew him like I do, she wouldn’t have any doubts.
‘I’ll just nip back and get my wallet,’ he says, standing upand resting a hand on my shoulder. ‘I won’t be long.’
His touch is doing funny things to my body again. It’s adelicious feeling and I really don’t want him to leave – even for a short time.
‘Don’t worry.’ I catch his hand. ‘I’ll get the drinks.’
He hesitates, rubbing his thumb over my palm, sending athrill skittering along my spine. ‘Okay. But I’ll pay you back.’
‘Next time.’ I smile up at him.
‘Shall I go to the bar?’ He lets go of my hand.
‘Okay.’ I pull out a note and hand it to him.
‘Thanks, Krystle. But I’m paying you back, okay?’
‘Fine.’ In a happy daze, I watch him as he goes. I’ve alwaysbeen fairly vocal in my scorn of ‘love at first sight’.
Am I going to have to eat my words?
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
After another hour in Doug’s company, I’m feeling asgiggly as a schoolgirl. I can’t even blame the alcohol for the way I feelbecause I’ve stuck to softies after my small glass of wine.
I’m aware that I’m flirting with Doug – rather shamelessly, infact – but I really don’t care. He doesn’t seem to mind and anyway, I’m havingmore fun tonight than I’ve had in forever. When I suggest food might be a goodidea and that Carlo’s Italian restaurant is meant to be excellent, he agreesstraight away. Hungry by this time, we eat big bowls of creamy pasta with tonsof parmesan and black pepper and coffee with dark chocolate mints to follow(Doug says he doesn’t have a sweet tooth, so he feeds me his as well, which Ifind impossibly sexy).
‘What about my thingummy-jiggy?’ I say in dismay, suddenlyremembering I’ve abandoned my car with the slightly open boot on the highstreet. ‘I need to see to my fountain.’
‘Your fountain?’ His brow wrinkles in confusion. ‘Is that aeuphemism? Do you need the loo?’
I laugh. ‘No, no. My fountain is an actual fountain.’ Sothen I have to explain what happened and how the boot keeps springingdangerously open. ‘I bought string to tie round it, to keep it shut, but then Isaw April.’
