I flicked through the menu and settled on a shepherd’s pie. As the sun had started going down the temperature had definitely dropped outside, and this was a guaranteed tummy warmer for my walk back to the cottage.
I really was glad I’d bought my coat.
***
The bar was much busier now than it had been an hour ago. The food had been amazing, and I wanted to settle my tab, so I grabbed my bag and headed over to the bar where Cait was working her butt off.
She noticed me with a glance in my direction. I made the universal sign for the bill, and she nodded, then quickly turned her attention back to the pint she was pulling. She skimmed the excess head off the top and poured another, did the same, and turned to ring them up.
A few people were ahead of me, so I waited happily, looking around the bar. Someone’s arm pressed against mine and I jolted, turning to tell whoever it was to watch where they were going.
The problem was that no words came out.
I was pretty sure it was the guy who’d asked Cait who I was earlier, and he was even hotter from the front than he was from the back. His hair was dark, and his eyes were either blue or green—the dim lighting at the bar made it hard to tell for sure, but they were framed with annoyingly thick, dark lashes.
The kind women paid stupid amounts of money on mascara to obtain.
He had thick, full lips and a stubbled jaw that could cut diamond, and when he smiled at me, I could swear my ovaries hopped right on out of my body and latched onto him.
What did she say his name was again?
Shit. I wasn’t even sure I knew my own name right now.
“Sorry,” he said, smiling widely at me. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
I gave myself a mental shake and took a step to the side. “No, it’s fine.”
“I haven’t seen you around here before.”
“I’ve never been here before,” I replied, turning away and looking at Cait in the hope she’d feel my eyes on her and come and rescue me.
Help.
Please.
“Are you here for long?” he asked.
“I hope not,” I muttered.
“What was that?”
“Probably not,” I said a little louder. “Sorry, I just want to pay and go back to my—where I’m staying.”
Cait must have heard my mental pleas because she finally approached with a receipt in her hand. “Hugo, leave her alone. Here you go, Sophie.”
Hugo! That was it.
Hmm.
He looked like a Hugo.
I felt like all Hugos were handsome.
“Thanks. I’ve got my card here.” I opened my bag to fish out my purse, but Hugo rested his hand on my arm.
“I’ve got this. An apology for bumping into you,” he said, looking into my eyes.
Ding dong, my clit’s alive.